Old workbench "restoration"?

I want a workbench. A proper workbench.

However, I don't want to make one. I have good reason for this.

I have noticed that a seller on Gumtree makes Tassie oak workbenches in a nice, solid design for $700-800, which seems very reasonable. My other option - which I am investigating - is to purchase a very old "vintage" cabinet-maker's bench and "restore" it.

There are a few around, but of particular interest is this one:

Attachment 257561

Not in wonderful condition, as you can see, and the vice would likely need to be removed, along with the shelving. I may need to replace the front skirt as well. However, this was once a professional cabinet-maker's bench, so chances are it's well made and of solid timber.

I'd use my Dawn 9" quick release as a tail vice and drill dog holes, if need be. I'd also flatten the benchtop at least.

What do you guys think? I've never really seen reference to anyone "restoring" an old bench.

Incidentally, I'm aware that this bench may be a dud - this photo isn't much to go off. I'll inspect it shortly.

Eddie,
A bench has to be able to suit the kind of work you want to do so start by thinking about that and then figure out what features it needs to have. That bench has the old "look" but does not look all that handy to me and not particularly well made. It may have been top shelf to start with but rebuilds over the years have been average. That shelf thingy is not part of it and is filling up the well so taking away more of its usefullness. By the time you flatten it, add an end vice and other bits and bobs it will no longer have that "look" so unless it is almost free I would not want to spend too many dollars on it. I cant even see from the pic if it has a stop to plane against and that is a vital feature in a bench. As you have a dawn vice already that is best suited as a front vice look at some recycled timber dealers and get wood for a bench for a few hundred dollars, A lot less than 7 or 8 hundred for the ready made. There is a thread on here about rebuilding a bench but still almost as much work as a new one. That old bench did have a nice old looking vice screw so if you scored that at a good price then it could be put to use. Sounds a bit brutal but that is the way I see it.
Regards
John

Hi John,

I agree that it will be a lot of work, and that it won't have the "look" once I'm done. The shelf does not belong to the bench.

The bench is heavy and doesn't wobble, the vice works - although it is admittedly pretty crap. Everything is nice and square. The front apron certainly needs replacement sooner or later.

I have decided to buy it. It will cost me less than the sash clamps I'd need to build a new bench, which I do still intend to do. I just don't want to build a bench without a bench. Possible but extremely frustrating. This isn't a masterpiece of fine woodworking - far from it - but it seems like a good way to start.

Of course, I may feel differently upon trying to actually use the thing...

Eddie,
If the price is right then it has potential. I just did not see it being worth spending a lot of money on up front as it still needs a lot doing to it. Have you looked at this thread.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f213/o...kbench-158196/
Gives some idea of the work involved.
Anyhow post pics when you get it. I would like to see that vice screw close up. A rebuild is as good to watch as a new build and with the collective wisdom on this site something good can be made of it.
Regards
John

Oh wise ones, why would I ever disregard your advice? Why?

Bought it, looked at it more carefully, sold it. :no:

I didn't lose any money on it, which is nice. The new owner wants to use it for a sideboard, for which it is much better suited. (Although why you'd want a thing like that in your house I don't know - but who am I to judge?)

I have however found (hopefully) several solutions to the lack of sash clamps plaguing my plans to build a Roubo sort of thing, so I've no longer got an excuse not to give it a go. Although I have a few more saws to sharpen first...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

I didn't lose any money on it, which is nice.

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:2tsup:

Quote:

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(Although why you'd want a thing like that in your house I don't know - but who am I to judge?)

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Take loaf of bread and clamp in vice.
Are we crosscutting - probably want a 12pt I'd say - or ripping, in which case you could get away with a 6pt or 7pt saw.
:q
Paul