Dirk Vogel's workbench *LINK*

Re: Dirk Vogel's workbench

Michael Recchione

>It's pretty impressive, though probably not the kind of bench I'd want to build. I'm confused about a couple of things (which may have been explained in the posts, but I don't speak German...)

What are the two rows of dogholes for? Is the bench complete, or will there be tail vises (or a wide end vise or something)?

I was very impressed with the large threaded wooden screws with the handles - are these meant to be used on the bench somehow? If so, how?

What's the purpose of the deep gap that runs the length of the bench, down the middle? I've seen bench designs with tool trays in the middle, but never that deep.

- Mike

Holy Cats ! Park an Oak on THAT !

steve mackay

>

Re: Dirk Vogel's workbench

ThomD

>Your best bet would be to read the old archive it was very extensive, and he had lots of ideas.

I must say, sniff, that I am a little put out he didn't post these here first, after all the electronic trees that were sacrificed to the discussion thereof. :)

Given the way Ellis travels, or at least his hat, I think we need a picture of this bench with one of those hats on it.

Re: Dirk Vogel's workbench

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Yeah, that was my thought, too. Several of you guys spent loads of time over several extremely long threads trying to help Dirk in this effort. I don't know that it was the largest effort, but certainly sufficiently significant to warrant a photo or two.

Pam

Re: Dirk Vogel's workbench

Michael Recchione

>OK - I went back and looked at the thread. It looks like the bench isn't finished - the tail vise(s) are still missing. I still don't "get" the deep center channel, but it looks like he was headed that way even back when it was being discussed. Maybe I'll go back and read the discussion in more detail.

Re: Dirk Vogel's workbench

ThomD

>I don't remember the exact reason. but his initial design was picture framed around many nooks, which was going to blow on him. We discussed a variety of ways of dealing with the need to accomodate expantion, the conventional breadboard ends/ rear wrap around where the expansion occurs in the tool tray was not his favorite. I pointed out one option was to direct the expansion into the center. On my workbench there is a slot down through which things fall, or can be racked, depending on dimension. In my case it had to do with a playful reference to the fact that the underlying structure is that of beams on "sawhorse"/trestles. Another part of it was that his bench was originally slated to be about double conventional width. Attempts to get him to build two separate benches with high low functionality, or something else, were not the kind of thing he wanted. Seems that he has executed his design pretty faithfully.

At the end of the day, it's a bench

Michael Recchione

>The main thing is for it to be sturdy - looks like he achieved that pretty well.

My workbench (long)

Dirk Vogel

>Hi there !

It's amazing somebody found the photos of my (not yet finished) workbench in a German woodworking usergroup ... Thank you all for your attention, I think it may be a good idea to explain why I didn't post anything here.

First, I was going to post photos of the FINISHED workbench here ... the moment it would be finished, though. I won't forget that lots of people, and most of all dear Thom, were giving me best advice right here. If you want to know it all : I also posted my questions a year and some months ago in that German usergroup, but there were much less reactions, criticism and points of view than here, so I stuck with this place in the end.

A few people of the German forum know me already personally, and they kept pestering me with publishing photos of my new workshop, so I decided to give in and to show my cave as a digital camera finally arrived at home, so I could take photos. The main portion of that series of photos is about tools and wood, and the workbench is there only because, as you can see, it's the only big tool I own ...

So I'll answer the questions that aroused.

There are not two, but three rows of dogholes, and there will be three tail vises, a classic one and two other Stephen Kirk called recently "wagon vise" (see his thread of 09 / 25). The three wooden screws (diameter of 2 inches) are meant to be built into them.

The gap in the middle of the bench is indeed a tool tray, and its depth is just the one that's necessary to put there my Clinton N. 7 Jointer Plane.

Now, concerning my bench, there would be much to tell and to show you. I would have preferred to do that with the finished object, but I don't want anybody to feel bad about my apparent "cheating" ;-) so next week, if you're still interested, I'm going more into details with most exclusive and new photos. Do we have a deal ? Unfortunatedly, I can't do it earlier, because tomorrow I have to make a journey.

I hope you all understand it was not ungratefulness that made me post some photos elsewhere. Anyway, the real discussion of what and why went well or bad is going to be much more animated here than there, that I'm sure of :-)

So, thanks again for your kind interest, and know I didn't forget this forum � I just had other furniture to finish first (look at them at http://www.woodworking.de/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl/read/28957 if you want).

Bye, Dirk

Re: My workbench (long)

Hank Knight

>Dirk,

No apology or explanation is necessary. We'll look forward to your photos. I was interested in your various posts relating to the planning of your bench. You have come up with some interesting, non-traditional ideas. I'll be very interested to see the finished project. It' looks like you've put a lot of work into it.

Hank

Re: My workbench (long)

Wiley Horne -- So. Calif.

>Dirk,

Thank you for the detailed response! Many here remember the detailed planning you did for this bench, and will be highly interested in the result.

Best wishes to all in Germany!

Wiley

Re: My workbench (long)

Michael Recchione

>Thanks, Dirk - I suspected it wasn't finished. You've answered all my questions. I look forward to seeing your pictures when it's done.

Re: My workbench (long)

ThomD

>Between the "sniff" and the :), I was joking when I said I was upset you hadn't posted it here. Keep in touch.