Jeweler's - Metalsmith's Work Bench

[1dave]

2nd, a workbench comes in handy. Perhaps you just need something for beading or engraving,


but hobbies have a tendency to grow into other areas. Prepare for the future if you can.



It would be good to add some holes to insert special tools.


Bench Tools


And if you are producing precious metal filings, a pre-streched Canvas easily slid out can save big $!

[1dave]

Talk is cheap.
At present I am just using a WWII metal desk.
Small tools in the long middle drawer, Sterling Silver in the top left hand drawer, large tools below that, casting stuff on the bottom. Right hand side has brass and bronze and odds and ends.

I do miss holes to hold my ring and bracelet mandrels, but so far, hand holding has worked. Sawing is a whole other problem I'll have to do something about!

[bobby1]

My bench is a dual purpose one for lapidary and metalsmithing. Over the past 2 - 3 years I have been mostly doing lapidary because of the high cost of gold and silver. OH Well, the price will come down someday......maybe.
Bob

[Tom]

I also use a dual purpose workbench, I am constantly drilling a hole here adding a hanger there to make life easier and keep things organized.

Alot of you have seen pics of my shop

forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/62854/little-shop-area-equipment-heavy

Tom

[pghram]

That's a really nice & neat shop.

Rich

[1dave]

Best use of overhead floor joists I have ever seen!

[Tom]

Lol thanks guys, not much room I need every bit of space

[connrock]

My shop/bench has MANY faces as my interests evolved through the years.
To say it's all a mess is an understatement and I don't foresee it ever getting organized.I can put my finger on almost anything at any time but sometimes have to search a bit.
There was no plan in the beginning(many years ago) and I had NO idea I would be getting into so may different interests so one thing led to another and things just kept (literally) piling up here and there.
I love to see a shop/bench like Toms and 150fromfundy,,,who I visited a few months ago,, but mine is mine and it does work for me.
Right now I have 2 "flat surfaces" where everything is done.The one on my bench is about 14"x14" and the other is about 14"x24".

For someone just starting out in metal work and lapidary I would say,,,,what ever you think is enough room,multiply that by 10 and maybe you'll end up with a nice organized space to work in and with!Try to look at other shops (like Toms) and plan before diving in head first,,,,like I did!
connrock

[1dave]

Too many interests - a curse and a blessing. I now think more the latter. Experimenting has kept me intrigued and feeling alive. It seems to have done the same for you!

[connrock]

Dave,,
When I was still working I TRULY believed that I wouldn't live long enough to retire and do some of the things I only dreamed of doing.Thank God I was wrong and here I am into more then I can some times handle!
When I first retired I got up at 3-3:30 am every day for almost 2 years trying to accomplish everything on my "Bucket List" before I went in the cold ground!
I worked some VERY long hours every day,went from one project (and interest) to another as fast as I could,,,yet still trying my best to maintain quality in what I was doing.
Well,I'm still here but created a HUGE mess down here that I don't believe will get straightened out till after I AM in the cold,cold ground and some poor guy will have to sort through all of it.
I think the only way my place would get organized is if I started doing things for money but that would mean I was "working" again and created a "job" for myself!
I have a VERY bad taste in my mouth (and mind) about what I went through for almost 43 years working in a rat hole factory and I don't want that feeling EVER again,,, so my place is a mess but it's a fun place,,,with no income! LOL
Crazy as this may seem,,,,it works for me!
connrock

[1dave]

Start my own business?

Who wants to be owned by a job?

[jamesp]

Dec 14, 2013 10:23:45 GMT -5 1dave said:

Too many interests - a curse and a blessing. I now think more the latter. Experimenting has kept me intrigued and feeling alive. It seems to have done the same for you!

If i was rich i would do the craziest experiments i could figure. Way before i went to get a red corvette and a trophy wife.(just kidding honey).

Really. I love to experiment. Failures can be expensive though. I can say that experimenting has set me free. In many ways. Mostly mentally. haha

Me and my neighbor friend used to make bombs that would have gotten us 20 years in prison this day and age.(oh, when we were 15/16 years old).

[Tom]

Conrock you sound EXACTLY like me. Although I am not retired yet that bench you see has seen many hobbies and interests over the years. It may have got a few nips and tucks here and there but its seen its share of cool "to me" hobbies. My shop is larger than your your 2 flat surfaces and I could still use way more room. When you said 10 times more when planning maybe make that 25 times more

Tom

[1dave]

A suggestion for jamesp 's Man cave. (from Norm Abrams - New Yankee workshop)

Somehow a work table is always in the wrong place.

Attach castors to a couple of boards, hinge them near the bottoms of the legs.
Hinge 4 blocks to hold the castors in place so the table can roll.
attach strings to an eye hook near table top, Lift the table end slightly and pull the string and the table sets firmly on the floor so you can pound to your heart's content.

Need to move it? Just lift the table ends and the castors fall into place locked by the blocks and roll it wherever you want.

[wireholic]

cool idea!

[rockjunquie]

Great post! Can't believe I missed this. I have tool envy now.