Ultimate Workbench Build: Function vs. Fancy (I Made My Choice)

[@boriscalderon1678]

Nice job. I especially liked your written comments. When I drilled my dog holes, I made a similar jig, but had multiple holes that I could use to index the next hole off the preceding one. That made the spacing exactly the same and eliminated the variance my old eyes usually cause.

[@windfirewoodwork]

That’s a great idea!

[@G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Nice bench. Well worth the assembly time, given its usefulness & durability. Thanks for reminding us of the usefulness of the automotive cork sheeting. Chisel tip: you may want to hold or clamp a block of wood aligned with the bottom of your chisel and the edge of your mortise. This block is intended to stabilize the bottom of your chisel to aid in getting a vertical side of the mortise. The block takes a few minutes to set up, but saves you time by eliminating the need to worry if your mortise edge is square w/ the surface. Using this method becomes more important using thick stock or deep mortises. Viewers may want to consider what type of bench dogs or dog hole aids / accessories they will use to ensure that they will fit into 3/4” holes. Some dogs & accessories may only be available in 20mm, and not 3/4” (thanks Festool). I like your simple jig for dog hole placement & intend to make one just like it, perhaps w/ a guide to ensure the hole is square w/ the top while drilling.

[@windfirewoodwork]

Thank you for the view and the tip about clamping on a guide block for chiseling. That's a great idea! All the best on making your bench dog jig 🙂

[@MMMS75]

Nice bench! I noticed the price of Ash was great too recently. I’m using it for bunk beds for my boys, but plan on getting more for a workbench project as well. I really like working with Ash, cuts very nice and stable with little chip out.

[@windfirewoodwork]

Thank you! It was quite nice. Drilling through it was a bit of a challenge, but I think that was my cheap bits fighting their way through 3” of hard wood. Ash bunk beds would be awesome!

[@felicadawn62]

Love that verse at the end. Thank you for that reminder. Your workbench came out really nice!! Maybe eventually you could keep small handwork projects in your little shed (no power tools) for those times that more quiet meditative work would be nice. Just a thought. (I do understand the difficulty in moving your tablesaw across the backyard (garden?) Anyone ever mention your resemblance to a certain slightly younger, famous Canadian? I knew you reminded me of someone. Today I realized who it was.

[@windfirewoodwork]

Thank you! I like the hand tool shed idea. Unfortunately, a condition of me getting the garage as “my space” was that the shed needed to become storage. I’m now fully moved out of the shed and into the garage. I’m not sure which younger Canadian you’re referring to. I did have a youth in our area say I reminded him of Ryan Reynolds. I laughed and said “I’ll take it.” If only! 😆

[@felicadawn62]

​@windfirewoodwork exactly the one I was referring to. 😊

[@morrisonsusan]

Beautiful!

[@windfirewoodwork]

Thank you!

[@garynelles]

Cool bench build. You will love it for many years to come! I love the gap stop. What a great idea!😉

[@windfirewoodwork]

😂

[@ericpetitclerc5519]

I just discovered your channel. Thanks for this video, I have to check out your previous work,,,.

[@windfirewoodwork]

Hope you enjoy!

[@robohippy]

I can relate to wood binding when cutting on the table saw. I did find out that this is generally a bigger problem with traditional kiln/kill dried wood, but almost no issue with air/vacuum kiln/solar kiln dried woods.

[@windfirewoodwork]

I’ve heard the same. Thanks for watching!

[@Aaron-nj4ou]

Nice job. I love the ash. Emerald Ash borer took out most of the ash in our area so it is hard to find around here. I am currently half done the Anarchist bench by CS. I used construction lumber and some elm I had for the vise chop and outer leg laminations. I couldn’t justify the cost of making it out of hardwood. Best price I could get around here is $7 a board foot for Soft Maple (8/4) even poplar was $8 and I was not willing to spend $1000 on lumber for a bench. I like your compromise on the leg vise. I am planning on getting the criss cross and just getting the regular vise screw. I can’t decide on the split top. Anarchist bench is solid but as a TWW fan as well I can appreciate the utility of the split top but it does add two stretchers to the build and I am not really convinced I would use the gap stop that much.

[@windfirewoodwork]

Yes, I hear the days of cheap Ash may be coming to an end in my area soon too. I wanted to use some construction lumber, but everything out here is spruce, which just seemed too soft. I looked into getting some Douglas fir from a nearby mill, but they don’t have a kiln and were charging more than I found the ash for. The anarchists workbench looks great, but I have found the split top helpful more often than I thought I would, especially for clamping some small projects from all sides. Best of luck with the new bench!

[@aaronoconnor606]

You can use a track saw as jointer as well or make a jig/sled for a tablesaw

[@windfirewoodwork]

For sure!

[@richcartwright889]

Custom 10 wheel workbench designed to store on end. My dream workbench would be anything in a bigger workshop.

[@windfirewoodwork]

I hear ya. I recognize how fortunate I am to have been able to build a new shop. Storing the bench on end sounds like a great idea for saving space! 👍

[@anthonyvincent9990]

without having a shop myself nor the funds, my shop is the open air of my backyard. however I'm wanting to build one of those ultimate benches that houses my table saw/ miter saw and my planer. I'm just trying to figure out the best material as it will be exposed to the elements.

[@windfirewoodwork]

How exposed to the elements would it be? I assume that you’ll have it under cover somewhere when not in use, since it will house tools? My first thoughts are Cedar/pressure treated lumber and MDO plywood. MDO’s not cheap, but it’s the stuff that they make a lot of highway signs out of and it’s supposed to paint nicely. If you’re keeping it under cover, I’d be tempted to save money with standard 2x4s and plywood. Best of luck! 😊

[@anthonyvincent9990]

i have a awning over my back patio otherwise i would be covered with a tarp.@@windfirewoodwork

[@sarinhighwind]

This in the new shop?

[@windfirewoodwork]

Yep. Going back in time before the shop was fully set up, but new shop called for a new workbench. 🙂

[@sarinhighwind]

@@windfirewoodworkCome help finish mine while youre at it. hahaha. I built the top, it only weighs like 300 lbs. =*( Gotta build a base still.

[@windfirewoodwork]

Oof, that’s a heavy top. All one piece?

[@sarinhighwind]

​@@windfirewoodwork4x8 foot torsion box with 3/4 inch baltic birch top. Had to build it kinda weird to accomidate my table saw as an outfeed and make it mobile, all sorts of stuff. It might not be quite that heavy, but I cannot pick it up easily.