I started a new and much needed project. A workbench made from solid oak.
I’ve been focused on adding tools and equipment to my ‘shop-in-progress,’ and it’s evident that I need a good and solid workbench.
Up until now when I’ve needed a bench I have used a rickety homemade work-table (saw horses and a piece of plywood), my welding table, or the floor.
I need more surface area and a bench tough enough to handle a large six inch vise. It will be six feet long and roughly 34 inches deep.
The Plan
I will construct the entire workbench with reclaimed lumber I recovered from an old barn.
When I hauled it away, I was surprised at the sheer weight of the wood. I’m so used to working with wood from Home Depot and the like, that it has been easy to forget what old dimensional lumber is like.
After I started jointing and planing the boards for the top of the bench, I was shocked to discover that the wood was oak with a beautiful grain. I did a fingernail test on a newly planed surface and couldn’t even scratch it let alone make an impression.
After putting in a little work, the old boards turned into beautiful oak wood fit for a dining room table.
The History
To find out more about the wood (and hopefully get more) I went back to the homestead where I picked it up and spoke with the sweet old lady who offered it to me last summer. She’s a sharp 94 year old and is a real delight to talk to.
She has lived on her 100 acre plot her entire life and it is fascinating to talk to her about the past. My interest in the wood delighted her and she was happy to give me the backstory.
Evidently, her second husband was a woodworker. The old barn where I got the wood was his workshop.
Uniquely, he specialized in the installation and restoration of bowling alley lanes.
She went on to tell me that 30 or so years ago a nearby U.S. Air Force base was tearing down an old barracks building and that the wood I liked so much came from that demolition.
So I left with an interesting story and another truckload of wood, including a piece of an old bowling alley lane.
I pondered the source of the wood and like to think that the barracks was constructed during World War II to meet the needs of ever growing requirements for the war fronts in Europe and the Pacific. In any case, I’m happy to give the old wood a new purpose.
Work-in-progress photos of the project
base leg supports 
completed base 
work in progress
Work Progress
So far I’ve spent two days (about eight hours) working on the bench. On day one, I drew up the plans and cut the lumber. I spent day two building the base.
The lumber used for the base has the original rough milling marks. I may go back and clean up the surfaces with a sander or I may just leave it and enjoy the added character.
The top needs to be a relatively level and smooth surface. It’s going to take some time to prep the wood prior to install. I’d like to try to fill in imperfections with a colored epoxy. I’ve seen several YouTube videos demonstrate this to great effect and I think it looks amazing.
This new solid oak workbench will be a much needed and appreciated part of my workshop. In addition to the utility of a good bench, the history behind the project will always make it special.
I can’t wait to finish it. I’ll be sure to post photos of the final product on my projects page.
