Looking good Paul...a damn sight better than I could make mate.

Very nice work Paul. What's the top on the big bench?

You puttin windows in that larger bench? Just kidding...all those half lap joints came out beautifully and should be strong as a rock. You could put some large utility drawers under the top real easily, I love the super strong drawer slides you can get now.....or put a prisoner....small gorilla...


Suz

All the "windows" will have drawers filling them. The pictures make the work look better than it is. On the big bench - that my lathe will be sitting on, the top is 3 layers of OSB glued together and topped with 1/8" hardboard (also glued). The drawer slides will be full extension slides and rated for at least 75 pounds.

There are no half laps - the 4x4 legs were dado'd to fit the 2x4s that were trimmed to 1 1/4x3. The fit was nice and tight in all but the first dado - that one was cut to the wrong side of the blade so I had to trim a shim to make it fit. all the joints are glued and then screwed from the back so no fasteners show.

The smaller benches used 2x4 legs (trimmed to 1 1/4x3) and dado'd. All the joints are glued and screwed from the back side. The tops are just 2 layers of OSB glued together. On the press there are 2x4s under the table top to spread the load from the press (to keep from pulling the bolts through the top).

Thank you for the kind words - I will accept any encouragement. I do a real good job of making sawdust but I am still working on the patience to get my project to look good when I am done. As I said - the pictures are very forgiving. They are strong benches and they will do the job required for as long as I am going to need them.

Your humility is refreshing, but your work speaks for itself. Nice job, Send some pics when your done too, please.

I will send pictures when I am done but it is going to be a while. I have a kitchen floor that has to be replaced and tiled so it is going to be a while before I get done with the garage and shop.

I'm with Lester on this one Paul...as humble as you may be, and as forgiving as you think the camera may be, your work looks damn fine to me mate. Don't sell yourself short buddy...you done a good job.

Thank you all! I am truly delighted with your responses.

I'm not sure I've seen a workbench quite like this. It's almost too nice to work on. My workbench has collected plenty of marks, dings, and scratches over the years. You shouldn't need another workbench ever again the way this one is built.

This one is only to hold my lathe - the work bench I am going to make will be twice as long with a single row of eight drawers and six legs.

No problem with keeping all the legs in contact with the floor because at the bottom of each leg is a "T" nut and a carriage bolt to level the bench - just like the lathe bench.

My benches will collect their fair share of "character" marks over the years and when my son inherits them I'm sure he will ad some of his own.