The old barn where I got the wood was his workshop. My interest in the wood delighted her and she was happy to give me the backstory.Įvidently, her second husband was a woodworker. She has lived on her 100 acre plot her entire life and it is fascinating to talk to her about the past. She’s a sharp 94 year old and is a real delight to talk to. 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. Pine 2 x 4 versus an aged newly planed oak board The History I did a fingernail test on a newly planed surface and couldn’t even scratch it let alone make an impression.Īfter putting in a little work, the old boards turned into beautiful oak wood fit for a dining room table. 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.Īfter 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. When I hauled it away, I was surprised at the sheer weight of the wood. I will construct the entire workbench with reclaimed lumber I recovered from an old barn. It will be six feet long and roughly 34 inches deep.

I need more surface area and a bench tough enough to handle a large six inch vise. 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’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.

Pine board anvil stand