August 18, 2024 • 34 mins
In this podcast, I have a general discussion about the new slot together workbench I've just finished.
I value everyone's beliefs, and knowledge, so feel free to leave a comment.
I also appreciate all feedback, Even bad feedback, just make it constructive.
link to all my content, including the free Roman workbench ebook and plans.
https://linktr.ee/DW_woodworks
I value everyone's beliefs, and knowledge, so feel free to leave a comment.
I also appreciate all feedback, Even bad feedback, just make it constructive.
link to all my content, including the free Roman workbench ebook and plans.
https://linktr.ee/DW_woodworks
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
In today's podcast, I'm going to be talking about my
new bench. I've literally just finished building. So this is
I guess you could kind of call it a modular
bench type of thing. It's built from twenty two millimeter plywood.
(00:24):
I didn't initially buy three sheets. I've got a good
bit of plywood left over. I think the basic bench
itself you could probably get away with maybe two sheets.
I haven't quite worked it out yet, but I think
you probably could get away with two sheets of plywood,
(00:47):
which obviously brings a cost down dramatically, but it does
just depend what you want to do with the bench.
So the idea behind this bench was that first and
foremost it was for myself to solve my own little
problems and issues that I have in this shot or shed,
(01:11):
if you will.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
As I started.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Building the bench, I did think to myself, rather and
build it just for myself, kind of made it compatible
for other people if other people should want to build it.
So what you can say at the moment is the
beefed up version. Again, if you are listening to this,
(01:34):
it might be worth yours coming over to YouTube and
watching this video if you're interested, of course, but I
will try to you know, care for the guys that
are listening. As I said, this is the beefed up version.
So the difference between this version, the beefed up version,
and the.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Light version should say is that.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
On this VERSI will have a removable apron and the
feet of actually been beefed up as well. So this
was more tic icate for some wheels that I'm going
to eventually put on this most likely, but I am
because to be honest, I don't think that this bench
(02:21):
is gonna have a lot of time out of the shop,
but I did still want that option. So what I
did feel to mentioned I think is that this bench
slots together.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
There's no screws or bolts.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Or wedges or anything like that keeping it atgether.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The apron.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Is held in by two bench pups. Right now, I
am going to add a feel of two bench pups
to it when I am using it, and the the
apron actually sits on two little cleats. These are just
ninety degree cleats. It's just basically to take the weight
(03:05):
of it. So again, if you're all watching this on YouTube,
I am going to quickly show you is what I'm
talking about with the removable apron so basically when you're
putting the apron in or taking the apron out. What
I've been down and it's been working quite well, is
(03:25):
getting just one of my regular pegs when I use
for my Roman work bench, or what I was using
for me Nicholson bench, and what I'm probably going to
use for this bench as well is what one in
the middle, and I'm going to push the bench put out.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So there's one bench.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
And there's the other one, and then basically you just
take the weight and the middle one comes out and
there is the removable apron out of the way, so
you should be able to say the.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Two little cleats I was talking about.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
So there's a cleat here and obviously at the other side,
and basically this just stops the the apron from moving down.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And with the apron moving down the.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Other the only other way can go is outward, and
that's what the pegs are for. I might actually add
some more pegs, maybe a couple in the middle. I
don't believe that ladd an extra bit of stability. In
all fairness, it is actually pretty sturdy. I'm actually, I
(04:41):
have to be honest, I'm I'm a little bit surprised
at how sturdy it is.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It's it's like, you know, really well.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Although on YouTube and a couple of last social media platforms,
I have had a little bit of criticism. Just today
there was a guy that was saying it moves all over.
It does move a little bit. I can't deny that.
But one of the things the guy feel to recognize
(05:09):
and I feel to recognize it as well. It actually
got pointed out to me is that the floor in
the shed moves. And it wasn't until someone pointed it out.
Now you've got to You've got to bear in mind
that when I did actually build this shed or workshop,
whatever you want to call it, I never intended for
(05:31):
the floor to be left the way it's being left.
My intention was to basically over all of the joints
with some more fiber board basically, so I don't know,
I was maybe going to hide down. I think it
was half inch or maybe yeah, I think it was
(05:52):
half inch, So I was gonna come over over the
top of this roller with some half inch.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
And just like all the giants. But you know, this
is me and I just haven't got around with the
doing it. You know. It's just one of those things.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
But as I said, I wasn't aware it was moving
so much when I was carrying out tasks. You know,
it's not just this bench. It doesn't worth the Nekelcent
bench which is behind the camera.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
So the bench it comes in. How many components have
we got We've got one.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Two, three, four, five, six, So it comes in six components.
Obviously the aprons optional. I sound I sound like I'm
selling this thing, don't There is probably going to be plans.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
I'm not going to.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I don't think I'm going to be charging for the plans.
The will kind of be like how to put it
a donation basis, If you think the bench is worth
it's and the plans are worth it, you can leave
us a donation.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
If not, you know the plans are going to be.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
So the bench comes in six components, as I've already stated,
So we have the bottom, the two sides, and the
two legs.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
So what I've actually done to beef this up is
that I.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Added two extra pieces of ply to the feet, so
the one inside I thought that was necessary, and that's
just going to take some of the weights of the
shelf because obviously I will be starting things on this.
This is obviously going to be storage. Plus it's going
(07:40):
to help to wear the bench down. So speaking of weights,
while I do remember the bench when I weighed it
before I actually got me here, bathroom scales down and
I put all the components on top of the scales
and it came in at one hundred and fifty pounds.
So the whole bench is one hundred and fifty pounds. Obviously,
(08:03):
this is the beefed up version, so I'm not sure
what the slim down version would be. So if you
wouldn't know what the slim down version would be, it
would be obviously five components. I don't think I would
bother with the outside piece on the legs both sides,
(08:28):
and possibly, depending on what you're dealing with it, you
could have another cutout in the opposite side.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
You probably can't say on the camera.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
But there's a cutouts where I am at the moment,
and on the other side it's just one straight.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Or it's one full piece of ply that's obviously just
been cut the size.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
So it does really depending on what you want to
deal with the bench.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
When I started designing it and really thinking.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
About it, and it's basically taking over me life for
the last week. It's all our pot out, nothing else.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
But one of the things was was that.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
While I would be someone who just wanted to take
it onto a job site, you know, or into somebody's
house whatever and use it as a kind of assembly
table or an MFT table, that's doable. So if you're
going to use it in that sense, you could do
another cutout.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Obviously this is.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Going to lighten it even more, and this might suit
you down to the ground. As I said, I wanted
this to be kind of use our friendly for everyone.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
While I are a power.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Tool would work, or while I you're more like maybe
more of a hand tool would work, although obviously I
have been using tracks over late, and even if it's
just occasionally where you might only be down the odds
and sods of tool would work. And isn't it just
(10:02):
nice to get this wherever you've got it and just
put it in. So as I was saying you before,
it is it is very easy to.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Put in. So basically, once.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Once it's sitting on the cup of the little cleats
and it's lined up.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I'm going to try and show you on the camera
what I'm doing here.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
So once it's sitting on the cleats, which it is now,
you just pot a peg in the middle and that
takes the weight once. Once that middle pegs and you
can basically walk away from it, and then I'm just
gonna add the bench dogs. So the bench dogs or
the veritor's bench pups.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
As they are.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
These work out really well, and I'm going to buy
two more of these and I'm going to add them
to the bench. So I'm gonna add two more to
the middle the middle sections not quite in the middle,
but you're going to like miss a whole either ela
(11:13):
side and put them there. As it is, I mean,
the run itself, it's it is pretty steady. I'm not
gonna demonstrate on this video, but if you want to
take a look on social media on YouTube, shorts, on
(11:33):
me Instagram, on.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
My Facebook, I have shown this.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
I just posted a video today of may So and
on this plane on it like edge playing and with
the ap ron and.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
It's totally fine.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
And I do believe that once I get some more
bench pubs and other two bench pubs, I think that's
gonna stand you up even more. I mean, as it is,
it's it's it is pretty sturdy, and I am happy
with it. One of my concerns I must admit is
that over time, these these holes may compress this outward
(12:13):
and it may give some slack onto the the apron,
So the apron may have started again some planet. I
don't know if that's something that's going to be really
problematic or not. This ply is twenty two will fix.
(12:33):
So it's not like I'm using you know, a half
inch or you know, even three quarter orange.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
I did go for the twenty two.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I did debate on using twenty five, but I kind of,
you know, I thought it was a bit much and
it wasn't needed, So I think only time will tell.
With the bench, obviously, the main feature of this bench
is that I can't just I kind of literally take
it apart. I don't need no screwdrivers or drills or span.
(13:06):
It will just literally come apart, pull out apart. It's
going to be a part in like a couple of minutes.
If that's so. That's what I do like about it.
The dog holes my space is what I've went. I've
went ten inches apart going down the length of the bench,
and I have made it eight inches apart going the
(13:30):
width of the bench, So I know the the MFT
tables are. I think they're like, is it ninety six
I want to say ninety six millimeters apart the spaces
of the whole center at the center, I personally think
(13:50):
that's too many for me. That is obviously. I know
there's a reason why it's ninety six centers. I can't
remember the reason, but there is a reason why they
at ninety six centers. For me, that's far too much.
It's it's far too many. I really don't. I don't
see the pointing down there for what I do. The
(14:14):
majority of the work that I'm going to be doing
on this bench is going to be with hand tools,
with the exception of using the track saw to do
multiple cuts and you know, to use the track sow
on here. It's you know, it's it's not a big deal.
(14:38):
I don't need a lot of pegs. I'm no track
so expert. And you know, I've got a little bit
of year. It's enough for me to get me by.
It's enough to ease, you know, the workload of my back.
And that's all I'm concerned about. A few of the
things I wanted when I was designing this bench. When
on negotiable So one of the things, and I did
(15:03):
talk about this in a previous podcast, was that I
wanted to be able to use clamps.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
On the sides.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
So basically, on this side where I've got the apron
is have just seen how I had the apron, and
take the apron off, so on this side and the
two gables, I can use a regular clamp all the
way around that if I choose to, which was one
(15:33):
of the things I really wanted to have the ability
to do.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
So the Nicholson bench in its own right, it is
a good bench.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
But you know, I just wasn't I wasn't happy about
a lot of things, and one of the main grapes.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
With it was that.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
I really didn't like the fact that I couldn't get
a clamp on it. And again I did talk about this,
and I think it was more to do with the
fact that I'd used a Roman word bench for so
long and I was just able to clamp things to
the sides, which wasn't uncommon for us to do it.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
I wasn't doingnut. I was using hold fasts.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
So while I'm on the subject of hole fasts, that
has hurts a little bit maternity brain because I don't
like to use a hole fast, and it was it
was kind of.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Either have fin our bench, keep the costs down, or.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Get a fit at top and you'll be able to
use whole fasts. So for me to use hole fasts,
I think minimally, I think i'd have to be going
to forty millimeters.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
That's the least I think you could go.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I did tried using hold fast on an inch in
the kind of did work a little bit, but I
think minimally you're looking at forty millimeters to use a
hole fast and to get a decent bite. So I
toyed with this idea. I must have toyed with her
for about maybe like two days. In the space of
(17:21):
two days, I didn't really do a lot to the bench.
I just toyed on some sort of way where I
could add some material to the bench. One of my
thoughts was that I would I would stick a.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Half inch sheet of ply on top of this ply, and.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
It was it was kind of a good idea when
I think about it, because I could have just screwed
it into the place and basically used and abused that
top piece of ply and.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Was no longer suitable.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
I could just take that off, and I could go
out and I could get another piece of ply and
just replace it on top, you know, put some of
your holes in it, you know, and whatever else. What stopps.
What stopps is that if I've done that, I wouldn't
be able to have access to the top of this
(18:25):
section of ply, which I found out it's pretty important
when you're taking it report and putting it the gella,
because you do need to see what you're doing. And
I personally think that if I was trying to put
a top one and I couldn't see where the slots
are trying to get it from underneath, I think it
(18:46):
would take its absolutely ass and it would be very frustrating.
So I come away from that idea and I have,
even though it's still borings a little bit, I have
kind of just come to terms with the fact that
any clamping in the middle of the bench, it's just
going to have to be done with some of these clamps.
(19:09):
So these are just tracks or clamps. Ironically, I've never
used them for the track, so you know, anyone that
uses the tracks will know the majority of the time
you don't need to use them. Occasionally, you do not
come across anything I need to use them for. But
(19:29):
then again, I don't use the tracks so extensively. So
as I said, this is one of the things I'm
not overly happy about, but I don't think that, you know,
I will kind of get over it. On the plus side,
I do have four of these, so I do have
(19:53):
two quick locked on ones, and I have too just
to hand crank ones. And to be honest, they are
they are quite good, good for what they are. And
the two hand cranked ones that I've got these were
veranous ones. And believe it or not, I actually actually
got these before I had a track, so just to
(20:15):
try them out on smaller pieces and whatever else.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
And I found out that they're absolutely excellence.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
And these have been used a lot, if I'm honest,
and I've tightened them, you know, something rotten on certain things,
and they've had a lot of force like thrown onto them,
and I have to admit they are sounds. There isn't
a problem with them, not that I haven't had a
(20:42):
single issue with them. There's been no slipping with them.
There's no there's no sign of you know where on
the heads or anything like that. So these these were
these were pretty good bye. And as I said, I
was using these before I've got the track, so before
or I was like started to use power tools again.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
So these were primarily used.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
All in all the hand tool would work, and so
they're actually not a bad bit of kits. If you
fancy getting some, there is an affiliate link click onto.
It won't cost you anything and I get a little kickback,
and that's on Amazon. I'm going to try to explain
how the whole design works. I don't know if I'm
going to do with justice or not, but I am
(21:27):
going to try to explain the kind of physics of
it and where and where the design come from. So
this design of the workbench, believe it or a lot
actually come from this tool caddy. So this tool caddy,
if he just follows on YouTube or Instagram, you's have
(21:48):
probably seen this quite some time ago. And this started
off like a load of ideas in my head. So
since this which is obviously just a basic tool carry
me chisel's used to sit in the top because I
did used to work outside.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Quite a lot.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
So with us building that and kind of using it
and looking at it and thinking about different things.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
The next the next thing that kind of came out
of that was was a box.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
So again this was built with hand tools. This box
was built with hand tools. I have to admit this
box it did actually take you know, a little bit
of time obviously, just using Japanese saws and whatnot, and
and basically designing it as I went, which I've done
(22:47):
with this bench.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
That's why it's taking us all week to do it,
although I have had a lot of decisions to make,
so you know. So basically this was for a soul
I generate.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
So it had liftiumselves in here, you know, some twelve
fall sockets and USB and it hadn't invertor and it's
in a plug. So I've since taken obviously taken all
the electrics out and I'm using the electrics elsewhere, naming
Lee and me Van.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
So the way this works.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Again, if you are listening to this, I'm being an
agiant and I'm you know, I'm kind of trying to.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Shake this little box.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
So this little box, it is quite stout and sturdy,
and it relies on the same sort of principles as
this workbench does. Obviously, that's where the concept come from.
So this box obviously has spawned the concepts of new workbench,
before the workbench, the war, the seat in bed and
(24:04):
the unit in my van. The same concept that if
I want to right now, I could go to my
van and I could rip the whole the whole bed
and furniture, anything that's in the back of that. I
can have that out in the space of I don't know,
I want to say ten to fifteen minutes. No screws, no,
no span has no, nothing like that. And it's the
(24:26):
same sort of thing. So just to take it as
a part and try and explain. So you've got the
two side legs, and the two side legs, there's just.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
The slot through the bottom.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
So the bottom consists of force lots. In this on
the bench, the bottom consists of one, two, three, four, five,
six slots. So basically the feet have two little lips
either side.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
And what this does and I get it together.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
When there's when there's way it applied. Obviously, it just
sits the bottom shelf section, should we say, sits on
those two little lips, and it's exactly the same the
other side. So as it is, it is actually still
(25:49):
quite flimsy. So even when you put the lid on
it's still quite flimsy. So the magic of how this
works and how it's able to take take a lot
(26:12):
of force racking should should we say in what would
work in terms is that we had a side section,
So basically things are starting to make contact and you're
starting to form a ninety degree corner, which obviously when
(26:35):
you start to do things like that with sheep material,
it starts to pick up rigidity and strength.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
So even just with the one.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Side, this is actually, you know, it is actually quite strong.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Another issue with this is that if you are.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Cutting the slots or the mortorses should we say, and
you slop you with them, you say, you slop you
with these too. When you slop you with with these,
what's going to happen is that the tops going to
be able to move backwards and forwards. And if the
top can move backwards and forwards and it's exactly the
(27:24):
same on you under side the whole things, it's not
going to be very stable.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
So one of the.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Things that you do have to make sure of if
you are intending to build this when I when I
do release the plans in the build video for.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
It, is that.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
You don't have to necessarily worry too much about the
snug fits on the width of the slots or the
or the mortorses. I find it's more.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
The length of it. So if you're making good contact.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
At this end and that end of the slots, and
it's the same on on this side, it can't it
physically can't move forward. So if I can't do that
on the top and I can't do that on the bottom,
you're gon't have a sound structure because the mortorses are
(28:27):
in and the mortorses can't move anyway left, left or right,
and the same on the top. In turn, that keeps
that keeps these these two mortices or two tenants if
you like, from moving, and it's the same that side
once once these are locked in and that's locked in
(28:48):
and the tops in and you've got the weight on
it physically can't move left right. Another design feature that
I designed into this that I wanted obviously wanted to utilize,
was that I did put a cutout in the front.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
And obviously this is for storage.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
It's it's not just for storage, it's for storage and
to start to add weights to the work bench.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
So obviously for those of you that they'll use a
lot of hand tools, saws and whatever else.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Planes You'll know that sometimes you can exert a lot
of force in the bench does want to move around.
So obviously sometimes most of the time, the more weights
you can get on to the bench or underneath the
bench to keep it in place, the better. So with
(29:45):
that in mind, obviously, that's that was one of the
design features of this something else I've also done as well.
I've actually added some crubber to the unders side of
the legs. So I've only just put it down and
(30:05):
I was dragging the bench about a little bit just
to see, you know what, the kind of how the
bench reacted, and it didn't seem too bad. So I'm
hoping that when I get some tools on it and
I start using it in the fashion as you know
design to be used forward working, I don't think I
(30:28):
should have too much issue, and I think it's going
to be a lot more steadier than the Nicholson bench.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
That's that's the hope.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Anyway, something else that I wanted with the bench, I
wanted the bench.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Top to be flat.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
So the issue with solid wood top work benches is
that they will move and you will have to flatten
them from time to time. It just so happens. The
Natilson bench is in need of a flatten. I don't
protect how you think I'm going to flatten it.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Now.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
I was going to flatten it, but as I said,
I don't think I'm going to because obviously I've just
built this new bench, so plywood is going to be
more stable than a solid wood worked up.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
You know, it is just how it is.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
So another thing that I did do is that I
actually made this wider. I'm not actually sure how much
wider it is. I wanted it to be a lot wider.
I wanted this to be free foot, but I'd already
cut out the base and obviously with the sizes, and
I didn't want to go out and buy any more plywood.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
I kind of just stuck to what it is.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
So the width of it is seven hundred and fifty
so I did initially want this to be nine hundred,
which has just done the free foot.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
So you know what we're looking there.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
It's like six inches shy, so you know what, I
can kind of deal with it, although it would have
been nice to have that little bit extra. It is
a pretty decent size bench, if I'm honest. One of
the things that does a noise about the Nickelson bench
(32:30):
just because it's not flat and it's it's not particularly wide.
Is that in the past, when I've been making chairs
or tables, I haven't, like, I haven't been able to
put them on top of the bench like this, where
obviously now I'm going to be able to do with that,
(32:51):
and I'm actually going to be able to flatten the legs,
which is going to be so nice.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
So normally when I've.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Let's say, for instance, the last table I made, I
think that was the three legged table I believe was
at the Free Leg I think it was a free
legged table, so that had conic with tenants and going
straight through some spoilted beach and it was rounded or
(33:20):
a circle if you.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
Will, and anything like that.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
Normally, I've got to take it into the house, get
it wedged up, and then you know, describe some lines
around it. But now, because I know this is flat,
I can do it on here. It sounds that might
sound a little bit silly or or a little bit trivial,
but that's something I really I'm really gonna enjoy doing.
(33:48):
I think I'm gonna call it there day today, Guys,
I'm kind of just rather than on. You know, I
didn't really plan to do this podcast. Today was just
one of those I thought it was, you know, interesting,
because I have had a bit of interest about this bench,
so I thought I would speak about.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
It a little bit.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Any questions, leave a comment and I'll try and I'll
try and answer it to the best of my ability.
I know I've jumped about a bit today, and I
don't apologize about that, but as I said, any questions,
I'll try and answer the best I can, and until
the next time, I shall say to speak to you
guys later.
In today's podcast, I'm going to be talking about my
new bench. I've literally just finished building. So this is
I guess you could kind of call it a modular
bench type of thing. It's built from twenty two millimeter plywood.
(00:24):
I didn't initially buy three sheets. I've got a good
bit of plywood left over. I think the basic bench
itself you could probably get away with maybe two sheets.
I haven't quite worked it out yet, but I think
you probably could get away with two sheets of plywood,
(00:47):
which obviously brings a cost down dramatically, but it does
just depend what you want to do with the bench.
So the idea behind this bench was that first and
foremost it was for myself to solve my own little
problems and issues that I have in this shot or shed,
(01:11):
if you will.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
As I started.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Building the bench, I did think to myself, rather and
build it just for myself, kind of made it compatible
for other people if other people should want to build it.
So what you can say at the moment is the
beefed up version. Again, if you are listening to this,
(01:34):
it might be worth yours coming over to YouTube and
watching this video if you're interested, of course, but I
will try to you know, care for the guys that
are listening. As I said, this is the beefed up version.
So the difference between this version, the beefed up version,
and the.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Light version should say is that.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
On this VERSI will have a removable apron and the
feet of actually been beefed up as well. So this
was more tic icate for some wheels that I'm going
to eventually put on this most likely, but I am
because to be honest, I don't think that this bench
(02:21):
is gonna have a lot of time out of the shop,
but I did still want that option. So what I
did feel to mentioned I think is that this bench
slots together.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
There's no screws or bolts.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Or wedges or anything like that keeping it atgether.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The apron.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Is held in by two bench pups. Right now, I
am going to add a feel of two bench pups
to it when I am using it, and the the
apron actually sits on two little cleats. These are just
ninety degree cleats. It's just basically to take the weight
(03:05):
of it. So again, if you're all watching this on YouTube,
I am going to quickly show you is what I'm
talking about with the removable apron so basically when you're
putting the apron in or taking the apron out. What
I've been down and it's been working quite well, is
(03:25):
getting just one of my regular pegs when I use
for my Roman work bench, or what I was using
for me Nicholson bench, and what I'm probably going to
use for this bench as well is what one in
the middle, and I'm going to push the bench put out.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
So there's one bench.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
And there's the other one, and then basically you just
take the weight and the middle one comes out and
there is the removable apron out of the way, so
you should be able to say the.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Two little cleats I was talking about.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
So there's a cleat here and obviously at the other side,
and basically this just stops the the apron from moving down.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And with the apron moving down the.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Other the only other way can go is outward, and
that's what the pegs are for. I might actually add
some more pegs, maybe a couple in the middle. I
don't believe that ladd an extra bit of stability. In
all fairness, it is actually pretty sturdy. I'm actually, I
(04:41):
have to be honest, I'm I'm a little bit surprised
at how sturdy it is.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
It's it's like, you know, really well.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Although on YouTube and a couple of last social media platforms,
I have had a little bit of criticism. Just today
there was a guy that was saying it moves all over.
It does move a little bit. I can't deny that.
But one of the things the guy feel to recognize
(05:09):
and I feel to recognize it as well. It actually
got pointed out to me is that the floor in
the shed moves. And it wasn't until someone pointed it out.
Now you've got to You've got to bear in mind
that when I did actually build this shed or workshop,
whatever you want to call it, I never intended for
(05:31):
the floor to be left the way it's being left.
My intention was to basically over all of the joints
with some more fiber board basically, so I don't know,
I was maybe going to hide down. I think it
was half inch or maybe yeah, I think it was
(05:52):
half inch, So I was gonna come over over the
top of this roller with some half inch.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
And just like all the giants. But you know, this
is me and I just haven't got around with the
doing it. You know. It's just one of those things.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
But as I said, I wasn't aware it was moving
so much when I was carrying out tasks. You know,
it's not just this bench. It doesn't worth the Nekelcent
bench which is behind the camera.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
So the bench it comes in. How many components have
we got We've got one.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Two, three, four, five, six, So it comes in six components.
Obviously the aprons optional. I sound I sound like I'm
selling this thing, don't There is probably going to be plans.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
I'm not going to.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I don't think I'm going to be charging for the plans.
The will kind of be like how to put it
a donation basis, If you think the bench is worth
it's and the plans are worth it, you can leave
us a donation.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
If not, you know the plans are going to be.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
So the bench comes in six components, as I've already stated,
So we have the bottom, the two sides, and the
two legs.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
So what I've actually done to beef this up is
that I.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Added two extra pieces of ply to the feet, so
the one inside I thought that was necessary, and that's
just going to take some of the weights of the
shelf because obviously I will be starting things on this.
This is obviously going to be storage. Plus it's going
(07:40):
to help to wear the bench down. So speaking of weights,
while I do remember the bench when I weighed it
before I actually got me here, bathroom scales down and
I put all the components on top of the scales
and it came in at one hundred and fifty pounds.
So the whole bench is one hundred and fifty pounds. Obviously,
(08:03):
this is the beefed up version, so I'm not sure
what the slim down version would be. So if you
wouldn't know what the slim down version would be, it
would be obviously five components. I don't think I would
bother with the outside piece on the legs both sides,
(08:28):
and possibly, depending on what you're dealing with it, you
could have another cutout in the opposite side.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
You probably can't say on the camera.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
But there's a cutouts where I am at the moment,
and on the other side it's just one straight.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Or it's one full piece of ply that's obviously just
been cut the size.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
So it does really depending on what you want to
deal with the bench.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
When I started designing it and really thinking.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
About it, and it's basically taking over me life for
the last week. It's all our pot out, nothing else.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
But one of the things was was that.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
While I would be someone who just wanted to take
it onto a job site, you know, or into somebody's
house whatever and use it as a kind of assembly
table or an MFT table, that's doable. So if you're
going to use it in that sense, you could do
another cutout.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Obviously this is.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Going to lighten it even more, and this might suit
you down to the ground. As I said, I wanted
this to be kind of use our friendly for everyone.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
While I are a power.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Tool would work, or while I you're more like maybe
more of a hand tool would work, although obviously I
have been using tracks over late, and even if it's
just occasionally where you might only be down the odds
and sods of tool would work. And isn't it just
(10:02):
nice to get this wherever you've got it and just
put it in. So as I was saying you before,
it is it is very easy to.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Put in. So basically, once.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Once it's sitting on the cup of the little cleats
and it's lined up.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
I'm going to try and show you on the camera
what I'm doing here.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
So once it's sitting on the cleats, which it is now,
you just pot a peg in the middle and that
takes the weight once. Once that middle pegs and you
can basically walk away from it, and then I'm just
gonna add the bench dogs. So the bench dogs or
the veritor's bench pups.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
As they are.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
These work out really well, and I'm going to buy
two more of these and I'm going to add them
to the bench. So I'm gonna add two more to
the middle the middle sections not quite in the middle,
but you're going to like miss a whole either ela
(11:13):
side and put them there. As it is, I mean,
the run itself, it's it is pretty steady. I'm not
gonna demonstrate on this video, but if you want to
take a look on social media on YouTube, shorts, on
(11:33):
me Instagram, on.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
My Facebook, I have shown this.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
I just posted a video today of may So and
on this plane on it like edge playing and with
the ap ron and.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
It's totally fine.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
And I do believe that once I get some more
bench pubs and other two bench pubs, I think that's
gonna stand you up even more. I mean, as it is,
it's it's it is pretty sturdy, and I am happy
with it. One of my concerns I must admit is
that over time, these these holes may compress this outward
(12:13):
and it may give some slack onto the the apron,
So the apron may have started again some planet. I
don't know if that's something that's going to be really
problematic or not. This ply is twenty two will fix.
(12:33):
So it's not like I'm using you know, a half
inch or you know, even three quarter orange.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
I did go for the twenty two.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
I did debate on using twenty five, but I kind of,
you know, I thought it was a bit much and
it wasn't needed, So I think only time will tell.
With the bench, obviously, the main feature of this bench
is that I can't just I kind of literally take
it apart. I don't need no screwdrivers or drills or span.
(13:06):
It will just literally come apart, pull out apart. It's
going to be a part in like a couple of minutes.
If that's so. That's what I do like about it.
The dog holes my space is what I've went. I've
went ten inches apart going down the length of the bench,
and I have made it eight inches apart going the
(13:30):
width of the bench, So I know the the MFT
tables are. I think they're like, is it ninety six
I want to say ninety six millimeters apart the spaces
of the whole center at the center, I personally think
(13:50):
that's too many for me. That is obviously. I know
there's a reason why it's ninety six centers. I can't
remember the reason, but there is a reason why they
at ninety six centers. For me, that's far too much.
It's it's far too many. I really don't. I don't
see the pointing down there for what I do. The
(14:14):
majority of the work that I'm going to be doing
on this bench is going to be with hand tools,
with the exception of using the track saw to do
multiple cuts and you know, to use the track sow
on here. It's you know, it's it's not a big deal.
(14:38):
I don't need a lot of pegs. I'm no track
so expert. And you know, I've got a little bit
of year. It's enough for me to get me by.
It's enough to ease, you know, the workload of my back.
And that's all I'm concerned about. A few of the
things I wanted when I was designing this bench. When
on negotiable So one of the things, and I did
(15:03):
talk about this in a previous podcast, was that I
wanted to be able to use clamps.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
On the sides.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
So basically, on this side where I've got the apron
is have just seen how I had the apron, and
take the apron off, so on this side and the
two gables, I can use a regular clamp all the
way around that if I choose to, which was one
(15:33):
of the things I really wanted to have the ability
to do.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
So the Nicholson bench in its own right, it is
a good bench.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
But you know, I just wasn't I wasn't happy about
a lot of things, and one of the main grapes.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
With it was that.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
I really didn't like the fact that I couldn't get
a clamp on it. And again I did talk about this,
and I think it was more to do with the
fact that I'd used a Roman word bench for so
long and I was just able to clamp things to
the sides, which wasn't uncommon for us to do it.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
I wasn't doingnut. I was using hold fasts.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
So while I'm on the subject of hole fasts, that
has hurts a little bit maternity brain because I don't
like to use a hole fast, and it was it
was kind of.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Either have fin our bench, keep the costs down, or.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Get a fit at top and you'll be able to
use whole fasts. So for me to use hole fasts,
I think minimally, I think i'd have to be going
to forty millimeters.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
That's the least I think you could go.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
I did tried using hold fast on an inch in
the kind of did work a little bit, but I
think minimally you're looking at forty millimeters to use a
hole fast and to get a decent bite. So I
toyed with this idea. I must have toyed with her
for about maybe like two days. In the space of
(17:21):
two days, I didn't really do a lot to the bench.
I just toyed on some sort of way where I
could add some material to the bench. One of my
thoughts was that I would I would stick a.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Half inch sheet of ply on top of this ply, and.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
It was it was kind of a good idea when
I think about it, because I could have just screwed
it into the place and basically used and abused that
top piece of ply and.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
Was no longer suitable.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
I could just take that off, and I could go
out and I could get another piece of ply and
just replace it on top, you know, put some of
your holes in it, you know, and whatever else. What stopps.
What stopps is that if I've done that, I wouldn't
be able to have access to the top of this
(18:25):
section of ply, which I found out it's pretty important
when you're taking it report and putting it the gella,
because you do need to see what you're doing. And
I personally think that if I was trying to put
a top one and I couldn't see where the slots
are trying to get it from underneath, I think it
(18:46):
would take its absolutely ass and it would be very frustrating.
So I come away from that idea and I have,
even though it's still borings a little bit, I have
kind of just come to terms with the fact that
any clamping in the middle of the bench, it's just
going to have to be done with some of these clamps.
(19:09):
So these are just tracks or clamps. Ironically, I've never
used them for the track, so you know, anyone that
uses the tracks will know the majority of the time
you don't need to use them. Occasionally, you do not
come across anything I need to use them for. But
(19:29):
then again, I don't use the tracks so extensively. So
as I said, this is one of the things I'm
not overly happy about, but I don't think that, you know,
I will kind of get over it. On the plus side,
I do have four of these, so I do have
(19:53):
two quick locked on ones, and I have too just
to hand crank ones. And to be honest, they are
they are quite good, good for what they are. And
the two hand cranked ones that I've got these were
veranous ones. And believe it or not, I actually actually
got these before I had a track, so just to
(20:15):
try them out on smaller pieces and whatever else.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
And I found out that they're absolutely excellence.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
And these have been used a lot, if I'm honest,
and I've tightened them, you know, something rotten on certain things,
and they've had a lot of force like thrown onto them,
and I have to admit they are sounds. There isn't
a problem with them, not that I haven't had a
(20:42):
single issue with them. There's been no slipping with them.
There's no there's no sign of you know where on
the heads or anything like that. So these these were
these were pretty good bye. And as I said, I
was using these before I've got the track, so before
or I was like started to use power tools again.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
So these were primarily used.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
All in all the hand tool would work, and so
they're actually not a bad bit of kits. If you
fancy getting some, there is an affiliate link click onto.
It won't cost you anything and I get a little kickback,
and that's on Amazon. I'm going to try to explain
how the whole design works. I don't know if I'm
going to do with justice or not, but I am
(21:27):
going to try to explain the kind of physics of
it and where and where the design come from. So
this design of the workbench, believe it or a lot
actually come from this tool caddy. So this tool caddy,
if he just follows on YouTube or Instagram, you's have
(21:48):
probably seen this quite some time ago. And this started
off like a load of ideas in my head. So
since this which is obviously just a basic tool carry
me chisel's used to sit in the top because I
did used to work outside.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
Quite a lot.
Speaker 1 (22:10):
So with us building that and kind of using it
and looking at it and thinking about different things.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
The next the next thing that kind of came out
of that was was a box.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
So again this was built with hand tools. This box
was built with hand tools. I have to admit this
box it did actually take you know, a little bit
of time obviously, just using Japanese saws and whatnot, and
and basically designing it as I went, which I've done
(22:47):
with this bench.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
That's why it's taking us all week to do it,
although I have had a lot of decisions to make,
so you know. So basically this was for a soul
I generate.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
So it had liftiumselves in here, you know, some twelve
fall sockets and USB and it hadn't invertor and it's
in a plug. So I've since taken obviously taken all
the electrics out and I'm using the electrics elsewhere, naming
Lee and me Van.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
So the way this works.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Again, if you are listening to this, I'm being an
agiant and I'm you know, I'm kind of trying to.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
Shake this little box.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
So this little box, it is quite stout and sturdy,
and it relies on the same sort of principles as
this workbench does. Obviously, that's where the concept come from.
So this box obviously has spawned the concepts of new workbench,
before the workbench, the war, the seat in bed and
(24:04):
the unit in my van. The same concept that if
I want to right now, I could go to my
van and I could rip the whole the whole bed
and furniture, anything that's in the back of that. I
can have that out in the space of I don't know,
I want to say ten to fifteen minutes. No screws, no,
no span has no, nothing like that. And it's the
(24:26):
same sort of thing. So just to take it as
a part and try and explain. So you've got the
two side legs, and the two side legs, there's just.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
The slot through the bottom.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
So the bottom consists of force lots. In this on
the bench, the bottom consists of one, two, three, four, five,
six slots. So basically the feet have two little lips
either side.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
And what this does and I get it together.
Speaker 1 (25:25):
When there's when there's way it applied. Obviously, it just
sits the bottom shelf section, should we say, sits on
those two little lips, and it's exactly the same the
other side. So as it is, it is actually still
(25:49):
quite flimsy. So even when you put the lid on
it's still quite flimsy. So the magic of how this
works and how it's able to take take a lot
(26:12):
of force racking should should we say in what would
work in terms is that we had a side section,
So basically things are starting to make contact and you're
starting to form a ninety degree corner, which obviously when
(26:35):
you start to do things like that with sheep material,
it starts to pick up rigidity and strength.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
So even just with the one.
Speaker 1 (26:45):
Side, this is actually, you know, it is actually quite strong.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Another issue with this is that if you are.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Cutting the slots or the mortorses should we say, and
you slop you with them, you say, you slop you
with these too. When you slop you with with these,
what's going to happen is that the tops going to
be able to move backwards and forwards. And if the
top can move backwards and forwards and it's exactly the
(27:24):
same on you under side the whole things, it's not
going to be very stable.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
So one of the.
Speaker 1 (27:33):
Things that you do have to make sure of if
you are intending to build this when I when I
do release the plans in the build video for.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
It, is that.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
You don't have to necessarily worry too much about the
snug fits on the width of the slots or the
or the mortorses. I find it's more.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
The length of it. So if you're making good contact.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
At this end and that end of the slots, and
it's the same on on this side, it can't it
physically can't move forward. So if I can't do that
on the top and I can't do that on the bottom,
you're gon't have a sound structure because the mortorses are
(28:27):
in and the mortorses can't move anyway left, left or right,
and the same on the top. In turn, that keeps
that keeps these these two mortices or two tenants if
you like, from moving, and it's the same that side
once once these are locked in and that's locked in
(28:48):
and the tops in and you've got the weight on
it physically can't move left right. Another design feature that
I designed into this that I wanted obviously wanted to utilize,
was that I did put a cutout in the front.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
And obviously this is for storage.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
It's it's not just for storage, it's for storage and
to start to add weights to the work bench.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
So obviously for those of you that they'll use a
lot of hand tools, saws and whatever else.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
Planes You'll know that sometimes you can exert a lot
of force in the bench does want to move around.
So obviously sometimes most of the time, the more weights
you can get on to the bench or underneath the
bench to keep it in place, the better. So with
(29:45):
that in mind, obviously, that's that was one of the
design features of this something else I've also done as well.
I've actually added some crubber to the unders side of
the legs. So I've only just put it down and
(30:05):
I was dragging the bench about a little bit just
to see, you know what, the kind of how the
bench reacted, and it didn't seem too bad. So I'm
hoping that when I get some tools on it and
I start using it in the fashion as you know
design to be used forward working, I don't think I
(30:28):
should have too much issue, and I think it's going
to be a lot more steadier than the Nicholson bench.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
That's that's the hope.
Speaker 1 (30:37):
Anyway, something else that I wanted with the bench, I
wanted the bench.
Speaker 2 (30:45):
Top to be flat.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
So the issue with solid wood top work benches is
that they will move and you will have to flatten
them from time to time. It just so happens. The
Natilson bench is in need of a flatten. I don't
protect how you think I'm going to flatten it.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
Now.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
I was going to flatten it, but as I said,
I don't think I'm going to because obviously I've just
built this new bench, so plywood is going to be
more stable than a solid wood worked up.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
You know, it is just how it is.
Speaker 1 (31:27):
So another thing that I did do is that I
actually made this wider. I'm not actually sure how much
wider it is. I wanted it to be a lot wider.
I wanted this to be free foot, but I'd already
cut out the base and obviously with the sizes, and
I didn't want to go out and buy any more plywood.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
I kind of just stuck to what it is.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
So the width of it is seven hundred and fifty
so I did initially want this to be nine hundred,
which has just done the free foot.
Speaker 2 (32:05):
So you know what we're looking there.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
It's like six inches shy, so you know what, I
can kind of deal with it, although it would have
been nice to have that little bit extra. It is
a pretty decent size bench, if I'm honest. One of
the things that does a noise about the Nickelson bench
(32:30):
just because it's not flat and it's it's not particularly wide.
Is that in the past, when I've been making chairs
or tables, I haven't, like, I haven't been able to
put them on top of the bench like this, where
obviously now I'm going to be able to do with that,
(32:51):
and I'm actually going to be able to flatten the legs,
which is going to be so nice.
Speaker 2 (32:57):
So normally when I've.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
Let's say, for instance, the last table I made, I
think that was the three legged table I believe was
at the Free Leg I think it was a free
legged table, so that had conic with tenants and going
straight through some spoilted beach and it was rounded or
(33:20):
a circle if you.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
Will, and anything like that.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
Normally, I've got to take it into the house, get
it wedged up, and then you know, describe some lines
around it. But now, because I know this is flat,
I can do it on here. It sounds that might
sound a little bit silly or or a little bit trivial,
but that's something I really I'm really gonna enjoy doing.
(33:48):
I think I'm gonna call it there day today, Guys,
I'm kind of just rather than on. You know, I
didn't really plan to do this podcast. Today was just
one of those I thought it was, you know, interesting,
because I have had a bit of interest about this bench,
so I thought I would speak about.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
It a little bit.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Any questions, leave a comment and I'll try and I'll
try and answer it to the best of my ability.
I know I've jumped about a bit today, and I
don't apologize about that, but as I said, any questions,
I'll try and answer the best I can, and until
the next time, I shall say to speak to you
guys later.
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