Kelsey Motoring Discussion Forum

rpm Part of the furniture Offline Posts: 2008 Midlands Gender:	bench 29.04.12 at 21:28:17 I need a sturdy bench. Want to mount a decent vice onto it and use it as a general working/dismantling area. Thinking of building a wooden one myself, cheap and sturdy (ive done it before), but what would you top it with? Previously ive used thick plywood heavily stained, but is that the best idea? Or would you buy 1? and if so what from where etc ?
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midnight oil Part of the furniture Offline Posts: 1379	Re: bench Reply #1 - 29.04.12 at 21:37:14 howabout a kitchen worktop?im sure off cuts are available cheap! im sure i saw a bench on special offer in one of the many sealy or machinemart types publications that are posted to me!
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Nate

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Re: bench
Reply #2 - 29.04.12 at 21:39:19

depends what you're going to be doing on it. i made a good one from old scaff plank, and topped it with a sheet of stainless steel (the case from an old industrial fridge), folded round over the front so no sharp edge. that would take beating stuff with big hammers and didn't budge at all. also had a big vice and a bench grinder mounted on it. steel top is sometimes useful if you're going to be welding on it - earth clamp onto the bench and whatever is sat on the bench will be earthed. not as good as clamping on directly, but useful for tacking things together before welding them up properly.

the key is to make sure that the legs/whatever it sits on is nice and solid. mine had a 4x2 square frame, the back and one side stuck to the workshop wall with wall anchors like these

the "free" corner had a 4x2 leg bolted thru 2 sides of the frame with 6mm bolts, and a support going from the bottom diagonally up to the wall.

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rpm

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Re: bench
Reply #3 - 29.04.12 at 21:39:49

most benches are £100 for flimsy small basic thing, and 300/400 for something really decent.

Can make 1 for £30 thats the size and shape i want and is sturdy as I want, and can even be made to be braced to the wall etc.

Not sure about worktop but had thought of it, does have a decent finish to it to wipe up easy etc, and easy to replace if need to. Thanks

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All advice offered is my opinion only and not offered professionally&&Seek professional advice before undertaking any work you are unsure of

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MFK Getting on a bit Offline I Love Car Mechanics mag! Posts: 852	Re: bench Reply #4 - 30.04.12 at 13:53:11 Kitchen worktop is good for wiping down but everything slips on it which I find a nuisance. I prefer 3/4" marine ply. In work we have some benches with a sheet of thread plate on it and they work well but would be more expensive.
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Joe Public Antique Offline Posts: 17391	Re: bench Reply #5 - 30.04.12 at 15:54:17 Have a look on ebay for an ex school / college bench http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/joiners-bench-/221012558923?pt=UK_Crafts_Other_Crafts_...
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rpm Part of the furniture Offline Posts: 2008 Midlands Gender:	Re: bench Reply #6 - 30.04.12 at 20:18:52 certainly substantial and sturdy but not quite what im after, but appreciate the thinking. Still think Im going to be building 1 though, by the time I spend a day fetching 1 like that etc? If I do I will take pics and show ideas
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Joe Public

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Re: bench
Reply #7 - 30.04.12 at 21:04:52

rpm wrote on 30.04.12 at 20:18:52:

certainly substantial and sturdy but not quite what im after, but appreciate the thinking.

Still think Im going to be building 1 though, by the time I spend a day fetching 1 like that etc?

If I do I will take pics and show ideas

My dads old bench was an old oak cupboard, 4 big draws down the middle and a cupboard at each end. Bolted to the top was 3 railway sleepers with a record vice bolted to that. Not prety but a bloody usefull bench

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used car seller

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in the portakabin

Re: bench
Reply #8 - 30.04.12 at 21:07:29

Joe Public wrote on 30.04.12 at 21:04:52:

rpm wrote on 30.04.12 at 20:18:52:

certainly substantial and sturdy but not quite what im after, but appreciate the thinking.

Still think Im going to be building 1 though, by the time I spend a day fetching 1 like that etc?

If I do I will take pics and show ideas

My dads old bench was an old oak cupboard, 4 big draws down the middle and a cupboard at each end. Bolted to the top was 3 railway sleepers with a record vice bolted to that. Not prety but a bloody usefull bench

probably worth £32000 on antiques roadshow Cheesy

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without a used car seller, nobody has any work.....

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Joe Public

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Re: bench
Reply #9 - 30.04.12 at 21:13:55

used car seller wrote on 30.04.12 at 21:07:29:

Joe Public wrote on 30.04.12 at 21:04:52:

rpm wrote on 30.04.12 at 20:18:52:

certainly substantial and sturdy but not quite what im after, but appreciate the thinking.

Still think Im going to be building 1 though, by the time I spend a day fetching 1 like that etc?

If I do I will take pics and show ideas

My dads old bench was an old oak cupboard, 4 big draws down the middle and a cupboard at each end. Bolted to the top was 3 railway sleepers with a record vice bolted to that. Not prety but a bloody usefull bench

probably worth £32000 on antiques roadshow Cheesy

Not after I mixed several old cans of paint and daubed it on it wasn't Grin

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Rhubarb

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Re: bench
Reply #10 - 30.04.12 at 22:33:52

Joe Public wrote on 30.04.12 at 21:13:55:

used car seller wrote on 30.04.12 at 21:07:29:

Joe Public wrote on 30.04.12 at 21:04:52:

rpm wrote on 30.04.12 at 20:18:52:

certainly substantial and sturdy but not quite what im after, but appreciate the thinking.

Still think Im going to be building 1 though, by the time I spend a day fetching 1 like that etc?

If I do I will take pics and show ideas

My dads old bench was an old oak cupboard, 4 big draws down the middle and a cupboard at each end. Bolted to the top was 3 railway sleepers with a record vice bolted to that. Not prety but a bloody usefull bench

probably worth £32000 on antiques roadshow Cheesy

Not after I mixed several old cans of paint and daubed it on it wasn't Grin

That's called Patina Cheesy

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BigTom85 Part of the furniture Offline All the gear, no idea Posts: 1374 Northampton Gender:	Re: bench Reply #11 - 02.05.12 at 16:20:34 I knocked mine up with 3x2s and a kitchen worktop offcut. (£15 for 1.4m, B&Q). The top is lasting better than I thought it would, although I agree its a bit slippery at times. Bolted a nice big Record vice to it, job done. Definitely make one imho.
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Gd427 Tea-maker Offline Posts: 73	Re: bench Reply #12 - 02.05.12 at 19:10:05 same here, some 3x2s and a £20 worktop from ebay. Does the job nicely, ive set it at a height i find comfortable to work at too
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rpm Part of the furniture Offline Posts: 2008 Midlands Gender:	Re: bench Reply #13 - 02.05.12 at 19:15:25 Gd427 wrote on 02.05.12 at 19:10:05: same here, some 3x2s and a £20 worktop from ebay. Does the job nicely, ive set it at a height i find comfortable to work at too Thats one of the best reasons for building my own too I think, well that and the price.
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