Stephen,
Nice bench. I 'm interested in benches at the moment too because I'm 
ready to rebuild the bench I built about 4 years ago. That is more than 
long enough to discover the mistakes and misconceptions I had when I 
built it. I intend to go traditional with tail and shoulder vices and 
tool cabinet built into the base. I like the "Traditional Workbench" 
design  in "Woodsmith" #50. Which has the internal type tail vise but I 
will modify it by adding a shoulder vise because don't like to deal with 
the racking of  my Lee Valley vices. Nor do I like the Record with which 
I replaced the Lee Valley. This is project # 1273 on my personal want to 
do list.
Best regards and welcome to the list,
Ken
Stephen Andrews wrote:

>Hello all. 
>
>My name is Stephen Andrews I live in Reading in the UK 
>and I have been lurking on the list for about a year and a 
>half. I started collecting user tools about 3 years ago
>and started woodwork about 1 1/2 years ago. I use
>handtools because I don't like noise, I don't like dust, I dont
>like spending money if I dont have to and I only have a
>small workshop.
>
>Many hours have been spent searching through the 
>archives. There's a time warp thing in that archive 
>and I got sucked in. 
>
>Having searched through the archives for all your opinions on the best 
>wood to make a workbench with I came to the conclusion that the best 
>wood is free wood or cheap wood. 
>
>Well to cut a long story short I got hold of some cheep sapele wood and 
>built a workbench out of that. Ok its not as hard as rock maple but its 
>harder than deal. 
>
>It's taken me a year of spare time to make the thing and I have just 
>completed it. Here is the web site for any who are interested: 
>
>http://uk.geocities.com/sapele_bench/ 
>
>The site was designed by me using Publisher but a friend of mine 
>striped out all the rubbish (well started again really I think). 
>
>The bench has not been finished yet. I have to wait until the end of 
>summer before applying a few good coats of blonde de-waxed shellac. 
>
>Thanks to all the list members for a great archive. 
>
>Regards to all, 
>
>Stephen.
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