Bowling Lane Workbench

[PurdueSD]

This is a project I've had done for quite a while and just never got around to putting together a thread. (Funny how a 1 year old can keep you busy.)

I wanted to have a large rolling bench i could use around the shop. This came to that and it ended up a little nicer than i originally planned.

The base is all made from lumber salvaged from tearing down my old garage. Original plan was to use (2) 3/4" sheets of plywood for the top... But came across a deal on the bowling alley that was too good to pass up. The wood was stained special walnut and rubbed with tongue oil, so it could be easily re-coated if need be. The work bench kind of turned into a test run for the dinning table i need to make... I think it turned out great and has gotten quite a bit of use already.

 

[graffix000]

wow, that looks great! Nice job.

 

[Steevo]

Nice!
I have seen bowling lanes for sale several times, but when I started stockpiling materials for my workbench build, I haven't seen any for a year.

 

[Rothaus]

That's very nice, it almost looks like a dining table

Cheers

 

[Bull]

Looks great! It reminds me of my own recent bench build using old hardwood flooring from my house. But, yours looks better than mine since it's more neatly done and you did the trim and everything.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

That is one beautiful workbench! I think you made a strike with that roll(er). That is a mighty fine piece of re-purposing salvage materials.

Question about the casters, where did you get them and how spendy were they? They really look good and stout. They look large enough to allow moving the bench with not much effort.

 

[NitroPress]

It's beautiful, but every time you set a paint can down on it something's going to knock it over...

 

[formek]

I like them both! great jobs

 

[Jack Olsen]

Awesome!

 

[jlckmj]

NICE bench!

let me know on the casters also,

I have benches that were made with 4x4 legs similar to yours. On mine the wheels and mounts for them are a little weak

Jim

 

[PurdueSD]

The casters are from mcmaster. I ponied up and got 2 swivel casters that have swivel locks and wheel locks. The other two casters are fixed. The thought her was... the table cant learch on the swivels when leaning up against it. It has worked out really well. Ive probably got 60 bucks in casters. It was well worth it though. I welded flat stock around the perimeter of the casters so i wouldnt have to bolt up through the bottom of the 4x4s and worry about it pulling out. I can look up the info on them if anyone is interested.

Thanks for all the compliments!

 

[Mmfh]

I was also interested in the casters, if I understand you correctly, these are fairly normal casters that you made the, lets say square sockets for the legs to sit into?

That's the part I noticed the most, the way the legs fit into the top of the casters. Not to discredit the table, damn nice job.

Nice!

Mm

 

[Hammer1963]

Nice work by both of you guys. I really like Hard wood bench surfaces. Something authentic about them. They imply what a work bench is suppose to be. Rugged

 

[PurdueSD]

I was also interested in the casters, if I understand you correctly, these are fairly normal casters that you made the, lets say square sockets for the legs to sit into?

That's the part I noticed the most, the way the legs fit into the top of the casters. Not to discredit the table, damn nice job.

Nice!

Mm

Yeah the casters just had a flat plate mount. i added 1" bar stock 3.5" square box. Some cold galvanizing spray bomb make em look like they came that way.

 

[Greatbear]

I give it a solid 300.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That came out looking nice. I'd almost be afraid to use it.

 

[lowbucktruck]

Nice job! I like how you fabbed up the caster mount.
Are you sure that isn't your new dining table???

 

[green.bubbly]

That really came out nice. I recently became a fan of a counter sink bit I had purchased for a small project. Countersinking the screws along the frame, drive the screws below the surface and then filling in the holes with putty would give it a nice finished look to match the top.

Not nit picking, just offering a tip I recently learned. That is really nice table and nice work. The caster idea was awesome. Wish I knew how to weld.

 

[reddog289]

Every night I see something that would work in my shop. Great looking table.

 

[1948]

looks nice, reminds me of a butchers block table.

 

[Nozzlejocky]

Very nicely done. That bench will last a long time given the nature of bowling flooring.

 

[Nowater]

As one of the woodworkers here, I'll correct your spelling of the oil finish to TUNG oil, which comes from the tung tree naturally enough. It is pronounced just like tongue, so easliy confused if one has only heard it spoken. By the way, tung oil is an easy finish to touch up if your bench ever needs it. A lot of woodworkers finish their bench with it and reapply it every year or so. If that is the case, I hope I've saved some embarrassment when you go to purchase product.

 

[DCarr]

Looks great !

 

[Liteemup]

That really came out nice. I recently became a fan of a counter sink bit I had purchased for a small project. Countersinking the screws along the frame, drive the screws below the surface and then filling in the holes with putty would give it a nice finished look to match the top.

Not nit picking, just offering a tip I recently learned. That is really nice table and nice work. The caster idea was awesome. Wish I knew how to weld.

As an alternative. How about using 3/8" or even 1/2" nut and bolts counter sunk for the leg attachment with dowel plugs after ? Or even carriage bolts because I think they would compliment the era well.

Just commenting on the fastener side of things I think the bench is beautiful !

 

[pauldeere]

I am in the market for a peice of bowling alley wood. Anyone know of a source please e-mail me. I am located in southwestern Ohio [email protected]

 

[PurdueSD]

Thanks for the compliments guys! The table started with plans for a double sheet plywood top. Thats why the base is a little rough and has exposed screws. Its a workbench and the wood was beat up from its previous life of rafters in the old garage (and being stored outside under a tarp while the new garage went up). The tops just make it stand out

Paul,

There are usually several guys selling in the auto rv classifieds you find in gas stations. Thats where i found mine.

 

[DoyleDee]

Any more pics of the stang? I'm a fan of the Fox body.. and also the early 70's.