Official Luthiers Forum!

There has been a lot of "shop talk" lately so I guess I will continue as I have been asked by Serge and Todd Stock to post these pics when it was ready, so here they are, the new bench (still under some construction!):

Full view



This is the bench dog vise, I will make the dogs in the next few days. They are great for holding things that need planing or sanding.



This is the end vise. The screw is from Lee Valley and I have had it for a couple of years now, waiting to build a nice traditional shaker style bench (which I will still do when I finally build the big shop!)



On the left side of the bench are this bank of drawers. There are 15 of them and will be VERY handy!



The two middle drawers are full extension and are for the portable power tools.



My design ideas for this was something solid, functional, inexpensive and half decent looking. The top is two layers of 3/4 inch MDF capped with Birch on the edges. The vices are made from the same birch tree which I harvested from off my property about three years ago. I think that spending a bit of time putting together things like your benches are important if you plan to do business as they show your clients the respect you show your workspace, just my thought on that! I like to work near the edge of the bench a lot so the edges are eased but not bullnosed and there is at least a two inch overhang on every edge for clamping. The left wing of the "U" is only 18" wide and will be the main area for working on guitars as you can access it from three sides. The studio is small, about 330 sq ft, so multi function is important. In that light the end vice will host a bunch of accessories. The buffer that I have just about completed will mount in the vice when needed. The fret board radiusing jig will be vice mounted as will the Larrivee style binding jig and the bending iron. I have lots of plans for organization and will show more pics over the next while as things come togther. All of the tools mounted on the wall will find new and better homes/holders in the next while as well. But for now I want to get at making a couple guitars and see where things need to be placed as I move through the processes. Hope this inspires others thinking of a new bench!

Thanks

Shane

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Canada

That looks great! Did you build that yourself? Nice dovetails.

I'm going to be building my new shop this year and what you've done is very similar to how I picture mine. Great minds think alike I guess

WOW, Shane...very nice, functional and impressive. Thanks for posting.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Very nice, Shane!!

WOW Shane, you've inspired me with that awesome looking bench of yours, !

I agree with your statement as to what respect you show to build your workspace alas sometimes, space or lack thereof or lack of materials don't help, nonetheless, now that i have solidified the mobile base of my central bench, i definitely want to change my top (old door) slab by a maple one with dog holes! Thank you!

If you can build such a nice bench in such a little time, the guitars will fly out of that shop in no time, watch out Hesh!

I'm droolin'! Beautiful work, great layout!!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

That is very sweet .. I am planning to put drawers under mine as well one of these days ... nice job.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

A very well thought out work bench Shane. Next time you're down here in Florida maybe you could build me one just like it! I really like all the drawers and vices.        

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

That's a good one Shane! Most functional and still great looking! As I have even less space than you (255 sq ft) I'm always trying to maximize the functionality of things. Might I suggest you put an overhead shelf above the section against the wall? You could use it as storage but more importantly, if built right, you can use it as a go bar deck. I've got 8' of go bar decking against one of my walls. I don't use go bars that much, but it sure is handy when I do, to not have to drag out a deck and get it all set up.

Now there's a feature for Better Homes & Workshops. I really like your U-shaped work area. I expect to build a new workshop sometime in the coming year, and this is definitely going into my crib-sheet file. Super job — thanks for sharing your ideas!

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D..

Please send me one "Bench" next day air!
Great job Shane.
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Very nice setup Shane. Now you have all of us in suffering from BES (Bench Envy Syndrome).

One suggestion, if you move the chisels to the location that the storage box/radio are then you could easily reach them from either side of the free floating portion of your bench. Also this would allow more space to incorporate Paul's idea of a upper storage area/go bar deck.

Great work space . I never have enough storage, having all those drawers would be wonderful... The U shape will work out well also, I think. Leave off one part of a build, turn around, start working on another. Of course, it'll probably never look quite so neat again- or at least very seldom

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Killer Shane - I cant wait to work on my proper bench this spring- when the wind and rain stops
{most work will havee to be done on my deck the shop is so small!}
Its been practically a hurricane up here this year and I can barely find a gap enough in the weather to take my portable table saw out on the deck to make a few cuts!
Thats looking like one hell of a shop already!
Cheers
Charliewood

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments!

Paul, I considered a go-bar deck attachment but I think that I wil incorporate it into the rim sander I built. It is on wheels and that way I can access from all sides. Although, I do frequently look at the bench space and wonder if I should put it there. It is those decisions that I want to make once I build a couple of guitars here and see how things flow. The rest of the studio walls are drywall, the area behind the bench is 1/2" plywood just so I can mount things to the wall anywhere I want, and move them if I don't like the original spot. The section of wall with no plywood on is where my compressor lines will be coming through and my small binks spray booth will live. The big compressor is in a lean-to shed outside of the shop.

Roy, I think that you will likely be right about the placement of the chisel rack. All of those will be replaced with nicer and more efficient ones, once I figure out what and where I want it.

Thanks again all!

Shane

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Canada

Shane, I think you have just solved my problem of storage and bench space. I have been planning to rework my bench and also to build some storage cabinets. This is a great solution to both problems.

Mine will definately not look a gorgoeus as yours does, but hopefully it will be just as functional.

Thanks for sharing the pics dude!

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Shane....I really like the layout. I have been thinking about doing something different in my shop and this gives me some ideas.

Great job!

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Brad
Avon, OH

Hubba Hubba

Shane, that is the nicest bench setup I've ever seen. Man, that's nice!!!

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Awesome Bench!!!

Shane;
I'm jealous!!!!!!!

That isn't a Lutz bench top is it???
Look great!
Now how about some gitars!
Eh!!

Mike Collins

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Mike Collins

I could be Lutz Michael. They do still chip good wood for pulp nad manufactured board products !!

Guitars are a coming VERY SOON!

Shane

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Canada

Shane,,,,,,, That's about as cool as it gets !

Your craftsmanship is immaculate . I can easily see your careful planning . It's got everything you'll ever need . Well done mate ! WOW !

Regards Craig

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Nice work there Shane..but I would have expected the whole thing to have been constructed from Lutz.

Cheers