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HKS Fab

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2025
Messages
16
We started moving everything out of the house garage and into the new building/shop.

My old work bench layout in the attached garage...20250711_080605.jpg

The new work bench layout in the detached garage/shop...
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Here are a few wall mounted solutions that might help clean up any work bench/area clutter.
 

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lilscorpion

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 15, 2010
Messages
3,599
Location
Colorado
Finally got myself to clean it all off and said only one project at any time on there, NOT one on one and another on the other.

A clean shop is a sign of a demented mind!
63BA2683-142E-4117-B6EB-BCD5C3F9ACA8.jpeg
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That may not be any bigger or smaller that what I use. It may be a perfect size. Doesn’t take up too much space but can accommodate most projects. Good setup
 

PhantomEB

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
6,682
Location
Medicine Hat, AB, Canuckistan
Looks great and I see no problem with your philosophy of one project on the workbench at a time.
Pretty sure this garage will be renamed the sanatarium, wife said so how do you figure a clean shop is the sign of a sick mind…..I replied uhmm you do see that crazy truck of mine?
Strategically located A/C! My garage had a window like that, but it's been boarded up. Thinking about replacing the top half for some natural light since it's on the N side no direct sun.
This is also on the North side under the patio to boot. Plans are to pink board up the gap between plywood and AC then cover with ship lap or white washed brick wall board.
035ACCFF-88D2-4A90-A299-97B06436E862.jpeg
That may not be any bigger or smaller that what I use. It may be a perfect size. Doesn’t take up too much space but can accommodate most projects. Good setup
There’s one more bench that I currently using for bronco parts storage. Slowly it’s getting cleared off.
 

rd65

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 29, 2017
Messages
2,708
Location
Granite Falls, WA
My disaster as I closed up last night. Many, many things that need attention and time.
@LXCam you can see my emblem just below the S on Snap-On on the top of the box, I have another one somewhere. I glued magnets to them to see if I wanted to put some on my FJ fuel tank. Have a couple tank emblems from Viragos on there as well.
 

LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,075
Location
AZ
@LXCam you can see my emblem just below the S on Snap-On on the top of the box, I have another one somewhere. I glued magnets to them to see if I wanted to put some on my FJ fuel tank. Have a couple tank emblems from Viragos on there as well.
Rd, I’ve always been a bike nut so I understand the catch. In this case it was 100% unintentional, I bought this box almost completely covered in stickers. And after way to much effort cleaning as much of as possible, there's still some reminders of its past life. ;)
 

JustVicingIt

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2025
Messages
179
This update has been a longtime coming. My Roubo style workbench is just about there. It's been a fun journey. A bit annoying at parts as these things usually are, but overall fun.

The top is now attached to the base.

Vise parts are benchcrafted for both tail and leg vise.

Dialing in the Tail Vise took some time, but the Leg Vise worked perfectly the first time.

I'm opting for a raw linseed finish. It'll take time to fully cure but that's a-okay for me and it l;ooks so good especially on the mahogany bits.

The top is a reclaimed maple laminated stair tread. The owner gave it to me for free. They had attempted to cut it down for disposal but didn't finish the cut. That's why there's a strip in the middle of it and some bowties.

These were my first bowties (African mahogany as it's what I had on hand at the time) and I cut the recess first instead of making the bowties and then tracing them for removal so they are a bit janky. Nothing some two part epoxy can't fix. It's messy but should sand out okay.

The tail vise endcap is a large piece of walnut. I ordered it in 16/4 so it would be solid and not laminated.

Opted for a 12/4 piece of African Mahogany for the leg chop. It takes the raw linseed oil very nicely.

The legs are 4 laminated oak legs I got off of Facebook marketplace for $20. Couldn't pass up the opportunity for such a cheap option.

Overall the most expensive stuff was the Benchcrafted Hardware but totally worth the investment. It's so well made.

Have short list of things to finish on it.

Adding the shelf (going to use some reclaimed white oak pieces from an old library shelving system), cutting dog holes, etc but it's probably 90% done.

Enjoy the photos!

IMG_9984.JPGIMG_9985.JPGIMG_9986.JPGIMG_9987.JPGIMG_9988.JPGIMG_9989.JPGIMG_9990.JPGIMG_9991.JPGIMG_9992.JPG
 
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LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,075
Location
AZ
This update has been a longtime coming. My Roubo style workbench is just about there. It's been a fun journey. A bit annoying at parts as these things usually are, but overall fun.

The top is now attached to the base.

Vise parts are benchcrafted for both tail and leg vise.

Dialing in the Tail Vise took some time, but the Leg Vise worked perfectly the first time.

I'm opting for a raw linseed finish. It'll take time to fully cure but that's a-okay for me and it l;ooks so good especially on the mahogany bits.

The top is a reclaimed maple laminated stair tread. The owner gave it to me for free. They had attempted to cut it down for disposal but didn't finish the cut. That's why there's a strip in the middle of it and some bowties.

These were my first bowties (African mahogany as it's what I had on hand at the time) and I cut the recess first instead of making the bowties and then tracing them for removal so they are a bit janky. Nothing some two part epoxy can't fix. It's messy but should sand out okay.

The tail vise endcap is a large piece of walnut. I ordered it in 16/4 so it would be solid and not laminated.

Opted for a 12/4 piece of African Mahogany for the leg chop. It takes the raw linseed oil very nicely.

The legs are 4 laminated oak legs I got off of Facebook marketplace for $20. Couldn't pass up the opportunity for such a cheap option.

Overall the most expensive stuff was the Benchcrafted Hardware but totally worth the investment. It's so well made.

Have short list of things to finish on it.

Adding the shelf (going to use some reclaimed white oak pieces from an old library shelving system), cutting dog holes, etc but it's probably 90% done.

Enjoy the photos!

IMG_9984.JPGIMG_9985.JPGIMG_9986.JPGIMG_9987.JPGIMG_9988.JPGIMG_9989.JPGIMG_9990.JPGIMG_9991.JPGIMG_9992.JPG
Absolutely stunning job :beer:
 

TerryH

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 8, 2012
Messages
2,248
Location
Springdale, AR
This update has been a longtime coming. My Roubo style workbench is just about there. It's been a fun journey. A bit annoying at parts as these things usually are, but overall fun.

The top is now attached to the base.

Vise parts are benchcrafted for both tail and leg vise.

Dialing in the Tail Vise took some time, but the Leg Vise worked perfectly the first time.

I'm opting for a raw linseed finish. It'll take time to fully cure but that's a-okay for me and it l;ooks so good especially on the mahogany bits.

The top is a reclaimed maple laminated stair tread. The owner gave it to me for free. They had attempted to cut it down for disposal but didn't finish the cut. That's why there's a strip in the middle of it and some bowties.

These were my first bowties (African mahogany as it's what I had on hand at the time) and I cut the recess first instead of making the bowties and then tracing them for removal so they are a bit janky. Nothing some two part epoxy can't fix. It's messy but should sand out okay.

The tail vise endcap is a large piece of walnut. I ordered it in 16/4 so it would be solid and not laminated.

Opted for a 12/4 piece of African Mahogany for the leg chop. It takes the raw linseed oil very nicely.

The legs are 4 laminated oak legs I got off of Facebook marketplace for $20. Couldn't pass up the opportunity for such a cheap option.

Overall the most expensive stuff was the Benchcrafted Hardware but totally worth the investment. It's so well made.

Have short list of things to finish on it.

Adding the shelf (going to use some reclaimed white oak pieces from an old library shelving system), cutting dog holes, etc but it's probably 90% done.

Enjoy the photos!

IMG_9984.JPGIMG_9985.JPGIMG_9986.JPGIMG_9987.JPGIMG_9988.JPGIMG_9989.JPGIMG_9990.JPGIMG_9991.JPGIMG_9992.JPG
Gorgeous work! Definitely an heirloom.
 

JustVicingIt

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2025
Messages
179
@JustVicingIt Beautiful. Looks like a $5k or more workbench.

What's the advantage of raw linseed oil over boiled?
Definitely saved so much on materials that helped absorb some of the pricier Benchcrafted bits.

I prefer raw mostly for the longterm coloration (or lack thereof for that matter) and absence of chemicals in it. It's definitely more aesthetic than anything and I would never consider it for anything that isn't staying in my shop.
 

JustVicingIt

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2025
Messages
179
Bench update.

Table is 98% done


I was on the way to pick up some more lumber to make the shelf, when I remembered above my head was a pile of old library oak bookshelf pieces I had bought off marketplace a year ago.

I had been meaning to process them and after planing and cutting, they would be perfect for the shelf.

IMG_9998.JPG


I was able to get three thicknesses out of them depending on what they had been originally cut as for building the library shelves, 3/4" 1/2" and 1/4".

The 1/4" were the base trim. They had a routed channel and a bead to them so to get a useable piece basically meant cutting them to 1/4" but those will be great for edgebanding or something and those boards when planed are turning out to quarter-sawn oak which is beautiful.

The 3/4" is perfect for the shelf on my bench.

IMG_0001.JPG

Bench-ception as I use it to cut the two end pieces of the shelf:


IMG_0002.JPG

Everything in place:

IMG_0003.JPG

I think may do a tongue and groove on them as well but right now they are just in place and fit great.

Here it is with finish applied to all but the shelf.

IMG_9999.JPG

Based on my list all I have left is,

- install casters
- add bench dog holes
- consider placement of hold fast holes
- edge router on every holdfast/ bench dog hole on both side
- cut tail vise prairie dog hole
 

JustVicingIt

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2025
Messages
179
IMG_0012.JPG

IMG_0013.JPGIMG_0014.JPGIMG_0015.JPGIMG_0016.JPGIMG_0017.JPGIMG_0018.JPGIMG_0019.JPG

Alright bench is basically done. I'll eventually add some holdfast holes, but decided to wait until I need to use the holdfasts so I can place them in a scenario where they are actually needed. Also consisdering adding shaker pegs to hang a few things like a brush etc but again want to use it to see what will work best.

The finish is the Raw Linseed oil. Materials are Oak legs, oak shelf, Maple top, maple cross support on the base, walnut endcap, and African mahogany for the bow ties and leg chop.

The bowties, you can see the strip of maple I put in as well. Basically, the slab for the top, the guy I got it from, he was going to dispose of it and wanted to vut it down to smaller more managebale pieces. He attempted to cut through it with a track saw but gave up. The cut was kind of wobbly and not straight so I used a track saw to clean it up and it ended up that wide, so I used some maple to fill it. I was a biut worried about stability so I opted to install the bowties with some of that mahogany I had lying around.

It's shorter than normal at 6 feet long and a bit less deep as well at 20"

The height may be changed as it's shorter than normal at 31" but I want to try some working on it to see if that's an issue. If so, I'll add some trestles at the base to raise it up a few inches so that'll be easy enough.

I originally wanted to install casters but I think it's be easy enough to drag around if I need to move it which I don't anticipate really happening much

Overall psyched to have this in the shop. Thanks for all the kind words along the way. I appreciate when other people appreciate what goes into something like this. It's great to be a part of this community.
 
Last edited:

TheClaw

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
Messages
529
Location
Chicagoland
This mornings cup of coffee. Pushed a pile of junk off to the side for the pic as I clean out the Huot upper box I picked up yesterday.
20250810_064212_resized.jpg

I really like this. Building a new shop and have two 42 inch chests waiting for pick up. I'd like to build long continous bench like this. Looks like the top is just **** jointed, correct? Are those 2x6's?

Jeff
 

twistedstang

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2016
Messages
271
Location
Lexington, MI
I really like this. Building a new shop and have two 42 inch chests waiting for pick up. I'd like to build long continous bench like this. Looks like the top is just **** jointed, correct? Are those 2x6's?

Jeff
Yeah, its **** jointed 2x8s with several coats of shellac. I originally planed on replacing it with butcherblock but I like it how it is.
 

The Metric System

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2025
Messages
268
I recently put together a new workbench for my new garage.

Started with this Lowe's Kobalt worktable what I snagged on sale back around Thanksgiving: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Kobalt-72-in-Work-Table/5000045517

And this Yukon 46 inch 9-drawer toolbox. You know the one. Also purchased on sale earlier this year: https://www.harborfreight.com/46-in...-cabinet-with-solid-wood-top-black-56613.html

They're both fine, not industrial quality but totally suitable for heavy residential use.

I pulled the jointed wood top off of both and used/reserved those for other projects. The Kobalt top became the top for my wife's workbench and the Yukon will eventually crown the cabinet we're building to hide our hydronic heat hardware.

I replaced the pilfered tops with cheap box store 3/4" ply; I used a double layer for the main table and a single layer for the toolbox. I cheated the top forward on the table so that the legs would be nearly flush with the wall in the back.

Then I applied some 1950's style boomerang Formica laminate, routed the edges, bolted on a big vise, and replaced the toolbox casters with lower ones that swivel at all 4 corners.

In normal use the box stows under the workbench with enough frontal overhang to allow plenty of room for feet and knees:
PXL_20251220_175642090.jpg

When I want more work surface the box easily pulls out and can be parked wherever needed:
PXL_20251220_175809760.jpg

The Formica top turned out very nice and is a great work surface so far - very hard and smooth. My wife and friends didn't think I'd actually follow through with the boomerangs; they should know better by now.

I've never done Formica work before but install was a simple as brushing both surfaces with contact cement, putting the laminate on top, and then encouraging both parts to bond with a soft hammer. It would have been much harder if I had needed the edges to line up exactly, but that's why I planned to hit it with the router.

I was a bit concerned that the 8 inch vise would be too big; so far it's been very handy and also does double duty as a respectable shop press:
PXL_20251220_175713424.jpg

The last step was to run a 5/8 structural screw through the frame of the table into a wall stud just to keep the whole thing from rocking or moving when I get medieval with the vise.

It's all very solid, I couldn't ask for a better bench.
 
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