Workbenches We Love: HNT Gordon Hardware in the Wild

Workbenches We Love: HNT Gordon Hardware in the Wild

There is something particularly satisfying about seeing HNT Gordon bench hardware leave our workshop in Alstonville and become part of somebody else’s workshop.

Our Pattern Makers’ Vice, Front Vice and Tail Vice are designed and manufactured here in Australia, with a very simple objective: make workholding easier, more versatile and considerably less frustrating.

A traditional bench vice has an annoying habit of racking when work is held to one side. Our vice hardware was engineered specifically to overcome that problem, while providing the strength, accuracy and flexibility needed for serious woodworking.

But the hardware is only half the story.

Over the years we’ve seen it incorporated into some absolutely beautiful workbenches by professional furniture makers, schools, students and enthusiastic home woodworkers around the world.

Our latest example comes from Paul Tarlinton in Kingaroy, Queensland, and it was too good not to share.

Paul Tarlinton’s Rock Maple & New Guinea Rosewood Workbench

Paul recently completed this beautiful bench using a Rock Maple top with a New Guinea Rosewood frame, fitted with HNT Gordon workholding hardware.

His inspiration came after attending one of Damion Fauser’s open days, where he saw Terry demonstrating our vice hardware.

As Paul explains:

“Damion’s open day gave me the inspiration to make the workbench, especially after seeing Terry using the vice hardware. I appreciate the quality of all the hardware your team design and manufacture, and that it is Australian made.”

Paul also very kindly mentioned the support he received from us while working through the details of his build. That part is particularly nice for us because these projects inevitably generate a few questions along the way, and we genuinely enjoy helping customers get their setup right.

And, importantly, Paul isn’t planning on keeping it pristine. He is already putting the bench to work making kitchen stools based on Damion Fauser’s designs.

Exactly as it should be.

A beautiful bench is even better covered in shavings.

DAMION FAUSER

Starting with our good friend @damionfauser. Nobody does it better.

Can a workbench be elegant? Rock Maple and Walnut suggest it certainly can.

Click here for a closer look at Damion’s Instagram post.

Damion has also been instrumental in showing woodworkers just how capable a properly designed workbench can be. His benches are beautiful, but more importantly, they are built to work.

Williams & Cleal Fine Woodworking School

This very cool interpretation of a Moravian Workbench was made by @monty_cholmeley at the Williams & Cleal Fine Woodworking & Furniture Making School.

Click here to follow Monty’s Instagram story.

It is another great example of traditional bench design being paired with modern workholding hardware.

Shawn Kirsch

We suspect this workbench by @shawnkirsch gets a serious workout.

Our Pattern Makers’ Vice is one of the most versatile pieces of hardware we make, particularly when a job refuses to be square, straight or conveniently shaped.

Follow Shawn’s Instagram story here.

Another Beauty from Damion Fauser

And because one Damion Fauser bench is never enough, here is another.

On wheels, no less.

Damion’s workbench classes are also a brilliant way to understand not only how to build a bench, but how to design one around the way you actually work.

You can find out more about Damion Fauser’s classes here.

Kuffy’s Ozzy Ocker Workbench

The Ozzy Ocker Workbench by Kuffy has become something of a legend in Australian woodworking circles.

Better still, you can purchase the plans for just $15 and build one yourself.

Take a closer look at the Ozzy Ocker Workbench here.

Built to Work

The thing we enjoy most about these benches is that no two are quite the same.

Different timbers. Different proportions. Different approaches to storage, dog holes and workholding. Some are unmistakably traditional, while others are completely contemporary.

What they share is the idea that a workbench should be designed around the work being done on it.

That same philosophy sits behind HNT Gordon bench hardware.

Australian designed. Australian made. Engineered to work.

And if you’ve built a bench using HNT Gordon hardware, we’d genuinely love to see it.

Send us a photograph or tag @hntgordon and there is every chance your bench might appear in our next update.