Lets see your workbench

[Burn1]

Thanks Dave. Have a cool Wilton under bench vise, just could not get it to fit properly given my set up and table top size. The Record vice was a perfect size, nice look, and cleaned up nicely given the vice sat in a England barn for most of its life.
Regarding vintage legs, look for wood/metal lathe legs. Often a machine is long out of service/parted out and the base leg pairs are sold off. I turned a pair of legs into a tool chest base station/riser. Not sure where to post that specific project within these forums?

 

[DaveT]

Thanks Dave. Have a cool Wilton under bench vise, just could not get it to fit properly given my set up and table top size. The Record vice was a perfect size, nice look, and cleaned up nicely given the vice sat in a England barn for most of its life.
Regarding vintage legs, look for wood/metal lathe legs. Often a machine is long out of service/parted out and the base leg pairs are sold off. I turned a pair of legs into a tool chest base station/riser. Not sure where to post that specific project within these forums?

I have seen the lathe legs come up once in a while but for like $250+ I will keep watching and maybe one day I will find a reasonably priced set.

I seen your other post that you used BLO I’m the top. I was curious If you also used that on the Record Vise or should I say Vice since it was made in England? I have seen some guys strip vises down and use BLO on them and they look similar in color to your vise.

I am thinking about using Mineral Oil and Beeswax on my bench, mainly because of the odor when finishing it in my basement shop. Trying to keep the wife happy!

 

[Burn1]

Food cutting board=mineral oil and hydrogen peroxide wipe down to kill the bacteria between uses.

BLO when soaked in, simply wipe off the excess several times. Wipe until your paper-towel or white rag is not picking much oil off the wood surface. It will dry quicker and tacky-free.

In my enclosed single car garage sealed up, next day when I open the door its not bad at all. Its not Chanel No.5, but not Hoppe's 9 gun cleaner smell either.
Buy the wife a lavender candle or glade plug-in scented thing.

The biggest disclaimer is insuring those BLO paper towels or cloth rags are not wadded up a left to catch themselves on fire. I always put mine in an empty paint can and seal up the lid.

 

[orangeblood]

Burn...Nice job!

really dig the vintage lamps....where did you get them?...whats their ball park cost?

 

[BoilermakerFan]

I make sit-stand desks for a living and decided to turn one into an adjustable, heavy-duty workbench. Took it up another notch and made it work with Siri + added casters. Even made one for a buddy at a local cabinet shop.

If you want to see it move, here's a video

Nice! I love the height adjustable legs... I bought my set off eBay years ago.
Have you seen the electric height adjustable welding tables out of Grand Rapids, MI? I forget the brand. They probably compete against your company for HATs, but their welding tables are crazy! Rated for up to 5k pounds for the heavy duty ones.

 

[Burn1]

Burn...Nice job!

really dig the vintage lamps....where did you get them?...whats their ball park cost?

Thx man. They came out of a 1930's Milwaukee machine shop. They had years of build up dirt and grease. Once degreased, beautiful green paint appeared.
Had to leave the original paint on them. What's great the pair is articulating up-down and side-side for lots of work positioning.

 

[Mudnut]

Some much needed horizontal surface was created today. It is a tall work space, and fits over my table saw, and router stand. Easy to move around as it is on wheels. 2.4m x 1.2m and about a metre tall.

Made from scraps I had around the property.

 

[Daniel57]

all of them seems as they never were in used

 

[Philpug]

 

[Dutch01]

Nothing fancy but it is an upgrade from this

 

[John in OH]

Some much needed horizontal surface was created today. It is a tall work space, and fits over my table saw, and router stand. Easy to move around as it is on wheels. 2.4m x 1.2m and about a metre tall.

Made from scraps I had around the property.

Nice!! Wish I had scrap as nice as what you've used laying around my place!!
How thick is that top plate?

 

[John in OH]

Nothing fancy but it is an upgrade from this

To fracture a famous quote, "The curve of the workshop always bends toward bigger and better"!

 

[Outlander]

Basement workshop, workbench updates

Work in process, cleaned the top.....will start on bottom shelf next. Yes, yes, I know I have work to do around the window.....
View media item 102864
Cleaning & preparing Dad's workbench for electronics projects. Need to consider what to put on the surface.
View media item 102863

 

[Steve V.]

Basement workshop, workbench updates

Work in process, cleaned the top.....will start on bottom shelf next. Yes, yes, I know I have work to do around the window.....
View media item 102864
Cleaning & preparing Dad's workbench for electronics projects. Need to consider what to put on the surface.
View media item 102863

Formica?

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I'm just finishing up my workbench re-do by covering it in masonite (tempered hardboard). My dad used it in his garage when we were growing up and it held up well. It's inexpensive stuff so it can be replaced down the road if/when needed.

-Brian

 

[Outlander]

Formica?

I'm just finishing up my workbench re-do by covering it in masonite (tempered hardboard). My dad used it in his garage when we were growing up and it held up well. It's inexpensive stuff so it can be replaced down the road if/when needed.

-Brian

Seems a lot easier than sanding the top and re-painting it

 

[Burn1]

Formica?

Degrease top, dry and lay a think layer of clear epoxy. Bar top.
Keep the bench history-patina, but create a flat, smooth, clear hard surface.
If electronics work is clean and the top is not being pounded on with metal/wood building projects, clear epoxy would look killer.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

I'm calling my bench top finished. The Danish oil is still weeping out in a few spots so I can't polish and wax it yet, but it's ready to move down into the basement.

I'm really happy with the grain patterns.

And with the T-tracks installed and the rest of the hardware on the side trim. The tracks are on the right hand side of the top when you are facing it:

I'll post the last pics after it's moved down into my basement hobby area.

 

[Mudnut]

Nice!! Wish I had scrap as nice as what you've used laying around my place!!
How thick is that top plate?

The top is 17mm form ply. Painted with a coating so the concrete does not stick very well to it. The steel was the scrap lying around.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[jeffmoss26]

wow, looks awesome!!

 

[zjrog]

Over the winter, I was wanting to work on bicycles and stuff and it was just too cold in the garage. In the basement I had our old waterbed taking up space. I stacked the pedestals and used the platform sections as a bench top. 7' by 24" and 37" tall. Drawers all have stuff in them now too.

Since I'm stuck at home for this virus, I've been able to "escape" to the basement. I've revived a couple old laptops, an old tablet and learning more indepth networking skills.

The bench is perfect for all this and firearms maintenance as well. And it keeps things safe from prying eyes or wind.

Not as cool or elegant as others here, but very functional for my needs.

Sent from my SM-G975U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[ARFLY]

Over the winter, I was wanting to work on bicycles and stuff and it was just too cold in the garage. In the basement I had our old waterbed taking up space. I stacked the pedestals and used the platform sections as a bench top. 7' by 24" and 37" tall. Drawers all have stuff in them now too.

Since I'm stuck at home for this virus, I've been able to "escape" to the basement. I've revived a couple old laptops, an old tablet and learning more indepth networking skills.

The bench is perfect for all this and firearms maintenance as well. And it keeps things safe from prying eyes or wind.

Not as cool or elegant as others here, but very functional for my needs.

Sent from my SM-G975U using The Garage Journal mobile app

Looks great and it functions nicely for your needs. That's all that matters.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

Last night I managed to wrestle the bench into place in the basement.

My wife actually asked if I wanted to put it in the finished area of the basement. I said I'll make another for there if she wants one.

Now I just need to make a few sub-bases and update my metal bench in the garage. With this bench out of the garage I have room to move stuff out of the way.

 

[Hendoje]

Put this up yesterday, will throw a thick piece of plywood on with a rubber mat on top down the road but this will get me by while I wait for the sparky to wire the shed up.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[TheClaw]

Got some additions since my last post on this thread YEARS ago. Still have the "hand me down dresser" workbench. The FedEx rolling counter is also PDO (Pretty Damn Old) and the recent addition of a basic 2x4 and plywood workbench built when my son picked up the Honda. Free since we had the material leftover from other projects.

A hodge podge of 22 linear ft not counting the lift.

Jeff

 

[bts]

Put this up yesterday, will throw a thick piece of plywood on with a rubber mat on top down the road but this will get me by while I wait for the sparky to wire the shed up.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I picked up some secondhand stuff years ago. Its very handy.
It might pay to put some cross supports. Even with thick ply over time it can bow and even collapse if its loaded up.

Mine started out neat and tidy but after 10 years......

 

[Zeeman]

Here's my workbench. All the support structure was made from some old blue stained pine. The top is from regular 2x4s cut down and planed. I did not use any nails except for the skirt board. The rest was glued and dowelled.

It sure was pretty back then. I'll try to post a picture of now.

 

[drivesitfar]

Zeeman: when you mentioned PLANED, GLUED AND DOWELED it got my attention and the bench looks great. ready to make another one maybe a bit bigger since it sounds like the other one may have a fair amount of stuff sitting on it?

 

[Zeeman]

Hey Drives,
Well, I am thinking about making another but we will be moving soon so I don't want to start a new project. This move is going to be big! Our 2 car garage has been my 'shop' for over 15 years and it's packed. I did make a couple of other small workbenches from huge pallets. I believe the top is mostly maple (hardwood for sure) milled and planed. Picture to follow if you are interested.

Are you planning on building one?

 

[drivesitfar]

ZEE: i'm planning on building one, but it's down on the TO DO LIST quite a ways cause i need to build a cedar fence, rebuild our cedar deck, build a small woodshop then maybe a nice woodworking bench.

here's a youtube video where the kid is making a nice bench and he's got some nice editing in his video so if you or others want to watch and give me (us) your thoughts.

OF COURSE I (we) would like pictures of other bench builds especially if you are taking what some call scraps and making nice stuff out of it.

too early for popcorn so i'll get the pancake batter ready and check back in for some pictures.

also GOOD LUCK ON THE MOVE. after looking for the last few years for a better spot to hang our hat we couldn't find anything better other than we already have. sure having a huge shop or room to build one that what we don't have here would have been nice, but now my storage units that would have filled up a 40x60 shop are now in the process of emptying out and smaller projects and travel might be in our future.

 

[woodee]

View media item 103420
My new workbench is complete (minus the junk that will fill it soon). Base cabinets are the Husky Heavy Duty 5 drawers I bought in November. I've been saving up my Menards rebates to buy the butcherblock and just added the 4 coats of Waterlox to seal it from moisture. At least I'll enjoy it looking nice for a couple weeks while it cures.

 

[kc2hqv]

New workbench in the "new" shop- need to figure out storage underneath though and a place to weld.

 

[kc2hqv]

View media item 103420
My new workbench is complete (minus the junk that will fill it soon). Base cabinets are the Husky Heavy Duty 5 drawers I bought in November. I've been saving up my Menards rebates to buy the butcherblock and just added the 4 coats of Waterlox to seal it from moisture. At least I'll enjoy it looking nice for a couple weeks while it cures.

Great looking setup my friend- clean looking and love the top.

 

[19Vert64]

Work in progress but it’s getting there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Old Radar]

Love the bowling lane top! Did it come up as one piece or did you have to glue?

 

[19Vert64]

Love the bowling lane top! Did it come up as one piece or did you have to glue?

Had to cut it down to size, was originally just shy of 8 foot long and 42 inches wide. No glue holding it together just a ton of nails. Extremely heavy, bout killed myself getting it up on the saw horses! Still have about another 12 feet to do for the other bench and the finish work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Zeeman]

I believe that is maple and will be a nice, hard surface to work on. It looks cool too.

 

[Zeeman]

Drives, I'm going to need luck with this move. Man, I've collected a lot of stuff in 62 years. I'll post a picture of my bench as it sits today and the smaller, companion bench.

 

[DYNO-DAVE]

Woodee your bench looks great. Love your stools too. (same as I have)

 

[DaveT]

Here are a couple pics of my workbench build in progress. Started with a stack of rough sawn Ash and a bunch of old Walnut barn wood. The finished bench will be 7’x36” on prefabbed flared steel legs for now. Keeping my eye out for some nice vintage cast iron legs to hopefully add later. I currently have all the boards milled up and glued into 3 sections that are 12” wide each. Each section now weighs in at 75lbs a piece, so top will end up at 225lbs when glued together.