Handyman Guide > Building a Workbench Part 2

Cut the boards for the top and nail them on so that they are even with the edges of the top bearer rails at front, back, and sides. Tongued and grooved flooring makes a good top. Saw down one board, if necessary, to maintain the proper width for the top, or plane off the tongue on one outside board and the groove on the board on the opposite end. Countersink the screw heads in the boards so that they are flush, or below the wood surface. A diagonal brace can be fixed to the framework for added strength.

If you wish to floor the bottom, place the lower bearer rails on the inside of the frame. The tongued and grooved flooring can then be finished inside the legs, the ends resting on the top edge of the lower rails and cut off flush.

The diagram shows only one end of the framework, to indicate how the bearer rails and lower rails are put on. If the bench is made longer than 4 feet, one or two boards, 4 inches wide, should be screwed to the underside of the bench top to strengthen it. Fit these boards into notches cut in the top of the upper rails.

The bench should be fixed to the floor and to the wall against which it stands. On wood floors, angle brackets ean be used to secure the legs. On a concrete floor, attach the bracket to the floor by mcans of an expansion shield.

Bench Stop. The bench stop is an invaluable aid in the preparation of wood surfaces by planing, and provides a firm stop for work of similar nature. The stop is located at the top end of the working side of the bench.

The customary type of bench stop is shown in Fig. 2. It consists of a 1 3/4 inch-square section block of hardwood, 6 inches long, and a hardwood wedge 5 1/2 inches long, 1 3/4 inches wide, 3/4 inch thick at the top, tapering to 3/8 inch at the base. These components are fitted in a hole cut in the bench top, the rear face of the hole being cut to the same angle as the taper of the wedge. The location of the bench stop hole is a matter of choice. So long as the top of the vise is not above the level of the bench, no difficulty should be encountered. The hole should be marked off so as to be approximately 3 inches in from the side face of the bench and at least 7 inches from the top end of the bench. Having scribed the shape of the hole, which should be exactly 1 3/4 inch wide and 2 5/8 in. long, drill out a 3/8 inch hole at each corner and well inside the scribed lines.

Using a keyhole or compass saw, remove the surplus wood and trim the sides of the hole with a chisel. All the sides should be vertical, with the exception of the rear face which must be pared to the same angle as the taper of the wedge. Slide the stop in the hole, followed by the wedge, which must be hammered in firmly but not excessively. Press the stop down until it protrudes above the level of the bench about one-half inch. Lightly chamfer the top edges of the wedge and stop. To alter the height of the stop, tap its base to loosen the wedge, move the stop to the required level, and secure it by driving the wedge home.

Continue to building sawbucks



Tools and Materials
Hammers - Handsaws - Screwdrivers - Chisels - Brace and Bit - Hand Drill - Brad Awl - Planes - Files - Measuring Tools - Rules - Squares - Marking Gauge - Levels - Pincers - Nail Set - Drawknife - Cabinet Scraper - Small Tool Kit - Putty Knife - Pliers - Wrenches - Paint Scraper - Sharpening Tools - Nails - Wood Screws - Corrugated Fasteners - Mending Plates - Bolts - Abrasives - Woodworking Glue - Splices and Joints.

The Workshop
Equipping the Workshop - Heating - Fire Precautions - The Workbench - Saw Bucks - Tool Rack.

Home Construction
Elements of the House - Building Materials - Lumber - Molding - Kinds of Wood and their Characteristics - Plywood Wallboard - Roofing Materials - Concrete - Mixing Concrete - Cement Mortar - Concrete Forms - Concrete Blocks - Cinder Blocks - Bricklaying - Fieldstone - Anchoring in Masonry - Soldering.

Furniture
Upholstered Furniture - Furniture Upkeep - Removing Stains - Removing Dents - Leather Upholstery - Cane Seats - Furniture Repairs - How to Repair Breaks - Levelling furniture - Remodeling Furniture - Polishes and Polishing - French Polishing - Painting Furniture - Sticking Drawers - Metal Furniture.

Painting
Paint Brushes - Storing Brushes - Varnish - Water Paint and Plastic Paint - Types of Paint - Paint Thinners - Mixing Paints - Preparing the Surface - Painting Flaws - Removing Paint - Exterior Painting - Painting New Wood - Repainting - Metal - Interior Painting - Calcimine - Painting Woodwork - Old Wood Trim - Staining - Fillers - Varnishing - Bleaching - Enameling - Painting Radiators - Painting Concrete - Shingles - Stoves and Stove Pipes - Whitewash.

Heating
Home Heating Systems - Chimneys - Coal Furnaces - Fuels - Burning Wood - Furnace Dampers - Starting a Coal Fire - Removal of Ashes - Coal Stokers - Oil Burners - Kerosene Heaters - Thermostats - Boiler Dampers - Fuel Economy - Warm Air System - Steam System - Vacuum System - Hot Water System - Radiators - Boilers - Maintaining the System - Insulating the System - Home Insulation - Storm Windows - Weather Stripping - Insulating Your Home - Blanket and Rigid Insulation - Unfinished Attic and Exterior Walls - Winterizing a Cabin - Preparing the foundation - Winterproofing a Cottage - Fireplaces - Reducing Condensation - Humidity.

Plumbing
The Plumbing System - Fresh water supply - Low Water Pressure - Hot Water System - Hot Water Heaters - Hot Water Tanks - Dirty Hot Water - The Sewage System - Sewage Disposal - Cesspools - Septic Tanks - Clearing Sewer Pipes - Clearing Drains - Plumbing Traps - Toilet Traps - Noisy Plumbing - Leaks in Water Tanks - Frozen Pipes - Clogged Water Pipes - Hard Water - Faucets - Shower Mixing Valves - Leaky Flush Tanks - Flush Valves - Removing Toilet Bowl - Leaky Pipes - Draining the Plumbing - Sealing Traps - Draining the Heating System - Types of Pipe - Insulating Pipes - Water Corrosion - Cleaning Fixtures.

Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter about how to start a handyman business. Get tips for finding clients, managing work and more.

More articles about starting a handyman business:

How to Start a Handyman Business

Handyman Business Cards

Handyman Clients: How to Find the Best Ones

Are You Cut Out to Be a Handyman?

Tools for a Handyman Business

Payment Options for Handymen

How To Advertise a Handyman Business



Customer Service Tips for Handymen

Choosing a Name for a Handyman Business

Record Keeping Basics for Handymen

Being a Handyman Versus Having a Handyman Business or a Franchise

Getting a Website for Your Handyman Business

Getting Paid Upfront: Deposit Policies for Handymen

How Much To Charge Per Hour

Should You Charge by the Hour, or by the Job?

Insurance for Handymen

Handyman Business Book Reviews

The Handyman Guide: How to Fix and Build 1000s of Things Around the House