The Work Bench

This may not be the ultimate work bench but it is my version of one. I have a small workshop so this work table was created from years of "it would be nice to have this or that capability" on a compact platform.  I have always thought that if the table saw is the heart of a woodworking system, the work bench would stand for a few anatomical metaphors: (a) it is the stomach where a lot of the cut pieces go to for further processing; (b) it is the liver and kidney where the work pieces get cleaned up (sanded/planed.scraped); (c) it is the brain where much contemplating, planning and mental processing get done; but what I truly want to add is (d) it should be a Hekatonheir or Centimanes in Greek mythology which stands for "a hundred hands".  In my case I just want a few extra hands. When using hand tools or hand-held power tools, the only safe way is to securely hold down the work piece.  Not much good comes out of holding the piece with one hand and using the other hand to work a hand tool, let alone with hand held power tools. 

I've had this work bench a while back but it was up against a wall. It was a butcher block purchased from a warehouse club and it was actually for, of all things, a butcher shop or bakery.  The top was laminated maple 1-3/4 inch thick. I constructed the legs from 4 X 4 fir.

Now I wanted it to be an extension to the table saw as the next photos will show,  But first I had to trim the legs by a quarter inch so the top will be level with the table saw top.  This would not have been an easy task (to make sure they'r cut accurately level) but fortunately a friend had loaned me his fancy but very capable saw to make the cut a breeze.

There is a marked difference between how Europeans construct the work bench from how it's done in the Americas. The European work bench has a center channel, like the one above.  The channel might take away a good chunk of surface area but it serves a purpose. It is a good temporary repository for some of the tools while not in use while clearing an area of flat surface for work pieces to be worked on. It is also a good place for chips, shavings, dust and other debris to fall into.  It is easier to clean up that area than if they're on the floor. From the two ideas I created a hybrid of sorts.

I created a channel by ripping from the middle, then made two sliding boards along rails (above and next photo). I have a channel but the center boards can be slid into position if a wider area is needed.  I installed T-tracks (blue strips shown) at strategic places. Along and across the table top they provide multiple points into which hold down clamps can be positioned.

Any workshop should have sufficient lighting but sometimes there is need for focused illumination on certain chores.  There is a commercial LED battery-powered (3 AA) portable table top lamp designed for the workshop that I thought was cleverly well thought out.  It has a goose neck, an adjustable beam, a robust base (battery housing and switch) with a very strong rare earth magnet at the bottom with optional 2-inch base plate, where a 3/4 inch dowel can be affixed with a screw. I constructed a wooden "shoe" with a 3/4 inch hole where the lamp's base can be inserted into and hold down bolt to fasten it anywhere along the T-tracks. It can also be anchored into the saw sled: next photos down).

The adjustable beam works very well.

 As shown the T-tracks provide enormous options  for holding down different accessories , surface options and functions (See next photos). And there is plenty of other optional items I have not thought of yet that can be added on, if only temporarily or one-at-a time, if a future need arises.