[Keith Mathewson]

I'm currently in the process of building a new bench. This will be a large joiners bench in the shaker tradition. The bench top is a glue-up of 3 different thicknesses. The first 14"-15" is 4 3/8", the next is 2 3/4" and the last 6+" is 1". Overall size is 36"x144".

 

[Keith Mathewson]

It will have square bench dogs and hardware from Benchcrafted.

 

[phinds]

Impressive. Are you going to have to hire help to move it into place ?

 

[Keith Mathewson]

I've owned several holdfasts of differing sizes over the years and never was very impressed with any of them. This time I'm going to try wrought iron ones made by Peter Ross.

 

[tc65]

That is one stout bench!

I'm glad I don't live near enough to you to have to help move it

 

[Keith Mathewson]

No worries there, I have a forklift!

 

[BigJim]

That is going to be one nice bench, I hope a smaller one is in my future. Thanks for sharing Keith.

 

[Tom King]

Nice!

 

[cabinetman]

Looks good. Are you sure it's going to be big enough?

.

 

[burkhome]

That is one fine bench...What will the base look like?

 

[Keith Mathewson]

Looks good. Are you sure it's going to be big enough?


Initially it was going to be about 9' long and patterned after the shaker bench at Hancock Shaker Village which is 12' long. The only decent hard maple I could find in 8/4 came in 12' lengths, so here we are.

 

[MasterSplinter]

Damn that is one monster bench. Cant wait to see it finished. How did you do the square bench dogs and holes?

I wish i did live closer. I would love to see that shop and bench in person.

 

[acowboy]

Wow, am impressed..nice.

 

[Keith Mathewson]

The square bench dogs are milled out of one of the strips of bench material. Mine are leaning toward the vice by 6 degrees. These were cut on a radial arm saw with a dado blade but you could use a router and template or a handsaw and router plane.

The Bench dogs were milled as a strip, cut to length and shaped on the bandsaw.

 

[ACP]

Lovin' it! 12' long. That's not gonna skitter on you that's for sure. I like the square dog holes. Are they going to work with the holdfasts? I like how your router is standing. lol. I can't wait to see it done and in place.

 

[Keith Mathewson]

Today I essembled the rough carcass and started to layout for the leg vice. The holdfasts will not go into the dog holes, there will be 4 holes for the holdfasts which are yet to be drilled. Since the holdfasts are about 18" long there are 4 bays to receive them and not interfere with the drawers.

 

[burkhome]

What brand are the vises you are using and where did you get them?

 

[Keith Mathewson]

The vises are from Benchcrafted http://www.benchcrafted.com . I like the vises but after installing them there are some changes I'm going to make. I'll post pics of it when ready.

 

[judgment]

Awesome thread - any updates?


...On my dang phone

 

[Keith Mathewson]

The bench is about 90% complete. The doors & drawers are complete, the sliding deadman is on and the holdfasts are installed. The drawers have handcut dovetails, drawer slips and are veneered. The doors still need to be hung and drawer bottoms installed.