David asks one of those questions to the porch.  


There will be dozens of interesting answers, and I’ll be interested in what
transpires.  But, you know, you already have the answer.
That is, you have the answer, no one here does.  Its a bit like asking "What
clothes shall I wear today?”
The only person that can answer that is yourself.
Are you going out to a dinner party, the cinema (movie, Paddy), out hiking,
camping, deer stalking, going to the shops (mall, Paddy)

There is a tendency for people to write books about benches, make a living
making pronouncements, and not much is relevant to your need for a bench.


Forget the bench for a minute, and think about what type of work you’ll be
doing.  All those different bench types exist because they are the best tools
for the particular job they were made for.  There’s always talk of great looking
vices, jacks, sliding boards, tail vices and so on. But what do YOU intent do do
with it?
So are you cabinet making, joining chairs, making boxes,  making bookcases,
corner cupboards, case work, carving, musical instruments (bowed)  musical
instruments (struck)   green wood ??

I out a tool tray into my last bench.  I wish I hadn’t.  But I’m glad I made the
bottom panel easily removable, for when working with chairs, its often handy to
drop the legs down into the gap where the tool tray lives.   I put dog holes
across the width so the top can function as a references surface, and some
wooden dogs with folding wedges can be used for panel glue ups and work holding
of all sorts.  I haven’t installed a tail vice, though I was enamoured of a
couple of articles describing wonderful benches.  I haven’t missed it apart from
once or twice, and used an alternative.  The ‘Roubo’ has had a lot of press
lately, but why? - its a just a good solid lump of timber that forms the base
for all manner of other things.

My present most used bench isn’t long enough - why? because its as long as it
could be when I made it.  It’s OK.  Nothing much that I make these days will be
over 6 foot in length, at least, not once its cut to size.
On my first bench I followed a plan in a book that told me it was the standard
for all benches.  So it has a front planing board as a surface, and a top which
is much too thin to remain stable.  I know better now.  It doesn’t suit my work.
At our boat build we accomplished wonders with g-cramps - oh, and a couple of
Phil’s holdfasts.


SO, to get back the question and end this rambling.  
More or less any bench with dog holes can be used for more or less anything.
with or without a vice.
You will be happier with a scruffy bench that suits what you do, and if you do
‘everything’ then go for a plain bench top, with dog holes,

Just one opinion - with more questions..

Richard Wilson
Northumbrian Galoot