Building a new work bench

[Graveyard Jack]

I'm finally moving out of the guest room and into a proper work space. I was planning on building a ~20ft work bench along a 26ft wall in my new gun room. Was going to make it 24" wide out of 3/4" oak plywood. Up to this point, I've been doing everything in one place but with the new bench, I would have a station for cutting and general work, one for stamping with a big 4" granite slab and one for finish work. It will be supported on the front with 4" oak posts. There will be storage and shelving over and under. I was going to build it all out of oak and stain it a nice walnut color and finish it in polyurethane.

Any advice on finishing the bench? Anything to avoid?

Is there a place where you can order cutting boards any size?

On hide storage. I've seen them stored rolled up and I've seen them stored flat. Is one better than the other. If stored flat, I was thinking about a 4x6 shelving unit in the corner.

I'm really excited to finally have enough room to work and keep everything organized. 

[dwight55]

Congratulations, . . .

I just finished my shop, . . . since I only do smaller projects, . . . basically one at a time, . . . my sewing / cutting / stamping table that is 36 x 60 works out fine, . . .

My leather storage I cured with a "vault".  I took a couple of 2 x 12's, . . . made a 40 by 96 box, . . . stood it up on end, . . . put in some hangars, . . . a 40 by 96 door, . . . all my leather is either rolled up as it came from the supplier, . . . or hanging from a hook. 

The best part of it, . . . it only takes up 4 sq feet of floor space, . . . plus I can put "stuff" on the bottom out of the way.

May God bless,
Dwight

[St8LineLeatherSmith]

[Graveyard Jack]

It's going along this wall. 

[KidTerico]

Craig I have all the room in the world to work with so I wont go into lay out .. My cabinet  and bench part is 56 feet long. I did a lt of testing with my bench and came up with a two 2 by 12s for a top on a 2  by 4 frame and had custom cabinets with 24 in heavy duty slide drawers  all sizes with doors built into the frame work. I only needed a 2 1/2 in granite slab on top and it does not move at ALL..  A few picts. It needs a cleaning but its 18 years old and has stood up well. KT 

[KidTerico]

Few more  KT

[KidTerico]

2 more. Drawers have 200 lb. full extended slides and will not bend when all the way out with 200 lb. weight on the end.  Full bearing slides . Cliff have fun. Its a blast to put your shop together . My cutting table is 4 by 12 by 1 in. ply board with a 1 in. butcher board on it. Took it out of the meat  locker when we put in a new one. It is very- very  costly to buy it out right. I think at todays prices its about $ 2000.00 for a piece that size. Getting it out of the locker worked out good.   KT 

[GunClick Rick]

As soon as KT can't do leather no mo,i'll just move to his place,no need to build me one and from what i have learned here i'll be famous!

Looks like that room will have plenty of outlets,i love alot of outlets....Gonna look nice!

[Graveyard Jack]

Floor and oak base boards are done. Putting a couple coats of paint on 'that' wall today so they can start on the bench. I was going to build the work bench and reloading island myself but talked the contractor into doing it.

[Red Cent]

Looks great Craig.

[dwight55]

OK, . . . here's the pictures, . . . old Jumbo saddle, . . . operating 8 track tape player, . . . leather vault, . . . and my home made 1 1/2 inch solid yellow pine door, . . . my new shop.

May God bless,
Dwight

[dwight55]

Sorry, . . . took 2 posts, . . . here's the rest of it.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Looks great, Dwight. You'll be able to get some work done in there. Thanks for the pics.

[Red Cent]

Where is all the junk? The remnants? Pieces of thread. Tools laying around. Bottles. So freakin' neat.

But they all look very good.

[knucklehead]

CraigC,

google tap plastics. they have a store here in tigard, oregon.
i purchased a 15"x36" x 1/2" thick white piece of butcher cutting board from them for 25 bucks.
you can purchase a full sheet from them and cut it yourself to whatever sizes you want.

when i get started setting up my work bench for leather i will be setting up one bench top with a butcher board cutting surface. i want to have a large area to be able to lay out a full hide to cut without having it hang over the side of bench top.

[rbertalotto]

In my new shop, I built the smallest benches I could get away with. They get cluttered up easily and I have to stop and put stuff away before I can continue. I find my shop stays extremely clean and organized. I spend much less time trying to find tools and more time using them.

In my reloading room, the best thing I ever did is buy a wood workers bench that I have right smack dab in the middle of the shop. Being able to work either side of a rifle or when two folks are fiddling with a rifle is an absolute joy!

Harbor Freight has these benches on sale for under $150! Smok'n Deal! I never thought I'd use the wood vise at the end, but I use it all the time!





Lots more pictures of my reloading room here:
http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/gunsmithing-reloading/new-reloading-room/

[dwight55]

My first work bench had a large piece of cutting board plastic on it and I loved it.

For the new one, . . . I went to JoAnn fabric, . . . bought one of their 36 x 60 cutting mats, . . . it's all laid out in one inch squares, . . . makes my cutting life a lot simpler in many ways.

With an on-line 40% off cupon from the internet, . . . I think it was like 40 bucks. 

I used double faced carpet tape to lay it down on my plywood topped table.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Graveyard Jack]

We're nearing completion!




Any opinions on what thickness I should order my cutting board?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

WOW, JUST WOW, you have a great start.....


   tEN wOLVES 

[Camano Ridge]

Craig, That looks more like someplace I would sit on a high stool and order a Martini and some Tapas. Wheres the leather shop? 

Looks great