Hi all. =20
I figured that since I have a question, I had better introduce myself =
first.

In a former life I was a stage carpenter, which means I didn't care if =
what I was building was plumb or level as long as it looked plumb and =
level.  I created lots of dust, used power tools for just about =
everything, built some strange objects, and did some strange things =
(like paint a rug, not paint the floor to look like a rug, but literally =
paint a rug).  I also built furniture, like a table that will collapse =
during a fight scene, but not when some one stands on it. After too many =
years of this, I got tired of lifting heavy objects and plugging in =
cables and became a computer programmer.  I have since repented of my =
Normite ways, and am learning about hand tools and their uses.  I am =
also trying to learn how to build furniture that doesn't collapse when =
SWMBO and I argue.

And now the question.

Yesterday, I was flattening a board on a completely inadequate workbench =
(not mine, I'll get to that later), the board would move, because there =
were no dogs, just some scrap clamped to the bench. When I clamped the =
board itself, I would move the entire bench.  In frustration, I =
unclamped the board, let out a thunderous Neander Yell, and like a true =
Galoot went off to figure out how to make a workbench (and buy more =
tools).  However the problem is that I live in a second floor apartment =
and there is no room for a permanent bench.  I got to thinking, how did =
they do it in the old days?  Surely, some 19th century carpenter needed =
a portable bench.  Do any of the galoots on the porch have an answer?  =
I'll just sit here on the bottom step and await the collective wisdom.

    =20
Geoff Webb
Advancement Services
Washington State University
Pullman WA 99163
(509) 335-1867
webbg@w...

In <01BBB780.BA41EC40@i...>, on 10/11/96 at 04:31 PM,
   Geoff Webb  said:

-bio snipped-

>tools).  However the problem is that I live in a second floor apartment
>and there is no room for a permanent bench.  I got to thinking, how did
>they do it in the old days?  Surely, some 19th century carpenter needed
>a portable bench.  Do any of the galoots on the porch have an answer? 
>I'll just sit here on the bottom step and await the collective
>wisdom.

In one of last year's episodes of the WWS Roy makes a portable bench out
of two inch rough sawn wood.  The leg assemblies are attached to the top
with hinges.  Carriage bolts secure the legs to braces running  from the
center of the bench top to the bottom leg stretchers.  Someone posted
that he has a new book due out and that this project was included.

I've seen this same design in another reference recently, but can't
recall where it was.

Jerry
-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
stampy@s...  (Jerry Davis)   Griffin, GA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

>    Geoff Webb  asked about portable workbench ideas:
> 
> -bio snipped-
> 
>tools).  However the problem is that I live in a second floor apartment
>and there is no room for a permanent bench.  I got to thinking, how did
>they do it in the old days?  Surely, some 19th century carpenter needed
>a portable bench.  Do any of the galoots on the porch have an answer? 
>I'll just sit here on the bottom step and await the collective
>wisdom.
> 

Well, I did something for a light-weight bench that may help 
apartment dwellers.  In my (shudder) Normite days, I had constructed 
a 2x4 and plywood "bench".  It is in the basement on a smooth, painted 
cement floor.  First time I clamped a board to it and tried my #7 
(long jointer) plane on it, the whole "bench" slid away.  After some 
fancy footwork involving wrapping a leg (mine) around another leg 
(the benches) which almost broke both, I had a better idea.
   I put a piece of plywood flat on the floor in front of the "bench" 
and fastened and the "bench" together with a strip of 1X4.  It's very
stable and I will use it to make a real bench.

WARNING- amaturish ASCII art...

  End view of bench and flooring:

                          :         :
                          :         :
                          :         : <- 2x4 "bench" leg
                     -----:         :
                     :    :         :
               1x4 ->:    :         :
                     :    :         :
                     :    :         :
                     :    :         :
                     :    :         :
                     :    :         :
 -------------------------          :
   plywood flooring       :         :
                          :         :
 ------------------------- ---------

   After looking at it, I wonder why I didn't use hinges instead of a 
1x4.  I could fold the plywood up against the "bench" and keep it out 
of the way.  Hmmm.  I gotta go downstairs for a few minutes.

Hope this helps.

Larry

On Mon, 14 Oct 1996, Jerry Davis helpfully wrote:

> In one of last year's episodes of the WWS Roy makes a portable bench out
> of two inch rough sawn wood.  The leg assemblies are attached to the top
> with hinges.  Carriage bolts secure the legs to braces running  from the
> center of the bench top to the bottom leg stretchers.  Someone posted
> that he has a new book due out and that this project was included.
> 
> I've seen this same design in another reference recently, but can't
> recall where it was.

I have not seen Roy build it, but the description sounds like a bench in 
_The Practical Woodworker_, B.E. Jones, ed.  On pages 7-9 he describes a 
portable bench such as the one above, and he includes two line drawings 
and several dimension sketches.  

Paul, 
  who is hoping not to start another B.E. Jones buying frenzy ... or is he?