My new custom workbench

zruvalcaba · Dec 31, 2011

Steevo's custom workbench setup inspired me to build my own. This is going to replace one of those flimsy Craftsman 8' workbenches. Since I have no real welding experience, I had my local welder fabricate the frame for me. I have 2 International 42" boxes that will slide down from the top and then I'll use the old Craftsman wood plank to cover the top temporarily until I can get something better. The Craftsman plank is a little over an 1" thick...I want something more in the 1 7/8" thickness. Spent the last couple of days priming. Here's the result so far.

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zruvalcaba · Dec 31, 2011

And here it is painted black. Overall I'm not too thrilled by how the black turned out. A had a lot of sputter and then I accidentally dropped the wood plank onto the side of the legs and created two huge gashes in the freshly painted legs. I tried touching up the gashes but if you look closely you can still see something happened. No biggie, I just wanted it perfect. I'll take more pics once the boxes go in tomorrow.

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DYNA BILL · Dec 31, 2011

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Mike in Ohio · Dec 31, 2011

How do you dip your brush into the paint cans with the frame is setting on them? :lol_hitti

Frame looks good from here, I too can't wait to see the finished bench.

Steevo · Dec 31, 2011

I like it. Simple, efficient and structurally solid.
Looking forward to seeing it with the boxes in there.

:thumbup:

hoblick · Jan 1, 2012

nice job thus far

Richard Cranium · Jan 1, 2012

Looks great so far, I can't wait to look tomorrow after you get the boxes set in... Lots of pics please... Rich

zruvalcaba · Jan 1, 2012

Thanks for the positive comments guys. Had a New Year's party last night and had a few friends help me get the boxes into the frame. Here's the result so far. I'll post more pics once the leveling mounts arrive (hopefully Tuesday) and I have the wood top secured on.

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DYNA BILL · Jan 1, 2012

Man, that is sharp! When you said you were going to slide the boxes down from the top, I was trying to get a visual image. Great job! Is the whole thing going to be on casters? I don't see any caster mounting plates. I really like those boxes. Can I get a ball park figure on their price and where you got them?

Edit: I just saw that you said you were going to use leveling feet.

zruvalcaba · Jan 1, 2012

DYNA BILL said:
Man, that is sharp! When you said you were going to slide the boxes down from the top, I was trying to get a visual image. Great job! Is the whole thing going to be on casters? I don't see any caster mounting plates.

Edit: I just saw that you said you were going to use leveling feet.

I had 2"x2" plates welded onto each foot and then tapped holes in each plate for the leveling mounts. Here are the ones I picked up:

http://www1.mscdirect.com/cgi/NNSRI...re=ItemDetail-_-ResultListing-_-SearchResults

Made in the USA, cheap, and rated at 4000 lbs each! Should be plenty strong enough. I was thinking of using casters but I'm only 5'7" so I didn't want the bench top to sit too high. With the leveling feet, frame, and wood top I'll be at right around 37"...that's just right for me.

DYNA BILL said:
I really like those boxes. Can I get a ball park figure on their price and where you got them?

I picked the boxes up direct from Sears. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00916331000P?prdNo=5&blockNo=5&blockType=G5
I originally paid the $441 price and ended up at just over $1000 with tax. Then 2 weeks later they went on sale for $369 with free shipping. I called Sears up and they refunded me the difference. No questions asked. I ended up getting both boxes for $850 with tax and shipping. Paid $200 for the frame and $32 for 2 cans of primer and 2 cans of black. Paid $65 for the 6 leveling mounts. I already had the wood top but they can be purchased directly from Craftsman for $120 here: http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...ork+Benches&prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=L10

or you can get something more custom from Perfect Plank: http://www.perfectplank.com/index.html

I'm about $1150 into my workbench +/- a few dollars. Overall I'm extremely happy that I decided to go this route. It's a solid bench, provides tons of storage, and I think it looks pretty sharp. Tons of credit goes to Steevo for the inspiration on this.

larryv · Jan 1, 2012

That came out nice. Can't wait the see it finished!

steel 35 · Jan 1, 2012

zruvalcaba said:
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or you can get something more custom from Perfect Plank: http://www.perfectplank.com/index.html

Thanks for that!

Tons of credit goes to Steevo for the inspiration on this. :+1:

Steevo · Jan 1, 2012

That is looking great, zrvulcaba

Don't put too much weight in it before you get it off those cans.
You wouldn't want one of 'em to crush and tweak your bench.

DoyleDee · Jan 1, 2012

Awesome,..... I like the way it came out.

Soon2AdjustYou · Jan 1, 2012

Looks great man. I love black and red!

Jack Olsen · Jan 1, 2012

That looks great.

Hammer1963 · Jan 1, 2012

Super job. Projects like these really bring out the creativity and craftsmanship in people. Who wouldn't want this is their shop/garage. Well done !

mad57 · Jan 1, 2012

I too am shocked how much those rustoleum cans are holding, id get her on solid ground before you wake up to a tipped over box or worse yet paint all over the floor dry....... ok now im done preaching EXCELLENT JOB on the build !!

Whitworth · Jan 1, 2012

Really Nice....!

I think I found which way to go with my workbench design.

Gary

Hroger · Jan 1, 2012

Same here, I think this is what I want to build now. Very nice.

premierplayer · Jan 1, 2012

That's sweet. A nice top with a oil finish and you're set. Too damn nice to use.
You'll be wantin' to use a coaster when you set a beer on it :beer:

Next you can explain to your irrigation contractor how to use PVC conduit, and clean that mess up

No kiddin', $10 worth of pipe & parts, makes a job look soooo profesional.

James E · Jan 1, 2012

Really nice looking bench. Can't wait to see the wood top on there.

zruvalcaba · Jan 1, 2012

Thanks for all the positive comments guys. I'll take some pictures of the bench with the wood top on tomorrow.

zruvalcaba · Jan 2, 2012

I placed the wood top on and cleaned it thoroughly. Here's the result. Next I'll put the vise on, fasten the wood top to the frame, and fill a couple of old holes left over from my bench-top drill press. Those feet can't arrive soon enough...the paint cans started to flex so now I have a small floor jack holding it up to remove the strain on the cans. I should seriously run down to HD and pick up a couple of pieces of wood!!

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Steevo · Jan 2, 2012

Beauty!
Nicely done.

I have a question though . . .

How do you plan to level it with the boxes in it? Will this be far enough from a wall that you can get behind it to adjust the back-center adjuster foot?

I had to level my frame in place where I wanted it to be, and then drop the boxes in, since I had 4 feet that were inaccessible once the boxes are installed.

NUTTSGT · Jan 2, 2012

Man, that thing came out nicely.

zruvalcaba · Jan 3, 2012

Steevo said:
Beauty!
Nicely done.

I have a question though . . .

How do you plan to level it with the boxes in it? Will this be far enough from a wall that you can get behind it to adjust the back-center adjuster foot?

I had to level my frame in place where I wanted it to be, and then drop the boxes in, since I had 4 feet that were inaccessible once the boxes are installed.

That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that. The rear left and right shouldn't be too much of a problem. The rear center one will though. Feet arrive today so I'll report back.

rwhite692 · Jan 3, 2012

Looks great...Ya, get those casters on, before one of those paint cans collapses and you have paint everywhere, LOL.

daveroy · Jan 3, 2012

Leveling... Start with the the center rear foot in a 'known high' position and level all the accessible feet to it. (just a thought)

zruvalcaba · Jan 5, 2012

Finished for the most part. Got the wood top completely secured to the frame, vise has been bolted on, leveling feet have been installed, and my gunsmithing mats have been added for a final touch. Really happy with the way it turned out. Absolute only nit-picky item is that all of my sockets are in the top drawer and when I close the drawer...because it's top heavy...the cabinet rocks slightly. I think I will fasten the cabinets to the frame to prevent that from happening. Since the bottoms of the cabinets already have holes (for the casters), I'll just go through those holes and and into the angle iron on the frame. Other than that, it's done.

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nathank · Jan 5, 2012

Looks great!

lead_foot · Jan 5, 2012

Wow....REALLY like that and you did a fantastic job! Pretty sure you just inspired me to make one of my own. :beer:

charger891 · Jan 5, 2012

Great job! looks really good!

Toolfool · Jan 5, 2012

Nicely done !

Steevo · Jan 5, 2012

That came out really nicely.
That is almost exactly what my first conceptual drawing for my workbench looked like:

craftsmanman · Jan 5, 2012

Very very nice! Good Job man!

Binrat · Jan 5, 2012

i cant see any pictures.....

Steevo · Jan 5, 2012

Binrat said:
i cant see any pictures.....

In your User CP, under the "Edit Options", Show Images, you need to have the "show images" box checked to see pics in the thread postings.

zruvalcaba · Jan 5, 2012

Steevo said:
That came out really nicely.
That is almost exactly what my first conceptual drawing for my workbench looked like.

If you read some of my original postings, I mention your design as inspiration for mine. In fact, I printed every single image you posted in your thread to a color printer and took it to my welder. He did a great job on it. I seriously need to learn how to weld. I would have loved to tackle the welding on a project like this on my own.

Binrat · Jan 5, 2012

i see Steevo's pic of his workbench. but that is all. i see others pics in other threads, just not this thread.

hmm will try again later from another PC.

My new custom workbench

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