Nice Workbench Build

[n0sup4u]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the forum and thought I would share some pictures of a workbench build (plus a few other smaller things) I've been working on for our new home the past couple of weeks. It's always been helpful seeing pictures of what others have done when it comes to completing my own projects and hopefully these pictures can help someone in return. I wanted something that would be sturdy but look nice as well. The most time consuming part of this build was in 'finishing' and making them look nice. A good amount of the materials cost was in making them look nice as well. I built two benches, one 11' long and the other 6.5' long, about 5-6' apart. On the 11' long bench, I left the middle section open (without a bottom shelf) so that there would be plenty of room underneath for a shop vac and my air compressor. On to the pics!

 

[n0sup4u]

With some trim on..

 

[n0sup4u]

At the same time, I wanted to change the simple steps to add a small landing. There was a hand rail to the right of the steps but I had removed it by the time these pics were taken.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Wow, you have done an extremely nice job on your benches.

You should be very proud of them.

Do you have any particular finish in mind for them?

Regards

 

[crab]

Very nice, what kind of finish are you going to use ?

 

[n0sup4u]

Wow, you have done an extremely nice job on your benches.

You should be very proud of them.

Do you have any particular finish in mind for them?

Regards

Give me a few minutes... pics are uploading

 

[1/2 Cup]

Give me a few minutes... pics are uploading

No problem, looking forward to it.

 

[Snappy]

Nice workbench. I need to put something similar together to support a 50 gal fish tank.

 

[n0sup4u]

Here, I test fit where the bench would go up against the landing

After sanding the tops... HUGE mess to clean up

I masked everything off for the first color. The risers and the legs of the benches were painted to match the trim color. I also made sure to use wood filler in ever hole and even in the gaps where the 2x's were joined to make the corner posts. I wanted everything to almost look like plastic.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just absolutely awesome and love your attention to detail.

Many thanks for sharing.

Regards

 

[n0sup4u]

On to finishing the tops and the shelves. I had originally thought that I would stain the tops a grayish weathered look to go with the gray color of the walls. I tried minwax weathered oak and classic gray. Both of these colors looked ok on the red oak tops but absolutely terrible on the 2x's for the steps and landing. Since I wanted everything to match, this wasn't going to work.

Ultimately, I ended up using Minwax's Provincial which is also what we had used on the flooring in the house.

And the bottom shelves were painted grey to match the walls

 

[n0sup4u]

And while I was at it, I cut some 2x4's and used hooks from Harbor Freight to organize some of the lawn tools and other stuff

 

[sponfit]

Turned out great

 

[n0sup4u]

Just absolutely awesome and love your attention to detail.

Many thanks for sharing.

Regards

Thanks! I told the wife they were going to look good when I was finished but I don't think she believed me. When they're first put together they're functional but don't look all that great. With a little extra work though, you can make something that looks *meh* into something that the wife will be happy with In all I think I probably used about a gallon and a half of elbow grease

 

[1/2 Cup]

I just love what you have done, they tick all the boxes.

Regards

 

[Catadj78]

great job! Looks awesome

 

[Shiftless]

Looks great!
What kind of work do you expect to do on that workbench?
Is the stained surface going to be sealed with some kind of varnish? Waterborne polyurethane? Spar varnish? 2 part clear epoxy bar finish? Wipe on oil finish such as tung oil? Gotta keep it looking clean right?

No ugly stains for you!

 

[vintageracer31]

Very nice job!

 

[Brompty]

You have done a great job on these benches - a bit too nice to use to be honest. From your pictures it appears you used wood flooring for the surface, which is unusual and has given a fantastic finish.

What size wood did you use for the legs? Again an interesting idea to double up the wood to achieve the square looking legs and make the joints.

 

[stu999]

Great job, both your benches and steps look very smart.

 

[Premium08]

Outstanding!!!

 

[FTWingRiders]

Well done Sir!! Those look GREAT!!!

 

[n0sup4u]

Thanks for the comments everyone

Looks great!
What kind of work do you expect to do on that workbench?
Is the stained surface going to be sealed with some kind of varnish? Waterborne polyurethane? Spar varnish? 2 part clear epoxy bar finish? Wipe on oil finish such as tung oil? Gotta keep it looking clean right?

No ugly stains for you!

I sealed the top and bottom shelf using the water based Minwax polycrylic. I chose this because it goes on clear and keeps the color of what is underneath. I've used oil base urethane before and it always seems to turn an amber color. Love the seinfeld ref btw lol

You have done a great job on these benches - a bit too nice to use to be honest. From your pictures it appears you used wood flooring for the surface, which is unusual and has given a fantastic finish.

What size wood did you use for the legs? Again an interesting idea to double up the wood to achieve the square looking legs and make the joints.

Thank you sir. I've always liked the butcher block look on a bench but those can be pretty expensive and they usually only come in 4,6, and 8 ft lengths so for an 11" bench I would have had to join 2 blocks. With the hardwood, it was cheaper and I didn't have to worry about remade tops having the correct dimensions. Plus, it can be refinished once it gets banged up a bit. The legs were 2x4's

 

[HSpencer]

Very good job on the benches and the steps!! It is a great design and the carpenter work looks fantastic!!

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

 

[Gretna]

Nice job! I like the color combo you went with.

 

[EastEnder]

I love the wood flooring! I have some scrap I was gonna use to do the same with. Could you have gotten away without having the plywood support underneath?

 

[kmoon]

Very nice Now I have to look for some scrap flooring !!

 

[n0sup4u]

I love the wood flooring! I have some scrap I was gonna use to do the same with. Could you have gotten away without having the plywood support underneath?

I don't think so. I suppose you could glue and clamp just the flooring but the plywood underneath will make the whole thing more rigid and easier to put the flooring down. Even though they were nailed, I also ran some wood glue down each row of flooring to make it act more like one solid piece.

 

[Shiftless]

I don't think so. I suppose you could glue and clamp just the flooring but the plywood underneath will make the whole thing more rigid and easier to put the flooring down. Even though they were nailed, I also ran some wood glue down each row of flooring to make it act more like one solid piece.

Gotta have plywood or MDF or something solid underneath. Part of what makes a good workbench good is having some mass underneath the surface. The edge glued maple work tops for example are about 2 inches thick. Another consideration is that if you want to bolt down a vise or a heavy machine like a bench grinder or a small drill press, you need some beef to bolt onto. And if you pound on something you don't want the bench to bounce back on you like a drum.

NoSoup: Good move with the edge gluing. Makes it not only look better but easier to wipe clean. Even the smallest of spaces between boards will catch crud. I assume you applied 3-4 coats of that poly. In my experience with the stuff it goes on quite thinly. 10 years ago, I built a custom entertainment center with a section of counter height display space using cherrywood veneer plywood. I gave it 5 coats of product like you used and it has withstood all assaults a family could give it except for the potted plant with the wet bottom that sat in one spot for months.

 

[trialrun]

nice work, these came out beautiful

 

[Bears Fan]

Awesome job! Those benches look great and the finish is perfect

 

[James-W]

The steps look great! Super Job!!

I probably shouldn't say this, and please understand I mean no disrespect when I say this, but I think the workbenches are too nice to do any work on. You did a wonderful job on them and they would make great display tables, or something like that. But to work on stuff and get oil and grease and crud on the benches would make me feel really bad. I don't think they are the kind of thing you want for a work bench, they are just too nice for that.

 

[turbowoodworker]

I like the precision with which you used to tackle this project. Good job fitting the bench to the landing. Great attention to detail.

 

[JCQuick]

very nice work

 

[EastEnder]

Good point! Ill keep that in mind for mine.... Particle board too weak you think?

 

[txbonds]

Looks great. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

 

[fech]

Those benches are great! Thanks for sharing.