Lie-Nielsen TOOLWORKS 1-B-LN-7 Maintenance manual

WORKBENCH ASSEMBLY,
CARE & MAINTENANCE
How to assemble, protect, and care for one of the most
important tools in your shop.
(Revised 7/22/22)

WORKBENCH ASSEMBLY
Congratulations on your new lie-nielsen workbenCh!
(2) Trestles (left and right sides)
(2) Stretchers (front and rear)
(1) Top
(2) Vise Handles
(2) Bench Dogs
(4) 5-1/2"Stretcher Bolts and Washers
(2) Locator Pins (to align the top with the base)
(4) 3-1/4"Top Bolts and Washers
(1) 1/8"Allen Wrench (for tail vise adjustment)
Not included: 1/2"and 7/16"socket wrenches
Your bench is shipped with the following components:
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1. Before you begin, orient the trestles so that the holes for the locator pins (on the top of each trestle) are
facing front and the mortises are facing inward.
2. Take the rear stretcher and insert its left tenon (marked “rear-left" on its tenon) into the rear mortise of the
left trestle.
3. Insert the stretcher bolt and washer through the trestle and tighten it using a 1/2" socket wrench.
4. Insert the right tenon of the rear stretcher into the rear mortise of the right trestle.
5. Insert the stretcher bolt and washer through the trestle and partially tighten it (leave it slightly loose so you
can install the front stretcher).
6. Repeat this process for the front stretcher, then go around and tighten all bolts securely.
1. Once the base is assembled, put the two locator pins into the brass inserts on the top of the trestles. ese
pins help align the front of the top so that it is ush with the front of the trestles.
2. Next, orient the top so that the brass Lie-Nielsen name plate faces front.
3. When setting the top onto the base, the tail vise end is easier to align since the line of sight is not blocked
by the shoulder vise. e person on the tail vise end should set their end down rst, then help guide the
person on the shoulder vise end to set their end down onto their locator pin.
4. Position the tail vise cut-out so that it overhangs between 1/8" to 1/4" over the right side of the trestle. is
should align you perfectly over the right locator pin.
5. Once the tail vise end is set on its locator pin, look under the bench and help direct the person lifting the
shoulder vise end of the bench to position their end over their locator pin.
6. After the top is properly set upon the base, insert the four top bolts and washers through the upper cross
piece of trestles and tighten securely with a 7/16" socket wrench.
STEP ONE: ASSEMBLE THE BASE
STEP TWO: MOUNT THE TOP TO THE BASE (Requires two people)

WORKBENCH CARE & MAINTENANCE
The following information will help you keep your bench in good working order for years to come.
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We maintain around 40% humidity in our Bench Shop and recommend keeping your bench in an environment
that has a controlled humidity level, especially when the bench is new and still adjusting to its environment.
As with anything made of wood, sudden or drastic humidity changes put a great deal of stress on our benches and
can cause issues. Slow seasonal changes should not present problems, but we do recommend keeping an eye on
humidity levels as they can change quickly when, for instance, you start using supplemental heat in your shop.
Keeping a bench in an unheated shop should not cause any issues, as long as the bench is not subject to any
drastic humidity changes.
Monitoring the humidity and controlling it with a humidier or dehumidier in the room with the bench is
always recommended. Also, oiling the bench, especially the end grain, can help slow the moisture exchange in
the wood during times of humidity change.
If your workbench suers from direct water exposure such as a spill or a ood in your shop, address the issue
immediately and then let the bench dry. Situations like this and issues arising from them cannot be covered by
warranty, but we will do what we can to help you remedy the situation.
We recommended that you re-oil your bench 1-2 times a year, depending on the amount of use the bench gets.
We use a three part mixture of boiled linseed oil, spar varnish, and turpentine, but you can also use just boiled
linseed oil if you prefer. Be sure to apply oil to the end grain of the bench top as this will help stabilize the wood.
Apply the oil, let it soak in for one half hour, and remove any excess.
Remember, boiled linseed oil is highly ammable, and can combust, so always dispose of oil rags and brushes
in a safe manner.
SHOP HUMIDITY
WATER DAMAGE
REOILING
FLATTENING
Over time, your bench may need to be re-attened. A good way to do this is to use a No. 7 or No. 8 Jointer
Plane in order to get the bench top true and at, working rst diagonally back and forth across the grain, then
nishing along the grain.
In the February 2008 issue of Popular Woodworking, issue #167, Christopher Schwarz explains this method for
attening your bench with hand tools. You can nd this article on their website.

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TAIL VISE
Your Tail Vise can be adjusted in order to get the correct tension on the rails, taking up any slack that may
develop and achieving the correct action. e jaw should move freely but not be loose. is adjustment may be
periodically necessary.
Do this by adjusting the four set screws along the bottom rail under the vise jaw. Use a 1/8 allen wrench to
tighten each set screw all the way, then back them o  of a turn.
CHAIN DRIVE VISE
T:
e alignment between the two vise screws of the Chain Drive Vise, is called "the timing" and may occasionally
need to be adjusted due to wood movement. If you nd that your vise jaw is closing unevenly (i.e., closing on
one side but leaving a slight gap on the other), adjusting the timing might help.
To adjust the timing, open the jaw and slightly loosen the four stand-o screws holding each stand-o to the
bench top. Close the vise jaw until it is snug (but not tight) with the bench top and then retighten the stand-o
screws. is should allow the stand-os to shift slightly aligning the timing of the two vise screws.
You may nd it helpful to ip the bench top upside down to more easily access the vise screws and stand-os.
V A:
If the movement of the jaw has become sluggish or dicult, loosening the two jam nuts on the idle screw
can release pressure on the bearing and will allow the vise screws to move more freely. Loosen both jam nuts,
retighten the inner nut until it is snug, and then tighten the outer nut against the rst to hold them securely.
Adjusting the timing can also help with sti vise movement in certain situations.
e wooden bench dogs supplied with your bench should slip freely in the dog holes. Depending on humidity,
they may occasionally need to be adjusted by planing a few shavings o the width or back.
Wooden bench dogs purchased separately from your bench may need some tting to slide smoothly in the dog
holes of your bench.
WOODEN BENCH DOGS
If you encounter any issues or have any questions about your new bench,
please don’t hesitate to contact us: [email protected] or 207-273-2520
We are always happy to help!