DAD'S HOMEMADE WORKBENCH

For those who missed it yesterday (since I usually post it Monday), here is the latest GARDEN UPDATE.

OK, so last weekend, we had stuff moved to the barn from a storage unit.  You can read about the other things we moved out there by CLICKING HERE.  I mentioned my Dad's workbench and promised pics so here it is, a treasure for sure.  

My Dad built this from scratch.  No plans.  He just looked at some pictures in various magazines and decided to design and build his own. He spared no expense on this either.  The best wood and hardware, even going so far as to get special wheels that cost something like $50 each so that it would roll smoothly with the total weight.  You can actually push it around with one hand (they do lock in place too).  He wasn't a woodworker or carpenter by profession, this was just a hobby that he got into and he truly enjoyed it.    

Workbench top with bench dogs

The top is 8 feet from end to end. Those holes in the top are called "bench dogs". They use brass posts that go into the holes when you need them, acting as stops or guides to handle long or oddly shaped pieces of wood or whatever you are working on.  

Workbench end with shelf

On one end, he put this shelf with heavy duty support braces to hold a small tool chest or other boxes as needed...

Workbench with pegboard end

And on the other end, just to be different, he put pegboard so he could hang small woodworking tools.

On one side of the shelf end is a clamp for holding pieces of wood or other items...

And at the pegboard end is another heavy duty clamp going the other direction for the same thing.

Workbench cabinet

There are two cabinets with magnetic latching doors and adjustable shelves...

Workbench drawers

And five drawers of varying sizes to hold tools with many of them still inside as he left them.  

Since the drawers and cabinets on this side are deep (about 2/3 of the width of the bench) and wouldn't allow for the same on the other side, he did this...

Workbench shelves

Open shelving for more storage!  No space went without purpose.

He really crafted an incredible piece of furniture, something more than "just a workbench". It was finished less than a year before he passed away and when we were selling stuff in the house before my Mom moved to her apartment, a neighbor offered us $2500 for it.  It was tempting, especially at a time of loss like that, but even my Mom said no, he put a lot of love and time into this and we needed to keep it.  

We almost used this in the kitchen at the house in town but it was a tad bit too long for the space.  It would make a great kitchen island in the right kitchen for sure but thankfully, now we have the space for it in the barn to be my very own workbench. 

It will of course be the centerpiece of the workshop/barn area.  Now we just need the weather to cool down a bit so we can get out there and work on getting things arranged and put up. 

Thank you Dad!  

We'll put it to good use!