I'm about finally ready to build a real workbench and explore the slippery slope of hand tools. I've got a couple of Japanese saws, a half-dozen old and new (Veritas) planes, and am set up to keep them ScarySharp. Over a year ago my bride gave me a Veritas Twin-Screw vise that's still in the box. I've been looking at, and planning with, the three workbench books (Landis, Allen and Schwartz). I'm thinking seriously of a simple Roubo-style bench with truss-rodded base, the Twin-Screw as a face vise, no end vise, and the top consisting of two Ikea 24"x72"x1.5" laminated beech countertops ($59/each!) glued face-to-face for a 3" thick top. I'm also toying with the idea of making the bench double-sided by adding a crochet, sliding deadman and leg vise to the other side of the bench. Any good reason why not if the bench is to sit in the middle of the workspace?
I'd like to use simple stops, round bench dogs (which I'll make as needed) and holdfasts (I already have two of the Gramercy holdfasts) for the vast majority of my workholding on the top and front of the bench. All three authors note that holdfasts are tough on the holes they go into, but don't give any real indication of how long a dedicated holdfast hole remains round and useful. Is this something I need to obsess over, and somehow plan to redo periodically as I work with the bench? Or will this be an issue for my grandchildren long after I'm gone?
Those of you who have gone sliding down this slope and are willing to share... your comments on any or all of the above are most welcome.
Michael Latcha - at home in Redford, MI