Bench upgrades....

[DaveO]

This weekend I started working on my much needed workbench upgrades. I built this bench 4 years ago, before I was really interested in woodworking. It was more of a home improvement bench than a woodworking bench. I don't have the money to make a "real" bench yet and hate the thought of all the work I've already put into this bench going to waste, so I decided to up grade it. I still have more work to do on the other half and Compound Miter Saw recess, but I had to post some pics.

Here is what it used to look like -




And here it is with a hardboard top, White Oak apron, and new vice -







Yes the mess underneath it has been upgraded also, but still remains a mess. It will some day get doors and drawers, to hide the mess.

Thanks for looking


Dave

[MikeH]

That looks mighty nice Dave. Quite an improvement on the old bench.

[nelsone]

That looks great Dave! Did you glue down the hardbard or can you replace it when it gets banged up?

[DaveO]

Ed, I tacked the hardboard down in several spots with construction adhesive. But I feel confident that I could pull it up if I needed to. My hopes are that this upgrade will suffice for the next several years until I decide (save/allocate the money) to make a real bench.
Dave

[nelsone]

When you do get around to making your bench, make it mobile and the same height as your tablesaw. Makes a great outfeed table!

[toolferone]

Dave, That was a very worth while upgrade. You did a great job on it. I can see the next upgrade of drawers and doors really looking good. How did it go getting the vise mounted?

[rhett]

Sharp looking bench. Did you put any type of finish on the hardboard?

[bluewing92]

Dave, looks great. Did you put wax or something on the hardboard? I waxed mine and it lets drops of glue just pop off.

[DaveO]

Tom, the vice mounted like it was made for my bench construction. I used a ¼" thick piece of BB as a spacer to keep the metal faces below the top plane of the bench and had to knock out a little room for guide rod clearance, very smooth install.

Rhett and Norm, I used a home brew mixture of a bunch of almost empty finishes. I had some gloss Poly, BLO, Waterlox, and MS that I mixed all together to have enough to do the top and apron in two coats, wiped on. I also scuff sanded the hardboard to make it less slick. I am on the fence about waxing it....don't want the surface too slick

Dave

Dave

[4yanks]

Looks good Dave. That top should last a long time. One plus for putting on wax is that it will help glue from sticking. It really stinks when I realize I've glued a project to my bench!

[jglord]

Nice work on the face for the vice.

I'm a bit puzzled by the choice of placing the vice in the middle. Are you going to drill some dog-holes in the legs to hold tall or long pieces?

[eezlock]

Dave, I think the bench looks good to me. I would put in some benchdog
holes and maybe some shelves either fixed or rollout type and some
doors and drawers and you would be good to go. eezlock

[DaveO]

Originally Posted by jglord

Nice work on the face for the vice.

I'm a bit puzzled by the choice of placing the vice in the middle. Are you going to drill some dog-holes in the legs to hold tall or long pieces?

John, the main reason that the vice is centered is that is where I have the most clearance without interfering with either my Compound Miter Saw or RT which are on either ends. I plan to drill dog holes in the top and both set of outer legs for support and material handling.
Dave

[erasmussen]

I like your upgrade use what you got, and making it work for you
I like your finish, it does look good, only one thing I dont understand, if you mixed what you had togather then how did you hide the PEACH color?
very functional bench

[DaveO]

Earl, I didn't have any peach left. My clothes sucked up most of it and what was left is marking the spot of impact on the shop floor...constantly reminding me, even more than y'all do

Dave