Thread: A new bench

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I had decided back in the summer that I needed a bench by the lathe and mills, so I tossed around some ideas and the following is what I came up with. The base is from a tumbler I made some years ago, since I rarely used it I decided to dismantle it and rework the metal for a better height/width. But all I had to do was flip it 90 degrees and it gave me a perfect (for me) 31 inches! Add some 2 X 6's and paint / sealant and I now have this.

AJWD, Mikey, good clean flat areas don't last long around here but it sure looks nice and neat !

Believe it or not I inherited a wooden cabinet from my Grandfather like that one you have there on the new table and I gave it to my oldest son after my big "D".

Em

Originally Posted by MelloYello

AJWD, Mikey, good clean flat areas don't last long around here but it sure looks nice and neat !

Believe it or not I inherited a wooden cabinet from my Grandfather like that one you have there on the new table and I gave it to my oldest son after my big "D".

Em

"AJWD" ???? a job well done??? and then "big D" ??? IDK!

The Gerstner box is always a favorite, the Kennedy box is more my price range.

Thanks Em.

Originally Posted by 34_40

and then "big D" ??? IDK!

Correcto Mundo on the AJWD and this should explain the "D"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=912DKxD0H1U

Originally Posted by MelloYello

Correcto Mundo on the AJWD and this should explain the "D"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=912DKxD0H1U

That's what I thought it might be. but didn't want to hazard the guess.

Mike, I don't recall..............have we ever been shown a pic of the building you're in? Given where you are and the "patina" of the posts, walls, and floor there's got to be some history there.

Nice job on the work bench, looks very sturdy!

Great job on the bench! Is that just pine for the top? I agree a flat surface in our building is doomed I swear. Your building looks very cool. It reminds me of a gentlemen's shop in Meridian Kansas that parts out 67-72 chevy trucks. His was an old black smiths shop. Yours also looks cleaner than mine too.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Mike, I don't recall..............have we ever been shown a pic of the building you're in? Given where you are and the "patina" of the posts, walls, and floor there's got to be some history there.

Bob, I don't remember sharing a pic of the shop but I do remember Randy and Dave White picking on me for having a wood floor. The short story of the building is that the family built it during the depression as a rental hall for wedding receptions / dances / parties, ec. etc.etc.. My wife and I held our wedding reception here as well!

In the 80's the town wanted us to do some updates to newer codes and with liabilities / lawsuits etc. we (family) decided it just wasn't worth the headaches any longer. So the town wouldn't give us a business permit but they wanted us to pay business tax rates.. we went to court 3 times.

We had scheduled the building to be demolished and really stick it to the town, I actually started taking part of it off! Then one night I asked the family if I could use the building as a workshop rather than tear it down and they agreed as long as I "trade off" maintenance duties around the farm.

So, now you all know the whole story!

Originally Posted by MP&C

Nice job on the work bench, looks very sturdy!

Thanks! Coming from you I take that as a huge compliment..

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

Great job on the bench! Is that just pine for the top? I agree a flat surface in our building is doomed I swear. Your building looks very cool. It reminds me of a gentlemen's shop in Meridian Kansas that parts out 67-72 chevy trucks. His was an old black smiths shop. Yours also looks cleaner than mine too.

Thanks Ryan! It is just a spruce plank top.. simple 2 x 6's. As I "discovered" the machinist trade a mentor for me showed me why softwoods for benches and floors were important, they are sacrificial in fact. I never forgot that lesson!

And thanks for the compliment on the building, I responded to Bob on some of the history.. I HATE a messy shop. I have to at least sweep the floor each night.

One of the reasons for this bench is to keep it mine! If anyone leaves something on it.. heaven help them!