Work bench goals

[j p smith]

I realized I needed to work on the backsplash before I started to put tool boxes in position. I picked up the material earlier today and started making chips this evening. Hard to tell in the picture but the backsplash is 1/4"x 4", 12 feet long

 

[drivesitfar]

JP: is that a 1/4 inch thick piece of aluminum plate you are working on the edges on for your backsplash? looks awesome and how are you going to attach it to the bench?

have a great holiday weekend

 

[sbd4de3]

JP, I'm sorry to ask this if it's already been touched on, I just couldn't find in your thread what the dimensions of your bench are. So, if you don't mind, what are they?

 

[j p smith]

JP: is that a 1/4 inch thick piece of aluminum plate you are working on the edges on for your backsplash? looks awesome and how are you going to attach it to the bench?

have a great holiday weekend

drives, yes the aluminum is 1/4". I am thinking about several uprights across the back coming straight up from the back side of the 2" square tube and use latex caulking to hold it in place.

 

[j p smith]

JP, I'm sorry to ask this if it's already been touched on, I just couldn't find in your thread what the dimensions of your bench are. So, if you don't mind, what are they?

The bench is 32" deep, 12' long and 36" tall. The material storage sections are 7" wide an run for the length of the frame across the back.

 

[sbd4de3]

Thanks JP!

 

[-Brent-]

Very sharp! I'd love to know where (which threads) you got some of these ideas. That steel storage behind the boxes is a brilliant use of space! Of course SteveO's workbench is legendary but you really raised the bar with this one...

Nice work.

 

[j p smith]

Very sharp! I'd love to know where (which threads) you got some of these ideas. That steel storage behind the boxes is a brilliant use of space! Of course SteveO's workbench is legendary but you really raised the bar with this one...

Nice work.

Thanks -Brent-! I will see if I can find the bench with the steel storage.
I still have a little more to machine on the backsplash and edge trim that will require some router work.

 

[j p smith]

-Brent- I cannot find the thread with the steel storage. I think it was a Steevo style bench.


Got 2 of the edge pieces cut and fit yesterday, 1 more to go then back to the backsplash

 

[drivesitfar]

JP: AWESOME work on the edging and can't wait to see the back splash attached to it. for those of us that don't have nearly the skills you do can you explain how you cut the 45 into the aluminum and is it angle or channel shaped? also when you used the router to inset the aluminum flush with your bench top which bit did you use and how many passes did you have to make on each side? did you clamp down that long piece of channel for a guide and how many times did you move it? or do tell how you made it look and work so good?

thanks for sharing and it's looking better each time i pop in for a peek. WELL DONE SIR!!

good luck

 

[j p smith]

JP: AWESOME work on the edging and can't wait to see the back splash attached to it. for those of us that don't have nearly the skills you do can you explain how you cut the 45 into the aluminum and is it angle or channel shaped? also when you used the router to inset the aluminum flush with your bench top which bit did you use and how many passes did you have to make on each side? did you clamp down that long piece of channel for a guide and how many times did you move it? or do tell how you made it look and work so good?

thanks for sharing and it's looking better each time i pop in for a peek. WELL DONE SIR!!

good luck

Drivesitfar,
Happy Fourth of July and thanks for the compliments!
I will try to answer you questions in order.
The aluminum is 2"x 2"x 1/8" "Architectural" Angle(which means it is not tapered like regular angle)
45* cuts were done with a horizontal saw.
Router bit was a 3/4" straight cut, bottom cleaning. took 3 passes and I did use the 1x2 tubing for a guide.

question,
or do tell how you made it look and work so good?
answer,
Patience, Grasshopper

 

[drivesitfar]

JP: i just learned how to set up my Dewalt compound miter so it sits square at 0 degrees and was always wondering why my old Makita chop saw's 45's never matched.

thanks for the tips and funny you use the grasshopper quote because my step son who was my caddy for golf tournaments used that line a lot when he was a teenager 25 years ago. especially if i just bogeyed a hole.

WELL DONE and keep taking pictures and posting them as you have time.

 

[StormcrowAz]

Jeff,

Great looking bench! The aluminum trim and backsplash is a nice touch. It’s looking to be an heirloom-quality piece which I’m sure you’ll put to good use. A couple of custom benches are on my long list of “to-do’s”…

Where do you pick your raw material (aluminum, steel tubing, etc.) up from? Do you have a good source on the west side of the valley? I’ve been going to Davis Metals on 32nd street and Washington. Would be nice to have a good alternative closer to home.

Also, someone else made mention of your stand-alone vise and stand – I currently only have that small-ish vise attached to my little mobile work table and would like something a little larger. What’s your thoughts on the stand-alone vise versus the typical unit attached to a bench? I’m a little cautious of adding yet another “thing” that takes up valuable shop square footage. Do you have some specific use of it, or feel the mobility and/or frequent use justifies the extra footprint?

 

[j p smith]

Jeff,

Great looking bench! The aluminum trim and backsplash is a nice touch. It’s looking to be an heirloom-quality piece which I’m sure you’ll put to good use. A couple of custom benches are on my long list of “to-do’s”…

There is bowling alley on C-list right now

Where do you pick your raw material (aluminum, steel tubing, etc.) up from? Do you have a good source on the west side of the valley? I’ve been going to Davis Metals on 32nd street and Washington. Would be nice to have a good alternative closer to home.

I have the best luck with Valley Steel, 75th Ave & Olive, also there is a place at 112th Ave & Buckeye, Advanced Metal Sales up by I-17 & Deer Valley, Glendale Steel, east of 59th Ave on Bethany Home

Also, someone else made mention of your stand-alone vise and stand – I currently only have that small-ish vise attached to my little mobile work table and would like something a little larger. What’s your thoughts on the stand-alone vise versus the typical unit attached to a bench? I’m a little cautious of adding yet another “thing” that takes up valuable shop square footage. Do you have some specific use of it, or feel the mobility and/or frequent use justifies the extra footprint?

Todd, I wonder if at the time you do the cover on the south side of your shop you could plan a bench with a larger vise or a stand alone vise near you man door. I have thought about a stand alone vise under my awning but could not decide on the best location. I am thinking about a vise for the new bench. I have a Samson and a small Reed to choose from.
In my old shop I had always wanted to do a receiver in the floor, something stout, with different tool stands that would drop in place for a vise, bead roller, ring roller. things that could be stored on or against the wall and put in place when you needed

 

[j p smith]

Made some progress this weekend on the stolen ideas work bench.

 

[drivesitfar]

JP: you might have borrowed or stole as you say the idea for the bench or steel storage, but building it and having the skills to make it look that good is amazing. WELL DONE!!

i'm still looking for some place to store mine other than prime real estate in the shop and partly because it rains a lot up here and storing it outside isn't really an option.

keep up the great work and that race car off road vehicle you have in your other thread just looks like it has FUN written all over it.

 

[j p smith]

JP: you might have borrowed or stole as you say the idea for the bench or steel storage, but building it and having the skills to make it look that good is amazing. WELL DONE!!

i'm still looking for some place to store mine other than prime real estate in the shop and partly because it rains a lot up here and storing it outside isn't really an option.

keep up the great work and that race car off road vehicle you have in your other thread just looks like it has FUN written all over it.

Drives, thanks very much for the compliments.

Drives, I think that our shops and work space is always revolving and also evolving. If that makes any sense.
If you are like me the idea sometimes comes to you after you got up to pee and can't go back to sleep.

 

[drivesitfar]

JP: once i get ORGANIZED more like you are i'm sure i'll do the same. for now i get up to pee and think about all the STUFF and my TO DO LISTS i need to get more items checked off on.

hope you are starting to cool down a bit down there, but i doubt it because it's suppose to be 90's here this week.

cheers and i'm holding up my green ice tea in a chilled mug

 

[1/2 Cup]

j p smith you bench has turned out a treat..

Regards

 

[j p smith]

JP: once i get ORGANIZED more like you are i'm sure i'll do the same. for now i get up to pee and think about all the STUFF and my TO DO LISTS i need to get more items checked off on.

hope you are starting to cool down a bit down there, but i doubt it because it's suppose to be 90's here this week.

cheers and i'm holding up my green ice tea in a chilled mug

Drives, thanks! Cold Dr Pepper in a Bubba Cup back at ya.

I think it is going to be 108/109 the next couple of days. I don't usually get much done Monday thru Thursday, up at 4am get home a little after 5pm. I try to start in the shop by 5 to 530am on the weekends if I have a project. 6500 MasterCool & fan helps but not much this time of year.

 

[j p smith]

j p smith you bench has turned out a treat..

Regards

Thanks Half!

 

[j p smith]

Took a little time to get the last tool box in place this weekend. Just 2 steps left, attaching the edging and the back splash.

I worked at the bench this weekend doing some layout work for the RZR project, very pleased with the changes from the old bench height.

 

[rixtrix1]

Just checked in here from you PM, Jeff. Bench looks great!

 

[j p smith]

Just checked in here from you PM, Jeff. Bench looks great!

Thanks Ric! Good luck with your bench remodel project.

 

[rixtrix1]

Thanks, Jeff.

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