Lie-Nielsen Workbench - European Beech
European Beech has been used for building very fine workbenches for years. We recently came across a supply of nice European Beech, made a bench with it, and are very happy with the results. If there's enough interest, we'll make more!
This bench has all features of our Standard Workbench:
- The shoulder vise is a chain-drive twin-screw vise, with 12" spacing between the screws, 8" of travel, and a 22-1/2" European Beech jaw.
- The rugged tail vise has 6-7" of travel and a non-traditional “no L-block” jaw.
- The front stretcher is 4-1/8" wide and flush to the front of the legs and benchtop. Trestle legs are 3" square and flush with the front of the bench.
- No skirt, no tool tray, just plenty of clamping surface.
- 4" thick solid top.
- 7 feet long (including tail vise handle) x 2 feet wide (excluding the shoulder vise).
- Bench height is customizable between 32" and 38".
- Weight is 320 lbs.
- Includes two wooden bench dogs.
Benches are shipped disassembled and crated via LTL trucking. You will need to assemble the trestle and mount the top to the trestle. A crated workbench weighs 600 lbs. The crating fee is $400 and standard freight shipping costs will be calculated based on the delivery location. You are also welcome to pick up your workbench at our shop in Maine (Maine State Sales Tax will apply). Please call for shipping quotes: (800) 327-2520.
Go to our Downloads page for a copy of our Workbench Assembly and Care Instructions.
Click here to watch Christopher Schwarz discuss the Lie-Nielsen Workbench on our YouTube channel.
Workbenches
A workbench is one of the most important tools in the shop and needs to be flat, stable and heavy.
Lie-Nielsen Workbenches feature simple design and solid construction.
Our benches come equipped with two rugged vises: our Chain-Drive Shoulder Vise, with 8" of travel,
and our non-traditional, “no L-block” Tail Vise, with 6½" of travel.
Bench dog holes are along front edge. Dog holes are 1.150" x .950". Holdfast holes along front right
leg and benchtop for a variety of work-holding options. Holdfast holes are ¾" diameter. Benches are
supplied with two vise handles and two wooden square bench dogs.
Go to our Downloads page for a copy of our Lie-Nielsen Holdfast Hole Layout Diagram.
Height:
Most benches currently on the market are approximately 35" (88.9cm) high. For many modern hand tool woodworkers, a taller bench is more comfortable. We can customize the height of a workbench between 32" (81.28cm) to 38" (96.52cm) high.
Right or Left Hand:
The Tail Vise and Chain Drive Vise can be positioned on the bench to accommodate either a right-handed or left-handed orientation.
Please call us with any questions: (800) 327-2520
Materials:
Lie-Nielsen Workbenches feature simple design and solid construction. No skirt, no tool tray, just plenty
of clamping surface. They are made of Hard Maple, a native hardwood that is stable, heavy and tough.
Maintenance:
Re-Oiling
We recommend that you re-oil your bench 1-2 times a year, depending on the amount of use the bench gets.
We use a high grade pure linseed oil from Earthpaint, called Special Linseed Oil Wood Finish. It's filtered much more thoroughly than boiled linseed oil, which gives it a lighter finish, much less odor, and very good penetration. Be sure to cover all end grain well (bench top, vise chops) as this will help stabilize the wood. Apply the oil, let it soak in for one hour, and remove any excess.
Remember, linseed oil is highly flammable, and can combust, so always dispose of oil rags and brushes in a safe manner.
Flattening
Over time, your bench may need to be re-flattened. A good way to do this is to use a No. 7 or No. 8 Jointer Plane in order to get the bench top true and flat, working first diagonally back and forth across the grain, then finishing along the grain.
In the February 2008 issue of Popular Woodworking, issue #167, Christopher Schwarz explains this method for flattening your bench with hand tools. You can find this article on their website.
