Bench on Bench
Bench on Bench
Instructors - Craig Stevens and Greg Horton
June 22 - 23, 2024 9am - 4pm (1 weekend)
Many woodworkers live in an apartment or don’t have a dedicated workspace. Others work at a traditional-style workbench, which is a great height for hand-planing and sanding but may be uncomfortably low for other work. Whether working in a full-blown woodshop or in the living room, woodworkers need an excellent way to hold our work securely while we work on our projects. A small, portable workbench can save the day and prevent sore backs by elevating the work to a more comfortable height or turning a dining table or countertop into a workspace.
Our Bench on Bench is made of ash, maple or red oak, providing a very sturdy work surface for just about any woodworking activity. The Bench on Bench measures approximately 28” long, 14” wide including the vise, and is 8-10” tall. The movable front vise adds a tremendous amount of versatility to the bench, making it easy to clamp work to the front or on the top surface. We’re using Moxon vise hardware for the vise that adjusts easily and holds the work very securely while allowing for quick adjustments. The Bench on Bench is particularly useful for cutting dovetail joinery, edge-planing shorter boards, and clamping work to the top surface for drilling, routing, sanding, and similar work. It positions the workpiece at a height that is easy to see and allows for a very natural, relaxed position for sawing and chopping with chisels.
Optional 3/4” holes in the top and vise jaw allows workpieces to be held in a variety of ways, whether with bench dogs facing each other or with aftermarket holding devices as shown. Lee Valley/Veritas Tools has a wide range of hold-down devices and accessories that fit the 3/4” holes (not included). We’re hard pressed to have a situation where a workpiece can’t be securely held in place. It’s portability allows it to be kept under a full-size workbench, stored on a shelf, or stashed in a closet.
Cost includes all materials for the Bench on Bench (not including Veritas hold-down accessories).