Use less glue comes to mind but I think you figured that out yourself 😀. You did very well and for £120, can't say better than that. Enjoying the videos - keep them coming.
nice bench. came out pretty solid and i'm sure it'll last you well beyond the skill and experience to build something suited to the work you will want to do later. i've had several hardwood benches and softwood benches. my spruce bench is actually my favorite. the wood is softer and doesn't mangle my other wood. it's dead easy to flatten. it was super cheap. built the base out of douglas fir because i want that to last, but the top is spruce. i had a white oak workbench for quite a while and it was a couple thoughts: - when you cut the half lap brace, you left the pith side of the timber, which is the less stable side. in the long run, cutting away the pith will give you more stability and less likelihood of splitting as seasonal cycles move along. - when you are spreading glue you can use a 3/8-16 threaded rod as a spreader. it will give about the right amount of glue for face gluing.
That workbench sounds fantastic, thanks so much for the tips too, very good point about the pith! I shall definitely hear that in mind in future builds.
Great question - and the honest answer is because I don't like using it! I had an accident on it when I first bought it and i've been hesitant to use it ever since. Additionally, I don't use any power tools indoors because of the dust and with a serious amount of rain - hand planing was the only option!
Turned out wicked m8 can't believe you hand plained all that top. Ad of broke out the electric plane to start then finished it with hand plane if a was u. With regards to table saw/thickness plainer I run the einhell table saw fantastic beginner saw I've been the hell out mine and it's still standing.also just over hundred quid With regards to thickness plainer combo check out lumberjack I have there combo model think it's around the 330 mark and again I've done allot through it and works a treat.
Thanks for the vote of appreciation! Hand planing it was certainly a challenge - earnt my Christmas dinner for sure! Glad the Einhell is working out for you, I have had a look at those a couple of times with wishful thinking!
@@Greyotterstudio honestly a was shocked at how much they'd come down to just Uber the hundred mark from Toolstation think a paid 250 for mine. Lumberjack also offer 3 month payments. Or FB market place for lunch box style one. A bet u did earn your dinner that night for sure. 👍🏴
Very cool build! Although I built my bench last year from construction grade southern yellow pine, I still enjoy watching bench build videos. I think every bench is unique and there's always a new technique to learn from each build. Great work!
Hi, thanks for the comment. Couldn't agree more, I think there's always something to learn from all builds! I definitely see the value in building your own too, rather then purchasing a shop made one for a similar/cheaper price. I learnt so much making this and most importantly, I feel a serious sense of achievement when I use it! Would love to see your build! If you don't have a video, please feel free to find Grey Otter Studio on instagram and send me a pic :)
Giveing the like for the effort of handplaneing that bench top... If You ever start a crowdefunding for tools I'm gonna donate myselfe for a thicneser... You took a hell of a work on your hands... with that wobly table.. I need to build a workbench myselfe. Any way, thanks for a good video.
Thanks for the like, the watch and the comment! Haha thank you for the kind offer, some good machines would definitely make my life a bit easier, but guess we just got to work with what we’ve got! Good luck with the bench build, send a pic to me on my instagram (same as YT name) when it’s done if you’d like, I’d love to see it!
I have watched all of your videos and enjoyed them all. I was concerned when watching you saw or chisel and the wobbly bench. I often tell younger wood workers that you can work with minimal tools and still make useful projects. I wish you all the best in your future projects.
Thanks ever so much for the comment, and for watching my content! You're totally right to be concerned about the wobbly workbench, I have a lovely scar on my finger from a chisel slipping, so I'm very glad to have the new bench now! Thanks for the positive words and please feel free to off advice on any of my future uploads :)
Nice work Alex I built my workbench which includes my table saw built into it. In hindsight I wish I’d seen this type of video when I made it a couple of years ago as I used way too much time so it’s incredibly heavy and absolutely massive but maybe one day I’ll get round to building a better one that’s more practical.
I bet it’s super handy having your table saw flush in it though! Must make it a really versatile work station. Thanks for the watch and lovely comment, please stick around for my future stuff :)
Subscriber 999, only feels right to wish you luck with the channel and the new bench as the next subscriber is a bench mark. I know the wobbly work bench all too well, no better way to start. I just threw a load of 2 x 4’s at it and beefed it up. Great job on this one and worth the wait I’m guessing 🙏
Thanks so much for the good wishes, and the subscription too! Yes, a wobbly work bench is definitely a right of passage I feel! Thanks for the lovely comment, it’s certainly nice to be working on something more sturdy that I’ve built with my own hands! Would love to see how you beefed yours up - feel free to send a pic on my Insta! (Same name as this channel)
You know given the costs of a hardwood for a bench, this is a pretty good idea. And someday maybe all of us can afford to build a bench out of maple or oak.
Wouldn’t that be the dream? I look at some of the stunning hardwood benches out there, then look at my wallet, and remind myself how pretty 2x4s are! Haha Glad you like it and think it’s a good idea, thanks for the watch and comment, feel free to stick around for more stuff coming soon :)
Great video mate and nice work bench 👍 very useful as about to build a new one myself. Keep the videos coming, nice to have another brit woodworker channel.
Thanks bud, glad it was useful/you enjoyed it! Good luck with your build, please send a photo to my Insta (same name as my YT) when it’s done if you’d like, would love to see it! Always nice to see other Brits getting creative 🇬🇧
Thank you very much, great idea with the fancy dowels through the Tenons too! I was planning on pegging them, but maybe a nicer wood for the dowel will add a little bit of extra pzazz!
Thank you for posting the video, mistakes and doubts. I’m wondering why you put the stretcher so close to the table top. I would have thought there would have been more rigidity if it was lower down ? Also wondering if the dovetail added any strength as you are cutting away material This is not criticism, I’m just curious
Thanks for the comment, and the question too! Honestly I thought halfway(ish) down would be far enough to support and add a noticeable aesthetic element. However, some comments on Facebook agree with your suggestion that perhaps it should be lower down. I'll have to watch it over time and see, although the good thing is I can always add another if necessary! The half lap dovetail I think does add strength, because due it the way its sat it actually has a cosmetic shoulder that sits between the legs and I think that adds more value then a solid piece of wood. Of course these are just my opinions and I'm more then open to further discussion/advice :) Thanks again for the advice, please stick around for future videos! I've always got more to learn.
Great job and a good use of 2x4s. Hints: transfer glue to smaller squeeze bottle to control amount you put out. You can get rubber rollers to spread glue for less waste. Use a scraper to remove squeeze-out before resorting to plane. Your stretchers could be angles to better prevent racking. Your waste wood looks like it might be long enough for a lower shelf. A slightly wider chisel will make cleaning the mortises easier.
@@Greyotterstudio cheap silicone spatula from cheap store works really well as a glue spreader although sauce bottles u can buy in Tesco think there 3 quid for 2 work really well for glue bottles.
Looks good! Only problem is the vise is on the wrong end of the bench ;) I think you probably could have gotten by with only applying glue to one face of each board during the lamination process, and maybe spend a little more time on keeping them aligned somehow - nails or screws in the ends that would be cut off anyway - together those would have saved you a *ton* of work flattening the top and the legs. I don't believe you'll have any issues with cross-grain movement of the short half-lap dovetail stretchers vs. the laminated top. If the top was glued up of boards joined edge-to-edge, sure. But the way they are... there may be a *little* movement, but not much. I'm more curious why you put the short end stretchers up so high, rather than down at the same level as the long rails, to support a shelf? Still going to be a huge improvement over what you had, and definitely a labor of love 👍 Looking forward to further updates as you finish it out!
Being a left hander is both a blessing and a curse ;) Great advice about securing it together better during the lamination. Fixing it together by what would become wastage is a great shout, I think cauls may also have helped if i used those. Glad to hear you don't think there won't be much cross-grain movement. The honest answer about the dovetail stretchers is I hoped halfway down would be far enough and would be provide a nice notable aesthetic! However it has been highlighted a couple of times lower may of been better, but the good news is I can always add another one lower if necessary I suppose! Thanks very much for the comment, advice and support. Please do stick around to see any future developments (Y)
Paul Sellers built a bench laminating plywood. It seems to work well. I think he used screws to stabilize the strips during glue up and clamping. I am watching your work because this seems like a reasonable alternative.
Really enjoyed your video! Im a beginner doing research to make my own first workbench, also w limited tools and $$, so this was great to see step by step, errors included, as well as with cost summary.
Thanks for the kind words! Welcome to the club, be careful though it’s a super addicting hobby haha! Best of luck with your bench build, what style are you thinking? Feel free to shoot me a pic on my Insta (same name as on here) when it’s done - would love to see it!
@@Greyotterstudiowas initially thinking an English joiner style bench, as I don't have a power planer and had been intimidated to attempt a big laminate top, but I've been reinspired to attempt it now perhaps with some cauls and judicious glue 😀
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I use a silicone spatula for glue spreading. So much easier to clean too.
That’s a great idea! Thank you for sharing
first like! :D thanks for the video, im enjoying it
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks very much for the view-like-and comment! Hopefully more stuff you enjoy to come in the future!
Use less glue comes to mind but I think you figured that out yourself 😀. You did very well and for £120, can't say better than that. Enjoying the videos - keep them coming.
You are absolutely right, lesson very much learned about excessive glue 😅 thank you for the kind words, more videos coming soon :)
After your work bench was completed what’s the final LXWxH? Awesome job
Thanks! Height is 38”, Length is circa 6’ and I’m not to sure on the width off the top of my head!
nice bench. came out pretty solid and i'm sure it'll last you well beyond the skill and experience to build something suited to the work you will want to do later. i've had several hardwood benches and softwood benches. my spruce bench is actually my favorite. the wood is softer and doesn't mangle my other wood. it's dead easy to flatten. it was super cheap. built the base out of douglas fir because i want that to last, but the top is spruce. i had a white oak workbench for quite a while and it was
a couple thoughts:
- when you cut the half lap brace, you left the pith side of the timber, which is the less stable side. in the long run, cutting away the pith will give you more stability and less likelihood of splitting as seasonal cycles move along.
- when you are spreading glue you can use a 3/8-16 threaded rod as a spreader. it will give about the right amount of glue for face gluing.
That workbench sounds fantastic, thanks so much for the tips too, very good point about the pith! I shall definitely hear that in mind in future builds.
If there was ever a time to get a second iron for your #5 and put on a heavy camber for a scrub plane, it was just before this bench build. Next time!
This is very true - a scrub plane would of made that marathon a lot easier!
Why didn't you use the electric plane tp rough out the top?
Great question - and the honest answer is because I don't like using it! I had an accident on it when I first bought it and i've been hesitant to use it ever since.
Additionally, I don't use any power tools indoors because of the dust and with a serious amount of rain - hand planing was the only option!
Turned out wicked m8 can't believe you hand plained all that top. Ad of broke out the electric plane to start then finished it with hand plane if a was u. With regards to table saw/thickness plainer I run the einhell table saw fantastic beginner saw I've been the hell out mine and it's still standing.also just over hundred quid With regards to thickness plainer combo check out lumberjack I have there combo model think it's around the 330 mark and again I've done allot through it and works a treat.
Thanks for the vote of appreciation! Hand planing it was certainly a challenge - earnt my Christmas dinner for sure! Glad the Einhell is working out for you, I have had a look at those a couple of times with wishful thinking!
@@Greyotterstudio honestly a was shocked at how much they'd come down to just Uber the hundred mark from Toolstation think a paid 250 for mine. Lumberjack also offer 3 month payments. Or FB market place for lunch box style one. A bet u did earn your dinner that night for sure. 👍🏴
Very cool build! Although I built my bench last year from construction grade southern yellow pine, I still enjoy watching bench build videos. I think every bench is unique and there's always a new technique to learn from each build. Great work!
Hi, thanks for the comment. Couldn't agree more, I think there's always something to learn from all builds!
I definitely see the value in building your own too, rather then purchasing a shop made one for a similar/cheaper price. I learnt so much making this and most importantly, I feel a serious sense of achievement when I use it!
Would love to see your build! If you don't have a video, please feel free to find Grey Otter Studio on instagram and send me a pic :)
Great build!! Whats the main thing you’d do differently if you did it again?!
Giveing the like for the effort of handplaneing that bench top... If You ever start a crowdefunding for tools I'm gonna donate myselfe for a thicneser... You took a hell of a work on your hands... with that wobly table.. I need to build a workbench myselfe. Any way, thanks for a good video.
Thanks for the like, the watch and the comment!
Haha thank you for the kind offer, some good machines would definitely make my life a bit easier, but guess we just got to work with what we’ve got!
Good luck with the bench build, send a pic to me on my instagram (same as YT name) when it’s done if you’d like, I’d love to see it!
I have watched all of your videos and enjoyed them all. I was concerned when watching you saw or chisel and the wobbly bench. I often tell younger wood workers that you can work with minimal tools and still make useful projects. I wish you all the best in your future projects.
Thanks ever so much for the comment, and for watching my content! You're totally right to be concerned about the wobbly workbench, I have a lovely scar on my finger from a chisel slipping, so I'm very glad to have the new bench now! Thanks for the positive words and please feel free to off advice on any of my future uploads :)
Nice work Alex I built my workbench which includes my table saw built into it. In hindsight I wish I’d seen this type of video when I made it a couple of years ago as I used way too much time so it’s incredibly heavy and absolutely massive but maybe one day I’ll get round to building a better one that’s more practical.
I bet it’s super handy having your table saw flush in it though! Must make it a really versatile work station.
Thanks for the watch and lovely comment, please stick around for my future stuff :)
Subscriber 999, only feels right to wish you luck with the channel and the new bench as the next subscriber is a bench mark.
I know the wobbly work bench all too well, no better way to start. I just threw a load of 2 x 4’s at it and beefed it up.
Great job on this one and worth the wait I’m guessing 🙏
Thanks so much for the good wishes, and the subscription too!
Yes, a wobbly work bench is definitely a right of passage I feel!
Thanks for the lovely comment, it’s certainly nice to be working on something more sturdy that I’ve built with my own hands!
Would love to see how you beefed yours up - feel free to send a pic on my Insta! (Same name as this channel)
WOW..... Leftie..... that makes life a little harder in woodworking too.... you have serious dedication
Weirdly I throw with my right arm but do all creative things left handed - odd eh?
Thanks for the watch and the comment!
You know given the costs of a hardwood for a bench, this is a pretty good idea. And someday maybe all of us can afford to build a bench out of maple or oak.
Wouldn’t that be the dream? I look at some of the stunning hardwood benches out there, then look at my wallet, and remind myself how pretty 2x4s are! Haha
Glad you like it and think it’s a good idea, thanks for the watch and comment, feel free to stick around for more stuff coming soon :)
Great video mate and nice work bench 👍 very useful as about to build a new one myself. Keep the videos coming, nice to have another brit woodworker channel.
Thanks bud, glad it was useful/you enjoyed it! Good luck with your build, please send a photo to my Insta (same name as my YT) when it’s done if you’d like, would love to see it!
Always nice to see other Brits getting creative 🇬🇧
Nice work. Love it.
You could ponce it up a bit by putting contrasting dowels through the tenon joints?
Thank you very much, great idea with the fancy dowels through the Tenons too! I was planning on pegging them, but maybe a nicer wood for the dowel will add a little bit of extra pzazz!
Great video and a great bench, looks really sturdy, well done top work!
Thank you very much! Hopefully it holds up to some solid use but time will be the best judge.
Thank you for posting the video, mistakes and doubts.
I’m wondering why you put the stretcher so close to the table top. I would have thought there would have been more rigidity if it was lower down ?
Also wondering if the dovetail added any strength as you are cutting away material
This is not criticism, I’m just curious
Thanks for the comment, and the question too! Honestly I thought halfway(ish) down would be far enough to support and add a noticeable aesthetic element. However, some comments on Facebook agree with your suggestion that perhaps it should be lower down. I'll have to watch it over time and see, although the good thing is I can always add another if necessary!
The half lap dovetail I think does add strength, because due it the way its sat it actually has a cosmetic shoulder that sits between the legs and I think that adds more value then a solid piece of wood.
Of course these are just my opinions and I'm more then open to further discussion/advice :)
Thanks again for the advice, please stick around for future videos! I've always got more to learn.
Ha ha, there’s no way I would offer advice. I’m still learning/ pottering
Great job and a good use of 2x4s. Hints: transfer glue to smaller squeeze bottle to control amount you put out. You can get rubber rollers to spread glue for less waste. Use a scraper to remove squeeze-out before resorting to plane. Your stretchers could be angles to better prevent racking. Your waste wood looks like it might be long enough for a lower shelf. A slightly wider chisel will make cleaning the mortises easier.
Thanks for the comments and the tips! The rubber roller and using a card scraper are definitely things I’ll bear in mind for the future!
@@Greyotterstudio cheap silicone spatula from cheap store works really well as a glue spreader although sauce bottles u can buy in Tesco think there 3 quid for 2 work really well for glue bottles.
Looks good! Only problem is the vise is on the wrong end of the bench ;)
I think you probably could have gotten by with only applying glue to one face of each board during the lamination process, and maybe spend a little more time on keeping them aligned somehow - nails or screws in the ends that would be cut off anyway - together those would have saved you a *ton* of work flattening the top and the legs.
I don't believe you'll have any issues with cross-grain movement of the short half-lap dovetail stretchers vs. the laminated top. If the top was glued up of boards joined edge-to-edge, sure. But the way they are... there may be a *little* movement, but not much. I'm more curious why you put the short end stretchers up so high, rather than down at the same level as the long rails, to support a shelf?
Still going to be a huge improvement over what you had, and definitely a labor of love 👍 Looking forward to further updates as you finish it out!
Being a left hander is both a blessing and a curse ;)
Great advice about securing it together better during the lamination. Fixing it together by what would become wastage is a great shout, I think cauls may also have helped if i used those.
Glad to hear you don't think there won't be much cross-grain movement. The honest answer about the dovetail stretchers is I hoped halfway down would be far enough and would be provide a nice notable aesthetic! However it has been highlighted a couple of times lower may of been better, but the good news is I can always add another one lower if necessary I suppose!
Thanks very much for the comment, advice and support. Please do stick around to see any future developments (Y)
Paul Sellers built a bench laminating plywood. It seems to work well. I think he used screws to stabilize the strips during glue up and clamping. I am watching your work because this seems like a reasonable alternative.
For that price you can’t knock it, excellent bench Alex.
Thank you very much! Appreciate both the support and the comment!
Really enjoyed your video! Im a beginner doing research to make my own first workbench, also w limited tools and $$, so this was great to see step by step, errors included, as well as with cost summary.
Thanks for the kind words! Welcome to the club, be careful though it’s a super addicting hobby haha!
Best of luck with your bench build, what style are you thinking?
Feel free to shoot me a pic on my Insta (same name as on here) when it’s done - would love to see it!
@@Greyotterstudiowas initially thinking an English joiner style bench, as I don't have a power planer and had been intimidated to attempt a big laminate top, but I've been reinspired to attempt it now perhaps with some cauls and judicious glue 😀
Fun watching this.
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
lets go. Love it.
Haha admittedly I cringed a little in the viewback before I uploaded - but glad someone enjoyed it :')
nice job
Thanks! Glad you like it, hopefully more cool builds to come soon!
Class mate 👌
Cheers pal, hope your build is coming along nicely!