Best Workbench Finish

In the current issue of Workbench, a reader asks, "What's the best finish for a workbench? The answer:

"The best finish is one that soaks in (a penetrating finish) rather than one that sits in top (a film-building finish). That's because a bench invariably gets beat up and scratched as you use it. A film finish will get chipped and will have to be removed entirely before you can apply a new coat. With a penetrating finish, you can simply spot sand and touch-up as needed. Choose either a straight oil or a finish that blends oil and urethane. Just make sure it says 'penetrating' on the label."

You'll find lots more useful info on woodworking and homeowner DIY in the current issue of Workbench. You can find it on the newsstand, or better yet, get a free preview issue.

Adjustable Bench Stop

For years, I relied on a simple board clamped to the end of my workbench to keep a workpiece in place whenever I had to smooth it with a hand plane or belt sander. But I finally grew tired of the hassle of positioning and clamping the stop every time it was needed--I wanted a more convenient solution. And Ted Raife at Woodsmith Magazine had one.
The adjustable end stop you see in the drawings (click drawings for larger view) shows his solution. The stop has a pair of angled slots intersected by a series of stepped vertical slots. Gently tightened lag screws allow easy adjustment of the stop to the correct height by positioning it in the appropriate set of vertical slots. Or you can drop the stop below the surface of the benchtop, as also shown.
For more great tips like these from Ted and the other editors at Woodsmith magazine, sign up here. They come weekly and they're free.

[Thanks Ted]

Cabinetmaker's Workbench

I love workbenches--all kinds of them. I get excited when seeing a new one in a magazine or book. Well, today was a good day for me. The guys brought the new ShopNotes workbench back from the photo studio and put it on display in the lobby. It's on the cover of ShopNotes No. 102, and it's terrific. Made of Douglas Fir and heavily built, this is one bench you'll have for the long haul.

The designers also converted their drawings into an animation. You can see that here.

To learn more about ShopNotes Magazine, you can visit the website. And if you'd like to see even more workbenches, we've got 16 more of them at PlansNOW.com.

Workbench with Padauk Details

Another terrific project posted over at the WoodNet Forums. Member Splinter has completed his new workbench--built of Maple with Padauk detailing. He says, "The red wood is Padauk. Really hard and different so that's why I went with it. The sides are shellac and the top is finished with BLO (4 coats) and then waxed with a furniture wax."

(Click on photo for larger view.) More photos and comments here.

Adjustable Height Workbench

Sometimes, your workbench just isn't the right height. Depending on what you're doing, it's too high or too low. Well, here's a solution on page 22 the latest issue of Workbench magazine (October 2008). Workbench reader Roger Bares suggests building an adjustable height bench using a motorcycle lift. The lift (Torin #T64017) allows you to adjust the height of a worksurface you make yourself from plywood and some hardware.

This is a terrific issue of Workbench with projects like building a platform bed, and more ways than I can count to save energy in your home. The whole thing is rounded out with some neat decorating ideas and how-to's. It's on the newsstand now, and you can check it out online here, and get a free preview issue here.

Is This a Mess or What?

Over in the WoodNet Hand Tools forum, member Crooked_Trail posted this photo of his workbench covered with shavings, as he was having fun with some of his molding planes. He also apologized for such a messy shop.

I don't know, it doesn't look that messy to me. Other guys in the forum didn't think so either, but they sure liked his workbench.

More comments in the forum.

Workbench Height

Does your back start to ache after you've been working at your bench for a while? Have you ever tried to hand plane a board and decided it was just too much work? The height of the work surface of your workbench can make a difference. It should be the right height to fit you and the way you work.

On most benches, the working surface is somewhere between 33" and 36" high. If you're average height (between 5'9" and 6'0"), that's usually a comfortable height. But even a change of 1" up or down can make a big difference in how easy it is to work at the bench. We've used a lot of methods to determine the best height for a bench. But one simple method seems to give the best results. Just measure the distance from the floor to the crease on the inside of your wrist. Adjust the length of the legs on your workbench so the height of the work surface matches your wrist crease measurement. If you're 5'10" or taller, you may find a wrist crease measurement of 35" to 37". This may seem too high for a bench -- especially considering the old standards. But those standards were developed and valid when the general population was shorter than it is today.

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BTW: The bench in the photo is the Woodsmith Workbench. PlansNOW.com has details.