Lets see your workbench

[Nostraquedeo]

First....where is damn computer?

 

[slowtwitch]

Dodge....how do you have your computer monitor fastened to the wall? I have a Flat Panel and I'd like to ket it up off of the bench.

I used one of these.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARTICULATING-ARM-TILT-LCD-LED-MONITOR-TV-WALL-MOUNT-12-15-18-19-22-23-24-BLACK-/150710421767?pt=US_TV_Mounts_Brackets&hash=item23170a8907

 

[slowtwitch]

First....where is damn computer?

I'm using a laptop...it's sitting on top of the oscilloscope

 

[Chart]

I only used glue (specifically Titebond III) to connect the 2x12's. I'm no woodworker.... Also, if you are going to build this type of worktop, I wouldn't use anything smaller than 2x10 lumber because the larger boards seem to be less prone to twisting and warping. Getting a good joint is extremely difficult if the lumber is twisted or warped.

I don't see anything wrong with using metal fasteners, but they really aren't necessary. I picked up the top and moved it multiple times before mounting it and it is solid and heavy. It feels just like a single slab of wood.

Your top looks nice. But, as a woodworker I have to take issue with your comment about smaller than 10 inch boards. Actually, in gluing up a panel, the wider boards tend to be less stable than narrower boards. Thought being the neighboring boards will help offset any movement an individual board wants to make. There are many cases of wide boards being stable, but they really are the exception.

Good glue is stronger than the wood it is attached to, and it appears you did a good job of prepping your wood. If someone wanted to use pocket hole screws in addition, they would not need to use clamps, as the screw would accomplish that function. Just a thought.

 

[TimTaylor75]

I have multiple work surfaces, but this is my main bench/assembly table which I built last year. My apologies how disorganized everything looks in the pictures, just now realizing that I still haven't taken any "after" photos since my workspace has been cleaned up. I'll remedy that soon enough.


Getting everything framed up
http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/388167_10151055794070651_2075521976_n.jpg

Used pocket holes on everything (thanks Kreg)
http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/385402_10151055794295651_574802632_n.jpg

First layer of the top is a 3/4" sheet of MDF
http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/393366_10151055794640651_607353940_n.jpg

Re-enforced the legs
http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/386638_10151055795170651_1826969817_n.jpg

Added the top layer which is 3/4" maple melamine and a middle shelf for half the bench
http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/381080_10151055796085651_808297938_n.jpg

Built the bench at the same height as my table saw to work as a run-off table
http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/386462_10151055795405651_97653091_n.jpg

Added pegboard to one side to help keep tools handy
http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/393590_10151063639500651_1078193854_n.jpg

 

[ahrbrz]

Small garage = small benches!

The shorter one on the right has a 'quick-remove' top to expose a steel surface for the occasional pounding session.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[JimVonBaden]

Mine grew a bit.

Jim

 

[Exceller8]

Jim, that is a really nice setup!

 

[melliott28]

Your top looks nice. But, as a woodworker I have to take issue with your comment about smaller than 10 inch boards. Actually, in gluing up a panel, the wider boards tend to be less stable than narrower boards. Thought being the neighboring boards will help offset any movement an individual board wants to make. There are many cases of wide boards being stable, but they really are the exception.

Good glue is stronger than the wood it is attached to, and it appears you did a good job of prepping your wood. If someone wanted to use pocket hole screws in addition, they would not need to use clamps, as the screw would accomplish that function. Just a thought.

Thanks for the info. I am always open to learning something new. As I said, I am no woodworker and I only made that statement based on my first attempt at making a worktop where I used 2x4 lumber. About half of the pieces I used warped or twisted. I guess for my next top, I will try the smaller boards again and choose my lumber more carefully.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Jim, that is a really nice setup!

Nothing comparred to most here, but it works for me!

Thanks,

Jim

 

[kilgorq]

Work In Progress... Still needs drawers and doors.

 

[crazytrain]

I'll play,

Workbench I built in my shed. I am planning a total overhaul of the shed this summer and would like to build a better bench and try to get better organized in there.

Work benches in my basement.

My grand fathers old work table now my hobby/model building bench.

My other basement bench.

Craftsman rotary bench, maybe relocated to the shed this summer and actually set up for use.

 

[mobgma]

My workbenches are from Home Depot. They are great for the light duty garage guy. A little over priced but I got them on sale. Surprised at how sturdy they are. Scared to remove the foam I am using to protect the surface. Don't want to scratch the stainless steel. I am getting perfectly cut 3/8" rubber mats for the tops which should look much better and give me a great surface to work on. :S

I will have another Husky workbench in between the two tall cabinets soon for a total of 18Ft of workbench space. Old man winter got me demotivated. Still need to level everything, square everything and put the lock on the other tall cabinet.

Very happy with the Home Depot garage stuff. Sorry I don't have better pictures of the actual workbench. This summer I will.

 

[BB767]

For those who haven't read about the old restored shop in the Garage Gallery section at Garage Journal, here are some of the several work benches constructed for the old shop and associated barn you might find interesting.

In the old shop I constructed 3 benches with 12 gauge stainless steel tops.

All had an enclosed base. 2 were 10' long...

...this one incorporated a 1 1/2" thick, 18" X 28" steel plate weighing 200+ lbs. seen on the far right.

This one is the 8' long one. Construction details for these 3 benches can be found starting on page 17, post # 321:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=739458&postcount=321

Then there is this welding table/bench...

5/16" thick top - construction details for it are on page 10, scroll to post # 191:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567&page=10

Also constructed for the old shop was this...

...portable work surface utilizing a 3/4" thick, 3' X 5' steel plate for the top. More construction material and pictures of it, begins on page 269, see post # 5365:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567&page=269

Next, this century old cast iron bench...

... was left in the shop and resurrected from the dead.

Seen here on the right, it now servers faithfully and should be good for another century or so I would hope.

Turning to the barn out back, inside the door you will find this...

...wonderful workspace. I built this one out of solid maple featuring a 3" thick maple butcher block top.

Should you wish for more information about it and lots of construction photographs, that story all begins on page 147, post #2931:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567&page=147

Next in the barn are 4 heavy duty benches that take the brunt of the heavy, nasty work I do out there.

Two are powder coated blue and...

...two are powder coated gray. Those projects are detailed starting on page 227, post# 4521:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567&page=227.

So there is a wide variety of benches to choose from in the old restored shop and the barn. All that and more is found in the Restored 1930's Auto Shop:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51567

Take a look, it might not be what you think.

Thomas from the Restored 1930's Auto Shop

 

[cheechi]

Mine grew a bit.

I recognize that Kobalt workbench. How has it been for you?

 

[JimVonBaden]

I recognize that Kobalt workbench. How has it been for you?

Not bad actually. I have had it for about 4 years, and it has been well used. For $150, it is a pretty good deal.

Jim

 

[Winmon]

 

[jeffmoss26]

Wow guys, I am envious!!

 

[Car Collector Chronicles]

Winmon

Talk to me about the floor mats I see in the pics: Size, feel, cost, seller, etc.

 

[NineFingerFury]

Got my bench for $50. Old high school shop table.

 

[ket-tek]

 

[Journaler]

ket-tek: so. much. storage.

 

[JimVonBaden]

ket-tek: so. much. storage.

Not nearly enough!

Jim

 

[cheechi]

ket-tek. I hate you a little bit. That's rather impressive. S13?

 

[Kevin54]

Ket-Tek....I remember when you jumped in on the huge sale that everyone else got in on and i followed along while you were putting them together, but this is just over the top. Fine job, and it looks FANTASTIC!!!

 

[allinon72]

My god...

 

[Winmon]

Winmon

Talk to me about the floor mats I see in the pics: Size, feel, cost, seller, etc.

They are called "Extreme Standing Mat", Ergo Kneel is the company that makes them. The place I work at was cleaning out our warehouse and were in the process of tossing them, so I got them for nothing. These are 24"x36" and 1" thick. They do make several sizes. Here is a link to a place that sells them...

http://www.pksafety.com/ergokneel-extreme-standing-mat-5032-anti-fatigue-pad.html

 

[ket-tek]

ket-tek. I hate you a little bit. That's rather impressive. S13?

Yes sir, S13. It has a 2JZ-GTE w/ big single swap, it also happens to be in the newest issue of Modified Magazine that just hit the shelves the other day.

It's not mine, it belongs to a friend. It's preparing to get some more engine work done here shortly when he returns from out of town.

 

[ket-tek]

Ket-Tek....I remember when you jumped in on the huge sale that everyone else got in on and i followed along while you were putting them together, but this is just over the top. Fine job, and it looks FANTASTIC!!!

Thanks Kevin, it was a ton of work, and kind of a pain in the ***. But I'm happy with the end results.

I still have a plan for adding on to them, and also cutting up some of the leftover shelves to use for timming out some of the edges/end panels and couple other areas of the garage.

If you missed it, the part 2 thread where I built the computer bench joining the original section is here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181626


I think last I saw of your garage project you were remodeling a divided section of the garage?? I could be mistaken, my memory is flaky sometimes. What's the latest project you got going on?

 

[mobgma]

Where did you get the wall laminate ket tek. Thanks.

Looks good!

 

[Xena]

Man I have work to do ....

 

[winnipegtibook]

Ket-Tek....I remember when you jumped in on the huge sale that everyone else got in on and i followed along while you were putting them together, but this is just over the top. Fine job, and it looks FANTASTIC!!!

Can you share a pic on how you handled the corner with the gladiator uppers?

Speechless...up here in Canuck land, there ain't no "crazy great deals" on Gladiators...sigh.

 

[akdiesel]

Ket-Tek

The garage looks absolutely perfect. And you have just enough bench to a Ford production line start to finish.

 

[tncumminsguy]

Ket-tek your garage is sick along with your friends s13! I'm in the middle of doing an LS1 swap to my brothers s13

 

[TerryH]

Ket-Tek....Are there any Gladiator cabinets left in the entire world that aren't in your shop? Awesome shop. Just awesome!

 

[Laker]

Some killer workbenches on here! After 5 failed attempts at getting a Craftsman, I ran out of time and patience and pulled the trigger on an "American Workbench" added a Record wood vise and my restored grand-uncle's Erie #44 vise, and I'm good to go.

 

[cj8lvr]

Some killer workbenches on here! After 5 failed attempts at getting a Craftsman, I ran out of time and patience and pulled the trigger on an "American Workbench" added a Record wood vise and my restored grand-uncle's Erie #44 vise, and I'm good to go.

That's a nice workbench.
I've never heard of that business. Cool story.
Love me some AMERICAN MADE craftsmanship!
Looks like they've got it.

Even the chief parrot head approves!

I hear he gives it "two fins up"!

Cool!

 

[CaptainMarvel]

I have multiple work surfaces, but this is my main bench/assembly table which I built last year. My apologies how disorganized everything looks in the pictures, just now realizing that I still haven't taken any "after" photos since my workspace has been cleaned up. I'll remedy that soon enough.

Added the top layer which is 3/4" maple melamine and a middle shelf for half the bench
http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/381080_10151055796085651_808297938_n.jpg

Added pegboard to one side to help keep tools handy
http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/393590_10151063639500651_1078193854_n.jpg

I REALLY like this bench ...... GREAT WORK !!!




Any more pics of the fully assembled bench ???




TOM

 

[CaptainMarvel]

I just recently built this bench. It's 16'x6'.....

The 6' "L" section , is my powder coating space......

That is SO COOL !!!

If you ever get a chance, perhaps you might consider making a short video showing how you use your powdercoating station?
I've only ever seen videos of the big ole professional booths and such ... would love to see a home/benchtop demonstration.


NICE WORK !!!

 

[CaptainMarvel]

I built my woodowrking bench a few years back and it has served me well for woodworking and general whatever is going on in the shop. It has a ton of storage and it's jamb packed with tools and such. It's made from white oak with mortise and tenon constuction for the base. The top is actually 3 layers of 3/4" mdf laminated together with 1 1/2" white oak edge banding and a piece of white oak plywood for the work surface. The top is 42"" x 99". It has the big Jorgenson vise with 3" solid white oak face. All the drawers are all on 100lb slides. The thing weighs nearly 800 lbs. empty so it's a rock solid platform to work on for whatever the project is.

Here's some construction pics....

And here is the finished product......

The front...

Thanks for looking!!!

Terry

SWEET JESUS that is an amazing looking workbench .... AWESOME JOB !!!

Did you rout the side panels and doors yourself, or did you order/buy them pre-designed?