Keith S. Rucker has provided full plans for a Mechanical Workbench. Electronic Enthusiasts will need such benches when they work with industrial robots or manufacturing machines.

Building a Traditional Workbench  wayback copy

“if you are going to use hand tools in your woodworking, perhaps the most important tool to have is not the tools themselves but a good bench to do your work on. When I first started to set up my shop, I had only been out of school for a little over a year, been married a little less than a year and had just bought a new home.

To help spell my situation out, we were poor. Even though the finances were not the best in the world, I began to accumulate a few basic tools and began making some of the much needed furniture in my new home.”

Keith S. Rucker – 400 lb. Fisher Anvil

My Fisher anvil was found in a shed in the late 1980’s. It is clearly a 400 lb model which is evident from the “40” that is cast into the front leg of the anvil. Fisher commonly stamped their anvils with their weight often dropping the last digit from the number. Many of the anvils sold by Fisher went to the U.S. Government. My anvil is such an example.

On the back side of the anvil, you can still faintly read stamped into the body the words “U.S. Government” and a serial number. Perhaps this anvil served in a Navy ship yard or even on board a sailing vessel – who knows. What is most remarkable is that it managed to survive until this day, especially when you consider the number of anvils that were melted down during WWII to help supply the need for war materials. At any rate, it is now safe with me.

Keith S. Rucker – Cabinetmaker