The Bowling Alley workbench build

[Hybridss]

Microwave? LOL.

I do have a stereo..nothing fancy.

Thanks for the kind words guys. And thanks to SteevO and others who posted their bench builds. I just took a little from each and did it.

 

[glider]

I like it and think it came out great!

 

[Bears Fan]

Just awesome

 

[Knyte Tyne]

Props for leaving the irregularities in the Bench-top from the old bowling alley setup... Like you say it keeps the character and history of where its from. I tried looking for some 'lanes' just out of interest sake. My side of the planet you would be hard pressed to even be lucky enough to find any, even once... My sister is full SA colours for bowling and I had my half provincial (a "State" to you Imperial Folks...) colours so bowling is in our blood. I would love it for a bench-top just for that sake... I've got a set of Old Destroyed Bowling Pins stored somewhere... Figured if I ever get my own place with decent Man cave (not workshop I mean bar and Theatre/pool table Man Cave) Id make some nice Light Fixtures with them...

 

[maxpower_hd]

Maxpower...what do you do that you would be afraid to use it? Just curious?
I think the bowling alley will be quite tough...but not so tough you would want to hammer on it or assemble a transmission...lol.

I have two welding tables and two cheaper Sams Club 6 foot benches that I have for that.

Well I only have one 16' bench in my shop. So I do EVERYTHING on it. LOL

I drill, cut, bang, spill oil, paint, ect on mine. I currently have 2x10s as my top and I cover it with cardboard and replace from time to time. What I am getting at is yours would feel like working on my dining room table. LOL

 

[Hybridss]

Well I only have one 16' bench in my shop. So I do EVERYTHING on it. LOL

I drill, cut, bang, spill oil, paint, ect on mine. I currently have 2x10s as my top and I cover it with cardboard and replace from time to time. What I am getting at is yours would feel like working on my dining room table. LOL

Lol..I know. This whole project came out much better than I figured. I definitely don't want it to be too nice to use. It will hopefully feel more usable when I mount the Wilton vise to it and start loading it with ****.

 

[flushcut]

It's gonna hurt when that masterpiece gets its first scratch. Nice build looks amazing!

 

[Smokey bear]

The shine is mesmerizing, well done, you've done a great job looks like a nice place to work and should help your motivation to keep it tidy!

 

[-Brent-]

The evolution of workbenches (and their builds) here at the Garage Journal are phenomenal. This is now one of my favorite builds.

@Ryan, are you seeing this?

 

[Ryan]

Yeah, I've been following it.... Great bench.

 

[drewc2010]

That bench is beautiful. Love the work! Epoxy looks pretty good to me so don't beat yourself up about it.

 

[Hybridss]

Thanks guys. And yes its an evolution. I used three builds here on garage journal for reference and just used what I considered the best attributes of each. I still have the other half to build though. Will start next week.

 

[ZacSpade]

Looks beautiful mate

Just have to move the powerpoint for the fridge now

 

[MrCat63]

Great looking workbench, well done.

 

[anuccite]

What did you use for your 2 part Epoxy?

 

[Jayman17]

Hi, I don't know if this thread is still active, but I had a question about the sawhorses used to support the alley while you stripped and finished it. I used to have a pair of those and somehow, somewhere I lost them. Can you tell me who makes them? I would like to get another set, I like their adjustability and how they fold up nice and tight. Thanks and great job on the workbench build

 

[Thirdyfivepickup]

Back up top for people who may not have seen this. I'm itchin to build a simple bench but want a durable top. I might have to look into this...

Great bench!!

 

[njc41980]

How is the epoxy holding up?

My bench is made of solid core wood doors and I've been trying to decide what to finish it with.

 

[Lassen Forge]

DAMN! That thing looks HOT!

I had a bit of a chuckle about the focus on your "welding sandals".

I used to often wear flip flops and shorts while welding (it's a warm climate thing ) - my argument for it was that I could just shake the hot bit out without interrupting the bead.

We just watched The Big Lebowski on TV... Somehow, shorts, flipflops, and bowling just seem to go together... I could see a desk made from an old AMF bowling center scoring table, using the projector inside to put a TV feed on the wall...

WELL DONE!

 

[rick carpenter]

Excellent build thread and build. Now you gotta open them drawers and show it off to us loaded. And, what kind of work are you reserving the unsupported corner for?

With that glass front cooler, it'll be easy to see when you're dangerously low on beer. But man oh man that would be like a porchlight and me a moth. I'd bust that glass first day.

 

[pelletman]

I'm beginning a bench build and had pretty much made up my mind I was going to use bowling alley. I actually contacted a guy with some for sale and told him I wanted 12' of it earlier tonight, then I ran across this thread from the big workbench thread. I am definitely in and thank you for documenting your build. I didn't know about the nails in the bowling alley... I have a couple of 30" Lyons cabinets I picked up cheap for use at the center, and I am going to use cast iron legs from an old bench for the ends. I also got a couple of wood 0 butcher block type benchtops. I now want a fridge in the build too! I should have about 7' to put stuff under. I love the small hardware storage too. Your bench is beautiful

 

[Hybridss]

Sorry Guys. I have been real busy. I will get some pics soon and post them. Everything is holding up great. I still havent finished the other side but I just need to cut the top and assemble. The legs are all made. I got sidetracked with my boat...lol.

 

[Craig Balzer]

Hybridss -- I know this, thread is over a year old but - - -

How did to attach the bowling alley top to the frame? or did you simple lay that heavy SoB on top the frame is?

And no matter how it is/isn't attached, how did you lift to alley in place?

Craig