Hi,

 

My name is Charlie Kocourek.  I live in the Twin Cities with my wife, a dog, and a cat.  I have been doing woodworking for many years, and I have a shop in the basement of my home. 

 

A few years ago I was doing some woodcarving and I thought about  how nice it would be if I could adjust the height of my workbench.  The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. 

 

I looked around for an adjustable height woodworking workbench, or at least workbench plans for one that I could build myself and was disappointed in what I found.  The best I could find was one that required me to literally lift it up with no mechanical assistance, and it was expensive, too.  Since my idea of a great workbench is one with lots of mass, the idea of having to pick it up to adjust it did not appeal to me at all.

 

I also wanted to be able to easily move my bench around the shop.  I then began putting together a list of criteria for an ideal workbench.

 

• Ability to adjust the workbench height.  The adjustment must be very quick and easy because the reality is that if it isn't quick and easy then it won't get used. 
• Ability to move it around.  Again, it must be quick and easy.
• Great stability, my workbench can't wobble or slide across the room when in use.
• Tremendous versatility.  I only have room for one workbench so, it must be an all around bench that is good for hand work, power work, layout, carving, detail work, clamping, and assembly.
• Ergonomics beyond the height adjustment; I want to be able to stand next to it with out banging my feet into the base. 

 

Then I started thinking about different ways to do this.  For the next year or so I just rolled the idea around in my mind.  I came up with many different ideas.  Some were too complex, and some were too expensive.  I kept coming back to the idea of using scissors jacks.  They are inexpensive and readily available at any salvage yard.  They have plenty of mechanical advantage and plenty of lift.

 

Next, I got serious about the details of the workbench design.   I worked out any problems with construction, materials, and with the operation of the bench.

 

I am an active member of the Minnesota Woodworker's Guild.  Each year the Guild has an exhibition at one of the local shopping malls and I wanted to show off my design at the show.  So, when I finally built the bench, I built it as a showpiece.  I used mahogany, makore, cabinet grade plywood, and figured maple veneer.  I finished it with dyes, glazes, and rubbed out varnish for a topcoat.

 

The bench was a huge hit at the show.  People loved it!  I expected woodworkers to like it, but I was surprised by the response from non-woodworkers.  Some people wanted to use it as a piece of furniture.  One guy wanted to use it as a table in his game room.  A couple talked about using it as a table at their cabin.

 

Honestly, I only set out to build the perfect bench for my own use.  The overwhelming response I received from woodworkers was "I want one!"   That is what led me to this web site.

 

I spent several months drawing up a set of plans that anyone could use to build their own adjustable height workbench.  Along the way I improved the design by simplifying it.  The improved design is much easier to build than the original design. 

 

I also realized that I would need help if I was going to publish a good, professional set of plans and instructions on how to build this bench.  I turned my drawings over to a professional draftsman who put everything into a CAD program.  He does nice work and the plans are really quite good!  I also have a friend who is a mechanical engineer with several patents to his name.  He reviewed all of the drawings and all of the instructions for accuracy and for clarity.  There is no way that the final product could have turned out as good as it is without the help of David Root and Richard Tendick.

 

And, that first bench, the one you see on almost every page of my site?  Well, I had every intention of and was quite eager to take it home an begin using it after the furniture exhibition, but I decided to hold off on that so it would be available if someone really wants it for their game room, or their shop.  

  

I want to thank you for visiting my site.  Please feel free to send me an email if you have any questions.  I would be happy to hear from you!

 

Thanks, Charlie

 

Charlie@jack-bench.com