I hit the jackpot on free lumber after a house build close to me. My bed is full of 2x4 and OSB. All I had to buy was screws and glue. Here's what I came up with. It is 6 foot long, 33 inches wide and 38 inches tall. It's super strong and heavy.
New workbench
- Thread starter J-BELL
- Start date
RamVet
Well-known member
Turned out nice. Looks stout! Congrats on the score.
Thanks, I had to put a floor jack under it to move it a little. I built it basically where I wanted it but had to move it a little. There is also a sheet of OSB under the top so things don’t fall through. It absolutely does not have any wiggle.
Shiftless
Well-known member
Looks great. At least one super sturdy workbench is a must. There is a long tradition here on GJ of building your own workbench rather than buying something. Building it from free material is all the better.
What vise do you plan to bolt down to one of those corners?
What vise do you plan to bolt down to one of those corners?
I guess there’s never enough places to work. I have mounted a small Colombian on one corner. I like the open end where the tool cabinet is built in to be free of obstructions so that I can easily work all around it. I actually have 3 work benches. My main one is built in a corner against the wall. It’s about 4 feet one way and 6 the other. It has a big 60 year old craftsman vise on it. My other workbench is in my welding area. It’s a metal top with a drill press and a monster vise on it.
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captain14
Well-known member
Very nice.
How long did you have the construction site under surveillance prior to the pickup of merchandise?
How long did you have the construction site under surveillance prior to the pickup of merchandise?
There are a lot of new housing editions being built in my area. After a house is framed and the roof decking is on there are usually several small pieces or culls or strapping boards left over.
these are gathered up by the work crew and thrown in the dumpster. If you noticed all of the lumber in my truck is full of naiIs and of random lengths. I pulled all the nails, stacked according to size and designed my workbench based on the materials I had. I NEVER take any material that is not in the dumpster to be hauled off and discarded at the landfill. A good time to look is Friday afternoon because they want the area to be cleaned up so that potential buyers can look at the homes.
these are gathered up by the work crew and thrown in the dumpster. If you noticed all of the lumber in my truck is full of naiIs and of random lengths. I pulled all the nails, stacked according to size and designed my workbench based on the materials I had. I NEVER take any material that is not in the dumpster to be hauled off and discarded at the landfill. A good time to look is Friday afternoon because they want the area to be cleaned up so that potential buyers can look at the homes.
consti2tion
Well-known member
I've got the same classic craftsman work bench that you have with the DP mounted on. I really like that old Craftsman work bench, the drawers are pretty damn stout for being friction slide.
Good work on the scrap wood work bench and nice score on the wood too! Looks great.
Thanks. I found that craftsman workbench a few years ago at an estate sale. It was in very good condition, hardly used. I added the metal top over the original, mounted the drill press and vise. I put my old Lincoln welder behind the door on the left side. The drill press came out of my dads shop. It’s a Craftsman by King Seeley 100 series (1946 - 1957). I changed the motor to a 2 speed. It provides a very slow speed for drilling metal at the flick of a switch. Seems like most of my tools are as old I am.
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consti2tion
Well-known member
I found mine at an estate sale a few years back as well. Mine is not near as nice as yours but I'm happy with it. I don't have a metal top on it though, just the original top. I put a large metal plate on one corner and have a 5" Ridgid vice mounted on it. Great idea putting the stick welder in the cabinet. I've always liked those old Craftsman DP. I had a full size 150 several years back before I knew anything about them and ended up giving it to my dad, not sure what he did with it. I have a small newer Delta that I use on that bench.
That work bench with a DP on one end and a big vise on the other end is a great combination. I didn’t realize that the low speed (2 belts , center jack shaft pulley) was an option on the drill press. Apparently mine was equipped that way originally. With the lowest belt speed and low speed on the motor I can easily drill metal without overheating and ruining the drill bit.