Important workbench maintenance tasks you should be doing

How to make your woodworking bench last for generations
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[StumpyNubs]

More workbench resources►

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[tonyn]

James, I appreciate your videos. They are short, sweet, and to the point. Most You Tubers' expound for thirty minutes before getting to the meat of the information. You, thankfully, get to the point and the info is always very useful. You also have much longer videos to show a building process that is also useful, without showing thirty minutes of cutting the same joint. Keep it

[brunsonwhite]

I bought a 7 foot long birch workbench a few years ago. It was finished with multiple coats of lacquer. Based on the same reasons you mention in this video, I stripped it all off and put several applications of boiled linseed oil on it. I am glad I did.

[ccadama]

@Stumpy Nubs. Thanks James for the tips.

Hope you and all your staff and families stay safe and well.
Wishing all the fathers a Happy Father's Day.

[מעייןהמלבלבתחייםםםם]

Thanks! Just finished my jointer bench made it from pine and I'm looking forward to enjoying using it for years to come.

[wisewoodworking]

I got rearrageritis yesterday and moved around my table saw and workbench (which your videos were instrumental in helping me build). Thank you for the knowledge, I have to get into the shop now and cleanup glue from the workbench knew better but did 3 glue ups on it in a rush.

[lexboegen]

I bought two plastic levels at one of the home centers to use as winding sticks. They're plastic, so they won't rust or warp from humidity, and they're bright orange so they're easy to see. I ran a strip of blue painters tape along the top of one of them for contrast. They were pretty cheap too, and they're as flat or flatter than any wooden winding sticks that I would make.

[Idahoanghost]

Thanks James. Your advice is ALWAYS useful!☺️

[glencrandall]

My first shop was half of a two car garage. 35 years ago my first bench was about a dozen 10 ft 2 x 4's bolted together. Well not exactly "was, because it still is.

[jimw]

Perfect timing James. I just finished building my 2' x 5' bench with drawers. Flattening the top with a router sled worked great but sure was NASTY. I had to clean my entire shop. The base is Maple and the top is hard Maple.
On one of you videos you introduced a glue roller. I purchased one. The 4" one I believe. I love it! I'll never use a brush again, except for mortise & tenons.

[jakematic]

You don't do woodworking on your credenza... hmmm, maybe that's why you're still married :^)
Great tips as always, and a a good reminder to get my bench maintained.

[watermain]

Thanks James. I built my workbench when I first decided to give woodworking a try several years ago. I made it out of construction grade 2 x 4s from Lowes and I made a ton of mistakes when building it. Over the years I've noted a lot of things to change in the next one, like not making it 38" high. I thought that would be a good height since I'm tall. I appreciate all the help you send our way.

[ericaugustus]

I just got an unfinished maple workbench top from my father. The base is included, and I’m curious as to the best way to attach the two. I was going to use carriage bolts, but he thought that might not be a good idea, due to the wood movement. He suggested bolting one side down, and using a floating u-shaped bracket on the other side to allow for movement, without buckling the top.
Any ideas or suggestions? TIA.

[insanejughead]

Now to go looking for your tutorial on how to make a bench...

Then compare it with Rex's, then finish up with some advice from Paul.

[rjtumble]

James, I have a Sjobergs by Jet bench that I bought from a friend a few years ago. It has two 1.5" holes in the top that have metal sleeves in them (the interior diameter of the metal sleeves is 1.5"). Do you have any idea what these holes are for? I can't find any accessories that seem to fit them.

[jerrysmigiel]

Off topic, but can you remind me what you used for a finish on the butcherblock countertop? Going way back now.

[allansm]

Just starting out. What type of electric saw should I get first? General purpose.

[Yawles]

A local bowling alley closed. A while back, someone was offering sections of lanes for $10/running foot. Would maple bowling lanes make a reasonable bench surface?

[James-lone]

What straight edge do you use? I need to get a few.

[tropifiori]

My benches are made of ash and nearly unplaneable. I use shellac on my bench which keeps glue from sticking.