Friday, October 07, 2016

Finished The Planing Bench

The fat lady has sung her heart out. The planing bench is finished. I lowered it as posted earlier, added a apron, and a crochet. It will be interesting to see if I use it as much as I suspect I will. The few things I've planed on it, flatting the top and just did the edge of a 4/4 board just to see it work, seem much easier than on the higher joinery bench.

Anyway here is a photo, click it to big it:




ken




6 comments:

  1. Nice. If I remember correctly, it's about 100 mm / 4" lower than your joinery bench, is that right? I'll be interested in hearing how it works for you longer term. Not that I have the space for a dedicated planing bench ...

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  2. It's a Nicholson Roubo!

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  3. Matt,

    You are correct 100mm is close to 4". The joinery bench is about 35" and the planing bench is about 31". I think it will work out well over the long term, if it doesn't at 31" it will make a nice slightly high assembly table....I've needed both but with no room.

    ken

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  4. Andy,

    Yep, I did the same, installed an apron, to my main bench. I call 'em my cross channel bench. BTW, after working with an apron I will never go back to using deadmen or bench jacks.

    The real question is what will I do for the next work bench build, cut out the middle man and go straight to a English bench or do the hybrid thing again. I've built so many Roubo type benches I can do one by rote where with a Nicholson it would involve some major butt scratching.

    ken

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  5. Ken are you having any problems with the hold fasts holding? I have a softwood top (pine) and mine don't grip so well anymore. Thinking about buying one of the Crucible one.

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  6. Ralph,

    Yes and no....I've relieved the bottom of the bench so the depth is no more than 3". With that change all work. TFWW web site states the holdfasts were designed to work with 1 3/4" or greater slabs and IIRC the upper limit was around 3". Before relieving the dog holes a few of the holes would not work every time. I expect a dog hole of 2" to 2 1/2" would be perfect.

    ken

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