I have the once in a lifetime opportunity to build a workbench in our new house. The room deven has its own closet. Any suggestions. I will measure my sitting height. Its the surface I need advce on. I do have a cat who gets curious-sometimes.
I would make a bench of regular writing desk height. The chair must be with adjustable height so you set it as you please.
AGREE! I left my old chair behnd. Shipping 1,000+ miles is expensive.
use a light color laminate. Then put a GREEN cutting mat over it. 
I think a white with some speckle on it. the walls are s ahede of white with Plenyu of daylight. Hardfloors not carpeting. I'll get a larger cutting mat. Focus ;ighting will be fun.use a light color laminate. Then put a GREEN cutting mat over it.
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35 years ago I moved to Duluth to begin a new job and decided to have a house built for me. This gave me the opportunity to take over half of a walkout basement for a workshop.
I have two workbenches in my shop. For one intended for rough work, I used 2”x6” lumber, edge to edge. I faced this with a piece of particle board. MDF would work just as well. The idea being that In time, the surface could easily be removed and replaced. I have never replaced it. The bench has two vises; a large machinist vice and a cabinet makers vise. Both are used with me standing up.
The other bench is used for model making. For this I repurposed a bench made by the contractor for displaying house plans. I made a new top by first making 2”x4” frame that included cross pieces within. I then faced BOTH the top annd bottom with MDF. This balances the top to prevent warping from humidity changes. I took care to level the top. As a final check, a golf ball works for this. I painted the top with ordinary grey enamel. I also buried brass inserts on a grid pattern into the top. These thread into drilled holes. A hole in the insert is threaded for a 1/4” NC machine screw. These are handy for mounting things onto the top. The permanently mounted vise on this bench is the right height for use sitting down.
I should add that I do not use an office type swivel chair. The engineering department where I worked prior to moving to Duluth was outfitted with drafting stools. When these became surplus, I bought one for a few dollars. I later discovered that it was originally US Navy property! The company had owned and operated a shipyard that built LSTs during WWII.
I have two workbenches in my shop. For one intended for rough work, I used 2”x6” lumber, edge to edge. I faced this with a piece of particle board. MDF would work just as well. The idea being that In time, the surface could easily be removed and replaced. I have never replaced it. The bench has two vises; a large machinist vice and a cabinet makers vise. Both are used with me standing up.
The other bench is used for model making. For this I repurposed a bench made by the contractor for displaying house plans. I made a new top by first making 2”x4” frame that included cross pieces within. I then faced BOTH the top annd bottom with MDF. This balances the top to prevent warping from humidity changes. I took care to level the top. As a final check, a golf ball works for this. I painted the top with ordinary grey enamel. I also buried brass inserts on a grid pattern into the top. These thread into drilled holes. A hole in the insert is threaded for a 1/4” NC machine screw. These are handy for mounting things onto the top. The permanently mounted vise on this bench is the right height for use sitting down.
I should add that I do not use an office type swivel chair. The engineering department where I worked prior to moving to Duluth was outfitted with drafting stools. When these became surplus, I bought one for a few dollars. I later discovered that it was originally US Navy property! The company had owned and operated a shipyard that built LSTs during WWII.
I'll study your email. There's plenty to digest. When my furniture arrives I can make some decisions. I'm making a list of ideas. Maybe I'll rough start a ship(Constitution) to see how and where things fit.
Number one should be a source of great lighting. I built a recent hobby area for my second home and fitted the underside of the cabinets with bight stip COB LED lights. Of course a number of electrical outlets are vital. I use magnetic strips from Harbor Freight that are screwed above the workbench to secure most of my tools. An area to hang sheets of plans would be desirable also. for my primary workspace I use a piece of corion that was cut out of a big slab where they installed a large kitchen sink. The piece was surplus and given to me. I even had them glue corion feet to it with felt on the bottom. On top of that goes my required green cutting board. The corion is level and very solid. I have a separate area for my paint booth and airbrush.
The room walls are white, Lotsa daylight from the window, no cabinets on walls so plans go on my right as I look out the window, plenty outlets. All hard flooring. I'm gonna need lamps for close work. I like the magnetic strips idea. I'll look around for corion or similar product for the 'bench'. There's room for a layout bench also. Gotta get power strips. I'm thinking of starting a model to test where I put things.
Drafting stool?
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Well, the important parts have been said and I fully agree.
- main bench: table height is best, as most of the work will be done sitting down
- if you have room, a small bench, perhaps on rollers, with a height for standing will make sense. I have one for those things better done standing up.
- lots and lots of light. I have tube lights against the ceiling and some LED left and right at lower level
For the bench top I have two covers. One is some hard composite with a cutting mat on top. But on the other one I put a glass plate I found at the second chance corner of Ikea. That's tough semi white at something like 60 cm x 120 cm. Really handy when you need a straight and level hard surface or when you want to have an easy clean.
- main bench: table height is best, as most of the work will be done sitting down
- if you have room, a small bench, perhaps on rollers, with a height for standing will make sense. I have one for those things better done standing up.
- lots and lots of light. I have tube lights against the ceiling and some LED left and right at lower level
For the bench top I have two covers. One is some hard composite with a cutting mat on top. But on the other one I put a glass plate I found at the second chance corner of Ikea. That's tough semi white at something like 60 cm x 120 cm. Really handy when you need a straight and level hard surface or when you want to have an easy clean.
I'll take a look around for one. My arthritis(I'm 74/artillery veteran) bothers me some. I don't want to wear the back brace I have but I'm willint to try anything.
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Corian Benchtop? My work habits are such that my bench tops take a beating and I often need to fasten things to it. For example, a hot soldering iron needs something to restrain it or it becomes dangerous. I have a cheap Menards soldering iron holder that I screw down to the bench top. My bench top also gets splattered with paint, layout dye, etc. It’s easy to lightly sand it and repaint.
Roger
Roger
I'm on the lookout for such as corian. Being new to the state(our move was 1,190 miles) I have to scope things out. Have yet to find a model store or the local scale moelers' group.
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Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes, but unfortunately not 10,000 ship modelers. Here in Duluth, although we’re on Lake Superior, everything takes a back seat to hockey. We do have a very well done maritime museum and two museum ships in the harbor. As the largest harbor on the Great Lakes it’s a great place to to watch ships arrive and depart. (Actually Great Lakes ships are referred to as Boats regardless of their size).
The first weekend in November, the local maritime museum association hosts a maritime history conference (google Gales of November Conference.)
When you get settled in your new home, Duluth is worth a visit. It’s about a 2-1/2 hour drive from Burnsville on I-35.
Roger
The first weekend in November, the local maritime museum association hosts a maritime history conference (google Gales of November Conference.)
When you get settled in your new home, Duluth is worth a visit. It’s about a 2-1/2 hour drive from Burnsville on I-35.
Roger
I just relocated to South Carolina from the Twin Cities area. Need help with my handicapped son. I, too, am curious there are not more moel ship buiders. Minnesota has a long history in itrs relation with the Great Lakes.
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Oh, I saw Burnsville, MN and thought that you were moving TO there. As people down there used to say to me during my days meeting with customers, “Boy! You’re a long way from home!” Anyhow, I’m sure that being there will make a real positive difference in your son’s life.
Fair winds and calm seas.
Roger
Fair winds and calm seas.
Roger
When my son was flying in the regional airlines, he used to fly in to Duluth, he loved going down to watch the boats. He has moved on to bigger planes, bigger routes, and bigger cities, but he still says "Dad we should go up to Duluth sometime and watch the ships come in."
Jeff
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My son is severely/profounbdly(physically/mentally) handicapped. Age 46. Here we have famiky to help. I expect more time to build ships. My goal is ModelExpo Constitution and Charles Morgan, JoTiKa's Agamemnon and Victory.
I bought a very bright task light that I move wherever it is needed (glass setup area, drill press, oscillating sander, lathe, mini-saw, etc).
It simply clamps on the shelf that runs the length of the workshop. I have a few small hooks to hang the cord so it stays out of the way.
