Thread: Opinion On Work Bench For Sale

Hi Jarred,

From the photos it appears to be fairly low and perhaps a little small. The construction methods don't look to be anything particularly flash, with simply bolted on rails. Not to say this is an issue but it doesn't come across as an older handcrafted example of a workbench.

That being said there is most likely $150 worth of timber in it alone and it would be good for a starter. My bench is made of slabs of thick chipboard and it has lasted 10+ years already, although I don't personally consider the workbench to be of the greatest importance (Hey it works ok for me!).

Perhaps have a look and if you feel it will suit your requirements it may be a good buy.

Cheers

Stinky.

I agree with the comments, the construction is very basic but a bench is a bench, you can make your dream bench on this bench and then give it to a mate or sell it again for .....mmm $150? and if you are just starting out then go for it. There is definatley $150 worth of timber in the bench so I don't think you could go wrong.

It looks like it has room to fit a bolt on traveling dog as well.

What are the dimensions?

It looks like the sort of thing that should be sitting in one of those trendy arty farty shops with stuffed toys & teddy bears sitting on it.

It would also go nicely on the veranda next to the BBQ.

If you are going to use it as a work bench it may be good to plate the back & at least one side of the legs with a sheet of ply cut to fit to stop it from racking.
Those bolted lap joints are NOT the most steadfast joints around.

Bit hard to go wrong for $150 surely? If it was in Brisbane, I'd be fighting you for it, just for the vice! I think you'd easily resell it for $150 if you don't like it.

Go for it! And post a report after you've got it and used it.

BTW, the quickest way to fix racking on a bench like that is to fix a sheet of 19mm ply to the back and sides of the base with a dozen or so screws down each leg.

As the others say the wood is worth the $150. Cant see how the vice is constructed but it is a bench to start with. If that is a wood screw vice then it can be saved to go in your next bench
Regards
John

As something to get started on this looks great and for $150 it's cheaper than my first bench that I'm nearly finished building.

Having taken close to a year to go from design to nearly finished building (mostly I'm just lazy, but I'll blame it on having a 1 year old) I really think that we often spend a bit to much time overthinking the whole workbench thing as a new woodworker. Having been through alot of this thinking what I would recomend is pretty much any reasonbly staable flat surface with some kind of vice, don't be too picky and then start to build something. Once you've spent a few years of weekend projects you should understand what you want in a bench and also have the skills and tools to make a much better equiped bench that will serve you well.

All in all to sum up, your not going to make anything if you spend all your time trying to refine an ideal solution, and remember the japanese do almost all of their work sitting on the floor with miniture sawhorses so while a bench is helpful it's certainly not necessary to produce fine work.

Originally Posted by Mr Big

As something to get started on this looks great and for $150 it's cheaper than my first bench that I'm nearly finished building.

Having taken close to a year to go from design to nearly finished building (mostly I'm just lazy, but I'll blame it on having a 1 year old) I really think that we often spend a bit to much time overthinking the whole workbench thing as a new woodworker. Having been through alot of this thinking what I would recomend is pretty much any reasonbly staable flat surface with some kind of vice, don't be too picky and then start to build something. Once you've spent a few years of weekend projects you should understand what you want in a bench and also have the skills and tools to make a much better equiped bench that will serve you well.

All in all to sum up, your not going to make anything if you spend all your time trying to refine an ideal solution, and remember the japanese do almost all of their work sitting on the floor with miniture sawhorses so while a bench is helpful it's certainly not necessary to produce fine work.

I completly agree with this sentiment. I started out not to long ago and I found myself stressing about all the options there are to make a workbench. The bench I am using to build my dream bench is more that adaquate to do most functions. Its built from construction grade pine with three 3/4 inch skins of ply and MDF with a quick release Groz vice ($100) and a few veritas dogs...... It really is a terrific little bench and I can actually see myself using it as my assembly table/2nd workbench.

As Chris Swharz writes in his book - a bench can be two saw horses and an old door!

Good luck

mILO

G'day Jarred.

Nice to see another Crow Eater on here, we're a bit out numbered.

It does look a little low, but you can always stick some feet on it, & I think the possibility & solution to racking has been well addressed.

You gotta start somewhere mate, it may as well be with a bench.

My first wood working buy was a set of Stanley Chisels & a Ryobi CMS.

You may build yourself a better bench one day or you may find it is fine & invest your time & money in machines & projects.

Good Luck Mate


Steve

Originally Posted by Ticky

G'day Jarred.

It does look a little low, but you can always stick some feet on it, & I think the possibility & solution to racking has been well addressed.

You gotta start somewhere mate, it may as well be with a bench.

My first wood working buy was a set of Stanley Chisels & a Ryobi CMS.

You may build yourself a better bench one day or you may find it is fine & invest your time & money in machines & projects.

Good Luck Mate


Steve

Exactly! Steve expressed all the sentiments in that its Ok and might just see out all those projects.
It is all that you need without going to major expense at least to kick off with.
It looks solid enough and as has been expressed worth the timber alone in it.

Cheers