new to woodworking

**mammy (Guest)** · 02-09-2002, 09:26 AM

Want to let you know I love this site. I plan to make a workbench as my first project and was wondering how I could glue it together without spending $100. in clamps. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

**barbsiddiqui** · 02-09-2002, 10:56 AM

Hello, Mammy, welcome to the forum. People all over the world have found ways to 'clamp' things using whatever's at hand. Everything from rubber bands to wooden wedges can serve the purpose. You could conceivably make an open frame around your benchtop and drive opposing wedges against the glued up pieces on both sides, to hold them in place while the glue dries. For legs and stretchers, I'd suggest a band clamp, a relatively inexpensive heavy-duty strap that you pull tight, close with a pawl and then tighten a nut on with a little wrench to pull it up tight. Several band clamps could secure workbench parts. One thing to remember, though, is that if you're getting into woodworing, purchasing clamps is probably going to be a 'never-ending story.' You won't just use them for the workbench project, but for everything you build. Good luck! -Barb S.

**mammy** · 02-10-2002, 06:09 AM

Thanks for the feedback. I read somewheere that you should practice by making boxes. What kind of boxes??? Also, do you need a level to build a work bench? I am excited about getting started but also hesitant. Thanks

**Johanna** · 02-10-2002, 10:05 AM

A workbench is a fine first project.

What kind of woodworking do you want to do eventually? The kind of woodworking you plan to do should be a factor in the workbench design. For example, if you are going to do turning and scrollsawing, a very simple workbench will suffice. If, on the other hand, you have aspirations of learning to do fine woodworking (furniture, decorative boxes, anything that involves learning joinery), then the bench should be very heavy with excellent vises.

I have five benches in my shop that just are not suitable to my passion (furniture making), so my SO finally bought us a 300 lb Diefenbach bench with two powerful vises. It just arrived two days ago and we are getting rid of one of the crummy benches to make room for it. (I never got around to making a workbench because I was too busy making cabinets and furniture for our new home.) Two of other four function as tables, not workbenches. Two small Sjoberg benches are used for small work.

Johanna

**mammy** · 02-10-2002, 03:27 PM

HI,
I don't know what I want to do eventually. I just know I want to make some bird feeders and I need a bench to work on. This one will be about 6 feet by 2 foot. I found the pattern in a winter issue of one of the woodworking magazines. I think it will be fun. I have decided to buy the tools as needed and my son gave me a jig saw and a square and some wood. I was wondering about gluing. I am going to glue the top together. They are yellow pine 2x8's. Do you run the glue down the middle and hope it squishes out to all the sides, do you make a large rectangle with the glue, etc.?

I am probably going to be asking lots of questions before this is over. Thanks for the information. I first have to decide how many clamps to buy and which kind.

**JohnP** · 02-10-2002, 08:38 PM

I think the most important features of a bench are stability and flatness. Pine 2x4s on a 6ft span will deflect if enough wieght is placed on them, plus they will split and dent easly. 2x4s are roudned on all 4 edges, there for you need to surface all 4 sides. After surfaceing all sides spread the glue with a brush so the entire side is covered. Drill an over size hole in one of the boards (large enough for the screw to slide through it)then screw into the other board. This will pull the two boards tightly together. Continue this untill you have the width you desire. Then I would add a top to the gluded up boards using plywood or MDO.
Just my thought
JohnP

**pampine** · 02-16-2002, 11:07 AM

A couple of tricks to getting the bench top as level as possible to start with, so your surfacing work is minimized:

1. Face glue two boards at a time, wait for them to dry, then do the next board. So first glue up would be two boards, next would be the original two boards plus a third, etc. It's very difficult to control the level otherwise.

2. Make sure the grain goes in the same direction for all boards. This reduces tear out when surfacing, especially if you use hand planes to level.

As to plywood tops, I suppose that's wise advice, you can always replace the top as it gets grungy. But part of the fun of making your own bench is working on it, and it's more pleasurable to work on the bare wood.

Pam