Built a new Workbench!

[wintermute]

I've been wanting a second workbench to augment the bench I picked up from my Dads place earlier this year. (He built it with my brother and I out of scrap material with new particle board drawers top and shelf)

I started with one of the four 62"x48"X3/4" closet doors that were part of my carport "shed" – which was the first thing disassembled when I converted to a garage.

I ripped it down to 62"x24" and backed the halves up with glue and screws

clamped and weighted down

The legs are 4"x4"s from the same carport cabinet that I notched for 2"x4" cross rails with a little improvisation

and mocked up with a little help from my workmate

Tabletop detail: 1-1/2" thick

The table frame built with scrap 2"x4"s from the local building salvage outfit–I traded an extra unused treated 2"x8" I had lost the receipt to

Pre drilled and countersunk holes for screws to attach the top

Top's on, lower supports are only mocked up here

I opted to use fence hangers for the lower supports, however I used screws there as well.

And finished up with a crown rail and an open front on the lower support for my compressor (and anything else I might want to roll under)

Aside from some glue in the top, the whole thing is held together with screws. I'm considering covering the top with some stainless steel.

 

[SurfnSnow]

Very nice! I've been looking for ideas on making a new bench from some scrap and I think I might have to borrow a few ideas

 

[mypov]

looks solid, nice work!

 

[genesis]

That's a pretty stout work bench.
Very nice!

 

[Victorymike18]

Very nice bench, it looks solid.

What is that "local building salvage outlet" you refer to? Sounds intriguing.

What was your total cost to build this (roughly)?

 

[hockey88fan]

Like the idea of the open front on the supports, looks great!

 

[Sage55]

Looks tough man, nicely done.

 

[Steevo]

Nice job, and good re-use of materials, too!

 

[z28snksknr]

Simple and sturdy - exactly what a workbench needs to be!

 

[kv501]

Better than any Home Depot/Menard's/Costco/Lowe's/Sam's Club **** that you'll ever get and it was free. That thing will also outlast you by several lifetimes. Thanks for the pictures.

More people need to understand that you don't have to have a "shop" and a million dollars in tools to make something. Keep that thing forever.

 

[kv501]

Very nice bench, it looks solid.

What is that "local building salvage outlet" you refer to? Sounds intriguing.

What was your total cost to build this (roughly)?

We have something similar to that in a town near here. These places sell mostly salvaged, damaged, and donated building materials. Usually it's someone who remodels, and instead of throwing away perfectly good windows, pipe, lumber, etc., they will give it to this place to sell to people who might need it. The one I go to also has truck load stuff that might be either unclaimed, damaged, etc. I got a bundle of 32 pieces of 4x9 OSB that had slight water damage on about the end 6" for $40. I ripped a foot off the end and had perfectly good sheeting for my shed and its interior walls. I had to buy the whole bundle, but I sold the leftover (about 20 sheets give or take) to my neighbor for $20.00. He was happy as could be.

 

[TimTaylor75]

Looks great and even better is that it's all reclaimed materials. Nice job!

 

[DoyleDee]

Nice build!!! I love reusing materials.

 

[GreyOwl]

Looks great for the price. Only thing I would add is a backsplash to keep "stuff" from falling off the back.

Charles

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks good and fits right into that corner.

I've made a bunch of stuff from left over material, always get the feeling of a project done for "free".

 

[bad_idea]

nicely done. the beauty is in the simplicity. are you going to paint it?

 

[jack anderson]

Nice job and great job showing us photo's of your process. I like it just the way she sits no need add paint.

 

[Outlander]

Great idea! Did the same this summer for the back of my garage - all the wood was left over from when I bought the place or did a project. I should have doubled up the top like you did. Yours looks great in that corner, I might add

 

[wintermute]

Thanks guys! All told, I probably have around $20 in this, and most of that is in screws and the fence hangers. There are a lot of #10x2-1/2" screws holding it together. I'm thinking of leaving it as-is, with the exception of maybe sealing the top with a nice clear varnish. One nice thing about using reclaimed materials is the "instant patina" the piece gets.

I traded my 2x8 for the old 2x4s at Skagit Building Salvage. It's similar to the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, which we also have in town. They have a lot of neat old stuff from remodels and demolitions. I take all of my old siding there as I complete walls.

 

[KermitFrog]

Great job of re-purposing!

 

[bad_idea]

definately varnish the top. i did not varnish mine and it was a horrible mess in less than 6 monthes. a horrible mess that wouldnt clean up.