I lost the original post about workbenchs, but here is a nifty idea
worth considering.
As one who lived in a duplex for 6 years, my neighbor had the right
idea. Everything was centered around two of those folding Workmates with
the top that has operable jaws. A decent sized bench top was constructed
from 7 2x6s, about 5 feet long, laid side by side. These were carriage
bolted to 3 evenly spaced 2x6s that ran perpendicular underneath. A thin
sheet of masonite was glued over the 2x6 top to make it smooth.
To use the bench, the workmates were clamped onto the end cleats that
held the top boards together. I hope you can visualize this...This top
was extremely sturdy, and when done for the day, he took off the top,
leaned it against the building under the overhang for some weather
protection, and took the workmates inside.
When I was about to move out, he had acquired a third workmate at a
garage sale along with some other items. He was bolting a vise and a
bench grinder onto a couple of 2x4s that were glued and screwed
together. When he needed either one, he would just clamp the wooden base
he had attached to each into the workmate.
Very sturdy, portable, easy to assemble and disassemble. The Workmates
were the highest cost item, but after having used one myself, I think it
is one of the handiest gadgets to have in the garage for all types of
odd jobs.
Chris Rogers
'64 and '66B
|