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Thursday, September 12, 2019
Tool Rack Part II
I added a tool rack to the bench this AM. After a couple of weeks of posting the bench is finished, it really is now. The tool rack even has a coat of Tung oil, you can't get more finished than that.
The slab is 14 1/2" (365mm) X 71 1/4" (1860mm) X 3 1/2" (90mm) with tool tray over all width is 25 1/4" (640mm). Those, other than length which varies, are pretty much my targets for most slabs other than the ones for portable benches.
300mm to 400mm is about the perfect sized work surface. The bench width needs to be from 600mm to at most 700mm for stability, those sizes come from my experience of course YMMV.
I've tried two approaches to gaining the extra width, split slabs or tool trays. Again for me the best answer has been tool trays. Awhile back I build a split slab Moravian and after working on it for a couple of months I removed the off side slab and replaced it with a tool tray.
BTW, benches work best if they are kinda Goldilocks. Not too big but not too small, heavier is not always better, and they can be too wide and too long. That sweet spot is usually best found by trial and error but the sizes of this bench should be a pretty good starting spot for most folks
Ken what is the width of the main bench top? Front to back?
ReplyDeleteRalph,
DeleteThe slab is 14 1/2" (365mm) X 71 1/4" (1860mm) X 3 1/2" (90mm) with tool tray over all width is 25 1/4" (640mm). Those, other than length which varies, are pretty much my targets for most slabs other than the ones for portable benches.
ken
Looking good. It may seems smallish in width, but we rarely need much wider, and if so, you have the added real estate of the tool trays.
ReplyDeleteBob, who came home to power restored yesterday pm. Yeah :-)
Yeah Bob,
Delete300mm to 400mm is about the perfect sized work surface. The bench width needs to be from 600mm to at most 700mm for stability, those sizes come from my experience of course YMMV.
I've tried two approaches to gaining the extra width, split slabs or tool trays. Again for me the best answer has been tool trays. Awhile back I build a split slab Moravian and after working on it for a couple of months I removed the off side slab and replaced it with a tool tray.
BTW, benches work best if they are kinda Goldilocks. Not too big but not too small, heavier is not always better, and they can be too wide and too long. That sweet spot is usually best found by trial and error but the sizes of this bench should be a pretty good starting spot for most folks
Glad you are back in the modern world,
ken