Okay, this is my first tool gloat (and it's only a tool in the broad sense). I was in ReTool (in Greenville NC) the other day--making the usual rounds--and saw this maple workbench, in all its ragged glory. Since my almost-finished new shop doesn't have any benches yet (and my old bench is staying in what will now be a garden shed), I snatched it right up. Isn't she beautiful?
According to Denise at ReTool, the guy who brought it in had been given the bench around 1950 when a cabinet shop somewhere up north closed down. Evidently it was old even then. Even the screws in the front and side vise are wood. The surface has obviously seen its share of chisels and saws, and a few areas have been patched (including the top of the side vise), and some of the joints will need to be wedged to tighten them up. But it's nice and sturdy. As my Dad pointed out, you ought to be able to learn new skills just by running your hand over the top of a bench like this!
(If anyone's interested, I also just posted a few more pictures showing further progress on the new workshop, which is *almost* to the point of being dried in!) The end is in sight.)
http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=1292&ppuser=0
According to Denise at ReTool, the guy who brought it in had been given the bench around 1950 when a cabinet shop somewhere up north closed down. Evidently it was old even then. Even the screws in the front and side vise are wood. The surface has obviously seen its share of chisels and saws, and a few areas have been patched (including the top of the side vise), and some of the joints will need to be wedged to tighten them up. But it's nice and sturdy. As my Dad pointed out, you ought to be able to learn new skills just by running your hand over the top of a bench like this!
(If anyone's interested, I also just posted a few more pictures showing further progress on the new workshop, which is *almost* to the point of being dried in!) The end is in sight.)
http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=1292&ppuser=0