Yep, I ai'nt dead yet. Among other things just made a take-down workbench, with interchangable bases on a column, each base with a different tool bolted to it - metal vise, bench sander, angle grinder stand, pounderonner, and even one with my mitre saw (just in case I want to use that on it too) - the mitre saw sits on a top on my wood lathe so the base is proving it's worth already, I can shift it without the saw tipping when I push it over the edge of the top, plus now it's an extra inch higher (from a spacer) so can just tip it and any sawdust under it should just pour out. The purpose of the bench is to be able to sit down while working, my joints really don't like me standing much at a time, like maybe a minute or so, and to be able to also take it out of the shop and work, or to take it shooting.
Doing this I needed to get some shelf space available to set some of these tools and bases on, and needed to put up at least one more wood storage shelf. I'd been putting off doing the shelf because I had issued with my other ones, getting the bracket level, getting the bracket at the same height as the others, doing a three hand job with only two hands, and so on. I didn't look forward to it.
Then it hit me. Don't need to go thru that hassle at all. My brackets will be chunks of 2X4 about 24". All I need to do is drill pilot holes in one end of them. Then take a piece of plywood about 12"X 16 1/2" (I'll need at least 16" clearance), stand on my present wall shelf, it'll be wide enough to level the chunk of 2X4 and I'll be able to hold everything steady with one hand while I pound in nails with the other. Repeat for the other two brackets. The wood will be 4' long and will be supported by the three brackets. If I decide I want another wood storage shelf over that one all I'll need to do is determine how high above I want it, trim the chunk of plywood as needed, set it on a 2X4 bracket already nailed in and install another bracket, repeat for the other two. Wish I'd thought of this several years ago. Probably it's already been done but I've never heard of it so figured I'd pass it along.
By the way, my knockdown work bench is proving to be very handy already. I'm still looking for my grinder so I can make a base for it, been considering another bench drill press so I can do a base for that, and later will be making a base for reloading, and one as a portable shooting bench. If I could figure out how to post pictures here I'd post a few. Nothing but glue used in it's construction (Titebond II, my favorite) and is very solid - three legs for no rocking on uneven surfaces.
Doing this I needed to get some shelf space available to set some of these tools and bases on, and needed to put up at least one more wood storage shelf. I'd been putting off doing the shelf because I had issued with my other ones, getting the bracket level, getting the bracket at the same height as the others, doing a three hand job with only two hands, and so on. I didn't look forward to it.
Then it hit me. Don't need to go thru that hassle at all. My brackets will be chunks of 2X4 about 24". All I need to do is drill pilot holes in one end of them. Then take a piece of plywood about 12"X 16 1/2" (I'll need at least 16" clearance), stand on my present wall shelf, it'll be wide enough to level the chunk of 2X4 and I'll be able to hold everything steady with one hand while I pound in nails with the other. Repeat for the other two brackets. The wood will be 4' long and will be supported by the three brackets. If I decide I want another wood storage shelf over that one all I'll need to do is determine how high above I want it, trim the chunk of plywood as needed, set it on a 2X4 bracket already nailed in and install another bracket, repeat for the other two. Wish I'd thought of this several years ago. Probably it's already been done but I've never heard of it so figured I'd pass it along.
By the way, my knockdown work bench is proving to be very handy already. I'm still looking for my grinder so I can make a base for it, been considering another bench drill press so I can do a base for that, and later will be making a base for reloading, and one as a portable shooting bench. If I could figure out how to post pictures here I'd post a few. Nothing but glue used in it's construction (Titebond II, my favorite) and is very solid - three legs for no rocking on uneven surfaces.
