A Learning Adventure in the Workshop

Bench Legs

Over the past weekend I planed and fully laminated the wood for the 5" x 5" x 32" legs for the bench. Each leg is made up of four 1.25" boards laminated together, with massive 2.5" tenons on the top end for attachment with the underside of the bench top. After the glue dried, I jointed and planed the laminated leg blocks to final dimension.

Additionally, I made the front and rear stretchers.  The front stretcher has a beveled top edge so that it can act as the lower track for the eventual sliding deadman attachment.

Next, I will make the side stretchers, and design some sort of support at the attachment point for the right rear leg's mortise and tenon joint, since that leg will have to deal with the tool tray location that I added to this design.  I have some ideas for this, but have settled on the final design yet.  I hope to do these items tonight.

No photos recent, because our digital camera is missing.  I hope to be able to post some soon.

Progress on the Bench Project

Slow but sure progress on my Roubo-like workbench project.

The bench top is now "complete" and fully laminated to 24" by 92" long.  I decided to go with a 1/2 length tool tray on the back of the bench.   I couldn't commit to a full length tool tray, but also did not want to exclude one.  I figure that this way, I will have the full bench width in front of the front vise, and the tray to the right, where I tend to stow and reach for tools anyway. The tool try has a sliding bottom (divided into two sections) that can slide out of the bench to the right, so as to allow for easy dumping of wood chips.  The tool tray bottom is 1/4" plywood that runs in 1/4" slots that I routed into the sides of the tool tray with a 1/4" slot-cutting bit in the router.  Photos coming soon.

I have also purchased the Veritas twin-screw vise as my future front vise, and a standard 9" Groz quick-release vise as my tail vise.  These will be stored until the bench is finished.

Last night I managed to plane all of the wood for the bench's legs to final thickness.  Four of these boards will be laminated into each 5" x 5" leg.   I hope to begin the leg lamination glue-ups tonight, or this weekend.

A little more information on the "Pilliod" tool chest and company

I received a nice email from a relative of the Pilliod family today with the following information:

"What you have is a Tool Chest made by the Pilliod Cabinet/Furniture Company of Swanton, Ohio. I have seen a few listed on Ebay but not in the good condition that yours looks to be in. Although related to the Pilliod family I know very little about the cabinet company. I do know that they sold jewelry boxes, silverware chests and the tool chests you have. The company is no longer in operation. It was to my knowledge owned by T.J. Pilliod and passed down to his children. I do not know if T.J Pilliod was the original owner of the company or if his ancestors started it. As for the tools in the chest I don’t believe they came with the tool chest. Hope this helps."