Better Bench project

Set out to improve my skill tuning this summer and quickly realized that my 20+ year Swix travel bench was just not delivering what I was looking for. Key issues were wobble & overall challenge keeping the workspace clean and organized. After thinking on it for far too long, I decided to improve upon the design of the basement set up.

OG for perspective:

Attachment 385818

Enlisted some help & decided to get to work:

Attachment 385820

Here’s the base 2x8 that would become the platform. Decided that the issue of wax and sharpening debris was to be addressed. Secondary goal was to increase stabilization. Now I have no skills, so this handiwork was outsourced after the purchase of a $10 piece of lumber from our local hardware store:

Attachment 385821

Thoughts were that the traditional vices upon the edge design only resulted in a waterfall of shavings on self and the flooring, in addition to excessive play in the tuning bench. By notching the board, I could recess the Ski Man clamps and build a through to facilitate efficient shop vac’n. Using industrial shelving brackets and 3” decking screws- the entire board is anchored every six inches to the front of an existing work station. Also added a 1000 lumen work light for increase visualization:

Attachment 385822
^$19 from Home Depot

Covered the board with bedazzled duct tape, so that when the setup gets gunked up, we can just peal the ‘liner’ instead of scraping /sanding the wood down. Last added 1” pipe insulation as a bumper to contain debris:

Attachment 385823

Finished (for now) concept:

Attachment 385824

Wicked stable & a breeze to hit with the shop vac for 10 seconds to wrap up the clean. 2 sets of notches permit LBD / Slalom / kiddo sized skis.

Thoughts / Comments?