installed the chop and dropped the top on the base.

chop for the vise

here is the base finally on

going to move on to a couple of projects for the time being then come back to do the face vise.

I added the Tail Vise

today I mounted the tail vise. Its an antique Columbia I got for Christmas. Started one mortise and realized I need to replan how I will cut the mortises.

Base is assembled

I assembled the base. I had created the legs and left and right stretchers a few weeks ago. I had made the front and rear stretchers only to get interrupted for a little bit. I sometimes have to slip little bits of work in when I can.

This is the assembled base.


I saw someone had created some dog holes in the leg opposite where the leg vise will be eventually. I decided to do this as well. This is a good idea for two reasons. It gives you a place to store the holdfasts and acts similar to a sliding deadman for longer boards.


Next bit of work will involve working on the top for the end vise and mortising for the base. Leg vise is something I plan on but will come later after I make another interruption to work on a project for the wife.

Bench Update

When I started my bench I had no place to work. I made the leap and got the top done but didnt have a base for it yet. Well I am finding this has been the best thing that would happen to me. The top is heavy enough in which I can work on it to make the joinery for the base. I sat the bench on saw horses a while back but never did much with it. After drilling the dogholes another world opened up and I was able to use the grammercy holdfasts I bought from TFWW to hold down pieces of my base. I would recommend anyone who builds a bench use the top to build the base.

Here is one of the joints they arent pretty but strong.


Here is the assemble getting the stretchers that go in the front and back.


Not much longer work wise will I have left before I finish this bench.

Workbench Continues

Did more work on the bench this weekend along with stuff I had going on. Drilled the Dog holes in the top and used my hold fasts for the first time. I bought the grammercy Hold fasts back in late December.



these hold fasts are great and were not a lot of money.

Vise for my bench.

for christmas I recieved a heavy columbia vice for my bench.



when I say heavy I do mean heavy. More weight to add to my bench :)

more work on my work bench

got the legs glued up




cut the stretchers and made the tenons




cut the legs and made tenons on the ends, this is before i made the shoulders but cut the cheeks


started the mortises for the stretchers but that isnt going well. dont have a great way of making mortises. also this is the first time i have made mortises all the way through like this.


well till next time have fun folks.