My alemite bench restoration

don long · Nov 4, 2012

Well my story starts out that I had been looking for an alemite work station and I found the Garage Journal while googling alemite vintage bench
After reading the thread on vintage work benches I hit craigs list and this is the picture that popped up

And the best part was it was less than 10 miles from my home, I made the call and within an hour the bench was in my truck and I was headed home with a new project

First thing was to seperate the bench from the back piece

then it was time to start stripping the old paint off and repairing the dings and dents. The work bench was by far more work than the back cabinet but the cabinet doors were a little time consuming
Here is a shot of the back cabinet after it was torn down and the paint stripped off

autoclassicnut · Nov 4, 2012

Alright... what did you pay for it????

akdiesel · Nov 4, 2012

If anything like what you have done so far I can't wait to see the result. This will be good.

don long · Nov 5, 2012

I'm sorry that I wasn't better at documenting the teardown and repair of the back cabinet but I was so wrapped up in the project that the camera was the last thing on my mind.

The cabinet was primed inside and out after all body work was completed
then I blocked the outside with 320 grit dry paper and primed it again.
The next morning using a spray bottle and a rubber block I sanded the unit with 600 grit wet paper after coating the primer with a thin layer of charcoal dust to show all inperfections and sand scratches

The unit went back into the booth and I painted the entire back unit white.
I let the paint cure for two days before taking a fine scotch brite to the paint where it would be painted red and scuffing it lightly.

Two days later I assembled the back cabinet and then went looking for the camera.

Here is the back unit after painting it two tone

Now it was time to go after the work bench.
It came apart in 9 pieces. It had an old vise mounted on the left front corner
and an air hose ree lmounted under the bench with the air hose comming out at the right rear corner.
There is access to the underside thru doors on either side of the bench.
The doors were pretty ruff, and the front of the bench was caved in on the right corner about 3 inches so the bodywork was quite extensive.
The table top had the dings and scratches you would expect for a well used bench
Here is one of the bench ends in the work shop

Here is a shot of the bench pieces in my booth

this is the bench top before primer is applied

don long · Nov 5, 2012

You guys are quick on a thread (or I'm very slow with the one finger typing)

Akdiesel
Thanks for the complement.

Autoclasicnut
It was 1200.00 including the old jack
The oiler tank was already sold
And now I have a new friend the guy that sold it to me has been by a couple of times to see what is new around here.

don long · Nov 5, 2012

Looking at the back unit painted tells me that there is some explaining to do

The chrome that you see on the unit I bought at autozone it is the stick on chrome.
and the texaco decals on the doors I picked up on ebay

It is sitting in my 1926 restored texaco gas station inside the party garage

softailgarage · Nov 5, 2012

Man, I loves the Alemite benches, glad to see your doing a thread on it. Only drag is I've seen the finished piece! :bowdown:

Ya gotta stop forgetting your camera :lol:

don long · Nov 5, 2012

Now back to the build

The bench parts are getting primed, blocked with 320 sand paper and primed again, then wet sanded with 600 grit and ready to paint white.

After priming the work bench the second time I assembled the bench less the top
I painted the bench white first because the red paint that will go over part of the bench will cover the white color better than the white over the red

The top will be painted seperatly because it will be painted black
The bench top is ready to paint now

don long · Nov 5, 2012

The work bench didn't get paint on the inside because it's dark in there and no one will be looking so no need to spend the time or money on paint

The bench is painted white so after a little skuffing with the fine scotch brite pad I masked off where the bench will remain white is is ready for the red paint

Because the booth is not heated I must let things sit a while after painting them about 4 to 6 hours is best so overnight is good for me
The next morning the paper came off and it was time to admire the handywork (only 2 small runs to mess with) not bad for a has been

Now for the top of the bench

this one turned out great (very deep shine)
Hope it doesn't fade back over night

Looks good so I put the hose guide on and assembled the top to the bench
took the work bench over to the party garage and slid the bench into place
since that day I have been slowly improving the looks of the unit with a texaco black letter decal and a star at each end of the texaco
then found some old polished oil cans and here it is with the stick on molding and all

as long as I had paint in the gun I painted the coke sign red and white too

softailgarage · Nov 5, 2012

Turned out absolutely beautiful Don, you're an artist with the paint gun. :thumbup:

don long · Nov 5, 2012

softailgarage said:
Turned out absolutely beautiful Don, you're an artist with the paint gun.

Thanks buddy
Just a lucky old has been with a fair memory :lol:

don long · Nov 5, 2012

before

after

next one

buzz4041 · Nov 5, 2012

WOW this is a fantastic cabinet is all I can say. And the work you did to it is also great.

Thruxton · Nov 5, 2012

Great work, fun thread! Thanks for sharing!

NXGTS · Nov 5, 2012

That is a piece of art. A guy can only dream to have something that nice in his garage. Fantastic restoration!

jwhcars · Nov 5, 2012

That is one super looking restoration !!

uniballer · Nov 5, 2012

I will say it again, thank you, and also I think I just found one looks just like your second one.

akdiesel · Nov 5, 2012

That looks great.

Lt. Dan · Nov 5, 2012

I should have never opened this thread

*fires up craigslist*

sublimate · Nov 5, 2012

Looks great, but no paint for the vise?

Falcon67 · Nov 5, 2012

Excellent work! That was a buy on that lot of stuff, IMHO. Very nice. Good to see those brought back to life.

MoparTrucks · Nov 5, 2012

Beautiful piece of art right there; I think I would have that in my living room! I also notice you used conduit to run your electric in your resto garage and I really like that industrial look. I had to do that to my house garage that didnt have any electricity because it was concrete block construction and I like it so much I am doing the same thing for my new pole barn shop.

Your lucky with the CL finds, I have been looking for various things like that for about a year now and hitting every farm and estate auction I can and so far nothing.

LSU · Nov 5, 2012

Very nice project.

GarageEnvy · Nov 5, 2012

Call the History Channel. They've been known to give people like you "reality" shows.

Looks great.

Omphaloskeptic · Nov 5, 2012

Don, once again, you've amazed us with your talent for resto' work (and your great luck in finding that CL treasure)! :thumbup:

Yeah, we all do want you to keep that camera in your hip pocket at all times. Hell, I'd like to tag along on your 'treasure hunts' with you and your wife just to see how you manage to come across the collectables you two have acquired. I live in the toolies, and if I drove up to somebody's old barn, and asked to 'look around', I'd probably be run off being chased by buckshot. lol

Being a 'resto-wannabe', could you share with us all here at GJ some of the details of your great work? You've probably forgotten more than I will ever know about auto body work/spraying/polishing/etc., but it would sure help us to be made aware of the various materials/brands/tips/techniques you use. I mean, things that are 'bone-head-obvious' to you like gun brand, tip size, line-pressure, and anything else you care to share. It's great to see what cool things people here are working on in their shops, but I also really enjoy learning about 'how' it was done. You may have retired from the business, but I think that by posting here, there's a lot of us 'virtual apprentices' just waiting to be taught a thing or two or three from the journeymen that share their skills here. :bow:

pals444 · Nov 5, 2012

Beautiful. I could rest my eyes on that workbench for hours.
Fits well in Your museum, Don. Thanks for sharing.

don long · Nov 6, 2012

buzz4041 and Thurxton Thanks for the encouragement guys
It was a rewarding project.

NXGTS
Thanks man Sometimes a dream will come true !!

jwhcars
Happy to hear you like it

uniballer
This thread is all your fault
glad to here you may have found one
good luck with it.

akdiesel
Thanks for checkin in on me and all the madness.

Lt. Dan
After reading your comment I spent a few hours on craigs list
came out empty handed though. (next time maybe)

sublimate
The orig. vise is painted but that one is a wilton that I just brought home from a swap meet. It looks better and I will paint it.

don long · Nov 6, 2012

Falcon67
I agree with you (good buy)
and I will enjoy looking at it often
Thanks

Salmonslayer
Thanks for those kind thoughts
Like you I think the conduit look is a good one
good luck with your hunting.

LSU
Thanks

GarageEnvy
Too much trouble to have a reality gig (too much to do and no time)
Thanks anyway for the thought

Omph
Man that was a mouth full
I appreciate Your positive energy
I'll see what I can do.

pals444
Thank you
I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures
stare all you want and if you ever get to the usa.
be sure to come to california and look me up.

20V'er · Nov 6, 2012

Doesn't go with the Texaco theme, but figured I would post it.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/atd/3386521958.html

I bought some used Napa cabinets off of the seller a while back.

buening · Nov 6, 2012

Here is a similar one (grease station instead of bench, but has similar back to it) in Tennesse if anyone is interested: http://knoxville.craigslist.org/pts/3339692069.html

Wingnut65 · Nov 6, 2012

Thanks for posting the process, Don. As most of us have learned like you have, when you are in a project, you now are thinking about what to put in the next post and what pictures you need to document. And as you work, always be prepared for the off-the-wall question that could answer if you took a 'in process' shot. Just like the photos you shot during your trench drain project.

Keep up the good work. I can't wait for the jack rebuild. That one is truly vintage.

colt zantop · Nov 6, 2012

DAMN nice!!!! I want one soooooo bad!

Call me the Breeze · Nov 6, 2012

Awesome job on it ... it looks great!

Vettman · Nov 6, 2012

Looks great!

don long · Nov 16, 2012

20V'er
That is a great sign buy it and send it over it will go good with my other alemite collections

buening
That is a great piece that I would love to have but too far away
now I know it exists I will be on the hunt around the west side of the country
Thanks for the heads up

Wingnut
Thanks for the advise about being a camera ready guy
The old jack rebuild is down stream a ways but it will be cool

colt zantop
they are out there but hard to find
my advise "if you find one don't hesatate BUY IT"

Breeze
Thanks for the complements
It was a very rewarding project

Vetteman
I'm glad you enjoyed the read
I have 3old vettes in my stable
59, 62, and 65

My alemite bench restoration

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