My new workbench. (Done)

[landman]

When I bought this house there was an old computer desk in the garage. I took it inside and added drawers that came from an old dresser which had belonged to one of my daughters. It was the basement workbench until a few years ago it became my modelling workbench.After the sewer backup this winter the insurance contractor took everything to his warehouse during the repairs. When I saw it there, I figured it deserved its retirement, it looked pretty forlorn.

 

Edited December 16, 2020 by landman

[landman]

I made the drawer cabinet out of some oak plywood which had been part of a church pew.

I used the same drawers but made them 22" deep instead of their original 13"

I had some elm that I salvaged from a storm downed tree. Some of  it was used for the drawer fronts.

Edited December 16, 2020 by landman

[landman]

The same elm wood was used to build the table end of the bench.

Edited December 16, 2020 by landman

[cobraman]

Looks good.

[drsnapper55]

It's hard to pass wood like that up, especially that elm - glad to see it being used and on a great project at that.  Looking forward to seeing it complete.

[landman]

Found a plastic bag full of wooden handles. I don't remember where we got them and neither does my wife. But I put them to use.

I am laminating all sorts of offcuts and remnants to make the top.

The planer threw it belt and I can't remove the fan to get at it. Ended up damaging the capscrew. Will have to drill out & replace

Edited December 16, 2020 by landman

[vintagercr]

Pat, that's going to look nice.  What insurance contractors do you have in your neck of the woods.  I'm an insurance adjuster.

[landman]

  On 3/6/2017 at 11:10 PM, vintagercr said:

Pat, that's going to look nice.  What insurance contractors do you have in your neck of the woods.  I'm an insurance adjuster.

Here we have Service master and a couple of independents. In my case, it was Servicemaster.

[misterNNL]

  On 3/6/2017 at 11:29 PM, landman said:

Here we have Service master and a couple of independents. In my case, it was Servicemaster.

two things.First of all please tell me that the elm wood I see here will get a nice natural finish instead of being painted.

Second and completely off subject I see a wide white wall peeking out from under that tarp in one of your photos on what looks like a lowered 40's or 50's vehicle.I have a covered car in my garage as well.Mine's a '48 Chevy.To paraphrase a current credit card commercial "what's in your garage"?

[landman]

  On 3/6/2017 at 11:51 PM, misterNNL said:

two things.First of all please tell me that the elm wood I see here will get a nice natural finish instead of being painted.

Second and completely off subject I see a wide white wall peeking out from under that tarp in one of your photos on what looks like a lowered 40's or 50's vehicle.I have a covered car in my garage as well.Mine's a '48 Chevy.To paraphrase a current credit card commercial "what's in your garage"?

It dedfinitely won't get painted. Likely Golden Oak stain or something similar. The whitewall belongs to my '34 chevy. I started to build a model of it here:http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/89965-1934-chevrolet-master-5-window-coupe/

[Xingu]

Looks like it is going to be a fine workbench. Nice to be able to add a few things you may have wished you had with the old one.

[Dodge Driver]

Wow! That elm milled up nicely. Had no idea elm could be used in cabinet making.

[landman]

  On 3/7/2017 at 12:19 AM, Dodge Driver said:

Wow! That elm milled up nicely. Had no idea elm could be used in cabinet making.

It is very hard and you have to use very shallow passes on the planer  otherwise it chips. But it has a glorious grain.

[Dodge Driver]

  On 3/7/2017 at 12:35 AM, landman said:

It is very hard and you have to use very shallow passes on the planer  otherwise it chips. But it has a glorious grain.

It does have a nice grain to it. Elm certainly is a bear to work with. It's almost unsplitable for firewood.

Looking forward to seeing your bench finished.

[Speedfreak]

Nice work, a nice/comfortable work area is important to enjoying the modeling hobby. 

[disabled modeler]

Pat...Very nice..!

[landman]

Started gluing up the strips end to end using every available clamp. I was my first time using the finger joint bit since it had rearranged three of my fingertips several years ago. Its funny how those fears remain.

Edited December 16, 2020 by landman

[Lizard Racing]

You are indeed a man of many talents!

[Maindrian Pace]

Building a cool project on which to build cool projects!

[landman]

Bench top taking shape one slice at a time.

Edited December 16, 2020 by landman

[1930fordpickup]

Another work of Art from you Pat.  After the Dutch Elm Disease swept through here in the mid 60's not many left that grow big enough for woodworking.  What a shame as it is a good looking wood. 

I have been told that some wagon wheel hubs were made for Elm stumps because of how hard the wood is and the grain.

[landman]

There can never be too many clamps.

 

Edited December 16, 2020 by landman

[landman]

A few passes on the jointer and this will become a desktop.

 

[afx]

Your going to end up with one impressive work bench Pat.

[BigTallDad]

  On 3/7/2017 at 12:43 AM, Dodge Driver said:

Elm certainly is...almost unsplitable for firewood.

I can vouch for that!