My Work Bench with My Kids' Help

[clarkebd]

Going to make this a few posts as I have time and a lot of pictures. Unfortunately I didn't think to take as many 'progress' pictures as I wanted but got it documented pretty well.
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OK, finally got a few pics uploaded. I have 3 boys all 11 and under. Between them and a full-time job they keep me really busy! Add in my wife and well, the small 4' workbench is always full of THEIR stuff - misc projects, broken toys or pieces of toys, pots, etc. I was tired of always having to work on the garage floor or driveway floor so I set out to build another workbench that is MINE!

I've really enjoyed seeing the other builds on here, and for most I don't have the money to spend on them, so I had to come up with something that would work for me and in my budget (ie. cheap)

The final size is 10 1/2' (L) x 34" (D) x 39" (H). On top of that as the pictures will show, I have a HF 44" tool chest right next to it allowing me room to put stuff on top of that as well.

There's a couple of projects within these pics - first is the workbench we made, and the second is our first project on it - their go-kart 'rebuild' that's still in progress. I'll cross-post up a couple of these pics in the separate 'What did you build with your kids thread' most likely.

Here is what I have had for the last 12 years we have lived in this house (and believe me, this is clean compared to the stuff usually piled on it

<a href="http://imgur.com/yPnSLoz"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/yPnSLoz.jpg" alt="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" /></a>

So first thing, we picked up the ubiquitous HF 44" tool chest as I've totally outgrown my Craftsman that I got about 20 years ago (which I still like and have never had an issue with).

Of course I picked up the $9.99 HF cut-off tool. First thing we did was take apart the head and replaced this nasty grease with good stuff. This pic is the nasty stuff that comes in it:

So then I found a warehouse place and picked up some pallet rack stuff to cut up and make how I wanted. Total cost in materials so far = $70

 

[clarkebd]

OK, lets start by cutting it up to get it to the height I want:

My middle son, always wants to use tools and build stuff. For Christmas he always asks for wood pieces and nails and glue. So I always let him help. Things don't go as fast, but he's learning. He's built more projects that I can remember.

There, that's better.

Of course, the kids outside and helping will always lead to them getting sidetracked by something they find in the garage.

 

[clarkebd]

I forgot to take pictures, but I welded it up and my oldest son took a turn trying to weld for the first time. He's interested in it.

Here's the general look of it when it was mostly welded up and at the right dimensions. I ended up putting it together and taking it apart 3 times as I kept triming the legs shorter to finally arrive at the 39" height that felt best when I tried stuff on it for awhile.

 

[clarkebd]

Now to clean it up in prep for pimer and painting. This was the most tedious and totally not fun part. Even my son helped a bit and then uh dad, you can do it. So a long time in the garage at night after they went to bed. Sanding, scraping, sanding. Had a heck of a time getting old packing tape and some kind of glue off in spots. Eventually went to gas on a rag and it worked.

 

[clarkebd]

Now lets paint it. This was the 2nd most expensive part - in hindsight, I'd probably brush it on.

 

[clarkebd]

Now we put the pieces together. The 2x6 they included when I bought the frame, but I had to cut them all down as I have the depth shorter than the boards they gave me.

In addition, I ended up filing in all the spaces with more 2x6 so the top I put on is totally supported in all spots. (forgot to take a picture of that)

Now we are on to building a table for underneath it to hold all my wood scraps. I decided on this table under it, as I had, well a bunch of wood scraps and pieces left from the top of the metal bench and so I made this. It ended up turning out great and working just how I wanted it:

Almost done. At this point I stopped taking so many pictures as my wife was starting to lay it on heavy about having to scrape the van windows every morning when she left for work... ie. get the garage put back together so I can get the van pulled inside.

 

[clarkebd]

This is the finished product thus far. I AM going to add a thin steel top to it. I will round the front edge over about 1" and put a 2" bend up on the back as well. But for now I went will melamine. Doing it over I'd pass on the melamine and go with plywood, but it will be awhile until I get the steel top so I wanted a nice smooth finish until then.

Of course the bench is already filled with stuff.

And here is out first project. Redoing all the seals for the Briggs engine in their go-kart, and going to fix up the frame (bad/broken welds) and have it stripped and powder coated a black/yellow.

I also need to build a welding cart and a small cart for the compressor to roll around on as well as put some cabinets above the bench. All in due time.

 

[got2boostit2]

Ear, eye, and hand protection (might give him paint mask though). And great bench! Those will be enjoyable moments for the boys. Great to see and great bench as well.

 

[akdiesel]

Tell your kids they built a great looking bench. Nice idea to modify it for your use.

 

[clarkebd]

Thanks. Yes, I do watch the ears, eyes, etc. We sprayed outside and with a slight slight breeze it wasn't bad at all. Probably should have waited until it was calmer outside, but like I mentioned, the wife wanted her side of the garage back.