Ask WWGOA: Building and Accessorizing a Workbench

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Question:

This is in reference to the Building and Accessorizing a Workbench video. Very interesting and informative. Why didn’t you drill the bench dog holes with a router and 3/4″ straight bit through the template?

Submitted by anonymous

Answer:
Great question. I learned the answer the hard way. My first approach was using a plunge router, ¾” straight bit, template guide bushing and the pattern. Unfortunately, with such a deep plunge in hardwood, it’s A LOT of work for the bit, and just didn’t work. Even with drilling out to 5/8” the router bit didn’t like making the plunge. If the bit chatters even a tiny bit the holes lose their tolerance and the bench dogs won’t work.

George

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15 Responses to “Ask WWGOA: Building and Accessorizing a Workbench”

  1. James Bertocki

    Hi, I built a bench and need to drill dog holes. I’m not too good a drilling strait. Is there any other way of doing this without using Two pieces wood or a square To do this?

    Reply
  2. njs36

    I am building an outdoor bench like a potting bench. Should I use glue on the joints? or is it waisted because I am using treated wood that is not supposed to absorb moisture. So would it not absorb moisture from the glue?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello. I would use a construction adhesive such as this stuff if you are using green treated wood: https://amzn.to/33Z4U5Y
      If the green wood is dry (usually takes a few months after purchase) then you could use a waterproof PVA based woodworking glue such as Titebond 3. But overall I think you are better off with construction adhesive either way, as that is not dependent on penetration into the wood pores for its bond. It adheres to the surface better than PVA glues.
      Thanks
      Paul-Woodworkers Guild of America

      Reply
  3. Bret

    I have a shop about 24 by 40 at our house. I have basic tools like hand tools, drill press, couple of saws. The shop shares space with the dog, my Jeep and a motorcycle. I clean and rearrange it but nothing seems to work. Any suggestions on how I place and store things so I can have a working shop?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hi Bret. The best way to manage a shared space is to have everything on a mobile base so that you can reconfigure the shop on the fly as you need it. I worked in a setup like this for about 10 years, and as long as you have the ability to move the big tools around easily, you can arrange things as they seem best for the project at hand. If you are able to establish a permanent home for your most used tool, typically a table saw for most woodworkers, then it will feel like you are doing less jockying around.
      Thanks
      Paul-WWGOA

      Reply
  4. Mike

    If you were in a small shop and needed you contractor table saw to be mobile would you build one to encompass more tools or buy one of the bases with wheels?

    Reply
    • Customer Service

      Hello Mike,

      That’s a great question, and the answer is ‘it depends’.  If a router table was part of my shop, I think that consolidating this into a table saw wing makes a lot of sense in a small shop.  I had mine set up like this for several years and found it to be fantastic.  The stability of the table saw makes for a great router table, and the good quality fence on a table saw makes it a high end router table.  Short of that, I’ve seen some positive examples where tools are built into a common platform, but I’ve seen more examples where I think it severely hinders workability.  So, if you have a clever design to pull some tools together that works well in your particular space with your tools, then it’s worth a shot.  But otherwise, I like the simplicity of having a mobile base and being able to move the saw around (and out of the way) as needed.  Even though I have a larger dedicated shop today, I have all of my large tools on mobile bases and I end up moving them around frequently.  Its a great option to have. 

      Hope this helps,
      Paul WWGOA Video Membership

      Reply
  5. ROY

    Question: I recently acquired an old oak hobelbank (sp?) (German woodworking bench). It’s said to be over 100 years old, and I want to restore it lovingly back to working order. The legs and base will have to be replaced, and the top one centimeter needs for be removed to regain flatness, and some minor repair to the wood screws on the face and side vices. I’m looking for a good video on someone else’s experience with doing something similar. Didn’t see anything on YouTube for this particular work. Can you help me out? Thanks.

    Reply
  6. jimd1631

    What a screw up website. Could you make it any more difficult find this video. Waste of time!

    Reply
    • Mark Campagnola

      Jimd if you don’t like what you see or read please drop out and look for your information elsewhere.

      Reply