by Gregory Brunk
Weight total with tools: approx 430 lbs. Material: top 2" thick finger-jointed Hard Maple Aprons: 2" thick x 7" wide Walnut Tool cabinet: (9) drawers 18" deep full-extension 100 lb. drawer slides, carcass and drawers Poplar, false drawer fronts spalted and some curly cherry tool shelf: slatted spalted cherry bench stretchers and trestle ends: cherry Trestle posts: walnut Finish: 50/50 mix boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits, followed by several coats of paste wax. One requirement of the bench was non-racking chain-drive face and tail vises with 24" center-to-center spacing which would allow for clamping of Windsor chair seats as well as wide panels. In addition, I wanted a dedicated pattern maker's vise for carving use and holding irregular-shaped objects in a variety of working positions. I designed a movable tool holder I call my "Bench Buddy." It utilizes the dog holes along the sides and end to secure it in place. I also built a removable tool cabinet resting on the bottom shelf of the bench. I used full extension drawer slides and 1/8" thick foam core with tool profile cut-outs to secure the tools from shifting when the drawers are opened and closed.