On Wed, Jan 17, 2018 at 11:37 PM, Don Schwartz  wrote:

> .
>
> I am in a different position. I've purchased the Veritas deluxe benchtop
> kit ( two 10-3/4in predrilled slabs plus hardware, and am trying to decide
> what to do with it. I don't want the well that Veritas has in their plans,
> and am considering alternatives for widening the top to about 26 or 28in.
> I'm leaning to a narrow gap a la Mike Siemsen that would accommodate
> planing stops, bench hooks and possibly clamps, but will want to add some
> material either at the gap or on the front and/or back. I could conceivably
> add a row of square holes along one or both long edges. My vises are a
> Record quick-action & the Veritas twin-screw, which will very likely go on
> the end. I am open to all ideas except for returning the slabs and building
> my own top. ;-)
>
> I'm also interested in seeing or hearing about any experiences with the
> Veritas benchtop. My observations so far are that it is more heavily
> finished than I want, one slab is slightly thicker ( about 1/64" ) than
> spec, and they will want a bit of flattening. I may go over both sides with
> a toothing plane, and then joint them once the top is assembled, putting
> the thinner slab at the back ( shimmed with veneer).
>


Don
Sorry to be a bit late replying to this.  I have a Veritas bench, bought
the complete kit, with the wooden legs.  I added a tool cabinet underneath
it to keep tools close by, and give it mass.
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Shop-Stuff/i-6d8GkVP

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Under-Workbench-Tool
-Cabinet/i-qm4KjjT

I hate to say I didn't notice any of the things you mentioned, because I
didn't care.  This was my previous bench, the Record 052 vise is off in
this shot. The Veritas, even with any flaws, was a huge step up.

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Shop-Stuff/i-b9zLTqs

I have had it since about 2003, and I still have an email or two of people
chiding me for buying vs building.  But if I had to build a bench, it still
wouldn't be done.

Yes, it is heavily finished, which I am OK with.  I never measured the
thickness or flatness of either one.  Once assembled and leveled in the
shop, I did check it for flat against a 48" scale I had at work, and it was
close enough back then for WW stuff.  I was splitting mm at work so it was
a nice break back then.

I love the dog hole grid pattern, made many of my own guides and stops (on
the bench in 1st pic),

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/i-9MGKkdv

and bought more from LV after they FINALLY developed them. I have their
round dogs and muzzles, the prairie dog, the wonder dog.  This is one of
the best
http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=69837&cat=1,41637

And was my favorite until Bill Ghio posted his planing stop with the 1/8"
thick washer under it.  Gonna make one like his.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/77280442@N.../39839474561/in/dateposted-public/

I made an adjustable board jack, which hides out of the way when not in use.
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Under-Workbench-Tool
-Cabinet/i-JhxzFn9

I have a couple of Gramercy Hold Fasts, 2 cut off for working over the
cabinet, 1 full length and 1 Tim Holloway version too.  (The Jorgensen cast
5/8" one doesn't work well, think the bench is too thin.)
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Saws/i-fcgWwMZ

I use a crappy shooting board, mount my miter box there too, but no pix
quickly at hand.

I have put vises in the vises per BugBear , for carving handles
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Misc-Images/i-QtDv7NN

Held Galootaclaus gifts
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Projects/i-pc62Q8v

Its been used for BAGAThons scrubbing walnut down

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/BAGaThons-and-Gather
ings/100912-BAGaThon-KE/i-hLMnqv5

It's been used for many a tool acquistion photo shoot.

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Misc-Images/i-9BxNv2G
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Misc-Images/i-HJVgwc8   (couple of
planing stops off stage left, this and next pic)
https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Misc-Images/i-drdGcTr

I have planned on making a couple of dovetailed boxes to fill the gap, put
a piece of veneer or thin stock under them and they become planing stops,
but haven't gotten there yet.

I have but rubber bands on the bench handles, to cushion the dropping, so
the ends don't fall off.

Let me know if I can answer more specific questions

-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, working on getting Live Oak into manageable
pieces