Innovation & The Workbech – The Garage Journal

C

Capt Chrysler

Well-known member

Oct 30, 2011

#2

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

Way to KOOOOL!

Capt. Chrysler

G

gauder the goof

Well-known member

Oct 30, 2011

#3

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

You look at it and a light goes on in your head and says "So simple, but I never would have thought of it". Necessity truly is the mother of invention.

F

formek

Well-known member

Oct 30, 2011

#4

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

will that close with that light mounted there?

OP

R

Ryan

Administrator

Staff member

Oct 30, 2011

#5

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

formek said:
will that close with that light mounted there?

If not, it would be easy enough to make it so... It's really the idea that I'm freaking out about.

C

cabriolet

Active member

Oct 30, 2011

#6

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

Is it really old or a new build to look old? The angle frame looks new. Either way very cool!

C

colt zantop

Well-known member

Oct 30, 2011

#7

very cool! the light will probably fold down under the table Im assuming...

O

omr

Banned

Oct 30, 2011

#8

seems like a waste of space to me :headscrat

B

bhalv

Well-known member

Oct 30, 2011

#9

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

cabriolet said:
Is it really old or a new build to look old? The angle frame looks new. Either way very cool!

I'm guessing new frame with reclaimed lumber. My only question is why are both sides of the top hinged?

T

TrooperJoe73

Member

Oct 30, 2011

#10

Very nice! I like it. I've been planning on building myself an artist/graphing table, since I like to draw a lot. Going with reclaimed lumber will be the way to go...when I get to it.

J

johno

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#11

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

bhalv said:
I'm guessing new frame with reclaimed lumber. My only question is why are both sides of the top hinged?

If it is old, then it looks like an old pair of shutters to me, so the hinges would be part of the original use.

You can see the old dead bolt and some other hardware, part of the esthetic is my guess.

I really like it.

L

larry_g

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#12

It looks cool but to me is worthless. It must be designed for some apartment hobby place or like said, jewlery. Close it up and the top gets covered with stuff and never opens again, close it and the pouches self empty. Any idea what it was origionally designed for?

lg
no neat sig line

N

nonhog

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#13

Its a great thought starter! I have 3 work benches. One wood, one mobile,
One metal (welding) thinking about a 4th small bench for little stuff, detail work. One could figure a way to keep stuff from falling out when closed.

Hmmmm, thinking............. :thumbup:

S

Stephenw

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#14

Definately cool looking. It would be a whole lot better with a full width tray underneath instead of just an open hole to the floor. Then the space below could still be used with the lid open.

R

RaysnCayne

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#15

Agreed, very cool looking! But not terribly practical as a truly functional working space. A desk for looks yes. But think of how many small parts you'd lose over the open ledge. Then yes, the pockets will lose their contents when the "backsplash" is closed. Overall, I don't like how the table top work space is cut in half when it's opened up.

I think it's a cool thought-starter for a convertible work table. But in this configuration, it's not much more than a light-use display piece for a reclaimed wood-ophile.

J

JimH

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#16

To me it looks like a really cool dining room table, that is also a functional desk. I bet it would be a great project to build.

B

bimmer1980

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#17

I'm not seeing a real advantage to it. As others have said, the open top is pointless and the loss of workspace for a pocket??? I would relocate the pockets to the side of the table and leave the top down.

Now if the table hinged in the middle, then an angle table top may have some value for jigging parts or containing them or holding drawings so that they are easier to see.

I could also understand the hinged top if a piece of equipment was recessed below it and needed accessed only periodically. (think old fashioned sewing machine....)

It looks cool, but I won't be building something like that for my garage.....

O

Okie Pete

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#18

It looks cool but not very functional.
I would made a full top with the pockets on the back. I would pile it full and have to uncover half of it to open it up. Then drop stuff off the back side .
I had a friend that was a jewler /watch repair man. His work bench had drewers from the top to the floor.

D

dragracer98

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#19

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

Ryan said:
If not, it would be easy enough to make it so... It's really the idea that I'm freaking out about.

I can't quite figure out what it is about this table but I really like it. Simple yet shows a lot of thought. It appears
to be an old set of shutters off of an old house or perhaps a set of doors off of a small cabinet of sorts. I would guess that the
frame was built around the doors, already had the doors and just made the frame to fit. It could be modified in
several ways. I would put some simple straps on the pockets to hold the contents in while the top was closed. Just a strap
with a snap on the end and fasten it to the underside of the top. I would think about making a bigger tray to hold things. I
am guessing that the tray on the top of the desk will fit in the frame on the right hand side.

You could also re-configure the clamp that holds the light in place, maybe a shorter thumb screw the would allow
the light to swing down under the desk when not in use. Something to allow the clamp and screw to sit in the recessed area
on the bottom .Only drawback to this is that you could see the light hanging
down under the desk when the lid is closed, and it would not let you make a bigger tray for under the desk. You could
even change the light to one of those old rectangle headed lamps and could make it fit in a tray under the top. I don't
know if it has it already but since the front also hinges put a set of pockets under there too for things you need to
keep close by but might not need that often.

Randy

B

bobadame

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#20

This table is the reason that drawers were invented.

C

Call me the Breeze

Well-known member

Oct 31, 2011

#21

I love vintage

K

KingMotorsport

Member

Nov 1, 2011

#22

Ryan said:
Obviously, I like old stuff quite a bit. Even so, I really have a thing for innovation as well. I've often found that when the two come together, magic is often the resul...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

Cool desk. Shows thought and craftsmanship.

Devil is in the details. Anyone notice the prop for the side that is open? New wood. Should have used something vintage like an old patina metal telescoping rod with a thumb screw. Even just staining the piece of new wood would keep it from standing out like a sore thumb. For those of you that did not see it at first, I bet you cant stop noticing now

My two cent redesign: :tard:

The pockets should have been mounted to hang on a rod or a hinged panel. That way when you closed the lid the pocket would swing on the rod/hinge and not dump the contents on the floor.

Last edited: Nov 3, 2011

R

rfc86

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#23

This is awesome

T

tatra

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#24

not much more inovative than an old school desk..........does have a certain cachetness about it but not my cup of tea..........

S

southpier

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#25

larry_g said:
It looks cool but to me is worthless. It must be designed for some apartment hobby place or like said, jewlery. Close it up and the top gets covered with stuff and never opens again, close it and the pouches self empty. Any idea what it was origionally designed for?

lg
no neat sig line

skippy & muffy had one in their loft and it looked absolutely yummy.

ripped my cartigan on the hinges though. must call lands end and order another

O

Ohio Auto

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#26

Sometimes this site really cracks me up.

I had a very similar experience recently as the OP did on this thread.

You take the time to post pics of your stuff and you get numerous comments picking your stuff apart.

I have vowed to never post another pic on here again.

I think the table is cool, it obviously took time, skill, and effort to create. That should always be applauded.

A

A**holes Garage

Banned

Nov 2, 2011

#27

Rube Goldberg's desk?

A

akdiesel

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#28

Ohio Auto said:
Sometimes this site really cracks me up.

I had a very similar experience recently as the OP did on this thread.

You take the time to post pics of your stuff and you get numerous comments picking your stuff apart.

I have vowed to never post another pic on here again.

I think the table is cool, it obviously took time, skill, and effort to create. That should always be applauded.

There are tons of "Armchair Quarterbacks" but don't let that stop you from being proud of something you have achieved. Besides there were over 50% positive remarks on this particular item even if it was not there first choice.

Z

Zeke

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#29

Re: Innovation & The Workbech

formek said:
will that close with that light mounted there?

I don't know, will it close with the camera in the bin?

Z

Zeke

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#30

Ohio Auto said:
Sometimes this site really cracks me up.

I had a very similar experience recently as the OP did on this thread.

You take the time to post pics of your stuff and you get numerous comments picking your stuff apart.

I have vowed to never post another pic on here again.

I think the table is cool, it obviously took time, skill, and effort to create. That should always be applauded.

Yeah, you nailed it. I posted a pic of a welding table I bought complete with a vintage vise. Snide comments ensued. Now no one will ever see my set up. Just as well, there are probably thieves that lurk here looking for a clue as to where you are.

O

omr

Banned

Nov 2, 2011

#31

Zeke said:
Yeah, you nailed it. I posted a pic of a welding table I bought complete with a vintage vise. Snide comments ensued. Now no one will ever see my set up. Just as well, there are probably thieves that lurk here looking for a clue as to where you are.

to be honest i think you kind of set the tone for that thread by being defensive , just my opinion , take it for what it's worth ..

E

eldirector

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#32

Is it interesting? Sure, in a steampunk / artistic sort of way.

Is it functional? Kinda. Depends on what/who it was built for.

Is it practical? No, not really. But that isn't the point.

It is exactly the opposite of form follows function. It is an artistic statement that still could serve a practice purpose, for the right person. I suspect that on a "garage" board, many folks are a tad more practical, so don't really see the point of building something like this. Its neat, and took some creativity and talent, but wouldn't really work for most.

Kind of like our hot rods, sports cars, and such!

M

Modern Jess

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#33

Zeke said:
Just as well, there are probably thieves that lurk here looking for a clue as to where you are.

I doubt it. Thieves are opportunists and generally aren't that patient. Or smart.

The ones that are both patient and smart are probably looking for better targets. Stuff in garages tends to be large and difficult to move, in both the literal and the figurative sense.

M

Mattlt

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#34

I would make a tray under the part that opens, the whole width, like a school desk, as someone else mentioned.

Again, as someone else said, it would get piled full of stuff on top and the top would never be opened. At least that's what would happen at my house.

Maybe neat as a desk in some artsy-fartsy studio, but I don't see much use for it in the shop. My .02

O

oldthudman

Member

Nov 2, 2011

#35

Great table..............Couple of suggestions....

1] Use an auto gas shock to lift/hold up top.....

2] Enclose the open bottom (at least one side) with fiber board/plywood (1/4"-1/2"), etc. to make use of the that space for additional storage......

:thumbup:

M

Mark H

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#36

Looks like a cross between a kitchen table and a writing desk.Great idea if you need office space at home but have no room for it.
Might not suit my needs but I can still appreciate the thought process behind it.Some cool ideas there to adapt for other projects.

S

southpier

Well-known member

Nov 2, 2011

#37

Ohio Auto said:
...You take the time to post pics of your stuff and you get numerous comments picking your stuff apart....I think the table is cool, it obviously took time, skill, and effort to create. That should always be applauded.

a lot of things take time, skill, & effort, and aren't practical. it's not a personal attack

G

geotek

Well-known member

Nov 3, 2011

#38

I can see plenty of modifications that would make this table a great mulit-purpose, light use bench. I'm thinking: pockets that are rotated 90 degrees so that nothing falls out, and maybe adding zippers but more likly a flap with a buckle to match the asthetics. Also, hing mounted into the wall so that it'll fold down like other table that members have built. I dont know if i'd do removable legs or cable supports (probably the removable legs). I'd forgo the lamp and do a ceiling mount and if needed a pull down light.