🖼️
The project:
New workbench, to become functional and make the area tidier, have shelves for storage and solid top to work on. Replace the old home made job that had well and truly passed its use. Look at those colours….
- Materials:
Timber, I repurposed, (apologies bunnings) from a house extension, used old studs, facia boards, hardwood shorts, etc. Hence the use of the Dewalt thicknesser. Only timber I bought was the dowel to hide the timber screws
https://www.bunnings.com.au/porta-19mm-2-4m-eucalyptus-grandis-dowel_p0497518
Bench top was repurposed originally from old heavy duty pallet, really red coloured timber. Was put back through the Dewalt thicknesser.
Screws, needed length
https://www.bunnings.com.au/titan-14g-x-100mm-cl3-gal-bugle-batten-screw-25-pack_p1052133
- Tools:
Dewalt thicknesser (best spend ever)
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dewalt-330mm-1800w-corded-thicknesser-dw735-xe_p6260419
Ryobi drill and hammer drill
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-hammer-drill-impact-driver-kit-r18x2c14_p0539752
Maketa saw, used to cut timber to size as I don't have a table saw
https://www.bunnings.com.au/makita-235mm-9-1-4-circular-saw-n5900b_p6240947
spade bits for plugs to cover screws
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-6-piece-spade-bit-set_p0727599
drill bits
https://www.bunnings.com.au/sutton-tools-1-0mm-10-0mm-viper-metric-drill-bit-set-19-piece_p0589083
square
https://www.bunnings.com.au/empire-600mm-x-400mm-steel-framing-square-metric-imperial_p5667112
pencil
https://www.bunnings.com.au/bunnings-carpenters-pencil_p1036370
measuring tape
https://www.bunnings.com.au/stanley-fatmax-8m-tape-measure_p5662780
wood glue
https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-100ml-aquadhere-pva-wood-glue-interior-adhesive-100ml_p1230622
timber stain
https://www.bunnings.com.au/cabot-s-250ml-tint-base-water-based-interior-stain-250ml_p1520298
I have a pir of these, they are brillant and easy to use clamps,
https://www.bunnings.com.au/irwin-910mm-medium-duty-quick-grip-bar-clamp_p5860110
and cant forget, safety items, the ear muffs are needed for thincknesser, its loud,
glasses
https://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-clear-safety-glasses_p0401338
ear muffs
https://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-ear-muffs_p0401332
- Step 1:
First step, your design, what size do you require, what is the gap size, how will you build it, I did many measurements, came up with multiple ways to build it, many drawings, triple checking measurements, and after 6 weeks, settled on a design,
Measuring is a must,
- Step 2:
What am I going to build out of, am I buying new or using all the recyclable timber that has been taken off the house for the extension, and using some of the left overs of new timber, being 3 metre's long, the facia boards could be reused as shelves, the timber frame could be the base for the bench top, the 4 bases, (2 ends and 2 centre's) can be the new timber off cuts. All bits of timber need to be cut down to size, and run through the thickensser.
Not the same facia board off the house, but gives you an idea of where it came from,
- Step 3:
The 2 bits on LH is left over timber, the RH is once its been trimmed down, and through thicknesser, and the bits in between are the left overs, not required,
This is one of my favorite pieces from the build, it sits on my desk at work, a conversation starter, as I'm extremally proud of my handy work from a biro and computer person, its the old piece of bench frame, with off cuts as towers that it machined down to and a off cut of the shelf sitting on top.
- Step 4:
Next was to put these all together, x 4, repetitive job, clamps, screws, glue. I didn't take photos of puting these together, added this one for a reference,
- Step 5:
Once all timber was machined, I gave it a coat of cabot's interior stain, maybe should of used exterior to be a bit heavier, but looks ok, again, no photo of me staining, did one coat first up, note in nearly centre of this photo, the leg has a hidden screw, drilled a 19mm hole, and cut a short piece of 19mm dowel, and glued in place and sanded done lightly. Blends in,
- Step 6:
Cut all the shelves down to 3 meter lengths, measured up bench top base, and cut these down also. this photo shows the old bench, and timber that has gone through the thicknesser on right, which is one of the bits for shelf, and big solid length's for the bench base frame, being 50 + years in a house, they were heavy and solid. Also shows off my mess,
- Step 7:
Adding the shelves in, from bottom, to next shelf, they are screwed in place, I did countersink these, then adding the bench base, I sat the 4 bits, 2 ends, the front and rear timber on the deck, screwed together and then lifted into place, was an effort, needed another pair of muscles, HEAVY!
- Step 8:
added the top, which was reused off the old bench, as per photo with old bench, I was going to buy recycled timber salvaged from a building that was pulled down, but went with the old top which I salvaged off a big steel palled, and I am thankful I chose to reuse, as the timber for the top is in 1.6m lengths and bench bit over 3m, I have to trim and put through the thicknesser for a clean, see the newly trimmed timber vs the old when sitting side by side. I also recounter sunk the screw holes again, as the holes didnt line up, I drilled these out to 19mm again, and put dowel in place of the hole, I didnt blend, so the pine dowel's stand out a bit.
- Step 9:
Final job was to give a light sand and lick of stain, doesn't the top look lovely, too good to work on. it is now ready to use, will not move, heavy duty work bench. Solid.
- Step 10:
Whilst the Dewalt thicknesser is mentioned in the steps, I never took a photo of me using it. I ended up building a trolley that I could wheel outside when required, as mentioned, ear muffs are a must and eye protection, it spits quickly, what a unit. I'm tight at times at spending money, especially $1000, on this, but I'm so happy I did. Highly recommend.
Safety of course, I do also have a pair of gloves to avoid the splinters….
I will also add in my second favorite tool, the impact Ryobi driver, well used, but powers along and seems to be unbreakable, touchwood.
