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Stained Glass Workbench & Storage Cabinet
Reader Bill Roberts sent in this workbench and storage cabinet for working with stained glass. The vertical slots for glass storage, drawers for tool storage, and lots of workspace would be welcome in...
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Out with the Old? Thankfully, Not Yet.
Ten years ago, our family moved from the Minnesota to central Ohio. We had young kids, I was transitioning from a 9 to 5 publishing job to full-time freelancing and let’s just say, the budget was...
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Workbench You Can Build in an Afternoon
If you’re looking for a quick project this Memorial Day weekend, or any other for that matter, here’s a low-cost bench option for you. A couple weeks ago, I reported on my trusty old, cosmetically...
View ArticleSoftwood for Workbenches?
I have been working with wood for many years now, and I still wonder why so many people build hard, solid butcher-block types of shop workbench tops? As I see it, if you are building a wood project and...
View ArticleWhat is the Ideal Benchtop Finish?
I am a recent retiree and have decided to get into the serious side of woodworking after dabbling in it for many years. I just received my first copy of the [print] Woodworker’s Journal, read it...
View ArticleProtecting Your Workbench from Paint Splatter
To protect a workbench top from paint or stain splatter, mount a pair of outside roller shade hangers on the bench end. When you’re ready to paint, simply unroll the shade, catch the end in your vise,...
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The Sad State of Workbenches (Part 1): What Used to Be Right
Serious woodworking started at least in Egyptian times: it is amongst the oldest of crafts. By the 18th century, the workbench was pretty well thought-out, but came to absolute perfection after 1850....
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The Sad State of Workbenches (Part 2): What’s Wrong Nowadays
Modern benches generally have spindle vises with two metal guide spindles and a metal screw between them. They are usually less than 2” below the benchtop. To grip anything more than this distance, it...
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Satisfaction from the Simplest of Tools
Last summer, we moved to Virginia. Along with packing and loading the personal effects of a family of four, I also had a barn full of woodworking stuff that needed to travel. If you’ve ever moved the...
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Make a Tough Worktable Top
Build this sturdy top with four router bits and home center supplies. Durable, easy-to-clean worktops are useful all over the workshop — for your router table, a finishing or assembly table, cabinetry...
View ArticleArmor Tool Peg Table Clamping System
Take a closer look at the new Armor Tool Peg Table Clamping System. This portable work table features adjustable height legs, built-in outlets and peg holes that work with the Armor Tool adjustable...
View ArticleWhere Should I Mount a Front Vise on My Workbench?
I’m getting ready to build a workbench for my woodworking hobby and was wondering if there was a reason that the front vise is installed on the left side of the workbench? I’m right-handed and it would...
View ArticleFolding Work Station
When (or if) you absolutely must store your car in the garage, this customizable unit folds tight to the wall and unfolds when needed into a full workspace for all your home projects. The post Folding...
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What’s a Tail Vise For on a Workbench?
When I built my workbench many years ago, I installed a Record vise on the front. I keep seeing tail vises in the projects shown in woodworking magazines. I never installed a tail vise, and have never...
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New Rockler Dust Right® Innovations — and Updates to a Bestseller
Do you have an effective system for managing the wood dust, chips and shavings in your shop? If you don’t, I’ll bet you wish you had better dust collection solutions because really, who wants to inhale...
View ArticleBest Finish for a Softwood Workbench?
What kind of finish would you recommend for a workbench top made of softwood? – Robert Montana Rob Johnstone: I would recommend a drying oil finish — something like a Watco Danish oil. Let it cure...
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Milwaukee 52-in. Mobile Work Station
If you could benefit from another bench-sized wooden worksurface plus the storage capacity of a mechanic’s tool chest, Milwaukee Tool is expanding its steel storage solutions with the addition of this...
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What Constitutes a Good Workbench?
There was no doubt that Rob’s inquiry last week about the types of workbenches you use would get lively response — and you did not disappoint! Many love the workbenches they currently have. – Editor...
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Hardwood and Plywood Bench Top?
I am preparing to build a workbench and would like a properly thick top of hardwood. But I am hoping to save some money by cutting my hardwood into 1-1/2-in. strips, then gluing them together on-edge...
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BORA, PortaMate, Now One Brand
In mid December of last year, Affinity Tool Works, LLC, a privately owned global tool company based in Troy, Michigan, announced that it had streamlined two of its established product lines — BORA®...
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