Making A New Bench

[ccwholsters]

So I have been making Leather holsters and now some belts and accessory products. In the beginning it was a hobby now the requests have made it into a small business and my work space just isn't working. I plan to build a bench that is 6' long with a 2' slid out bench for use when seated. I have a 24"X18"X2" piece of gannet that I plan to embed into the top. So my question is what else should I be considering in this design what have you done what do you wish you had? Thank you for your input I will post pictures when it is done. BTW if you want to see some of my work feel free to go to ccw-holsters.com

Thank you again

Edited February 5, 2011 by ccwholsters

[bison]

I just finished making myself a new bench. I made it 6' long, 30" wide and 30" high. I had an old sheet of 3/4" oak plywood, so I cur a 6'x30" piece out of it, then used the waste pieces to put another layer on the bottom and screwed it to the top piece from the bottom side.. So now I have a 1-1/2" thick work surface. I made the frame separate from the top, so I could take it apart easily and move it if needed. I faced the edges with 1"x3" oak. I built the frame out of some scrap 2x6...I used three pieces the length of the table. I used some scrap 2x4 cedar to make the legs. I built them in an "L" shape and put one at each corner and one in the middle. Moved it all into the leather shop, placed the top on and secured it with a few screws and started pounding away. I have a concrete floor, so everything sits solid. No trouble with bounce anymore, even on big stamps. This spring I'll take the top off and take it outside to apply a good coat of polyurathane.

As far as what I'd do different...hard to say yet. I've only had it for about two weeks. I know I'll find something out though as I use it more. The good thing is that it's built with screws, so i can take it apart and fix whatever I don't like. In fact, the idea of insetting the granite sounds like something I might just be doing!

Good luck.

Dave

[scottishshoemaker]

Hi I made a bench for the workshop, I made three drawers at one end and a grid type section at the other to keep all the rolled leather in, its better than leather sitting ontop of each other and easier to get to. Oh and don't put your vice on the same side as your drawers. especially if the handle is long.

[tat2]

ya one really needs speace for all the hardware and tools, bench tools etc etc I went out and bought a couple Husky steel drawer storage from Home depot. I found I was better enabled to organize per product, have clicker dies and embossing dies by the press. Go big or go home really. This trade is massive and you are always buying tools and machinery. Build something high to the ceiling to hold your hardware. I use honey jars and fill them with hardware we use all the time. I have two Teachers tables, built a wooden storage for the tools I use all the time so its in front of me. Sewing machine behine hte main table for quick access. Then all my belt tools, Strap cutter, beveler etc on one table so you are not runing back and forth all the time.

I found a 8 foot table used in a childrens home, steel lages so I hold the heavier bench machines. I use my basement , my wife objected but when the moeny came in she relaxed a bit! Space is great maximize the most of what you have! Hope this helps you.

Hi I made a bench for the workshop, I made three drawers at one end and a grid type section at the other to keep all the rolled leather in, its better than leather sitting ontop of each other and easier to get to. Oh and don't put your vice on the same side as your drawers. especially if the handle is long.

[gtwister09]

Workbenches have been discussed a lot in other posts. Here are some posts to look at....

Hope they help with some ideas.

Link 1

Link #2

Link #3

Link #4

Regards,

Ben