PEPPIE'S 4th BUILD

[Frankie]

Wonderful stuff Peppie!

I typed up a response last night here and fell asleep at the keys LOL! Work has been tough lately.

Thanks for all the pictures and explanations. It is helping a lot to see how certain things are done.

I love that bench. Did you build it Pep? Do you have any drawings of a good workbench like that that I could build from? I am really liking the built in side clamps.

 

[Peppie]

Thanks Frank,
I hope my posts will help anybody attempt a procedure or project they are not sure about. Woodworking is not as difficult as most think it is.

My bench is my pride and joy. I built it to last several life spans. So far no one in our family has an interest in wood working. I am alittle concerned what will happen to it when I am no longer around. You cant just go to the store and buy one like this.
I got the idea from a book called "THE WORKBENCH" It is published by Taunton Press. It is a very informative book. Well worth the $ spent on it. The book covers many different types of workbenches and how they are made, In detail. If you are in the market for building a bench This book is a must.
Mine is based on a Shaker style bench with a few personal changes. After using in the past 15 yrs I wouldnt change a thing.

Thanks for the replies all

Peppie

 

[Peppie]

I got a little done in the shop today.
I took the door panel out of rhe press. Came out nice and flat, and a good bond, no bubbles.

Some work with the scraper to get rid of the glue seep.

I made a full size pattern of the stand front to make sure I get the new face frame spot on. You can barely see the lay out lines

With all the pieces cut to size I will connect them with biscuits. It doesnt need to be structural cause it will be attached to the stand

You can see that the side pieces are short, I loaned out my only board stretcher a year ago and it was never returned. I will have to put a piece of trim over it.

Under the clamp pressure for a couple of hours. Every thing is flush and square.

 

[user 2204]

Very nice work Peppie. Love the quality of the workbench. I've been looking at doing some upgrades to my bench sometime soon.

The aquarium build looks like it will be awesome once complete.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[TJL]

Thats one sweet workbench you have Dave, nicer than most peoples livingroom furniture. The canopy and stand re-vamp are truely becoming pieces of Art.

Cheers, Todd

 

[Peppie]

Alex, thanks. I hope to put some finish on the hood section this coming weekend. The stand face lift still has a lot of work yet.


Todd, thank you, I have heard that before about the bench. Just goes to show you something functional can look good. lol
the revamp is taking way to long in opinion. Thanks for work getting in the way.

 

[Peppie]

Now that the linseed oil has dried, it is time for a finish. I used cut 320 grit ( that is when you rud the sand paper together to dull the grit) to sand everything to be finished. Blow off the parts with compressed air and wipe it down with a tack cloth.

I will use a Satin Poly for the first two coats (sanding with cut 400 grit between coats)

For the last two coats I will use "Franks Semi Gloss" Thanks Frank

 

[Peppie]

I will take a break from woodworking in this post. Some people want the money shot. lol I cant give you the finished Full Tank Shot yet but here is a sneak peek of the inside.
Placement of the platforms will be determined when all the rock and the transfer is final.

 

[Peppie]

As you can see I will need to recruit a photographer to take the finished build pictures

 

[Frankie]

That's is some very wonderful work Peppie. You should be proud!

Thanks for the book advice. I will see if I can order it. Been looking to build a real workbench like that for some time now.

How did the water borne finish grab the wipe on poly? I have not tried to use it on oils like that yet. It bonds to polyurethane well if scuffed good but I am not to sure about tongue oils or wipe ons yet.

BTW, that is one hell of a rockscape!!

 

[Peppie]

Thanks Frank
The Linseed oil was cut 50 50 with mineral spirits and let to dry for about a week. Then I scuffed the surface with 320. Cleaned all the dust, then applied the Min Wax Poly, 2 coats. After that set for 8 hours I scuffed again with cut 400 grit, cleaned and applied your finish. It took and grabbed very well. I applied your stuff over the linseed oil on the side table for my daughter and it work out great. Be sure to let the oil dry before applying your finish.

Sorry to say I lent my Workbench book out and never got it back. I would have gladly sent it out to you. You will get tons of info from it.

I needed to use as much space as possible in my tank to place corals. Just stacking rocks was not going to cut it. I am pleased on how it turned out. Better yet it is not permanent, I know I will change things around in the future.

 

[Peppie]

Alittle shop work today. I cleaned up all the stand panels with the scraper and got them ready for the stain.

This is a water base dye. It will penetrate better than the pigment stains you get at the local box store. It is also very easy to adjust the color. Just add more water or add more stain.

Notice how the figure pops when you swap the panels end for end

 

[eww]

OOOOOOOH!!! I hope you didn't get anything on your work bench... :fear:

That grain looks .... like WOW! Nice stuff Dave.

 

[Peppie]

Thanks Eric,
No I didnt spill any on the bench.
I have had that veneer sitting around for about 4 years. Glad I didnt use it on something else. It will make a great accent.

 

[TJL]

WOW! Is right Dave, I must get down to see this in person as am sure the pics don't do it justice.

Cheers, Todd

 

[user 2204]

Looking awesome Peppie. Just curious as to why Minwax and not something like Arm-R-Seal or Waterlox for the wipe on poly?

Cheers,
Alex

 

[Peppie]

Thanks Todd, I will have you and your wife down for a dinner when it is all done. Your right pics just gives you an idea of what it looks like.

Alex. The Wipe on Poly is used for just a couple base coats to help fill some of the pours and give me a much smoother surface to apply the Semi Gloss product that Frankie sent me.
And yes, Alex you will also have the same invite

 

[user 2204]

THx Peppie, sounds awesome and would love to see your set up along with that very nice workbench. I kind of figured that you used the wipe on poly as a base.

 

[Peppie]

That Min-Wax Wipe on is so easy to work with.

 

[akunochi]

Got to see this in progress yesterday....yes it is really THAT nice LOL.