rhoads56 Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Im currently moving into a new factory, ten times larger than my previous workspace. Will need to section half of it off, because it really is TOO big. While im in the process of moving, im going to build some new benches to work on. Im interested to see some of the ideas people have come up with for working on guitars, or any musical instruments really. So, lets see them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 "Shopstands" with vises on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 (edited) Mine is really simple. It's a sjöbergs http://www.brsjoberg.se/eng/hyvelframe.asp 1550S with the added cabinet and drawers for all the heavy work like planning, sanding, routing and so on. It is very traditional in Europe. And then like 4 meters of a simple chipboard bench I made myself for assembly, electronics work and so on. My shop is small but I might be able to expand soon. Edited September 28, 2006 by SwedishLuthier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 (edited) They sell these sjoberg benches in Australia at Carba-Tec. They sure look real nice but I definitely don't have $1000AUD for that same model you've got. It looks to me like I could build a duplicate for less than $500, my free time is worth a lot less than the leftover $500 Here's my cheap-ass bench. 3 layers of 17mm plywood top -51mm top- All coming from a 2400X1200 sheet. Pine legs and Tasmanian oak for the front clamping part. About $200 for the wood and a $100 carbatec vice. $300 is all I could afford at the time. If I would've known that plywood wasn't flat though, I would have used MDF or particle board for the top So that bench will probably become second fiddle to a second one made out of hardwood when I finally move in my new house. Edited September 28, 2006 by Phil Mailloux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 (edited) I don't really have a shop, but got a sturdy bench outside that my neighbor picked up from a reno job. Its basic 2X4 frame construction with storage space inside. I built the awning and sliding doors. I also nailed down galvanized sheeting on the bench surface and installed a heavy duty vise. Of course, I did not have building guitars in mind at the time. I pretty much do everything on that bench. This is where it all happens, . Edited September 28, 2006 by Southpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibanez_crazy Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 I just remodeled my kitchen...so I am in the process of making my garage into a workshop using the old cabinets. +1 soapbar I have 3 foldable shopstands with clamping tops I use as portable workstations. Clamp in a belt sander, band saw, bodies, necks...etc and I am free to move it wherever I need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted September 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 nice, but all too small. Im thinking 5 metres just for repairs, another 2 x 4 metres, plus a 2.4m x 1.2m for routing (or two). Want to start up the guitar making courses again, i think, so i have to accomodate them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Alex Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 While I'm sure you know this, thought I should remind you, just incase you forgot. Take the measurements you think you need, and add several metres. You can NEVER have enough bench space. I have 2 x 1.8m benches, and a 4m one. And I only JUST manage now that I've added a 2m bench to the collection, which doubles as shelving under it. You'll always need more space, its that bloody murphy fella again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Mailloux Posted September 28, 2006 Report Share Posted September 28, 2006 Perry, let me draw your attention to the new "musical instruments" forum on the Aussie woodworker's forum. Have a look at the second post here for a nice luthier's workbench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted September 29, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 yeah saw that one when the fellow first posted it Phil. Its a real nice unit he has there! I guess what i was looking for was inovative ideas that people have used to solve small space issues, and then duplicate that in a larger scale. I plan on having entire benches setup for specifc tasks, eg: neck shaping, inlay, electronics. Almost like a production line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n8rofwyo Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 The three large factors that affect the functionality of any shop - of nearly any size - seem to be: Ability to keep it clean Mobility of tools to accomodate affore mentioned as well as to streamline production of multiple process' at any given time Positioning of tools to facilitate immediate use, clean up, and storage - again improving productivity I run five benches in the shop and each has a purpose (generally none of them being hobby guitar building). Each bench has a storage area underneath for the tools most commonly used at that bench. This allows me to stop toting tools from one end of the shop to the other and localizes my activity, thus allowing me to increase my productivity. I should clarify that I don't own five woodworking benches; 1 torsion box for flat assembly, 1 router bench, 1 "clean" bench for fine work, (would love to turn this into a down draft!) 1 catch all bench that accumulates all the odds and ends tools 1 woodworking bench set up standard with fore vice, tail vice, bench dogs, and stop block My personal preferance is to mount my benches on castors so they can be easily moved to allow for cleaning, or simply to put them in an order that speeds up my production on any given invoice. I know this is all pretty basic, but then most of the things we do to increase profit are, so.... Take it easy, and congrats on the new digs. Nate Robinson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted September 29, 2006 Report Share Posted September 29, 2006 My table saw is my workbench. All my work that requires a FLAT surface is done there. I'll post pictures of the work table my dad and I built soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doeringer Posted October 2, 2006 Report Share Posted October 2, 2006 +10 to the ability to keep it clean. I have two benches one is 3ft x 16 ft the other is 3ft x 20 ft. I only have one desktop tool and that is a small sander. With two of us in the shop, sometimes we wind up with a 2x3 area each, then we stop and put things away and clean again. (wash, rinse, repeat). Everything else has a floor stand and we have a large paint booth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexybeast Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 Here's the whole thing. Nothing fancy and a little messy, but I love it. I had to give up a bunch of counter space to put stuffi n the garage, so I have to keep moving piles of parts and wood, but for the most part it's a decent workshop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord-of-the-strings Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 Mine's a two 2 1/2' deep by 10' benches, one with all my hand tools on it and one with a jigsaw, beltsander, and bandsaw at the end. I should really get around to cleaning them up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biliousfrog Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 just stumbled across this thread, sorry to dig it up but just wanted to share something my Dad mentioned yesterday. It may be of use, might not....My dad is a sheet metal worker & his boss has recently been buying old hospital beds to convert into benches. Initially the guys in the workshop thought that he'd gone mad but apparently they're brilliant & he's now selling them to garages & workshops in the area. They have rails that can be used to clamp stuff to, lock-able wheels so that they can be moved easily & hydraulic lifts that can lift up to 20 stone. Local garages have been using them for motorbike repairs, they can be lowered, bike wheeled on & then raised to eye-level for servicing. The rails can be used for attaching sliding saws, routers etc. as well as additional work surfaces that can be moved out of the way for certain jobs. They're most useful as mobile benches but I just thought that I'd share that info with you in case it could be of use. In the UK beds are replaced almost every year apparently so there's a good supply of secondhand ones if you know where to look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The royal consort Posted December 26, 2006 Report Share Posted December 26, 2006 Sounds like an idea... So where do I have to look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desopolis Posted December 28, 2006 Report Share Posted December 28, 2006 +1 on where to look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biliousfrog Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 I'll try to find out where he's getting them from. I did a quick google & there's a few places that sell them for home carers...there's also a few on ebay (UK). The problem with the ones I've found so far is that they're being sold as working beds so they're in better condition than they need to be & are more expensive (+£200). Here's an example: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hospital-Bed-Includi...1QQcmdZViewItem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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