Shortly after I found a Sjobergs bench at an auction, I came across an elderly woodworker in my neighborhood that was giving up his shop for health reasons. I heard he had a Shopsmith for sale, and being who I am, I couldn’t resist a visit to see if I might add yet another one to my shop. Alas, it wasn’t to be. He wanted too much for it. ( I like to find them cheap)
He did, however, have a workbench he had built some 50 years ago that he was selling for $75. While the lower part was simply 4×4 legs, oak frame and a shelf, the top was 1 1/2” solid oak with breadboard ends & glued & screwed together with 3/8” threaded rod through the full width. The dimensions are 60” x 23”. And what I really wanted were the vises. One a vintage Wilton, and the other a quick release Abernathy tool Co. vise.
If you read my bench # 1 blog, you may remember that I like both storage & weight in a bench. Well, this one’s got both. The storage comes from 5 old oak face pine drawers I got free from a woodworker friend who needed space. I built a plywood cabinet to house the drawers. I used 7 ply, 3/4” plywood. I get them free from a local builder of camper trailers. They are door cutouts that he discards. (I love material cost lists that contain only a couple of screws & finishing materials)
I wanted to keep a vintage look to the bench, and luckily the drawers were close to the tone of the top, so with a little of stain work, I was able to get the look I wanted. The sides of the enclosure are peg board & the back is oak face plywood. I faced the legs, which were not hardwood, with 1/8” resawn oak.
I cut down the height of 2 drawers to fit & had to get creative with the 5th drawer, as I wanted to utilize all the available space. I made a vertical drawer to house some of my lathe chisels.
So now I’ve got more storage, enough benchtop area, and enough weight (I can’t even slide the bench around, I estimate that with the top, vises, and all the tools in the drawers, it weighs in at 250, 300 lbs) to keep me happy for a while. Now, it’s time to put ‘em to use. -SST
-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you
7 comments so far
RGtools
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3372 posts in 3704 days
#1 posted 12-01-2011 09:08 PM
Nice score.
-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan
Rick Dennington
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7155 posts in 4244 days
#2 posted 12-01-2011 09:29 PM
Another good story on the work bench, Tom…Sometimes one has to be creative to come up with ideas that fit his needs….another good rock-solid bench w/ plenty of nice storage….can’t go wrong with that…That’s exactly how I built my bench a few years back….it has served me well, and your benches will do the same for you…...another good score…wish I could be that lucky…..:))
-- " There's a better way.....find it"...... Thomas Edison.
Mike
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66 posts in 3432 days
#3 posted 12-01-2011 10:21 PM
I agree with rick, I wish I could be that lucky
-- But hon I need this tool.......
SST
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790 posts in 5244 days
#4 posted 12-01-2011 11:23 PM
I’m not so sure that it’s luck so much as persistence. I’ve been kind of a junkie for sales, but I think now that it’s time to stop & do some woodworking.
-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you
Neil
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18 posts in 4360 days
#5 posted 12-02-2011 03:37 AM
Looks really great. I like the drawer combination – very good idea. Lee Trevino once said “the more I practice, the luckier I get”.
Bob Kollman
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1798 posts in 4240 days
#6 posted 12-02-2011 08:42 AM
Yup, rub it in you got 2 I got none…..A little bench envy here…:(
-- Bob Kenosha Wi.
Joe Lyddon
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10961 posts in 5102 days
#7 posted 12-02-2011 08:57 AM
WOW!
TWO super nice benches… for p-nuts…
Congratulations!
-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Alta Loma, CA USA - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: https://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/index.php?media/albums/users/joe-lyddon.1389/
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