New loading bench setup

[vmwerks]

Sooo it warped!!





You can see the end of the bench in the lower photo.. it's warped badly.

[SDawson]

Did you seal the top surface only? Looks like the bottom may have absorbed some moisture and expanded.

[vmwerks]

Did you seal the top surface only? Looks like the bottom may have absorbed some moisture and expanded.

I only varnished the top... It sucks ***... I put a ton of work into it

[waxer]

So can't you do the same to the dry side so it'll warp back the other way to compensate?

Otherwise, anyone else trying this in the future... make sure to seal both sides at the same time to avoid this!!

[Jet Setter]

That is a great setup. Looking forward to getting the space to set up my very own.

[vmwerks]

Love the way it came out with the resin. I have a MDF top for my bench, so you think the resin would work or is that too porous?

This top had tight grain and it sucked up the varnish. My other work space is MDF and I left it alone. After what happened to mine I wouldn;t want to varnish a very porous top.

So can't you do the same to the dry side so it'll warp back the other way to compensate?

Otherwise, anyone else trying this in the future... make sure to seal both sides at the same time to avoid this!!

I think we're assuming that's what happened aren't we? I'm not sure myself... I took a 2x4 and screwed it under the top at the edge and it pulled a little straighter.. maybe it will relax? idk, I'm NOT a wood guy!

[vmwerks]

I've been waiting for the spar varnish to set up. It seemed ready so I fabbed up the substructure from 2x4's. I ran two beams across the cabinets and will make shelves for the center. Again the theme is modularity and simplicity... I nocthed the 2x4's to straddle the lip on top of the cabinets for a tight fit then screwed the top to the beams. Consequently I removed the 2x4 from the end of my butcher block top and 95% of the warp has gone out of it..

Gunsmithing will be done on the left end of the bench and reloading on the other.

[bruceflinch]

Impressive! Nice job!

[astars450]

very nice bench for sure.

[Hallx7]

Great looking setup

[Intimid8tor]

Where did you score those cabinets from?

[vmwerks]

Where did you score those cabinets from?

I got them from Fastenal... they were listed in the sales flyer for a ridiculous price on closeout. They were somewhere south of $150 each...

I'm going to finish the shelving tomorrow and rethink my wall units..

[astars450]

Are you still offering your old bench and if so where are you located?

Thanks everyone, my dad was one helluva a great guy and he taught me everything I know.



I'm a road cyclist but I've got a TT bike.. currently unassembled.
The Arione, for me, is the best saddle ever made.



The Ikea top was $169, it looks great and is strong as hell. I am coating it with 5 coats of spar varnish. I dropped the idea of using the thick epoxy coating, I'd have goofed it up. I've got my old bench with a butcher block top, its free to a good home. It's about 5'x24" and has a few drawers etc.

[vmwerks]

Are you still offering your old bench and if so where are you located?

Sorry it's gone..

Finished up the shelving.. I decided to create a 2 level 36" shelf and leave the other side open. I'm not happy with the "bulkiness" of the shelf brackets I made from 2x4's. I'm going to use 1"x1" angle iron instead.. that way I can remove the shelf if I need to. I also re-mocked up the press to check for clearance. I will move my metal bakers rack and the work bench on the right too.

The bikes will also get moved to the right side of the garage so that I'll have room for lighting etc.

[Whiterabbit]

GREAT cabinets and a GREAT price. I am jealous for SURE.

So your table warped. No biggie. Take it to a job shop and have them plane it flat.

A cabinet shop will have a tool called a time saver that would make fast work of this. It's a massive massive belt sander.

Just let the tabletop acclimate in your shop for 6 months then take it down and have it flattened. Then refinish and move on with your life.