Benchwork has started! Photos attached

[SMassey]

The benchwork you see on my website is my first layout. Unfortunatly that was torn down last week to make room for my new baby boy. (born Feb 19th 2006) Now I have a 4x8 layout started. I think that the benchwork for it is strong but the screw heads show and that is the one that had the 2 pullouts [:(] Soon my website will have the updated pics on my new layout. I also could not afford to use the really nice straight HQ lumber I had to go with the economy stuff and weed out the warped ones. As much as I weeded I still had to settle for a few not-so-straight pieces. This layout for me is going to be portable and was built so. I think I may eventually build some new legs and supports using the jig that you are using.

I look forward to see more of your layout.

[btransue]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Z
I use the Kreg K2 jig. I guess there's an advantage to being a severely addicted hobbyist woodworker...having to have every tool possible!

Your benchwork is great. It made me try your technique. I put together one section of benchwork in less than 1/2 hour with a Kreg Roket jig kit. That includes the time spent looking for the jig [:D]. Then I ran out of screws -argh! Had to order them from Rockler as the local Home Depot doesn't carry them - at least as far as I could see.

Good luck with the next stage.

--
Brad

[Don Z]

SMassey,

Thanks for the compliments on my benchwork. I had a look at your website and I didn't see anything wrong with your benchwork....looked like it was good and solid. I do use a special jig to make the holes you see in my benchwork. Here's a link to their website: http://www.kregtool.com/education_center/index.php I use the Kreg K2 jig. I guess there's an advantage to being a severely addicted hobbyist woodworker...having to have every tool possible!

This is my first layout and I'm hoping that when it comes to laying track and doing scenery, I'll be able to learn how to do both and produce decent looking results.

[SMassey]

Wow this is nice. I thought I was doing good with my benchwork but yours makes mine look like a scrap pile. Is there a special tool to cut the holes for the joints? I like the look of that much better and I like the idea of stronger joints I pulled mine out 2x when I was building my legs and bench. Keep up the great work and hope to see more soon!

[Anonymous]

Don
Great looking work. If you continue this attention to detail, you should have a really great looking layout. Keep us posted on your progress.
Mike

[Don Z]

jonwmoon,

Thanks for the compliments! The train room is roughly 15 foot square...forcing me to restrict the left side of the layout to 12 foot in length so I have an access aisleway into the actual layout. The lower left corner of the layout in the drawing is the entrance to the room, so it's an easy walk along the bottom of the layout to the aisle between the yard and the helix.

Most of the layout support is angled leg braces attached to the wall. The framework is attached to studs in the wall using 1/4" by 3" long lag bolts. The sections of framework are bolted together using 1/4" hex head bolts using nylon stop nuts so I won't have to worry about hardware loosening over time.

I finally made some progress in getting some foam glued down and I'm about to start drawing track centerlines and glue down some cork today.

Thanks again, I'll post more pictures as progress continues.

Don Z.

[Anonymous]

Man what great work. I'm really impressed. I'm hoping to start construction in the next few months and I will be following your progress with much interest. If I may ask, what are your room demensions and how are you connecting to the walls and will you be using angle or floor brases to keep is solid? I'm still struggling with what size I want mine to be. Keep up the great work and I wish you all the best. I will be watching for updates.

[Anonymous]

Don,

Thanks for the link![:)] I thought I had seen something like the jig in a woodworking magazine at the library and I appreciate your clarification. Makes sense structurally and for the look also. Nice work. HAve fun.[:D]

[Box Car Charlie]

I had a look at your album on Photobucket and I have to admit I'm a little jealous. I can't wait to see your progress with the layout. Keep up the awesome work.

[Don Z]

Jack,

I use the Kreig K2 Jig in my shop....of course, right after I bought it and used it for a month, they came out with the newer jigs that work with 2X lumber....since most of my woodworking projects are built with 1X wood, I haven't had a need to replace it with the newer versions. Thanks for the kudos....now, if only I can learn to lay track as good as I can build benchwork.....[;)]

Oh, the lumber is 1X4 poplar....and I ended up buying it at Home Depot because they were willing to do their price beater thing against the lumber store I usually go to across town. The lumber store had their 1X4 poplar at $.97 per foot. I checked out of Home Depot at $.79 per foot for the poplar.

Don Z.

[Don Z]

Billong,

Hmmm...the stereotypes ring out. All Texans are tall....oh yeah, we all have an oil well in our backyard pumping money into our pockets....[:D]. Well, I'm 6'2" tall...I'm not sure if that's tall compared to you. My benchwork in the pictures sits 39 and 40 inches above the carpet. The shots that show plywood decking in place are where my yard will be located, so I wanted that all on one level. The rest of the layout will have ribbon roadbed construction, allowing me to raise or lower the roadbed as desired. I'll also have an upper level, so I didn't want to start the lower level too high which would make the upper level unviewable to my son and my short wife....

I appreciate the compliments!

Don Z.

[ereimer]

that is a really neat tool , thanks for the info !

QUOTE: A side note....I'm not a professional carpenter by any stretch....just a hobbyist woodworker that likes to take pride in his work.

ok maybe you're not a pro ... but you could give lessons to a few i've seen [:)]

[jxtrrx]

Don,
Let me join the chorus... Beautiful Work!

I'm also interested in the pocket hole system. Which jig did you use? Also, what kind of lumber... it looks nicer than Home Depot 1X3s!

[billlong]

Don, Great benchwork. Looks like you really know your stuff. I have a question regarding the height of your benchwork, I thought all Texans were tall, your benchwork appears to be built on the low side. How high is it, and why?

[Don Z]

Here's a picture of the pocket hole joint that I'm using to construct my benchwork. This method provides a very strong joint, plus the benefit of not having screwheads showing on the benchwork fascia.



Thanks for all of the comments!

Don Z.

[jacon12]

That is some seriously nice benchwork, Don. Heck, I'd like to have that in the livingroom.. :)
Jarrell

[Don Z]

cnwman,

Regarding your question about the construction method...yes, everything is screwed together from the backside using pocket hole construction. It is a much stronger joint than simply screwing through the front of the frame into the end of the crossmember. When screwing or nailing from the front into the crossmember, the nail or screw is going into the end grain of the crossmember, creating a very weak joint. By using the pocket hole and screwing from behind, I am attaching the crossmember by screwing across the grain of the front piece, giving the screw something to bite into and hold strong.

I'll take a closeup picture of the joint so you'll be able to see what I'm talking about. In the meantime, here's a link to the tool that I use to create the joint so you will understand what you see in the picture later.

http://www.kregtool.com/education_center/index.php

A side note....I'm not a professional carpenter by any stretch....just a hobbyist woodworker that likes to take pride in his work.

Don Z.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

Ahh! The smell of freshly cut wood. Really looking up [^]

QUOTE: I just started laying my full scale printout on top of my benchwork and I'll be: it actually lined up!

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together!

[Anonymous]

Don,

I noticed on your cross supports that there are no visible screw heads. Do you screw in from the back of the cross support into the faceboard or have you not yet screwed it together? I can see where coming in from the rear would be nice so there are no heads in the front to cover up. Maybe your one of those wood dowl guys.

[ereimer]

ughhh i hate it when professional carpenters show off their benchwork




[}:)]

very nice!

[Don Z]

Bob,

It's an HO layout. I'm located in far north Austin, near 620 and Parmer Lane. I just started laying my full scale printout on top of my benchwork and I'll be: it actually lined up!

Don Z.

[rlandry6]

Is it going to be HO or N? I'm also in Austin..

Bob

[Don Z]

I finally created a photo album on Photobucket so I don't hog the bandwidth with my pictures here on the Forum. Here's a link to my album for members that would like to take a look.

http://photobucket.com/albums/f35/dkzimm/Escanaba%20and%20UP%20Railroad%20construction/

Comments are welcome!

Don Z.

[Don Z]

Tukaram,

Many thanks! Yes, the alcove will be used for the layout. In my mind, I see it being used as a space with a lot of industry building/detail but not many tracks, since it will be a long reach from the front of the layout. The benchwork in front of the alcove is 24"deep. On my layout drawing, at the left edge is a 30 degree crossing leading to the edge of the drawing. That track will be the lead into the alcove.

I'm open to suggestions for industries, designs or whatever for the alcove. It's 20 inches deep by 59 inches wide.

Don Z.

[Anonymous]

Don, very good looking benchwork. Mine didn't look anywhere near that good...so I covered it with plaster realllll quick. [8D] When I saw the nook/inset/whatever thingy, I see some great modeling potential. Any particular plans for that area?


And Tom, I hope I can get my background to look even half as good as yours. My airbrush should be arriving this week. I can't wait to try it out. Are you sure you've never used one begore???

[Don Z]

Tom,

You can count on it! I want to get a closeup view of your painted clouds, as well as some detailed pointers on how to paint them. Your clouds look as real as could be.

Don Z.

[Tom Bryant_MR]

Broke ground. Cool. Wait until you drive the "golden spike" [^]

I live up the road in Cedar Park. Give me a yell when you can. I would love to see your progress first hand.

[Don Z]

Selector,

I'd gladly trade some of my carpentry skills for the ability to do scenery and trackwork.....since this is my first layout, I know I have a long uphill road in front of me. Thanks for the compliment.

Don Z.

[selector]

Wow! I wish I had your ability. Nice work.