My Woodworking Bench from Salvage materials

That is one Prutty Top!!!

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Nice bench, Karson. Where’s the ball return?

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

Wow you are good. Too bad we are not next door neighbors I would become your apprentice. I can do simple things but my expertise is not in wood. In fact as I am fast approaching 65 in about a little more than a week on the 6th, I still don’t know what I am really good at. :) I’ve been very busy on a project working in collaboration with our local University here in Las Vegas. I know I have not been around much but this project is a humanitarian one that grabbed my interest right away. Should take a few more months. Take care and how have you been feeling? God Bless All.

-- Rich, Nevada,

So what happened to the othe 1.9 million bd ft of maple?

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

I vote for this bench to be best use of recycled wood as the cornerstone tool for all other projects starting point. Wow, what a bench. This is a tool after my own wooden heart. Thanks for this post. I just got a woody.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

Richard. I’m feeling great. Just getting started on my second set of kitchen cabinets for my wife. (Blogs to follow).

Tim I knew I forgot something. Dang now I’ll have to tear it apart and add the enhancement. You can bet that won’t happen again.

Lev Thanks for the comment.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Scott I wish I knew what happened to the other wood. Of course this lot also had 16 X 16” beams that would today be great to cut up with a woodmizer and give some great wood.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Karson that is absolutely beautiful…I can’t wait till the day when I can build my bench…thanks for sharing.

-- If you can't build it, code it. If you can't code it, build it. But always ALWAYS take a picture.

I love the waterfall Bubinga! The bench looks great!

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

That is a wonderful looking workbench, and well thought out.
I should have known there would be veneer involved if Lee Jesberger was around. lol

thanks for sharing

-- MISSION FURNITURE-My mission is to build furniture

Awesome bench. Way to recycle. Love the veneer. We might need a new shop inspection if you are going to start cleaning.

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

I would struggle getting any work done on this bench. I would simply stare and admire those drawer fronts. Thank you for sharing.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

amazing…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...sanity...has arrived...JUNE-JULY-AUGUST...

Very cool bench. I used an old bowling alley for mine also, except I took all the nails out re-surfaced all the wood and glued it back together.

Looks like we both have a lot of the same stuff. Heavy Duty aluminum foil, boxes of nitril gloves and a box of reguar latex gloves, and even a set of red earmuffs!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

That wood was quite a score, Karson! And the benchnis beautiful! I love that bubinga veneer. I have a bit myself just waiting for the right project(s).

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Ahhh I see.

Nice that you could salvage a pile and turn it into somthing nice.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

Looks like you had quite a strike. Glad you could frame it out this way, with wood to spare, without splitting hairs. Thanks for the bowl down memory lane.

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

Real nice project Karson!

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

looks like that table will last a couple hundred years. truely fine

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Great looking bench Karson. I love the water fall bubinga. I recently bougtht some and am waiting for just the right inspiration and project.

Thanks for showing this.

-- Martin, Kansas

If there is wood to be salvaged you can bet Karson will be on it like a duck on a junebug. That is one splendid bench. Good luck in the contest.

“The wood was gotten for making my kitchen cabinet counter top for the kitchen i was making for my wife in NJ.”
Does your wife in Delaware know about your wife in New Jersey? =^}

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

That bench would have to retail for about $4500.00. Gorgeous!

No Douglas and I’d appreciate it you don’t tell her.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Karson, that is a very nice bench! I really like the Bubinga

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

What Karson failed to mention is the handles are diamonds. Anything less would be uncivilized. lol

If you guys could see the stash of wood Karson has, it would bring tears to your eyes. I cried the whole way home.

And the bench looks even better in real life.

Great job Karson.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Mum’s the word, Pal.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Top story Karson. I like the bench.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

the story is as amazing as the bench itself!
well done

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Wonderful stuff, Karson. That’s going to be tough to top as a recycle project. Plus, there’s nothing like the satisfaction of making toys for kids.

-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle

Great bench. Great story also.
This will surely be #1 or #2.
Thanks for sharing.

-- ''Carry on my wayward son''

I appreciate the comments guys. And Lee I offered you some wood and you didn’t take it. Well maybe that was under my breath that I offered it.

Lee did point out the Diamond drawer pulls. I didn’t mention them because I didn’t want anyone showing up to rip them off.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Karson,
That’s a great story, a great bench, and an even greater use of recycled material.
Fantastic!

-- Gary, Florida

real nice bench you’ve got there! great way to recycle all that wood too!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
When I grow up I want to be just like Karson.

Nice job, and good finds,
Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Geez Karson, This is gorgeous! Great project.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

Nice bench, Karson.

-- jeanmarc manosque france

Wow, great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

It has to say something when the wood out shines the diamonds. That bench is really nice.

-- Andy Stark

Again I appreciate the fine and caring comments.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

your wookbench is worth a furtune. i bought fas hard maple yesterday for $2.90 bf.

-- jerryw-wva.

Very nice bench,bubinga is my favorite
Thanks Fritz

Karson

Wow, very nice and very cool looking bench, I love it.

Bob

-- Bob A in NJ

Thanks Bob.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Great bench Karson!

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

No one can beat this one!

You must have the best of all noses for sniffing out great lumber deals.

Good Luck Karson!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I’m going to drive by our 1 bowling alley every day from now on – you never know cause I doubt anyone here has 2m bd ft of maple hidden away. Great story, great use of some fine recycled wood

-- Steve, New Zealand, www.steveracz.com

Steve:

I got a phone call from a guy at the office one day saying that a bowling alley about 1 mile away was taking out one line because it was a bad lane. He told me so I could go and get it. At the time I had thought I had enough bowling alleys. So I didn’t do it.

But here in Delaware A bowling Alley went out of business and so I kept my eyes on what was going to be done to the building. I then saw some construction activity. I went by and they stated that the cost to take out the alleys was higher than building a new floor over them. So that was what they did.

I failed to ask them if I could cut out a couple of sections for no charge.

Maybe I’ll be smarter next time.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

A great example of recycling Karson. I just hope you can keep all that ‘stuff’ off the top now!:-)

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

Stewart.

It’s full of patterns for the new cabinets and parts lists. But I guess that’s good. At least I’m using it and not storing stuff.

This is a before picture.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Thanks for your views on the TS 2500ci.
Take care of your beautiful workbench. The drawers shd be in my bedroom if I ever can afford to build.

-- Regards, Woodworm - KL, MY.

another look and I’m still impressed. good one. oil that baby up !

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Thanks Dan and Woodworm.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

It just goes to show if you keep your eyes open you can find great wood cheap. Beautiful work

-- Michael A. Brailsford

Good luck in the contest Karson.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

diamonds??? wow…i am in the wrong line of work…

GREAT BENCH>>..,good luck in the contest…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...sanity...has arrived...JUNE-JULY-AUGUST...

So… now all your projects are “right up your alley”?? or is that right up on your alley…?

A perfect score. great work.

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

Now, the storing picture is what it would look like around my house if my wife had anything to do with it!!! That woman makes me look really organized!

Congratulations on your beautiful project! It is simply amazing and some very beautiful wood too!

-- John

Very nice job karson and congrats to you on your entry .It couldn,t happen to a nicer guy .

-- John in Belgrave http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

congratulations for the second places very beautiful work

-- jeanmarc manosque france

Karson,

I have a bouwling alley in my town, Cleveland MS that is getting ready to close. Any tips on how to get the floor up. It jst so happens that I have just finished my new shop and I have been looking around for just the right bench to build. I think your beautiful design would suit my needs just fine

-- Virgil Mullins

Nice work bench! I like the contrasting woods and stains. I am just getting started and I have yet to make my work bench, so I’m excited about trying all my ideas. Your bench reminded me I want a pocket under the bench top for quick storage. I may use from these old (sloppy made) cabinets and “work bench” in my 58 year old house (Our first house!). But I’m going to put all the wood through a friends plainer and jointer first to get good fits and surfaces.

-- Devin

Karson,

You do beautiful work and have a terrifc talent, but it appears your life is a mess. (LOL) If your life was organized, you would be famous.

-- Tony Friendly, FriendlyFixer

thats not a workbench…thats an executive work bench…very beautiful….one mans trash is another mans treasure…good job

-- SurferMoefoe

KARSON, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT YOUR PROJECTS AND JUST AMAZED AT THE STORY OF THE MAPLE, AND YOUR WORK BENCH IS JUST BEAUTIFUL, YOU CERTAINLY WOULD BE A GOOD TEACHER FOR ALL THE KNOWLAGE YOU HAVE AND THE PROJECTS YOU’VE DONE, IM SURE GLAD WE CAN SEE YOUR WORK AND HEAR YOUR STORYS HERE AT LJ…..YOUR AN INSPIRATION…THANKS…GRIZZMAN

-- The Grizzone