| Project by cpd011 | posted 12-15-2014 10:26 PM | 2882 views | 3 times favorited | 7 comments |  |
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Living in Chicago where apparently the winter now starts in September, I needed a work solution because I have an unattached poorly heated garage workshop. My job allows me to troll the alleys and I came upon a small dining room table (oak??). I took it home and cut it down into 4 – 12” x 20” pieces. I laminated these together, cleaned up the edges and then used a t-slotting bit to cut t-slots top and bottom and around all four sides. I drilled dog holes on both ends (for planing stops) and finished it off with some tung oil. On the bottom I used some spray adhesive to mount 4 – 2”x2” rubber mats which give it an excellent grip on most surfaces. The end result has exceeded my expectations. It weighs about 25 pounds and with any downward pressure it doesn’t budge. I’m using some small rockler hold downs which allow me to clamp things to the surface or vertically on the face of the bench. Now mind you it is made for small work but I’ve been using it for some Christmas dulcitars and it has worked out splendidly. Now I can take care of some smaller projects and not freeze my keester off.
7 comments so far
siavosh
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674 posts in 1624 days
#1 posted 12-16-2014 12:30 AM
Nice! As an apartment dweller in SF, I’m constantly thinking of apartment workbenches. This is neat.
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Eddie_T
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199 posts in 1824 days
#2 posted 12-16-2014 01:45 AM
If you had used a food grade finish it looks nice enough to double as a large cutting board in the kitchen between projects. Nice workmanship!
ajw1978
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#3 posted 12-16-2014 07:48 AM
Hmmm. Like you, I’m confined to the indoors thanks to Mother Nature’s hatred of the Upper Midwest. This might get me through the next few months.
-- May the good Lord help me if I ever actually have a shop, garage or basement.
rhybeka
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#4 posted 12-16-2014 01:20 PM
That’s awesome :) I’m working on a freestanding one since I have room in the unfinished side of my basement before it gets too cold for the glue to set. Don’t think I’ll make it but trying :)
-- Beka/Becky - aspiring jill of all trades, still learning to not read the directions.
helluvawreck
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#5 posted 08-29-2017 01:44 PM
Nice work! That will come in handy.
helluvawreck aka Charles
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-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau
Smitty_Cabinetshop
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#6 posted 08-29-2017 02:35 PM
Nice hunk of workbench, and very creative solution. To my eye, that looks to be maple rather than oak (not that it matters though).
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ShaneA
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#7 posted 08-29-2017 03:40 PM
^rubberwood has my vote, lol. Nice solution, and looks solid.
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