A BENCH THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

SHOP OWNER: Jerry Hydle

LOCATION: San Diego County, CA

This Workbench isn't a work of art but is an example of an idea for an economy bench that works. Nine years ago I was divorced and I moved back to a small house I had as a rental. Divorce is expensive but I needed a workbench. I had a few 4 x 4s, some 2 x 6s, a piece of -in. plywood, and a Record vise I had salvaged from my old bench.

I surface-planed the 2x6's and edge jointed them using biscuits into an 'L' shape and then laminated it to the plywood. I banded it on all four sides with oak. This gave me a 32" x 72" table top, including the recessed tool tray. I bored holes along the wide end for bench dogs.

I then used the 4 x 4s and 2 x 4s to make the leg base. I sized it to fit around an old bathroom cabinet that my neighbor had given me when he did a bathroom remodel. The result was a "temporary" workbench that is very sturdy and that I am still using nine years later. The total cost was about $40. The rest was salvaged lumber. It isn't like the fancy European benches but I can hammer and pound on it without having to worry about damage.