Getting setup

It's time to get started making this bench.  The idea is to make a workbench to do handwork on.  That means it's going to be pretty low, fairly narrow across the top and as long as possible.  I'm stealing most of the ideas for this bench from the Schwarz workbench books, the Blue and the Red.  I preferred the blue book, but if I was planning on designing the entire thing the red would be very valuable. The style of bench is called the Roubo.  Here is an example of the style of bench: lumberjocks project

I built some saw benches to do work on, plans are in one of the Schwarz books and here.  In addition I bought some Ash from a hardwood shop out in Eagle: High Desert Hardwood  The gentleman who was running the shop the day I went was very helpful.  I hope after the bench is done I can go back and get some more wood from them.  Probably some oak or maple for a dresser.  But, bench first, next project next.

The ash is for the leg vice, a guide for the leg vice, a sliding deadman and a planing stop.  Here is a good view of one of the pieces of Ash.  It's 8/4 which means 8 -quarter (1/4") wood, or 2" thick.

And these are just end views of two more pieces.

Here are 4 pieces of 2x12x8 wood.  Went to Stone Lumber to get a bunch of 2x12s.  They were out of 8 foot long pieces, but were nice enough to cut 16 footers in half.  These will get ripped the long way into 3 pieces.  Most of them will go into the top, but some are going into stretchers.

A view of the rest of the wood, including some 2x12x12s that have been cut in half.  We're storing them on top of some shelving so they aren't the easiest thing in the world to get to.

And my shop helper: