Hello, everybody.

I have built seven workbenches in my time and of those seven, three were for me. I guess you could say that I have a bit of a problem. I love building benches. So much so, that I am about to start an eighth for myself. Being a hand tool worker, I have come to love French or "Roubo" style benches. Who wouldnt want a leg vise? I am a fan of Chris Schwarz's books on the subject (and his blog at lostartpress- check it out) and after reading "The Workbench Design Book" I have decided to build the "French bench by Hand". Anyway, I have built this type of bench before and I am excited to be making another. I just got my Benchcrated Glide Vise and am rough cutting the boards (SYP) tomorrow. Is there anyone out there with an opinion on this style bench? Do any of you own one or are thinking of building one? Am I just a crazy bench freak? Let me know what you think.

Adam, I love a good bench too. I have had a few over the years. I read Chris's book a few years back. He had some nice ones in there. I guess benches are like hand tools. You never have enough. I have way too many planes and chisels and lots of other things. Might be time to start letting some go. I give a few to young guys starting out.

 

The benchcrafted vise is a dandy. Would make a great blog here to show us as you build the bench. Pictures are easy to load on this site. John did some great work setting this up. I know, I would love to see it on here, I am sure others would too.

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Bob Kloes
www.bobkloes.com

I plan on documenting the whole process here. Bad news. I had to send the vise back. It was scratched badly. The wheel looked like it was attacked by cats. The Benchcrafted rep I spoke with said it would be 2-6 weeks before I could et another. If it comes in time then it goes on. If not then no leg vise. A crochet until my hardware shows up. I am looking for suggestions for a species for the leg vise chop, deadman, and plane stop. Nothing too fancy. Just something that contrasts well with SYP.

Bob Kloes said:

Adam, I love a good bench too. I have had a few over the years. I read Chris's book a few years back. He had some nice ones in there. I guess benches are like hand tools. You never have enough. I have way too many planes and chisels and lots of other things. Might be time to start letting some go. I give a few to young guys starting out.

 

The benchcrafted vise is a dandy. Would make a great blog here to show us as you build the bench. Pictures are easy to load on this site. John did some great work setting this up. I know, I would love to see it on here, I am sure others would too.

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Bob Kloes

www.bobkloes.com

Are you just wanting a color contrast? Walnut would be a good one or cherry.

That sure seems like a long wait to get 1 vise. Was it a special order? Too bad it was scratched. Wonder why it was even shipped like that?

Another wood that works nice for stuff on a bench is black locust. The heart wood is lemon yellow and its hard as Pharaoh's heart. Glows under a black light too. I have some that I used over the years. It is very stable when kiln dried.

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Bob Kloes
www.bobkloes.com

Very interesting Adam. I am sorry to say I have no opinion on the benches you state because I am not well versed in different styles of benches, this is something that I am just starting to read up on and in the next year, I plan on building a bench as well. Since my work has incorporated more hand tools and hand work, I am realizing the need the for a true bench with dogs, end vises etc. I am tired of clamping my work down with clamps and planing around the clamps. I need dogs and a good tail vise. So, a serious workbench is on the drawing table. Thanks for starting this discussion here. This is very intriguing to me.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker