Workshop Bench

When we moved into this Finca, I had a workshop built, woodwork has been my hobby for nearly forty years, and I wasn't ready to hang up my saw just yet!
I had the new workshop, but only a rickety bench, that I had constructed as a temporary measure in a rented apartment we had been living in. So I decided to make a new one as a Christmas present to me, last year.

Much of the construction lumber in Colombia is mahogany and cheap, however it is wet, even so, it is something I could only have dreamed of, had I still be living in Europe.





I designed the bench, the top of which measures 2.5m x 0.9m and bought the timber, which sat in the middle of the workshop for a while, getting in the way.





I then got underway, cut all the parts, lettering them as I went, so I knew where every part was going.





All the main joints are held together with 5/8" threaded rod. I cut the holes in the rails with a forstner bit, then clamped the rails and stiles to the legs, and drilled through both, so I knew they were aligned, tapped the threaded rod through, and bolted it together.





This was far easier than I thought it was going to be, and certainly a strong joint, I would use again, If you wanted to hide the bolts, you could always use thin plywood and cut a fancy cover to stick over the holes, but in the workshop, this was not necessary.





I then drilled and screwed the top planks in place.





The bottom planks were nailed, which I now know was a mistake, because two of them have pulled out as the wood dried and the planks twisted, but as that is just for storage, it is not too bad.
I then hand planed the top to get it level, job done! I have moved it once, but I nearly put my back out doing it, it is so heavy, hopefully it will not need moving again.






Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/10811476/workshop-bench site