The Workbench

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116 BENCH IN A BOX front vise, tool tray, massive square steel dogs, __________________________ THE THOUSANDS WHO’VE EVER TAKEN A WOOD- WORKING CLASS will be familiar with this Sjöberg bench. Though smaller than the classic bench, its handy size gives students two vises, storage, and a dedicated work area. __________________________ THE ULMIA COMPANY HAS HAD ROCKY TIMES but seems here to stay— using the old name under new ownership. Though lacking the familiar tool tray, the Improved Professional model is reminiscent of the Classic Ulmia. and high-quality German hardware. Ulmia benches grace thousands of shops, studios, and schools on both sides of the Atlantic. Once a mainstay of the bench-building industry, the Ulmia Company has had its ups and downs in recent years. The Ulmia Company was sold in 2000 only to return two years later, retaining its old name and much of its product line, but under new ownership. The company is back on its feet producing workbenches, and it is hoped that importer Garrett Wade can count on a continuing supply. The Improved Ulmia Professional Bench differs a bit from the classic model one finds in many shops around the world. Some of the changes stem from the difficult equation of quality and price. The good news is that the changes don’t seem to affect the performance of the bench.
Contemporary Bench Makers 117 Like its predecessors, the new Ulmia bench is solidly constructed of red beech and weighs a hefty 325 lb. The massive 24-in. by 78 1 ⁄2-in. top is over 2 1 ⁄2 in. thick in the center and 4 in. thick at the edge. Instead of the traditional square bench dogs, Ulmia chose to update to round dogs for this model. A second row of dog holes for use with the front vise facilitates clamping panels. To gain more bench surface, the traditional rear tool tray has been replaced by a shelf below the bench surface. Sjöberg Swedish-made Sjöberg benches are widely distributed by a number of woodworking retailers. The Sjöberg model 1200 makes a good first bench for woodworkers on a budget. Many newcomers first experience a Sjöberg in a woodworking class, since the price point makes this bench attractive to schools, both here and abroad. Most benches shipped into North America have front vises and end vises, but the company also makes benchtops with Europeanstyle tail vises. Sjöberg offers a complete line of bench accessories. All benches come with a holddown mortise and protective metal sleeve as well as plastic or plastic-coated bench dogs. Square dogs are still available on some of the traditional benches, but like other bench manufacturers, Sjöberg is now offering round bench dogs on many models, along with an additional row of dog holes for panels. Mortises in the leg under the end vise can hold a Sjöberg holddown, turning the leg of the bench into a board jack. An especially nice feature of these benches is the option to mix and match base components, including drawers and cabinets. American woodworkers familiar with the Sjöberg small benches are often surprised to learn that the company offers a large variety of benches, from a bench only 3 ft. long to their top-of-the-line 8-ft. cabinetmaker’s bench, weighing almost 400 lb. They also have a carver’s bench, whose top tilts up to 90 degrees. The carver’s bench also has a built-in ballast compartment, which if filled with sand increases the mass and stability of the bench. Their Ultimate Woodworking Bench should satisfy detractors of tool trays, because this model doesn’t have one. The width of the __________________________ THIS FULL-SIZE BENCH FROM SJÖBERG may come as a surprise to those who think the company makes only small beginner’s benches. The Ultimate model is as heavy and well made as any top-ofthe-line bench.
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