How to Flatten A Workbench

[@stevesiefken6432]

I have seen a bunch of videos about flattening bench tops with a router and string or wire to ensure the rails are coplanar. I kept wondering why no one used a level like you did! Thanks for mentioning this! I built a new table top for my old bench and about ready to start planing! Thanks again!

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@wmwalkerco]

I love this! It was so laid back, but funny at the same time! You've got a great sense of humor.

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks, Will! I really enjoy your channel as well.

[@cookingwhileheadbanging4793]

gorgeous bench. loved the router technique/ picture

[@TheGrainDoctor]

+cooking while headbanging Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@dalehagar7789]

Beautiful table!

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thank you, Dale!

[@vahpr]

Nice! Love that you go right to the point, no filler bs (and lovely piano jazz). And who doesn't love Ron Swanson? haha. The mods you made to Marc's setup were one's I'd thought as well. I'm wondering if you leveled your bench before you installed the rails? I'm trying to envision how to set this up so I don't wind up with a perfectly flat but tapered top. Thanks for posting, great stuff.

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks, glad you liked it! I didn’t meticulously level the whole bench before I installed the rails, so I guess I got a bit lucky.

[@MoPoppins]

Newly subbed after coming across your video as a Jay Bates' "Interesting Stuff From Around The Web" pick. Cute/funny and useful video...what a stunning workbench!

[@TheGrainDoctor]

+Mo Poppins Thank you! Glad you liked it. The link from Jay certainly gave a nice boost to the view count.

[@timsway]

well put together video bro! and that's a beauty of a bench :)

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks Tim!

[@stevesiefken6432]

What did you use to finish your bench?

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Minwax antique oil!

[@davebauerart]

Nice video production. Good meeting you at #makingit100

[@TheGrainDoctor]

bluebarnworkshop Thanks! Good to meet you as well.

[@willbraswell7425]

What finish did you choose?

[@TheGrainDoctor]

+Will Braswell I used Minwax Antique Oil, which you can get on Amazon. One coat so far, seems to have done the trick.

[@willbraswell7425]

Thanks for the reply and the video. Beautiful bench!

[@MyGarageWoodshop]

Excellent build! Way to go! If you don't mind me asking....what kind of wood did you use for the top? Also, what kind of finish did you apply to the top?

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks Rod - the wood was soft maple (from Downes and Reader in Stoughton, MA). The base is hard maple (I think) that I got fresh cut for 50 cents/board foot and dried in my basement for several years. I used one coat of Minwax Antique Oil (can get it from Amazon). It worked great!

[@kurtguttormstavfjord5091]

What a fantastic workbench, sorry my English. I am Norwegian

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks!

[@MrAmcalabrese]

Nice video and beautiful bench! Thanks for sharing. I'm in the process of building a bench that will be almost identical, but I'm using quarter-sawn beech. I likely going to use this technique as well, as I can then use the same guide rails as a oversize planer in the future. One question for you. You mentioned that you had to take it down 3/16" to take out the twist. Completely understandable. However, were you worried about having to go that low and having the tail vice handle then be too proud of the bench surface plane? Did that end up occurring? I measured my tail vice handle and it is only about 3/16 below the surface and I am worried that when I get the legs built I may be forced to remove more than that, but until I get further along, I really won't know. I am hoping that I may be able to control the amount to be removed by the way I build the leg assemblies. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks again!

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks, glad you liked the video! You are correct, if you end up taking too much off, the tail vise wheel would be proud of the bench. Fortunately, this didn't happen with me. Worst case, if this happened, you could shim the whole tail vise assembly down to get the wheel below the bench top. This would require making a new sliding dog block (or shimming the existing one), but could work OK. Like you said, I have already used my rails as a 24" jointer for slabs. Works great!

[@MrAmcalabrese]

Great thought of shimming the vice down a touch if necessary. I'll definitely keep that in mind.

[@aspincelaframboise5300]

Nice, nice and very nice eh... Ü

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thank you!

[@aspincelaframboise5300]

@@TheGrainDoctor; I've made an 80 inch workbench from recycled pallets in early 90's. This method would have saved me a couple days of dickering around eh... Many thanks.

[@LittleHayCreek]

Great video bud, that bench looks amazing and super functional. I need to make one right now. 😀

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks! It’s been great so far. Set aside a few hours for the build. 😀

[@thatguythatdoesstuff7448]

Excellent work and great innovation of commonly used techniques. I'll say you were a little too conservative with your bit choice though. An Offermanized router should easily be able to spin a bit 30 inches in diameter with a cut depth of 1/4".

[@TheGrainDoctor]

+Theball Player I was trying to do that, but I kept tripping my 200a house circuit. 😄 Thanks for watching!

[@ChicoMillion]

Great video style! And I'm going to replace my wavy workbench top with thicker lumber at some point (hopefully sooner rather than later), I appreciate all the great tips!

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful, and good luck on your project.

[@Doorkicker505]

That router sled looks like tedious work. I hope I never have to do it. At least I know how. by watching this video. Thanks !!

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Doorkicker505 It is definitely tedious and dusty work, but it beats trying to get a 36" jointer and planer down the basement steps! 😄

[@mickleblade]

Great bench, good video, imo the music ain't too good though, and I couldn't mute it as then I wouldn't your dulcet tones!

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Glad you liked the video! It was one on my early ones, so I (thought I) was limited to the music available with iMovie.

[@mysshield]

OK, that was fantastic. Your table might be overkill for my needs, but that's a gorgeous bit of work.

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks!

[@BullCityWoodworks]

Excellent style, great video...keep em coming!

[@TheGrainDoctor]

+Bull City Woodworks Thanks!

[@michaelbrindle7154]

Great vid! Thanks for the link! -M13WoodWorks

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks Glad you liked it!

[@jromhek2070]

I always wanted to make a solid work bench like this one but was intimidated by flattening the top . Thank you very much for simplifying the process .

[@TheGrainDoctor]

+jrom hek No problem, glad it was helpful!

[@daveyJ213]

Thank you very much for sharing this information. Beautiful work bench. Your craftsmanship is astounding. I am just to the point of flattening my top. I like how you put the extra inner rails to move the main rails back from the surface to prevent scalloping. I had thought of that, but it was good to know I actually had a good idea. I too used Bench Crafted hardware. I love it.

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thanks! Glad you found it useful.

[@shemondoublejack948]

If I wanted to be distracted with music, I would have tuned it to a music video. Especially bad when I'm trying to hear what you have to say and the music is louder than your voice.

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Sorry to disappoint! I said, I’m sorry to disappoint! For what it’s worth, my vocal projection and audio mixing have gotten a little better over the past six years! 😆

[@tomnorman5461]

Beauty of a Bench.

[@TheGrainDoctor]

Thank you, sir!