DIY – The Work Bench

For those of you who have been following my weekly blog that I was doing twice a week, and wondering what happened. I can only say WAY too much travel. WAY to many deadlines with all of them converging on the same day. But these are excuses, the last blog I wrote that I was working weekends. I have moved beyond the weekend into the 5th dimension to try and meet all of my work-related demands. But it doesn’t end there, I still need to stay social with my family. Fortunately, I have spent every Sunday with my Dad. 

I did a tribute to Mom after her passing. I was so glad I can be here for Dad. I helped him get his GPS setup and he is on the road to visit family and friends. About a 6,000 mile trip over three months. But that’s not the focus of today’s blog. I have been working 60 plus hours and needed a break. So instead of taking a day off when I could no longer look at the computer and do architecture, I had to build a workbench. Last weekend I would escape by heading downstairs and work on a building my work bench.

Quick little back ground. My last major DYI project was a total home remodel in Plano, TX. I finished the work in June and sold the house in September. When we bought the house from a widower, it came with a nice, yet simple, wood workbench. I was planning on taking it with me when we sold the house, but the buyers really wanted it and I wasn’t sure if I would have need for one. When we bought our last home a little over two years ago, I told my myself I would build a new work bench.

Like any good Architect, I worked out the plans first. I spent a Friday evening drawing up what I wanted. Of course, I made sure it would fit and I could still park my SUV in the garage. I have three bins that I keep miscellaneous tools in. I wanted to make sure they would fit under the bench. I needed 13” clear to the bottom shelf. Then I research typical height. Since I’m on the taller side, I set the height at 36”. 

I had all of my dimensions. Now for the stability in the design. I wanted it stout. So, I did a little digging and took the best of the internet to create my design. I used 4x4 for legs, 2x4’s for the supports and ¾” plywood (sanded) for top and shelf. My material take off was pretty simple, I used good ol’ AutoCAD and determined I needed (2) 4x4, (6) 2x4 & (1) ¾ plywood plus box of 3” wood screws. I went to Home Depot (shameless plug, plus I’m hoping to get my very own reserved parking spot). At the last minute, I decided to add 2 electrical outlets. Total out the door cost was $95.00.

Brought the material home and unloaded it in the garage. Since I worked out all of the material. I broke the task down to measuring, cutting and then assembling. I would measure, then cut each time. I’m still not confident in doing all of measurements and then cutting. I’m concerned with creep and the part not being square and even. I had everything cut in about an hour. Then I went back to Architecture.

The next morning, I did the assembly in about 4 one-hour shifts. The slowdown was the electrical outlets. By Sunday morning, it was done. Then I took a couple of breaks and rearrange the garage. It was a great accomplishment, five years in the making.

This was a much-needed mental break, even in the 108-degree weather of Tucson that weekend. What speared all this. I have been wanting a table saw for 20 years. One of the Sear’s in Tucson was going out of business and they had one at almost 50% off. I got my work bench and a table saw. I’m primed to do even more DYI projects. I just need to figure out what is next, the possibilities are endless.

…and now for something completely different.
A U.S. dollar bill can be folded approximately 4,000 times in the same place before it will tear.

 

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Thursday, 28 March 2024