Heritage Joiners Bench (11-day)

We have had multiple requests from students to make a bench similar to our Instructor Mark’s.

Here’s a description of his workbench:

I built this specifically to have a smaller footprint than the standard Roubo style that we have done. Being a furniture maker for the last 23 years I have never really used certain features on my bench that served fairly specific purposes, so I made this one with only what I actually use. In short, I wanted it to take less space and in order to do so, I had to adjust the leg placement to accommodate the tail vise. (Note the offset leg.)  In the triangular shaped spot under the tail vise, I store my three-legged bar stool. I use a bench hook which is light and portable instead of a full-length stop gap running up the center of the bench. I did not make a sliding deadman because I felt the useful length of the front rail was not enough to warrant the labor needed to install it. I do have holes in the leg, though, which accept a peg or holdfast for supporting long pieces. My main change was to put end caps across both ends in an effort to keep the top flat. I put a small tool well on the back side which I like and that also allows me some room for wood movement if there is any.  I also chose to use European Beech instead of Maple because I prefer the grain pattern. I will assume everyone will want Beech unless you let us know otherwise.

This is an eleven-day class. The first week runs from Monday through Saturday and the second week runs Monday through Friday. (No class on Sunday).

Each student will build their own beech wood workbench, using the Benchcrafted M series leg-vise and tail-vise (includes the criss-cross). The overall size of the bench is 36″ tall, 28″ wide, and 68″ long. (If someone wants to change the height we can work with that, just please let us know so we prepare the wood long enough.

In this class you will glue up the pre-milled wood for the top, layout and cut the mortise and tenons for the base, layout and cut the dog runs, hand-cut the dovetails for the end-caps, make wooden dogs and install the vises, just to name a few things that will be done.

This workbench has a leg-vise with about 11″ of depth before hitting the vise screw and a large hand-wheel that makes opening and closing the vise a joy to use. A tail-vise with a hand wheel and wooden dogs help hold longer flat boards and when jointing edges a peg in the leg will support the free end. Plus the 4″ thick top gives the bench enough weight to keep it from “walking” across the floor when used.

Optional: If you want the walnut accents for the end-caps and leg-vise chop, it will be an additional $110.00.

Please bring the following tools with you to this class:
A low-angle block plane or jackplane
A jointer plane or the longest plane you have

IMPORTANT NOTE:
We have to order the materials for this class at least 3 weeks beforehand.  The materials fee (which covers the hardware, wood and milling costs) is almost as much as the instruction fee for this class.. So unless you give us at least 30-days notice that you’ll be cancelling your class, there will be a non refundable materials fee cost of $1975.00. The only exception would be if we’re able to fill your spot in the class.

This class is from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Class size: 4