Popular Post B. Brinkley Posted January 19, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 Since my retirement, I have been spending more time in my shop this year. Here are some photos of my shop and bench. "Benchzilla" has given me about 10 years of faithful service so far. I built it using M&T frames and raised panel construction and it weighs about 300lbs. It is just over 4x8 ft. as I also use it as an out-feed table. It has it's own electrical circuit and a dedicated panel with hidden outlets under the ledges. It also has a small built-in air compressor to run my brad guns. Still, I am gradually gravitating back towards an emphasis on hand tools. I have built boats and airplanes in here as well as some furniture of which I still have much to learn. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chestnut Posted January 19, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 That looks like an awesome space. Also that's a massive table. I can't imagine the amount of stuff i could pile on top of there to avoid putting it away. 4 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnDi Posted January 19, 2019 Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 Beautiful shop. I could live in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted January 19, 2019 Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 Nice shop. My bench is 36x74 because of what I build most times. A base with draws and open storage would work for me. Like the idea of a small air compressor under the bench. Im kind of wondering why your router table top has holes drilled in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Brinkley Posted January 19, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2019 19 minutes ago, mat60 said: Nice shop. My bench is 36x74 because of what I build most times. A base with draws and open storage would work for me. Like the idea of a small air compressor under the bench. Im kind of wondering why your router table top has holes drilled in it. Mat the router table is built into my 4x8 Paulk assembly table. It has dog holes in it to clamp stuff like face frames for cabinets etc. It's a torsion box design and he did a nice job of designing it for what it is used for. There is way to much resonant bounce though for chisel work though. I do the hand tool work on my main bench which has nearly zero bounce. My main bench top is two layers of 3/4 MDF laminated together and then another piece of 1/2" birch ply is used for the top surface for a total thickness of 2". I have oak trim strips around the edges of the plywood for edge protection. The plywood is screwed down with #10 x 1 1/4" silicon bronze flathead screws around the perimeter so that it can be easily replaced. I use my benches hard so when it gets ratty over time I can just pop in a new sheet when needed. It has a workman type of finish using BLO and beeswax for stain protection. (mostly anyway ) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted January 20, 2019 Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 Nice digs B. I long for the next phase of my career (getting out of it ). Your work area has that comfortable inviting atmosphere I enjoy so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted January 20, 2019 Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 15 hours ago, B. Brinkley said: I have built boats and airplanes in here Very nice shop, but the important question is which airplanes?! Got a photo? Former EAA member here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted January 20, 2019 Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 14 hours ago, mat60 said: Im kind of wondering why your router table top has holes drilled in it. I thought that might be a downdraft table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted January 20, 2019 Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 30 minutes ago, Mark J said: I thought that might be a downdraft table. Looks Ron Paulk. (I think that’s the name, I just recognize the oval cutouts from somewhere.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Brinkley Posted January 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 3 hours ago, Mark J said: Very nice shop, but the important question is which airplanes?! Got a photo? Former EAA member here. Mark I built a Bowers Flybaby many years ago. I have very few photos and none digitized. I loved that plane and wished I still had it. I doubt if I would fit in it nowadays as my girth and weight has increased somewhat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mark J Posted January 20, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 20, 2019 4 hours ago, B. Brinkley said: I doubt if I would fit in it nowadays as my girth and weight has increased somewhat! I know what you mean. I consider my waist size proof the universe is expanding. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 21, 2019 Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 Very nice shop. Where in Texas are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Brinkley Posted January 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 I am near Huntsville, TX. Houston is swallowing us up unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 8 hours ago, B. Brinkley said: Houston is swallowing us up unfortunately. Coop you know anything about this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spanky Posted January 23, 2019 Report Share Posted January 23, 2019 1 hour ago, Chet said: Coop you know anything about this. He was the man in charge! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 Nice space for retirement. I like it. I use to have a small plane as well - I miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted January 24, 2019 Report Share Posted January 24, 2019 @Ronn W what plane was it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 4 hours ago, Ronn W said: I use to have a small plane as well a friend of mine builds his own from a kit from Vans Aircraft, i think he's building the RV series, up to an RV-4 i think, he has built several, including one that won the Lindberg Trophy at the EAA in Oshkosh Wisconsin a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 On 1/23/2019 at 2:31 PM, Chet said: Coop you know anything about this. Yeah, unfortunately B. Is correct. They are currently building the third loop around Houston and when complete, it will be 170 miles long. I can drive to the casinos in Lake Charles LA in less miles for free as this will be a tollway. Mr. Brinkley, from where do you source your hardwoods? I’m been getting mine recently from a good ole’ mountain boy in Tennessee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 7 hours ago, Mark J said: Ronn W what plane was it? We had a Piper Arrow180. 4 hours ago, treeslayer said: a friend of mine builds his own from a kit from Vans Aircraft, i think he's building the RV series, up to an RV-4 i think, he has built several, including one that won the Lindberg Trophy at the EAA in Oshkosh Wisconsin a few years ago. I have had friends that had built various RV version but to win at Oshkosh - big deal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Brinkley Posted January 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2019 22 hours ago, K Cooper said: Yeah, unfortunately B. Is correct. They are currently building the third loop around Houston and when complete, it will be 170 miles long. I can drive to the casinos in Lake Charles LA in less miles for free as this will be a tollway. Mr. Brinkley, from where do you source your hardwoods? I’m been getting mine recently from a good ole’ mountain boy in Tennessee. Coop I have not really used much in the way of hardwoods lately. I have a big pile of 200 year old heart pine that I am working off of at the moment. It's hard as nails and very tight grained. Came from a very old dairy barn locally. I am blessed to have acreage so I can cut my own oak etc. I plan on making some furniture for our home from the pine as it matches our old German style of house here on our ranch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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