Budget Bench Build

[Scout Driver]

In current times, we must save money where we can. Any resource should be considered.

Since I really wanted a nice workbench and some extra storage in my 22 x 24 detached garage, I checked my options carefully.

Fortunately, my Dad and uncle bought some farmland with a dilapitated house that contained a few kitchen cabinets with counter. The cabinets had some major rotting from a leaky sink, and some major stench from some mouse nests. After some measuring, I determined a configuration of these cabinets that would fit my needs.

The following is......The Budget Bench Build.

Attached are some pics of the cabinets after bringing them to the farm shop. I'd already stripped the linoleum countertop and the sink. Note the rot and mouse droppings and staining.

Scott

 

[chevelle64]

The drawers will be a nice feature. More storage space is always a bonus .

 

[Scout Driver]

After squaring up the base of the cabinets, I ran some wood screws into critical structural points to add integrity. The hole where the sink was got its corners squared. The rotted floor was cut out and replaced. Extra wooden "crossmembers" were added below its floor to add strength and heft. More studs were added internally to add strength. Broken drawers were repaired. The short section of cabinet in the earlier post was squared and bolted to the longer section. The area occupied by the sink had its false front removed and I added a large drawer to this space. I'm not at all a carpenter and this was the first drawer I'd ever built. I was pleased with the results!

Stay tuned! More to follow.....

Scott

 

[dumper]

if you have a home depot nearby, you might check in the back of the store where they cut sheets of ply and particle board for customers who only need a small piece. They put broken sheets and leftover sheets in a rack there and sell them for between 50cents to $2 for an entire sheet. I picked up 8 sheets (almost 4x8ft each ) of 1/2 and 3/4" particle board for $3 total-that makes great workbench tops and can also be used to sheer up base cabinets. Sometimes the only thing wrong with the sheet is a broken corner or a small hole.

 

[Scout Driver]

The "sink hole" was boarded up with an old fireworks sign found in the house. All the drawer pulls were cleaned and polished. The hinges were layered with multiple layers of paint. A long soak in aircraft stripper revealed beautiful chrome on the hinges! A steel fabricator fabbed up a 10 gauge steel top for me. Macksteel in Watertown SD does great work! After sanding down the old paint, 4 coats of industrial enamel were brushed on. All the hardware was re-installed, finishing my project.

Some of the lumber was already on hand. The rest was picked up from the curbs during the spring city-wide-cleanup. (People throw out new lumber!?) Half of a new sheet of plywood was found lying on the side of the highway. Woodscrews would have been about $5.00 (already on hand). Heavy duty ball bearing drawer slides were $10. Paint was $28.00 for a gallon. I used about a third of the can for this project. My largest expenditure was $105 for the steel top (which was extremely reasonable for the quality of craftsmanship). Total cost was under $150.

This project was very enjoyable and the end result will suit my needs very well.

Thanks for following along!

Scott

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Looks Great... Should be a fine workbench for you.

 

[Scout Driver]

The drawers will be a nice feature. More storage space is always a bonus .

The drawers really are nice. They were well built from the start and slide nicely despite the lack of slides or tracks.

if you have a home depot nearby, you might check in the back of the store where they cut sheets of ply and particle board for customers who only need a small piece. They put broken sheets and leftover sheets in a rack there and sell them for between 50cents to $2 for an entire sheet. I picked up 8 sheets (almost 4x8ft each ) of 1/2 and 3/4" particle board for $3 total-that makes great workbench tops and can also be used to sheer up base cabinets. Sometimes the only thing wrong with the sheet is a broken corner or a small hole.

You have a great idea. I will definetely keep that in mind. As stated in my post, I was lucky to find free plywood for this project!

Looks Great... Should be a fine workbench for you.

Thanks Breeze! Is that a '66 or '67 Fairlane? Looks like a nice car!

Scott

 

[ChristopherLutz]

Very, very cool. Buckets of character - thanks for sharing.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

Thanks Scout, it's a 1966 Fairlane GTA.
You know you couldn't buy a new bench as nice as yours for twice the $$ Plus it has that old school look with the old drawers and doors.

 

[Scout Driver]

Thanks Scout, it's a 1966 Fairlane GTA.
You know you couldn't buy a new bench as nice as yours for twice the $$ Plus it has that old school look with the old drawers and doors.

Again...nice car! Speaking of the old drawers, the original builder had the forethought to glue thin strips of the old-style, stiff linoleum to the bottom edges of the drawers where they meet their runners. Its pretty amazing how well this makes the drawers slide. Thank you for the kind words.

Scott

 

[sammm]

Very nice Scout...great re-purpose job.

 

[JBC]

Scout,

Nice. I need ideas for finding "budget benches" that are unique. I like unique and functional and low cost! Low cost is good!

JBC

 

[e-tek]

Awesome bench - GREAT top and color!!

 

[Jack Olsen]

That's a great bench at any price.

 

[Scout Driver]

Awesome bench - GREAT top and color!!

Thanks e-tek. The fabricators did a great job with the steel top. 105 lbs of steel goodness! I gave them measurements down to the 1/16th of an inch and it was spot-on when they were done. The color is "Safety Red" industrial paint from Menards. Water based and easy to work with.

Scott

 

[Scout Driver]

That's a great bench at any price.

Your garage is one that many of us aspire to. Thanks for the good words.

Scott

 

[kfainf]

That looks fantastic! I like the transformation. I have been looking in my area for some old cabinetry to do just the same thing. I keep checking the Habitat Restore and my local Craigslist. You have just given me more inspiration to keep looking. Thanks.

 

[Scout Driver]

That looks fantastic! I like the transformation. I have been looking in my area for some old cabinetry to do just the same thing. I keep checking the Habitat Restore and my local Craigslist. You have just given me more inspiration to keep looking. Thanks.

Thanks kfainf! If you know any local contractors, let them know you are looking for cabinets. Lots of old cabinets end up "homeless" after bathroom and kitchen remodeling jobs. Good luck in your search.

Scott

 

[Mario]

Wow! Impressive results!

I really like the color and the steel top. I also have a kitchen counter in the garage...hmm! It's white melamine, could be nice with a steel top!

 

[Scout Driver]

Wow! Impressive results!

I really like the color and the steel top. I also have a kitchen counter in the garage...hmm! It's white melamine, could be nice with a steel top!

Thanks Mario!

Scott

 

[Leadfoot3232]

Very nice bench, looks great..Nice Farmall in the background too..

 

[E.rodz]

nice job on the bench. I think the economy has inspired alot of us to get more creative and use the material that we have and create somthing cool.

 

[rmousir]

that is awesome! I will keep my eye out for something similar.

 

[O RLY]

looks amazing... I love these kind of projects

 

[mixxmstrmike]

Awesome transformation! That red just pops and that top! Wow!

-Mike

 

[cowboy73]

That's a nice looking bench. Glad to see you reuse the old cabinets.

 

[Scout Driver]

Very nice bench, looks great..Nice Farmall in the background too..

Thanks Leadfoot, the Farmall is Dad's Super MTA Diesel.

Thanks to everyone else too who has posted the positive comments!

Scott

 

[bchee]

I just came across this thread. Awesome bench. I'm inspired to do something similar with an old bathroom vanity (double sinks)

edit: thought it was strange that, for an old crappy cabinet, it had some updated handles.

 

[NZMacca]

Mate, that is seriously nice work. Well done.

 

[Scout Driver]

I just came across this thread. Awesome bench. I'm inspired to do something similar with an old bathroom vanity (double sinks)

edit: thought it was strange that, for an old crappy cabinet, it had some updated handles.

Mate, that is seriously nice work. Well done.

Thanks for digging up my old thread! Thanks also for the good words. bchee, post some pics of the vanity project when you get started. There are still a couple shallow, wall mounted cabinets in the vacant house where I got the initial cabinets. After I move some things around in my garage, I will hang these cabinets over the bench.

Scott

 

[m.james]

Nice clean I like it when people take a little care of the item and bring it into a new light.

 

[robertgreen79]

That bench looks fantastic! We have a local store here that sells old cabinets and stuff that was salvaged for close to nothing. I may have to go that route.

 

[Scout Driver]

That bench looks fantastic! We have a local store here that sells old cabinets and stuff that was salvaged for close to nothing. I may have to go that route.

Thanks robertgreen79! Its really amazing what's out there if you look hard. Today I scored some cabinets, lockers and some other items from a school surplus sale. Total was $10.50!

Scott

 

[sscustom]

wow they came out a beaut i was goin to do this with some old kitchen cabinates but dif colour

sam

 

[sikopal]

Thanks robertgreen79! Its really amazing what's out there if you look hard. Today I scored some cabinets, lockers and some other items from a school surplus sale. Total was $10.50!

Scott

What an inspiration to do some curbside shopping, can't tell you how many sets of cabinets I see on the side of the road here! Completely inspired to get creative. One of the best "repurposed" benches I have seen!

 

[4000xt]

Scout bench looks great. But I want to see some pictures of the tractor in the barn.

 

[keduner]

I've got to add my appreciation. Great salvage job. Like sikopal said, the finished product is a real inspiration to get creative. Thanks for sharing.

 

[stellar91]

I just happened to pick up a vanity sink base yesterday with a smaller side drawer set-up. Thought about doing this aswell as soon as I seen it just sitting there at the curb. After seeing yours I'm gonna look more for a kitchen base now and may leave what I found out for another curb shopper. Well Done !

 

[bchee]

bchee, post some pics of the vanity project when you get started.

Scott

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83034

I was embarrassed to post picts cuz it's kind of ghetto, but it feels sturdy enough.

 

[Scout Driver]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83034

I was embarrassed to post picts cuz it's kind of ghetto, but it feels sturdy enough.

It looks great. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

Thanks for posting on my old thread so early in the morning.

Scott