Rebuild Bench - Bench Mk.II

[BezoulaBuilds]

I have been out of pocket since June and I have a ton of catching up to do.  This summer was fulled with typical grins with the kids a nice unplugged vacation in the Adirondack Mountains New York.  In a blink of an eye summer was over and kids back in school.

Bench Rebuild
This has been stewing for some time and I am finally getting to it. My bench is a nearly 20 year old "U" shaped office desk. My job(s) were always Virtual Based which was nice as corporate/manufacturing was typically several hundred miles away and my boss equally separated. As long as I met or exceeded budget forecast I was left alone. I missed all the office drama and politics, I just cranked the sales numbers. That said, I needed a nice set up.

Years of use the "pressed wood" was beginning to warp and the joints were weak. This set up served me well for my return to modelling in 2012. I needed something bigger and everything is getting a make over

It's a complete overhaul of the ManCave:

New Bench
Acrylic Photo Table
Revised exercise area
New desk
New shelves and entertainment center

Returning to this hobby in 2012 the birth of my first bench was a consolidation of my work desk and grad school desk. Prime directive from wife was "no fumes allowed". Spray Booth installed with exhaust configuration.


Before


After


Exhaust detail. Vents mounted on 1/4" board, then installed in open window during paint sessions. Really happy with results and effectiveness.

[BezoulaBuilds]

First, I tore down Bench Mk.I and moved my desk, formally grad school desk, to kid's playroom. New desk, Ikea corner desk, is now at other side of room. 55" x 30" x 13" book cases x3 and a 40" flat screen TV, courtesy of my wife's PR firm moving across town, are on their way.

Corner desk installed to new spot across the room. Lots of tidying up to do. The new book cases will eliminate the current clutter and boxes.




Old photo table is very basic using a 48" x 24" folding table with and CFL lights.

Now it's on to the new photo table.


Photo table is plexiglass 40" x 80" (1m x 2m) I picked up from www.thelashop.com via eBay and looks like this.

This has been sitting with my stash for over 2 years and I am finally getting this set up. BTW, props to DoogsATX for the lead on this photo table. Look forward to having some base lighting and I hope my photography results will come close to his outstanding photo work.


The frame construction was a breeze. My existing photo lamps will come in handy for underside lighting. However, unrolling and installing the plexiglass to the frame is gonna be like bear wrestling. So to make it a little easier...


The plexiglass is unrolled and held down with assist of some hand weights and a weight bar. The next day I was able to wrestle the plexiglass with somewhat relative ease.


I started laying the plexiglass on the front bar and worked my way up. At the "wall" I turned the plexiglass back and secured with clamps to give it the required bend. 24 hours I will resume securing the plexiglass to the "wall".

The old bench has been dismantled. For the new bench I will build several 24" x 48" x 36" work benches.


Front view.

[Leon]

WOW....Nice redo on the man cave! Like your idea on the exhaust vents.

[BezoulaBuilds]

Nov 20, 2015 21:22:21 GMT -5 Leon said:

WOW....Nice redo on the man cave! Like your idea on the exhaust vents.

Thanks Leon.  This has been a long and drawn out process.  In the home stretch now.

Look forward to be back and participate with you guys. 

[BezoulaBuilds]

SLAPPING SOME WOOD

This has been a long road. Finally ready to start the bench build. No bench action since June and I am chomping at the bit.




#1 Pine 2 x 2 ready for staining. Will apply same stain on the plywood top and bottom shelf.




Legs and braces cut. It begins.





Leg Levelers mounted.

[BezoulaBuilds]

Bottom frame complete.


Stained plywood mounted. Next to the top.


One down one to go. Hope to finish bench #2 this weekend.


Booyeah!


Boo-fracking-yeah! Will fine tune with the Leg Levelers.


Second bench will nest to right against the wall. Same length 6' and will be about 9 inches lower to accommodate the spray booth.

[deafpanzer]

Really dig the photo table!!! We have to do something about that ugly Steelers trash can...

[wbill76]

Looks like the overhaul is in full swing! Looking good so far. Can't beat a nice level work bench.

[adt70hk]

To be honest I'd settle for your original work area without a moments hesitation!!!!

My work area is my dining room and dining room table....