Garage sale workbench rebuild.

[Elsinore13]

Found this old dealership/ mechanics metal work bench at a garage sale a month or so ago for 40 bucks... couldn’t pass it up. I figured it would go well in the garage to replace a couple crappy fold up tables I’ve been using over the years as I have been building my shop. Took it apart and pressure washed it, welded up a few holes, beat out a few dents and dropped it off at the local powder coater.

 

[gahrajmahal]

That was a good bargain

 

[Elsinore13]

Got a call today that it was ready to pick up. Stopped by the hardware store and picked up a bunch of new stainless fasteners and started laying it all out to reassemble. The top is still a little rough, but I plan on getting plenty of use out of it myself. By the time it is done I probably could have bought a new one but at least I have a little satisfaction out of bringing the 50 year old bench back to life. Hate seeing things go to waste.

 

[jimreed2160]

Great job on the bench.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Nice teardown bench!

 

[Mr_B]

sweet job ...

 

[Elsinore13]

I think I am going to put a sheet of 3/4 plywood underneath the top to help stiffen it up for mounting a vise and help deaden the sound when beating on stuff. I can't see where it could hurt anything. Any of you ever do anything similar?

 

[FJ 432]

Plywood yes. I've seen more of these covered in butcher block or some variance.

 

[Michael_in_DE]

I think I am going to put a sheet of 3/4 plywood underneath the top to help stiffen it up for mounting a vise and help deaden the sound when beating on stuff. I can't see where it could hurt anything. Any of you ever do anything similar?

Absolutely. And that also makes it easier to add some shallow pull-out drawers in the future if you wanted that.

 

[rick carpenter]

I think I am going to put a sheet of 3/4 plywood underneath the top to help stiffen it up for mounting a vise and help deaden the sound when beating on stuff. I can't see where it could hurt anything. Any of you ever do anything similar?

I'd suggest a metal plate on the bottom of the plywood under the vise bolt holes also. For sound deadening, I sprayed the bottom of my metal plate bench top and the mating surface of the plywood subtop I have under it with flex-seal.

 

[Elsinore13]

Had my contractor buddy slice me down a 33 3/4 x 72 sheet of cabinet grade 3/4” plywood to sandwich underneath for $37.00. At this point, why not?

 

[Htscheg]

Nice job!

 

[Elsinore13]

Here’s my other work bench project, a 2 inch thick maple butcher block 24” x 114” top I had laid up recently. Local water jet place is cutting me out a bunch of foot pads for casters and getting some 2 inch square tubing ordered up. Hopefully this hurricane season will be more uneventful than last year.

 

[Elsinore13]

The vise going onto the maple top, a Snap On / Wilton 1765 Tradesman. Believe it or not, I traded about 30 grand worth of one year old kitchen appliances for it and feel like I got a pretty decent deal. I did mention hurricane season last year didn’t I? Fortunately, I had been paying for flood insurance for the past 25 years. Not that that really gets you nearly back to where you were...

 

[Elsinore13]

I think this 5 inch Starrett may get a matching paint job and mounted to this bench. Looks to be a good fit.

 

[Finky198]

Great table I have the same one but in yellow.

 

[BeardedOne]

Great progress you're making Elsinore.

Looks like it will be a fine setup with the Starrett.

 

[M6erfan]

Looking great Elsinore! So you restore old motorcycles too eh? (I do as well)

 

[Elsinore13]

Holes drilled and countersunk a little for the top. Grabbed a scrap of headliner material/ foam and stapled down before putting It on for good.

 

[Elsinore13]

All new stainless hardware snugged up tight. Nice deadened sound and a solid feel.

 

[Elsinore13]

Looking great Elsinore! So you restore old motorcycles too eh? (I do as well)

It's been a bit of an addiction since about 1990.

Not enough time for it over the past ten years or so but I keep trying to put things into place so I can get back at it. Last years flood was a real kick in the nuts. Shaping back up though!

 

[M6erfan]

It's been a bit of an addiction since about 1990.

Not enough time for it over the past ten years or so but I keep trying to put things into place so I can get back at it. Last years flood was a real kick in the nuts. Shaping back up though!

Flood? Hurricanes? You on the southeast coast?

 

[Elsinore13]

Flood? Hurricanes? You on the southeast coast?

Southeast Texas.

This time last year, right where this bench is coming together.

 

[M6erfan]

Southeast Texas.

This time last year, right where this bench is coming together.

Oh man! I can't imagine how bad that must have sucked...

Glad to see you back at it!

 

[Elsinore13]

And we are done. Need to freshen up the vise next.

 

[Pitalplace]

That looks very nice and should be a great bench.

 

[BeardedOne]

It'll look great with the vise installed.

Thanks for this write up.