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Lets see your workbench

srvctec

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Aug 23, 2014
Messages
83
Location
Central Kansas
OR: sorry to say my dining tables have always had a simple latch and not something like this. thanks for trying to explain though!!

ALL: anybody have a favorite workbench picture saved they can post of a bench with a built in miter station? i've got a few and i need to build one that might sit outside for a couple years until i build my woodshop. here's a few I have and not quite convinced i like or love any of them.

i'd also like the bench to be flat on top when the miter saw is under it and isn't there being used.

i'll be using a Dewalt 12 inch sliding compound and 2 makita 10 inch miter saws all with different blades in them.
If you do Instagram, search for #mitersawstation

There are dozens and dozens of ideas.

This is ready made but looks like a fantastic portable one. https://www.instagram.com/p/BeRXlFxnLSy/?igshid=vu0fcnkn635h
 
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Garett

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Nov 30, 2013
Messages
519
Location
BC Canada
I have a 4x8' workbench and a 3x6" bench, and the top of my roll cabinet, all full of clutter. Working on cars I don't have much use for a workbench. For doing clean lightweight work I sit on a chair and use the bed of my panel truck, for beating on or working on dirty stuff I have a 2x2' table with a vise bolted to it, must weight 200 lbs.
 

Loose Ctrl

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Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
759
Location
Upstate SC
If you do Instagram, search for #mitersawstation

There are dozens and dozens of ideas.

This is ready made but looks like a fantastic portable one. https://www.instagram.com/p/BeRXlFxnLSy/?igshid=vu0fcnkn635h




:lol_hitti



post-picture-on-instagram-make-it-to-the-popular-page.jpg
 

Bob Heine

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Oct 24, 2009
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10,703
Location
Boca Raton, Florida
Bob: i'd love to see a few pics of those clamps attached cause they don't appear to have a release feature if you have time.

thanks
Drives, Tropical Storm Humberto is heading away from us so I was able to install the clamps on my workbench. I don't expect a huge amount of stress on them so there are only two. Here's the clamp in its open position.
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Here it is in the closed position. The clamp didn't have a nut on the threaded shaft so I added that. Once it's adjusted to the proper length, I tighten the nut down so it won't change accidentally.
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The one on the back of the bench is in plain sight to remind me the bench is clamped underneath as well. If I hid both clamps I'm sure I would be yanking on the bench to get it to move and break the clamps or a fingernail. The hidden clamp is behind the two 4"x4" bench legs.
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polexican23

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Jun 11, 2013
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Location
burbs-Illinois
Picked up this equipto brand bench at a garage sale $12. Yes $12. But doesnt really fit the space. It has small wheels on it, that should be replaced with something. I just dont want to rest it on the ground. It is pretty much rust free, except for the surface rust on bottom shelf. 7a5cf1c564cbb39b7deaa0dbfbd48b47.jpgfa26c2e1f769ac079ba06f426570d163.jpg

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theundermount

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Jan 17, 2016
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489
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ON
so I just realized this thread was started in 2005! okay now who's bench is still standing almost 15 later!!?
 

PelicanPines

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New Jersey, USA, Earth, My own reality
so I just realized this thread was started in 2005! okay now who's bench is still standing almost 15 later!!?

I use vintage "this end up" dining room tables as my work benches... 1 is in the center of my garage... the other is towards the front against a wall with my chop saw and storage racks for bins...

I constantly think I should remove the trestle lower and replace it with cabinets or just legs... the trestle kinda ***** for storage.

They were purchased in the late 80's for my then dining room.
 

LS6 Tommy

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Dec 27, 2013
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Northern NJ
so I just realized this thread was started in 2005! okay now who's bench is still standing almost 15 later!!?

Mine was in the garage when I bought the house 26 years ago. It isn't anything spectacular, the previous owner was definitely not a carpenter. Other than putting a new(er) work surface on top of the existing one, it's still going strong.

Tommy
 
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drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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35,988
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Pacific Northwest
ALL: my two old steel benches I bet are close to 50+ years old and my 8 foot butcher block bench might be 20 years old. if you build something with a little care and quality or buy are given one that was and take decent care it I bet they'd last 100 years or more.

my old Lyon steel bench that has a government tag on it as i'm trying to get it organized. the other steel bench I picked up from an old steel company that was closing its shop.
 

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CrotalusAtrox

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Mar 5, 2016
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796
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The Great Southwest
Found a old 4 bank drill press, drills were worn out but table was fantastic. Bit heavy but enjoying it so far.
 

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Thirdyfivepickup

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Nov 15, 2016
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Portage, Indiana
Any tips for scoring a used butcherblock top big/long enough to do a bench top? Im needing minimum of 36" (hoping for 40-42") and around 8 foot long. I'm trying to do this relatively cheap. Hopefully its a work of art when done...
 

drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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Pacific Northwest
35: a lot of guys picked up pieces of old bowling alleys when they either changed from wood to plastic or closed. Jay’s on YouTube makes a couple nice ones with glue and a planer you might watch and just make one yourself out of some cheap or old quality wood.

Good luck

CA: pretty nice table and is it always clean or just for the picture cause I know you’re a busy guy?
 
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mlp2147

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Aug 17, 2008
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6
Location
Holly Ridge, NC
I am woefully behind the powercurve on my work bench. I have an older maple butcher block that split down the middle I had intended to use as a top for one bench but now need to repair that. Some very good ideas and examples here in this thread.
 

Zeke

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Aug 13, 2009
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Long Beach CA, the sewer by the sea.
Mine was in the garage when I bought the house 26 years ago. It isn't anything spectacular, the previous owner was definitely not a carpenter. Other than putting a new(er) work surface on top of the existing one, it's still going strong.

Tommy

I didn't even put a new top on mine, just moved it to the other side. Built before WWII. It's in here somewhere.
 

drivesitfar

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ALL: I had to put my REED 4c on the front of my old Lyon government steel workbench to keep it from tipping with the bolt bins on the back of it. a little overkill for a home's garage, but I like it.

have a great weekend everyone.

also if any of you have a planer and $110 (title of the youtube video by Jay's is $110 workbench) this youtube video would be a good bench to build and i might when i get my woodshop built. his editing skills are pretty decent too.

 

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mercracing

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Feb 14, 2015
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156
Here’s the one I built.
A question. I want to put a vise on the near corner. Is it best to be on the corner and use lag bolts into the 2x6? Or move it back and try and get washers and bolts in there?
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mercracing

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If I mounted it here I could use bolts and washers. Too far back?
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MrDayne

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South Florida
If I mounted it here I could use bolts and washers. Too far back?
c269e5a6597769b7c4845c624c99ef50.jpg


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Yep, too far back. You're going to want the face of the non moving jaw (static) to overhang the edge of your benchtop by 1/8-1/4" so that you can clamp long stock in there vertically.

Toss a scrap piece of 2x4 or something in there vertically, position the vise and mark your holes.
 

mercracing

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Feb 14, 2015
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Yep, too far back. You're going to want the face of the non moving jaw (static) to overhang the edge of your benchtop by 1/8-1/4" so that you can clamp long stock in there vertically.



Toss a scrap piece of 2x4 or something in there vertically, position the vise and mark your holes.



That makes total sense. I guess I’ll have to use lag bolts into the 2x6 in front and through bolt the rear.


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cderalow

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Nov 13, 2011
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Potomac, MD
Yep, too far back. You're going to want the face of the non moving jaw (static) to overhang the edge of your benchtop by 1/8-1/4" so that you can clamp long stock in there vertically.

Toss a scrap piece of 2x4 or something in there vertically, position the vise and mark your holes.



This, though I prefer 1/2" to allow for some additional space in case i need to get my hand around something as well.

make sure to set it from both directions if your vice has a rotating base.
 

BigGarage

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Jun 5, 2019
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Just south of Detroit, MI.
If I mounted it here I could use bolts and washers. Too far back?
c269e5a6597769b7c4845c624c99ef50.jpg

It depends on what you'll use it for and how often. I've used mine maybe 10 times since I mounted it. I used lag screws into a 4"x4" underneath the tabletop. It sits almost 6" in from the front and the side. It's been fine for me.

Dennis
 

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bdbecker

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Iowa
I'd say it also depends on how aggressive you are when using your vise. If you are just using it as a third hand (sharpening a lawn mower blade, holding a piece of material while you cut it, etc) you might be okay with just lag bolts. If you're bending and beating stuff in it, then you'd probably want bolts.
 

mxdev

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Aug 28, 2019
Messages
97
Location
SW Ontario
Steel workbench is 1/4" thick top placed on top of some metal racks bolted together. I solidly welded the edges onto the plate and had a lot of fun flattening out the plate after getting a good lesson in welding warpage...

Plywood bench is for mechanic work. It's based on the standardized aviation work bench, but added my own drawers on sliders.

Wood working bench is the first bench I built when I bought a house and it's based on a Roubo. Only used about $50 of 2x4's to build it since I was being cheap and really wish I would of made it longer, thicker and cut from wider 2x12s.
 

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BoxedWino

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Nov 2, 2016
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41
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Leon Springs, Texas
After perusing through myriad of different work benches, it reminded me that I had actually made one myself. I went out to the garage to see if it was still there. I know where I left it, but somehow it has been buried by parts, projects, tools, and things I'm sure I still need.

It was a pretty fun project that got me away from watching Wheeler Dealers and actually into the shop. The top I made from 2x4x8 cheap pine. I glued them together adding one at a time due to a lack of clamps. It has 4 Legs that used to be Newel posts for a staircase at a datacenter I used to work at. The base is 2X4 framework with a 3/4" plywood inset and 5" polyurethane casters to make it movable. I added a yard stick on the front, a cheap woodworkers vise and made a solid drawer out of a cash register cash box.

I have it sitting under a 4x8 sheet of pegboard with a 2x4 boarder, I painted the Texas Flag on the pegboard, because that is the sort of thing we do. I then proceeded to cover both with enough **** that you can neither see nor use either of them.

I noticed last time I tried to move the bench it is very top heavy and needs some cross bracing so it doesn't collapse. I am planning on building cabinets underneath it to hold power tools etc.

I am hoping that by posting these pictures, I will shame myself into cleaning them up and making them useful again.
 

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