Workbench Upgrades - 240

[@ReaperWoodworks]

One of these is on my short list. I'm reading the "essential" workbench book right now. But so far everything about your bench jives with the tips they give. Heavy, solid, versatile, and now customization for the future.

[@WoodByWright]

So in love with it! really enjoying this more traditional woodworking flare! so sweet!

[@jeffmansfield914]

I've only recently discovered your channel, and I'm loving it! My family and I drove through Starkville last night on our way home to Georgia from Cleveland, MS. I thought, "Jay Bates could be filming a video just minutes from us, right now." Ha! Keep up the good work, we all really appreciate it!

[@JayBates]

+Jeff Mansfield hahahahah. Nice :)

[@smokeeater8387]

Awesome! I'm in the process of building my workbench now. Took boards from a deck tear off for the top, cut them in half and glued and screwed them, it's not even and I've spent hours sanding this sucker trying to get it perfectly level but I'm calling it good enough. I just got started woodworking last year so I know very little but I think I'm going to steal some of your ideas. 👍

[@thomasarussellsr]

best suggestion for smoothing that top is a jack plane, the longer the better. not hard to use, but so worth the investment if you can get one. as with any tool, if you are not familiar with it, practice on some scraps before taking it to your project.

[@smokeeater8387]

+Thomas Russell Thanks

[@GuysShop]

It's the little things that can really help your workflow. Nice Jay!

[@dalepres1]

Great series of videos; I almost never watch a video over a few minutes but the production quality was so high on these that I really enjoyed watching. Knowing how to make a great video is as important as knowing the topic you're presenting - well, at least it makes watching the technical content much more enjoyable. Thank you! Just a tip: on the leg vice, if you were to cut a small wedge at the same angle as the movable wedge, you could prevent twist or uneven pressure on the bottom. Maybe just cut off the appropriate length from the pointy end of the wedge you have, flip it over, and attach it at the bottom of the vice. This would increase the pressure surface area at the bottom.

[@MartyBacke]

The removal back shelf is my favorite part.Thanks for the highlights.

[@AwesomeWoodThings]

Dude... that modified leg vice is awesome!

[@DesignBuildExecute]

Nice add-ons, Jay! Wish I had room for a bigger bench, but you gave me some good ideas to make improvements to the bench I have now.

[@TimothyHall13]

Nice video Jay. Amazed at how the experience shows through.

[@Simplecove]

That's a great looking bench, Jay.

[@bearkatwood6354]

smart leg vise stop. Nice additions Jay. It has turned out very nicely. Thanks for the info, have a great day.

[@jburns4304]

Thanks Jay. You have shown me how make a solid bench

[@watermain48]

Love your bench and enjoyed watching the progress on the videos, thanks for sharing.

[@RPC1231]

Looks real good, Jay.

[@TedAlexander24]

Nice looking, solid bench. I like the work coming out of it too.

[@adamvanderswaagh8983]

Super nice bench. I've enjoyed all of the video pieces of it so far. I'm also enjoying The Woodworking Podcast that you do with April and Nick. Great stuff!

[@TheWoodKnight]

If you're worried about the benchdogs getting too loose, embed a single ball catch (sometimes called a bullet catch) in one side of each bench dog. They don't need to be glued in, just a tight fitting hole. The catch is spring loaded, makes for very easy insertion/removal, but it won't fall through

[@mmarte1622]

Great Work Jay!!!

[@stephenbranley9633]

A great mini-series, thank you. I'm going to make a bench shortly, and I've searched for the one that fits my skill level and budget, this is the one... :)

[@martijnfransen9933]

Really like your workbench! huge value for moeny and it looks great!

[@johnlofts3316]

Great video as ever Jay, thanks. Re leg vice; strikes me that it might be easier to simply fit a pegged parallel guide from the outset but use the wedge for most purposes and only use the peg when working on exceptionally thick/wide pieces. Never can understand those thumbs down, wherever I see them. Power to your elbow.

[@DIYBuilds]

Thanks for the update. That leg vise just seems to involved for me.

[@JayBates]

+Do It Yourself Builds It's actually not that involved.

[@deanreynolds2027]

some neat modifications,the oak dowels are very good idea, In England the brass bench dogs are roughly £20 or $35 each so I've always made do, But on seeing this vid I'm gonna add them to my bench so many thanks

[@krtwood]

A really simple upgrade to the dowels for bench dogs is to cut a slot down the middle of them stopping short about 3/4"-1" from the top and then jam a really short little wedge all the way up the slot so that the two halves spread apart. That gives you a little spring effect so they can be looser but still stay in place. Takes a little trial and error to get it right.

[@thomasarussellsr]

or drill a small hole at the top of that channel, use a smaller channel and a properly sized hole under the dog and install a piece of wire hanger as a spring.

[@beauxtx1959]

VERY nice, Jay!

[@bosse641]

Very nice bench. ....great job.

[@keithwebster2005]

awesome bench thanks for sharing

[@courtneyfaas1266]

Jay just one comment. You're a bada$s. I love your work and the all the little details really set you apart.

[@JayBates]

+Courtney Faas Thank you :)

[@1111jessyjames]

Jay looking good brotherman. Upgrades are always a great thing to do and yours seems to be working out for you. We'll have to collaborate someday with our different styles :)

[@BruceAUlrich]

Good solutions to the racking and the leg vise wanting to turn.

[@JTWoodworks]

Awesome stuff Jay. Why do you have three boards glued up on our tail vise rather than one like most people have?

[@gregaltenhofel7326]

Good job, good video and really nice bench.

[@Kashif121472]

Beautifull work.

[@davidclark9086]

Great updates.

[@craftedworkshop]

I feel like all of the adjustments needed to your leg vise are due to the lack of a parallel guide. Why not just install one? I heard you say on the podcast that you didn't want to put a through mortise in your leg but I can't imagine it would have effected the structural integrity. The traditional pin system is a pain but you could use one of the chain systems available. That's what I'll be putting on my Roubo. You could have also used the Benchcrafted Criss Cross setup.

[@JayBates]

+Crafted Magazine I like the convenience of the wedge. And this option is much less expensive. Especially if you make the screw yourself. All personal preference. Any one will work.

[@craftedworkshop]

Gotcha, makes sense. Thanks for the videos man. Your workbench inspired me to go for building a Split Top Roubo. Starting rough cutting the wood (hard maple) this morning.

[@backmalfunction]

Here is a thought.The maximum stock clamp-able in the foot vice is reliant on the floor wedge width / angle.To clamp greater stock dimensions would need a very large / long wedge. This would be too long and get in the way of your feet.Imagine this very long wedge cut into two wedges one the smaller taper and the second the larger. Now this is a pain because you need to alternate.If you combined them at 90 degrees ( screw and glue) you would have both and still foot operatable.So, two faces are still flat at right angles (making a corner) with the other two tapered yet with different widths of taper? You could use your foot to rotate the wedge 90 degrees depending on what stock thickness you are using. Even if you don't want greater stock usability it takes the unused thin part of the wedge away from you feet at the bench end (when working with thick stock) and shortens the amount of wedge at your feet on the long bench side (when using the clamp for thin stock). Not sure if you will follow my bad description, however I'm sure you might appreciate possible future modifications. And, this is a really simple one. Great channel......awesome bench.

[@kalebcrafts6173]

+Jay Bates Love you videos and your work. Keep them coming. Really good information and really well put together.

[@joeobrien196]

Happy Easter. By the time you would be putting material into the vice you would probably have an off cut of it to use as a spacer.

[@jean-marclabonte2844]

Nice workbench alterations, I can see how these changes would make it much more versatile and functional. I have a question though. When you were showing your solution to prevent the leg vice from rotating when you turned the handle I thought it looked too complicated and clunky. Why didn't you just drill a 1" hole through the bottom of the leg vise and a slightly larger hole into the leg of the workbench and insert and glue a length of 1" oaken dowel into the leg vise. I think this solution would work just as well and look a lot better since the dowel would be centered in bottom the vise and be hidden in the leg of the bench. Just a thought. The bench looks great and I am sure it will serve you well for many years. Thanks for posting the upgrades.

[@VTGoPro]

Have you seen the Samurai Carpenter's new workbench? It's on a god like level. I still like your's more though, because no one is willing to spend the time nor the money to get an insanely beautiful workbench like he did. Yours is way more applicable to the people that watch your videos. Keep up the good work!

[@DIYbyBILL]

nice. keep up the good work.

[@manuelraoultmaeso]

Excellente vidéo, bien filmée, bien expliquée... C'Est net! Excellent video, good footage, good explications, it's great. thanks

[@Sittree]

Happy Easter sir.

[@SterlingsWoodcrafts]

nice upgrades, I like the bench Dogs

[@richardw5555]

great bench I am going to build one for my shop thanks

[@MattDiresta]

so sweet!

[@christschool]

I'm building a bench out of white wood from Lowes. My bench is smaller than yours and I've already spend $75 for wood. Yours looks like you made it out of SYP, a better and more expensive wood than what I'm using. How did you manage to buy the wood so cheap?

[@ruelsmith]

Have you ever thought of putting a French cleat down the naked end of the workbench and you can hang your tray or just about anything else you want to make that can come in handy off the end of the bench?

[@ZyklonB95]

I see you never got around to putting those dowels in the legs. Would look so much more finished with the pegs, but as you've said, this bench is more function over form, so whatever floats your boat.

[@DemasShopforEverything]

Awesome, my bench always has changed even a year later. I'm thinking of getting rid of the tool channel down the center of my bench

[@JayBates]

+Dema's WoodShop Interesting. Why?

[@DemasShopforEverything]

+Jay Bates it collects crap lol

[@JayBates]

+Dema's WoodShop hahahaha. I hear ya.

[@gregraso557]

Jay, I notice behind you and remembered from a past video that you prefer vertical storage of your lumber. I was always under the impression that you should lay it flat to prevent warping. Is that not the case? I would like to store it vertically as it would be easier to see and get at what I need. Thanks, Greg

[@bobznew]

Very smart upgrades. On the leg vise screw... how did you attach the spacer block to the underside of the workbench?

[@m.emrahozkaya9903]

Very nice Jay. Maybe you could add a matching nut fixed to the proper height instead of that loose wooden spacer. Also, the wooden slider at the bottom looks a bit thin, no?

[@JayBates]

+M.Emrah Ozkaya The fixed nut is not necessary as the loose wooden spacer is working just fine. The slider at the bottom is plenty thick enough to complete the task.

[@richardshaw3094]

Thanks Jay... What do you use to sharpen chisels and drill bits

[@Xyienced]

Nice!

[@johnnybrujo868]

most excellent good sir

[@jimjohnson7964]

Very nice workbench. I'm thinking about building one myself. I do have a question. Have you experienced any permanent bow to the leg vice to where the wedge seems to go in further than it use too for the size wood you have clamped?

[@cobberpete1]

Hi Jay, krtwood made comment below about the dogs, but as you also watch Paul Sellers, you will see he made dog springs out of coat hanger wire which are very effective... When the time comes

[@ConorMakes]

Nice mods Jay. But you forgot to mention which side of the bench you work on mostly lol

[@ChristMetalKing]

Hey Jay, I built this same workbench and was wondering what you suggest to finish it with as far as a poly or hand rubbed finish. Thanks!

[@JayBates]

Danish oil. It offers some protection but not too slippery like poly.

[@jeffforbes3772]

Regarding the cast iron vice...I can't remember from the build video if there was a reason for covering only half of the end. Was it a technical choice or just a matter of what you had available. Did you consider a twin screw to cover the entire end? Thanks and thanks also for all the great videos!

[@JayBates]

+Jeff Forbes I put it to one side to use as a tail vise situation. However, after seeing David Marks' setup with the same vise to cover the entire end I'll probably move it to the center sometime down the road.

[@pauln1770]

Jay, do you see a possibility of wanting to use a finish on the workbench top to keep it protected? Or do you think keeping the raw wood is a better option?

[@JayBates]

+Paul Nelson I've got boiled linseed oil on it. It's holding up just fine.

[@092182tla]

Awesome and very handy bench. Great job man ! May I ask what's up with the black question mark shaped handles or are they not handles ? What are they lol

[@JayBates]

+TomTom The Destroyer Workbench holdfasts.

[@092182tla]

+Jay Bates ya I just recalled u using them in a previous vid. Just quick little hold downs. Anyways awesome job jay !

[@5305boat]

what brand is the quick release vise, and do you like that brand? Is it weaker than a regular metal wood working vise that is not quick release

[@jeffstanley4593]

The leg vise is great but you could improve it by shortening the handle. You do not need the leverage supplied by that long handle and you would not hit yourself when leaning over to spin it! Now, an important question. It is my understanding that woodworking bench are made so massive/ heavy so that you can plane and/or otherwise work on them without moving them. So, in a perfect world you could have a top made of ummovableinium that weighed ONE pound and was as the name says unmovable. I do not plane or have a need for such mass. In my world a top made of a substance like the Festool MFT top might be superb. Is my thinking correct? Thank you for the great video as usual. I mean you always make great videos.

[@davidleach1068]

EXCELLENT

[@DelRJohnston]

Happy Easter to you & Jamie! If you did not have pipe clamps & did not have wall space, would French cleats on the side of the bench work to hold the tool caddy? Or, would you need to extend the "wall" behind the caddy downwards? Hope that made sense.

[@JayBates]

+Del Johnston If I didn't have wall space to eventually put the hand tools on I would probably have built a tool well into the table.

[@frosty9392]

chris pratt.. that's who he reminded me of! That was driving me crazy

[@NathanNostaw]

How many coat pockets have you ripped off or snagged on the pipe clamp handles?

[@MRrwmac]

Nice modifications! How did you cut those deep dog holes in?

[@JayBates]

+MRrwmac I don't drill them perfectly 90 degrees. I start the hole with a forstner bit to get a clean cut about 1/2" deep. Then finish the cut with a 3/4" auger bit on a slight angle with the top tapered towards the tail vise. Just drilled by eye.

[@summerswoodworking]

Okay Jay, which vice on that table is your most favorite one?

[@JayBates]

+Summers Woodworking The leg vise.

[@richardshaw3094]

2 questions The spacer under the bench for the screw.... How far back do you mount that.. Does it matter? What do you use to sharpen your chisels and drill bits?

[@JayBates]

+Richard Shaw I didn't mount the spacer. It's just sitting there. The distance is determined by your particular setup. I moved it around until I found what seemed like a good balance point to allow the vise to operate more smoothly.

[@marcononya4302]

Hi Jay, did you decide that you didn't need the oak dowels at the stretcher joints?

[@JayBates]

+Marco Nonya correct. I ended up not using dowels.

[@TimRoyalPastortim]

Clever idea with the tool tote! Was the tool tote size for that intentional or a happy accident (I love happy accidents!)? Still clever either way.

[@JayBates]

+Tim Royal Happy accident.

[@TimRoyalPastortim]

Jay Bates Nice... well you gave me a "Happy accident" idea for my new bench! I have a built in tool tray, but hate the idea of putting ends on it because of dust. I think I will build "totes" to go in either end, One a chisel and layout tool tote and the other a saw till! Happy Easter Jay!

[@lisafossum7296]

Great bench! Any problem with the tool tote causing the pipes to sag due to weight?

[@JayBates]

no

[@jacktibbetts1337]

I was wondering what you're best work around was before you had your jointer. I've been working on similar projects. (Benches and tables.) with that kind of laminated top. Any suggestions on milling and squaring up lumber?

[@JayBates]

+Jack Tibbetts Cut a little off one side, then the other, then the other, until you get a straight enough board to use.

[@jacktibbetts1337]

+Jay Bates Thanks. I definitely want to get one soon though. They totally seem like they make things easier

[@JayBates]

+Jack Tibbetts They really do. Since getting mine I've ran every board for every project over it. If not, close to every board.

[@ksruns8206]

Jay, did you ever put any kind of a finish on the top of the bench?

[@JayBates]

Boiled linseed oil for a month. Then flattened it for the first time and tried Danish oil instead. I like the danish oil better. Not as thick as polyurethane but a bit more protection than boiled linseed oil.

[@ErugoPurakushiOne]

Love the supdogs

[@jimgam730]

I was wondering the same thing as Moochie Kat. How did you get the dog holes a perfect 90 when you drilled them?

[@DelRJohnston]

Not sure how Jay does it, but using a drill guide is one option. goo.gl/GlFyWe

[@JayBates]

+jimgam730 I don't drill them perfectly 90 degrees. I start the hole with a forstner bit to get a clean cut about 1/2" deep. Then finish the cut with a 3/4" auger bit on a slight angle with the top tapered towards the tail vise. Just drilled by eye.

[@Everfalling]

does that single wedge put any sort of twisting pressure on the vice considering it's only clamping the wedge on that right end? wouldn't it be better to incorporate a complimentary wedge?

[@JayBates]

+Everfalling In the video where I installed the leg vise I showed that I cut out a section on the bottom of the leg vise that matches the angle of the wedge.

[@andreregimbal8201]

Any warping in the top? Was looking on building one for myself but scared the top would warp by not using hardwood.

[@JayBates]

+Andre Regimbal Hardwood vs softwood has nothing to do with something warping or not. Irregular changes in humidity/moisture content causes wood to warp. I started with kiln dried wood from Lowes. I had about 1/16" of hollow in the center from day 1 and never got around to planing the top as it wasn't that big of a deal. I figured it would move more in the next few months but it didn't so a few days ago I planed it flat for the first time. It's holding up just fine.

[@TheSageDad]

No sound effects??!! LOL Happy Easter!

[@thomasklink3766]

How did you get a 90 deg. hole for the dog holes? I know you didn't put it on the drill press. I couldn't get a perfect 90 when I drilled mine. What's the trick?

[@DelRJohnston]

Not sure how Jay does it, but using a drill guide is one option. goo.gl/GlFyWe

[@JayBates]

+Moochie Kat I don't drill them perfectly 90 degrees. I start the hole with a forstner bit to get a clean cut about 1/2" deep. Then finish the cut with a 3/4" auger bit on a slight angle with the top tapered towards the tail vise. Just drilled by eye.

[@thomasklink3766]

Jay Bates Thanks. You have a better eye than me. I was so disappointed with mine, I plugged them with dowels. I did see a youtube where the guy used an up-cut bit in a plunge router and then finished with a forstner bit. I might try that way.

[@thomasklink3766]

Del Johnson, thanks that should work.

[@noahknopf8023]

that was a few months already? it feels like last week

[@Killahworm]

Why not have the vice jaws in place? doesn't seem like it would interfere with your tool tote?

[@Killahworm]

+Killahworm nevermind, I see why now.

[@gio.guarino]

Is the table too thick to use holdfasts? I've never used them before and want to build this table to use them. I plan on using 2x4s (maybe 2x3s if it's too thick).

[@JayBates]

Yes. Counterbore from the bottom side to reduce holdfast engaging hole thickness to about 2-1/2"

[@gio.guarino]

Jay Bates I don't have a counterbore, do you think I can use a router to carve out a section around the 3/4 hole?

[@richardrodgers1883]

You can buy a cheap set of Forstner Bits at HF for less than $15 and use the 1 inch bit to do the counter bore

[@ausguitarist]

Have you considered selling your furniture as a legitimate business? I do a bit myself, but everyone compares customer furniture using reclaimed materials to the prices of Ikea crap... hard to get into

[@instantsiv]

Is there anything that's too late to change that you wish you could go back and change?

[@JayBates]

+instantsiv Nope. I just wish I could get my tool wall done sooner rather than later. The end goal for my hand tools is on the wall behind the bench. Until then, this works great.

[@davidsmart8594]

+Jay Bates Full wall-mounted tool cupboard with flat-opening doors...or a tool rack? Having watched your workbench build, I'm looking forward to what comes next.

[@rigcustoms5994]

What are those stains at the legs of the workbench?

[@tiffanyjohnson3110]

Is the wood behind the work bench for your dini g table?

[@JayBates]

+Tiffany Johnson Yes, partially. Some will be for other stuff.

[@DBYNOE]

There is something satisfying about using something that one has DIYed well, but for most work, wouldn't that quick release Record style vise have workef more conveniently than that leg vise, if it had been installed in that position (thinking Paul Sellers), (not a criticism, it just seems like leg vises are kept around more out of nostalgia than practicality), maybe I'll have to try one to get it.

[@JayBates]

+Darnley Bynoe I prefer using the leg vise a lot more. Much more clamping power with little effort and much more room above the screw. I'm not totally thrilled with the cast iron vise. It's handy for some tasks but I just overall prefer the leg vise.

[@DBYNOE]

Yea, I guess one needs a side by side (hint: good subject for a video) to know for sure 😉, thx

[@davidn7945]

no binding on that screw with that spacer?

[@JayBates]

+David N The spacer prevents binding.

[@greenkitty79]

Why do you leave two nails sticking out on the piece on the floor?

[@ZrubekFamily]

+Green Kitty Makes it easier to move with your shoe.

[@mgeez9641]

What are the uses for a leg vice?

[@bixarrio5251]

The horror! There's a dust mask lying on Jay's floor!

[@newfization]

I don't know if you check old videos for comments, but I found a neat, very handy project for you called bench puppies. I've never seen these before and they're handy as hell. Check out this video... kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmSWYqSMaLB4bK8#t=204.339417

[@JayBates]

Thanks. I featured them in my Around The Web article last week.

[@jlsamarcenaria2422]

Brother show,Blz!!!,

[@fatihsengul1898]

wax on, wax off. BREATH IN, BREATH OUT !

[@tiffanyjohnson3110]

HappyEaster