Only two more weeks to go and we’re on schedule to complete the workbench. This has been a good experience I think and all-in-all, I’m glad we took this project on. Not only will we have a great new heavy-duty workbench for the seminar shop, but all of you who have attended the seminars for the last eight weeks have seen first hand how much work goes into building a project of this size.

Next week, on December 4th, Dave Fremming will be building a couple of drawers using machine-cut half-blind dovetails. He’s using the Leigh 18″ Super Jig to rout the dovetails. I’ve used the jig for through dovetails and it works great. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of job it does on half blinds. The drawers boxes are sized for full-extension slides, and so they’ll each have a false drawer front to hide the hardware.

Once again, I’ll be helping Dave out with the construction.  I’ll have the table saw set up for simple frame and panel doors using stub tenon and groove joinery. The doors will be hung with butt hinges, and time permitting, I’ll mortise each hinge into the door stile and then mount them directly to the side of the cabinet.

Finally, on December 11th, we’ll complete the bench and Vince Ancona will talk about finishes for the bench, as well as complete any of the small tasks that we didn’t get around to over the previous ten weeks. See you next week.

Joel Hess

This week we’ll talk about how to trick out a workbench! No we’re not adding racing stripes or spinning wheel covers. Instead, Carol Beronich will discuss the benefits of adding storage units in the open space below the bench top.

Our cabinet is made with MDF, just like the workbench worksurface. Building it adds another couple of hundred pounds to the workbench. Then, once tools are stored inside the cabinet, you’ll need a forklift to move it.

That’s okay. We wanted heavy and that’s what we’ll end up with.

The case is built with sturdy dadoes and rabbets. We’ll show you how to rout dadoes on the large workpieces. Then we’ll add some screws to hold it all together and simplify the assembly process, time permitting.

There’s an adjustable shelf inside each of the two large, outer compartments, so we’ll also add some stopped holes for shelf pins and demonstrate a simple jig for drilling the holes.

This week’s bonus download is a two-page article from ShopNotes No. 82: Shelf Pin Drilling Jigs

This week we’ll actually be finishing up with the workbench. Once the aprons are added, the dog holes are all drilled, and the finishing touches — like chamfers and pins in the mortise and tenon joints — are done, the bench is ready to use.

Wish us luck that everything goes smoothly! After last week, we need a smooth-running evening. Chris Fitch is the presenter, so I have faith that things will come off as planned.

There is no bonus download for this week.

This week we’ll actually be finishing up with the workbench. Once the aprons are added, the dog holes are all drilled, and the finishing touches — like chamfers and pins in the mortise and tenon joints — are done, the bench is ready to use

This week we’ll actually be finishing up with the workbench. Once the aprons are added, the dog holes are all drilled, and the finishing touches — like chamfers and pins in the mortise and tenon joints — are done, the bench is ready to use.

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This week we’re steering a little off course and installing the bench vise. Next week we’ll tackle the apron that wraps around the workbench top. The problem is, the apron really should be installed before the bench vise.

The apron and the benchtop are joined with spline and groove joinery. A groove is routed around the benchtop and on the inside edge of the apron parts and then a hardboard spline is used to align everything once they’re glued up. The problem is, there is a pocket that needs to be added to the back of the front apron, before the apron is joined to the bench top and so we’re doing the vise first.

Here is this week’s bonus download: All About Bench Vises

Regular club meeting at 7pm

Faux Finishing and Painting Seminar, Tuesday, November 25th starting at 5:30pm at the Woodsmith Store.

Carol Beronich, assistant editor for Woodsmith and ShopNotes magazines, uses dado and groove joinery to build strong cabinets and shelving units.

Phil Huber, senior editor for ShopNotes and Woodsmith magazines, presents some solid pointers for making a workbench “work” to its full potential by adding a face vise.

Chris Fitch, senior project designer for Woodsmith and ShopNotes magazines, shows how to keep large workpieces aligned by using a simple spline and groove joinery technique.