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Lets see your workbench

Project_shadow

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 14, 2014
Messages
677
Googled workbench ideas...I was looking through pretty much this thread without the comments, is that considered a win as this thread dominates the pictures on Google? Lol
 
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Dan in Pasadena

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Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
13,103
Location
Pasadena, CA
I think your benches look great! They'd be MY dream benches if I had them and in such nice clean shape.

Mine are far from the dream workbenches I've seen in here but I will post them up any way.

This is my most used bench. I put a sheet of stainless on top because the fiber board had seen better days.
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Here is my soldering and "clean" bench made from an old countertop and some unistrut scraps.
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And my folding weld table. I'm about out of room but needed something for welding on.
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bagged89s10

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2005
Messages
4,607
Location
CT
Thanks guys, I got the top legs broken and fitted. It fit really nice and flat. I placed several precision ball bearings with no roll. I don't think I will secure the top to to the plywood decking.

The two receivers worked well with the third member jig.

Disassembly is next for prime and paint.


That's very nice!
 

fnieto

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Joined
Aug 27, 2013
Messages
1,401
Location
Tucson,Arizona
I primed,painted,reassembled (after locating) the workbench. It took a while to load the tools as much thought went into this process. The WB island Is done.
Its only right to acknowledge "Steevo" for this build as his choice of materials was used for my design. That being said, Thank you Steevo!
 

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Dan Babb

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Joined
Dec 20, 2010
Messages
85
I finished my workbench over the weekend.

I wanted something that my harbor freight tool chest would slide under. But when I got that setup, the top felt a bit too high. So I wound up turning one of the 2x4 top supports on it's side and dropped the bench just a bit. I can slide the tool chest out by jacking up one side by a couple inches. I don't think I'll really be moving the chest a lot..only if I want to clean up under there.

Couple of pictures.

Here you can see the 2x4 I turned on the side to get a couple extra inches of clearance.
A5FABC04-EC6F-4226-A6CF-AD719FA9E399_zpsj0qtzxpj.jpg



The top shelf is sturdy enough to hold the stuff I'll put up there. I like having my rechargeable drills within reach, but didn't want to take up space on the work surface.

C75DAE7D-AC02-49CF-B461-2454D492190B_zpselxhuwln.jpg


The top is just a good grade of 3/4" plywood with some 1x2 for trim. Then I sealed it with a mix-wax clear poly. Not sure if it will really help oil & crud from soaking into the wood, but figured I'd give it a try.
864B6CE9-9CAA-4D36-BA75-22BDA25E13D3_zpsjla9ishv.jpg


Standing next to the bench, with my arm bent at 90degrees, the top is about 1" below my elbow. I think it would allow me to work on stuff in a comfortable position, and if I need a lower surface, I have some other tables in the shop I can use.
 

baneonrt

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
76
Location
Sacramento, CA
I received this craftman workbench quite a number of years ago from my in-laws for Christmas. It was my only work surface for a long time when we were in a rental. Now it acts as an island workbench in my two car garage. I'd been wanting to make it be able to roll around for a couple of years, I just got around to finalizing an idea and getting it done.

Started with this:

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Cut a few inches off the bottom with a bimetal blade in one of those vibrating tools.

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And spent way too much time cutting 2x4 scraps to fill the gaps.

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Added some Lowe's casters.

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And viola!

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I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It's within 1/2" of the pre-mod height and it's so nice to be able to move it around wherever I need.

Been keeping my eye out on craigslist for another. I'd like to convert the cabinet side to another set of drawers. The one I found so far was asking too much for a bench that cost about $125 new.

I've been adding stuff to it. A nice place to store my clamps.

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Steve
 

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mv213

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Joined
Sep 29, 2014
Messages
660
Location
Dallas, OR (the OTHER "Big D")
I call this my faux vintage Craftsman with a Steevo twist...the "Craftsman" drawer unit is a Harbor Freight side box...got the idea from Steevo's incredible build. Just needed a small set of drawers for gun cleaning supplies and precision tools, my other hand tools are in a rolling chest.

This was my first real welding project so some of the welds are a little ugly but overall I'm pleased. The butcher block was a seconds piece that I did a lot of sanding and filling on. Legs are 2x2 .095 wall tubing.

View media item 53442View media item 53443View media item 53444View media item 53445
 

baneonrt

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 2, 2008
Messages
76
Location
Sacramento, CA
I call this my faux vintage Craftsman with a Steevo twist...the "Craftsman" drawer unit is a Harbor Freight side box...got the idea from Steevo's incredible build. Just needed a small set of drawers for gun cleaning supplies and precision tools, my other hand tools are in a rolling chest.

This was my first real welding project so some of the welds are a little ugly but overall I'm pleased. The butcher block was a seconds piece that I did a lot of sanding and filling on. Legs are 2x2 .095 wall tubing.

View media item 53445

That looks like an awesome work area. Good job! What is that blue mat? I'm looking for a work protector for my butcher block bench.

Steve
 

mv213

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Joined
Sep 29, 2014
Messages
660
Location
Dallas, OR (the OTHER "Big D")
That looks like an awesome work area. Good job! What is that blue mat? I'm looking for a work protector for my butcher block bench.

Steve

Thanks Steve! I enjoy spending time there now, it's taken a year to get to this point since moving into the house. I had to spend time building a shed first, to clear out this space in the garage.

The blue mat is a cutting mat, they are available in craft stores, or from Amazon, where I ordered this one from.
 

onefstsnake

Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2015
Messages
7
Location
VA, USA
New to the forums here.
Just moved into a new place that has a steel building workshop on the property. Bench is kinda small for a 1400sqft shop but it suits my needs for now. Top is 3/4" MDF sealed with 4 coats of minwax poly and I added a piece of aluminum channel to the front to keep it from getting beat up. I still need to cut the lower shelf.

 

Hstang

Member
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
8
My rolling bench I built. Being able to move it is really helpful.
 

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pennsylvaniaboy

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Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
417
My rolling bench I built. Being able to move it is really helpful.

How firm or still does it stay with the casters locked? I have thought of doing this with my new build, but why hitting something on the vise, I don't want it moving with every hit when it's not against the wall.
 
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Shiftless

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Mar 9, 2014
Messages
14,453
Location
East Bay SFO
As many people know, those US General nameplates are the one weak point of the HF boxes. The glue is evidently inferior causing the emblems to fall off with out warning. It is pointless to attempt a repair so most of them get tossed.:dunno:
 

JimVonBaden

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Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Messages
15,716
Location
Northern Virginia
I call this my faux vintage Craftsman with a Steevo twist...the "Craftsman" drawer unit is a Harbor Freight side box...got the idea from Steevo's incredible build. Just needed a small set of drawers for gun cleaning supplies and precision tools, my other hand tools are in a rolling chest.

This was my first real welding project so some of the welds are a little ugly but overall I'm pleased. The butcher block was a seconds piece that I did a lot of sanding and filling on. Legs are 2x2 .095 wall tubing.

View media item 53442View media item 53443View media item 53444View media item 53445

That looks familiar, though better done than mine.

ShelfFinished1.jpg

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CornerRack16.jpg

CornerRack17.jpg

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turbowoodworker

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Joined
Mar 18, 2012
Messages
3,519
Location
Apex NC
From the woodworking side of the shop. Home built, mostly from salvaged lumber; maple top, walnut aprons, pine base, jatoba vise faces. Rockler face vise and Veritas twin screw end vise.
 

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mv213

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Sep 29, 2014
Messages
660
Location
Dallas, OR (the OTHER "Big D")
As many people know, those US General nameplates are the one weak point of the HF boxes. The glue is evidently inferior causing the emblems to fall off with out warning. It is pointless to attempt a repair so most of them get tossed.:dunno:

That and the all-red color scheme. In my particular case with my "faux vintage Craftsman" bench, I used to drool over the good Craftsman boxes back in the late 70's and early 80's but could not afford them at that time. Now that I can afford them they aren't so good, so I gave a decent box (HF) the vintage Craftsman look that I liked. The badge also covers the hole where I took out the unneeded lock.
 

Shiftless

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Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
14,453
Location
East Bay SFO
That and the all-red color scheme. In my particular case with my "faux vintage Craftsman" bench, I used to drool over the good Craftsman boxes back in the late 70's and early 80's but could not afford them at that time. Now that I can afford them they aren't so good, so I gave a decent box (HF) the vintage Craftsman look that I liked. The badge also covers the hole where I took out the unneeded lock.

I remember trading a small Craftsman bottom cabinet from that era for a stereo cassette deck! Doesn't sound like such a good deal now, does it?
 

JimVonBaden

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Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Messages
15,716
Location
Northern Virginia
Thanks Jim, your work area looks great and very functional. Is that a lateral file next to your bench? What do you store in it? Oh and those red metal drawer units look awesome! Would love to have a set of those at the right price.

Yes, I store everything in them, from paint to scrap to used parts. They are very full.

IMG_8202.jpg


I found the drawer unit at a yard sale for cheap, then painted it.
 

jvitez

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Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
2,429
Location
Big Sky Country, Canada
sljeme345: nagyon szep!

Is it my imagination or does the rest of the world have nicer wood than us in Canada and the US, even though we don't seem to have a shortage of trees here???

I've perused various youtube vids on woodworking topics, and European and Australian posts seem to have straight, sharply sawn, even-toned lumber. Or is it just that they put the nicest pieces on the web?
 

sljeme345

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Joined
Apr 24, 2014
Messages
128
Location
Croatia
That croatain oak is a very beautiful wood.

Thanks :)

Beautiful job!

Thanks :)


sljeme345: nagyon szep!

Is it my imagination or does the rest of the world have nicer wood than us in Canada and the US, even though we don't seem to have a shortage of trees here???

I've perused various youtube vids on woodworking topics, and European and Australian posts seem to have straight, sharply sawn, even-toned lumber. Or is it just that they put the nicest pieces on the web?

köszönöm :D

In Croatia we use pine, fir, spruce, ash, beech and oak for making furniture. I personally prefer the oak that is tough and durable, and of course more expensive.
I noticed that in Canada and the United States often use the pine as a timber.
Have to admit that your timber looks really nice in the pictures. I did not see live.
This is second workbench, first was without pegboard.
 

Not Bob

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Joined
Sep 26, 2013
Messages
207
Location
Sacramento Valley
I'm calling this one done for now, I like having an outdoor bench for dirty work, cutting, grinding, cleaning parts and so on, and wanted a place to store some items that are seldom used and always seem to be in the way, I put this together.

It had to meet a few goals, use the free stainless top that has been sitting in the backyard for a decade, use up all the scrap wood I had, fit two motorcycle jacks inside and have some type of lid to cover the top.

It sits in the side yard just outside the garage side door, the PT runners sit on composite post spacers that are rated for 6000 + lbs. I added a receiver for my vise, trimmed it out to match the house, and painted it with 13 yr old SW Duration left over from the house paint job.
View media item 51788View media item 52107View media item 53131View media item 53128View media item 53674Now to see how it does when the rain comes.
 

akdiesel

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Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
2,617
Location
Wasilla, AK
I'm calling this one done for now, I like having an outdoor bench for dirty work, cutting, grinding, cleaning parts and so on, and wanted a place to store some items that are seldom used and always seem to be in the way, I put this together.

It had to meet a few goals, use the free stainless top that has been sitting in the backyard for a decade, use up all the scrap wood I had, fit two motorcycle jacks inside and have some type of lid to cover the top.

It sits in the side yard just outside the garage side door, the PT runners sit on composite post spacers that are rated for 6000 + lbs. I added a receiver for my vise, trimmed it out to match the house, and painted it with 13 yr old SW Duration left over from the house paint job.
Now to see how it does when the rain comes.

Nice use of old material and a great idea for working outside.
 

zkling

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Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
16,939
I'm calling this one done for now, I like having an outdoor bench for dirty work, cutting, grinding, cleaning parts and so on, and wanted a place to store some items that are seldom used and always seem to be in the way, I put this together.

It had to meet a few goals, use the free stainless top that has been sitting in the backyard for a decade, use up all the scrap wood I had, fit two motorcycle jacks inside and have some type of lid to cover the top.

It sits in the side yard just outside the garage side door, the PT runners sit on composite post spacers that are rated for 6000 + lbs. I added a receiver for my vise, trimmed it out to match the house, and painted it with 13 yr old SW Duration left over from the house paint job.

Now to see how it does when the rain comes.

Fantastic job, and it looks great closed too. :beer:
 

Outlander

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Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
5,154
Location
Quebec, Canada
Love the outdoor bench! I use 2 sawhorses and a chunk of plywood older than me. I threatened to relocate Mrs Outlander's potting bench (she was uncooperative).
 

Dan in Pasadena

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Joined
Feb 18, 2009
Messages
13,103
Location
Pasadena, CA
Nice use of old material and a great idea for working outside.

Yes, excellent use of spare materials and it came out looking great! Congrats.

One suggestion I'd make is to caulk the joint at the bottom of those panelized doors or rain water will seep in and start a problem later. Great job!
 
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