C.B.Fiddler Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 I figured I would just seal and stain it. My dad has a workbench that used for many years in his shop an I know - from working at his - that mine won't stay pretty for long. I just want to make sure that it is safe from spills and such. I not sure what the real benefit to using a coat polyurethane after sealing and staining. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jeffrey Holmes Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 quote: Originally posted by: C.B.Fiddler I am going to use a sealer/stain on the workbench to finish it out - any warnings or suggestions there? I use pretty much the same thing on all my work surfaces. Boiled linseed oil... several wiped on coats. Holds up nicely, but does get a little darker over time (which I like). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C.B.Fiddler Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Jeffrey, You get that nice orange brown color just from boiled linseed oil? What is the bench wood? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jeffrey Holmes Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Old growth fir. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael_Molnar Posted June 5, 2007 Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 quote: Originally posted by: C.B.Fiddler Wow! thanks for all the advice! I went to home depot and looked at the masonry screws and read the package (yes, I read instructions ) and sure enough - it reads in big letters "USE A HAMMER DRILL." Chris I did this without a hammer drill. Your photos show cinder blocks like my basement walls which are soft. All you need is a drill! This is not rocket science. Avoid the concrete, however. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C.B.Fiddler Posted June 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2007 Thanks Michael - I'll give it a shot! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
matthew tucker Posted June 6, 2007 Report Share Posted June 6, 2007 Here's another idea for your workshop, something i prepared before. if you've only got tonewood, you might not need it, but if you also have planks and stick and things its really great spacesaver and makes access to your wood so easy. Mobile vertical woodrack Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C.B.Fiddler Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Ok, I decided to use the stain that I had and the bench is now sealed and stained with 2 coats and ready to be fastened to the wall. Let me know what you think! I really appreciate all the advise and suggestions everyone offered. Thanks again! Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Shillitoe Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 It looks too good to be a workbench! Put it in your dining room and use it for hosting wine and cheese parties! Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fellow Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 The above post is exactly what I wanted to say. I could not find those words. Now you said. Great! Dining table. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C.B.Fiddler Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 quote: Originally posted by: Ed_Shillitoe It looks too good to be a workbench! Put it in your dining room and use it for hosting wine and cheese parties! Ed Thanks! It's funny what stain will do - it really went from a workbench to a dining table didn't it? Oh well, I'm sure I will inflict plenty of personality on it soon enough! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Darren Molnar Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Hey C.B. bench looks great, but I`m curious what the flooring is in that room. I cant tell from pictures but if its coloured concrete you might want to think about laying down some plywood to save the tools/parts that will fall from the bench.[they will]. If its carpet, well, you`ll have lots of fun keeping it clean. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
edi malinaric Posted June 7, 2007 Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Well - that's the end to violin-making. How could you possibly risk a slipped chisel? Well done. cheers edi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C.B.Fiddler Posted June 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2007 Hi Darren, It's carpet. On the opposite wall is a wet/dry vac that I have to use everytime I'm done (and mid-way most of the time.) I do all heavy dust making processes in the garage and return this room for the lighter duty stuff. thanks for the insight! Thanks for the kind words, Edi. I think I'm going to go home and beat it with a lead pipe just to get rid of "first ding" anticipation. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C.B.Fiddler Posted June 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 OK! The bench is finished - fastened to the wall with Buildex Tapcon masonry screws. I was able to do it pretty easily with a regular cordless drill, but - I didn't have to drill that far into it because I ended up mounting a 1x4 to the wall and then screwing the bench to the 1x4 (the room is carpeted and has floor molding - so I needed to space the bench far enough from the wall to clear the spike strip and molding to keep it level.) I then mounted the infamous pegboard and started hanging the tools I was schlepping around in an old toolbox. I have a 2x4 light box coming to install in the suspended ceiling above the table (even thought the clamp on drop light hanging above is awfully attractive ) Let me know what you think - or if there are any suggestions! Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
matthew tucker Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Looks nice. But I wouldn't feel comfortable without an end of the bench free, with a vice for holding stuff for sawing and drilling. I'm right-handed, so I'd move the table thing at the left and slide the bench along a couple of feet. If you're worried about chiselling into the surface of the bench, get a big hunk of hardwood and bolt it along the front of the bench. When you've ruined it by drilling and cutting and chiselling, turn it around and use the other side. And so on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fellow Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Once I had a work bench in the basement of my previous house. It was made of 2 by 4 put together. I used hammer, torch, circular saws , paint, etc. when I worked on my projects. Finish of the bench was the least of my concern. Burn marks and paint marks were everywhere. Fire and toxic fumes were most my concerns. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C.B.Fiddler Posted June 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Thanks Matthew, There is a lot of "extra" stuff in the other corner of the same wall that needs to be sorted and relocated tot he attic. When that is done, the table next to the Workbench will go there. I have an area in my garage where I do the heavy duty sawing and such. Because this is a carpeted bedroom, I'll limit the my work in here to the more light duty stuff. I did find a 6" clamp on workbench vise at Rockler that I'll add to the left side of the table. Yuen, The finish of the table was (and is) unimportant. The goal was to seal the wood and protect it from spills and such. The nice color was just a bonus. I know that each file mark will expose white wood beneath and that the bench will get beaten and used - that's what I made it for! (I'm actually looking forward to it!) Afterall, the top is Birch ply - not solid birch, so it's not as fancy as it looks! I have worked on a bench made of 2x4's and have been frustrated with small things getting stuck between the boards. 2x4's are also predominantly pine - a softwood, that doesn't wear well or retain a nice flat surface for very long. Thanks, everyone for the suggestions and the nice comments! Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mbmsv Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 Hello all,<BR> <BR>I just thought I'd show some pics of the workbench I made this weekend. I am thrilled with it so far. It's 6 ft x 2.5 ft x 30 inches - Pine frame and edge molding with a Birch top. Took me two lazy days and less than $70 U.S. (and I splurged on the birch top.) <BR> <BR>I am going to seal it and stain it this week - can't wait to put it to use! Hello, Are the pics still available? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
M A T T Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 mbmsv, if you are looking for shop pics here is a great thread about workshops and workbenches: http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?...amp;hl=workshop Quote Link to post Share on other sites
C.B.Fiddler Posted June 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 Here's an updated picture of my shop - complete with my assistant Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MANFIO Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 Congrats for the bench and for the "garzone di bottega!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hobbyjob Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 Hello all,<BR> <BR>I just thought I'd show some pics of the workbench I made this weekend. I am thrilled with it so far. It's 6 ft x 2.5 ft x 30 inches - Pine frame and edge molding with a Birch top. Took me two lazy days and less than $70 U.S. (and I splurged on the birch top.) <BR> <BR>I am going to seal it and stain it this week - can't wait to put it to use! How does one open the pictures which the members submit. I don't have any links for the workbench pictures. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mbmsv Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 mbmsv, if you are looking for shop pics here is a great thread about workshops and workbenches:http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?...amp;hl=workshop Jeffrey's workshop and bench are unbelievably clean! It looks as he mostly does repairs... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mbmsv Posted June 15, 2008 Report Share Posted June 15, 2008 Here's an updated picture of my shop - complete with my assistant Thanks for reposting it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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