TAGE FRID INSPIRED WORKBENCH

A hybrid of a European cabinetmaker's bench.

SHOP OWNER: Ed DeLauter

LOCATION:

The design for this workbench draws heavily on the Tage Frid model, which appeared in the Fine Woodworking Book Series. The bench is a hybrid of a European cabinetmaker's style. It has a Veritas Twin-Screw end vise and a Scandinavian style shoulder vise. A sliding board jack permits support of longer boards. The top features a center-mounted 6" wide tool tray.

The wood used for the top is hard maple, face-glued (4", 3", 2" front to rear), red and white oak for the end vise, red oak for the shoulder vise, and red oak end caps. The base has cherry feet, with oak, ash, and birch legs and top members. I used maple for the keys (no glue) on the tusk tenon joinery. A single 3/4" diameter steel pin at each end secures the top to the base. For the finish, I used boiled linseed oil, which I cut, followed by Renaissance wax. It is my favorite tool in the shop now.