Design and production process:
-starting from a basic design in plywood, found on Finewoodworking, I customized the sizes, changed the materials and added plenty of features.
-hand drawing on scale 1/1 in pencil
-3D design in Sketchup
-turning the pieces for the vice (done by local turner) and adding the in and outside thread with a simple device found on www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de /
-planing and thicknessing the beech wood
-cutting the dovetails with Japanese Z-saws and Narex chisels (Czech brand)
Legs have a complex cut-out joint to the bench top, as the work vices need space to slide and turn without obstruction.
-double groove for making it possible to slide the drawer to both sides of the bench and have a stop (the drawer can not fall out). Drawer opens max. 120mm both sides for safety reasons so the bench cannot tip over when a child steps or hangs on the drawer nor will the drawer or slider crack.
There is 140mm gap between under side top of the bench top and the top side of the drawer. It is always easy to access tools and the fast hold will not hit into the drawer.
-legs are extendable but the extensions are not ready yet…something my son can help me with when he is a bit taller :)
Design specifications:
-2 work vices in beech wood, can be mounted for left or right handed
vices are placed on the short sides, to have more stability and less shaking during cutting–vices’ thread diameter 30mm
-holes in bench top for wooden bench dogs (19mm) and iron fast holds (18mm). Holes are tapered from 19mm top to 18mm down
-bench top 80mm thick solid wood
-legs under 7° angle for more stability
-all connections are hand dovetailed: corner bench top, ruler and stretchers, half blind dovetails on drawer
-size: Height 600mm, Length top 800mm, Width 360mm
-finishing: fine sanding P240 and bee wax finish applied with a cloth
Materials
Every single piece is in local Slovakian solid beech wood. Beech is relatively cheap: cca 500€/m3
Cradle to cradle design:
I think this is a nice example of C2C design .
It is entirely recyclable, will probably have a long live span and maybe some more fantastic C2C furniture will be produced on it in the future! The hand work and complexity of the joints made it a long term project (+-150 hours spread over 3 months), but the next bench will be quicker!
This was probably my first real solid wood design and production with love for loved ones :) More pics and precise sketchup drawings are available.
Great job :) I must do two of them now!!! :>>>
Edward that is a beautiful surdy workbench, I’m sure that could be marketed as a knock down plan. I realize that was not your intend but I’m sure there are many that could use your creative ability. Great Job!
Very cool work bench. I would imagine that building something with your son is better than the actual bench itself. It’s a great way tobond and get closer to your son. Great bench!
That is amazing! If you’re looking to adopt a 38 year old man, I’m available for adoption and would take a larger scale design of the kid’s workbench~~laughing!
great job! You have one lucky son to have you as a dad!
Nice. I know I’m going to have some leftover SYP when I’m done with my bench and I’m tempted to build a half-height Roubo for my kids, since they currently enough walking around the shop when I’m in there
you can tell that you put a lot of tlc into this project. Your son is very lucky. Well done sir
I love your project. you have one lucky son.
Very nicely done Edward. Looks like all of those hours of (hopefully no) blood, sweat, and tears really paid off. I hope your son enjoys the bench for years to come and woodworking for life!
Thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!
How do you find your chisels? I bought a couple from that brand but I haven’t yet had the chance to try them.
Reply to Alex: about the Narex chisels.
The Narex premium chisels have awesome wooden handles….the steel is noawesome…it’s quite soft and needs sharpening regurarely. For hobby good price. For pro rather japenese or Nielson’s.
What a great way to get a kid into a time worthy hobby. So many kids today are stuck in front of their electronics and don’t know what to do without them. Cheers!
I built my daughter a bench last year. She was 4 at the time. It is not beautiful, but I think she really likes have a space of her own in Daddy’s shop. It has a 1 1/4″ thick walnut top, 70 year old birch legs, and the shelf underneath is cherry. It was made from cutoffs I had laying around in the shop. It’s about the same size as yours. What a wonderful design you made and executed it very well.
Thanks for sharing!
Nice.
Way to cool. Way to promote woodworking to future generations.
This is a very nice workbench. I’m sure that the joy of your son worth a thousand times the amount of time you spent on this project. Very nice work and you did not neglect the details for the safety.
That’s a great looking bench and a lucky kid. I don’t have the space for something like that.
I built a folding workbench similar to a Workmate for my boys.
Check it out…
http://shopngarage.com/2011/12.....workbench/
That’s awesome!!!
I have a few more years before I need to start planning for something like this (wife is now 6 months pregnant with our first!), but I love the idea!
This is awesome!
Wow. I have to say that this is a wonderful project. I hope it helps to instill a lifelong love for the craft to all who use it..
I also want to thank you for pointing out the concept of ‘cradle to cradle’ design, which at least to me is a new way to think. So far I’ve tried to at least ensure anything I make is something that isn’t ‘throwaway’, but C2C takes it a step farther. Not sure if I could incorporate everything involved in that with everything I make, but certainly something that provokes thought, which is always a good thing.. Keep up the great work.
Awesome project!!! Introducing kids to woodworking is very important…. You did an incredible job on this bench!
This is great!!!! Although I don’t know if I quite trust my son with a saw yet…. He still finds ways to injure himself with his play tools. With that said, I wish my father introduced me to woodworking at a young age… Way to go!!
That’s one awesome bench. I hope to build a bench at least half as good as this one for my kids some day. Love the joinery.
The bench is beautiful and has features that I wish mine had. I’m a bit jealous. And I think its great that your son wants to work with you. Nothing could make a father more proud. Well done sir!
Edward, that looks like a very serious workbench for a young person. Very well designed and constructed. I’m sure your son is very happy with the results. Now if only I could get someone like you to precut parts for a workbench for me, then all I would have to do is the assembly. ;-)
I had to do some converting to realize that 500€/m3 is currently, in U.S. dollars, $1.55 per board foot.
I don’t have kids but I also don’t have a bench like this. Might have to reconsider. Wonderful features, construction technique and truly an heirloom.
very nice bench
I built my 4 year old girl a bench about a year and a half ago. Mine was way cheesy compared to this one. Kudos to you sir!
That looks awesome! My 7 year-old son has been asking me to make a workbench like his daddy’s. Of course, yours would be much much nicer than one like mine! I’ll definitely keep this one in mind if I’m ever feeling adventurous.
Great job!
Joe