Shopsmith Forums

Thanks for posting that, I like the use of the pipe and fittings.

Being one of seven I feel your pain. Aren't families great. I will only say this, he is only getting his pleasure out of you fighting for the workbench. There is nothing that can't be replaced. It is oblivious from the picture it was built for the shopsmith. Build a new one in honor of your father. Trust me it will be of more value to you in the long run and remind your brother of his mistake. Your father would be proud of you and the skills he passed on. Good Luck and Welcome to the group you have found the nicest people ever here and ask us anything. Post pictures !

I can only think of one reasonable reason the front was left open. Doing so made the base less strong. Then there is that extra height.

I agree that yer pop would be proud that that you could 'improve' upon his table!

So let yer bro have his satisfaction, and use those tools to pursue your own.

Although the pipe frame is quite functional, a wooden one would be more in tune with your needs. A front and tail vise would be worthwhile 'improvement'.

An 'elevator' top would really be appropriate.

newportcycle wrote:Thanks for posting that, I like the use of the pipe and fittings.

I do too but DANG!!! they have gotten expensive. Especially the pipe.
I used to do a good bit of iron pipe work and can thread up to about 4" but I haven't used any for a long time now. About all I use it for now is I keep a couple of 5' pieces around to break ice out of horse water tanks if we have an unexpected freeze.
I used to keep a lot of fittings on hand but I finally scrapped everything over about 1.25".
I don't know what is going to replace plastics in plumbing but it is going to have to be good. But then of course PEX isn't worth crap for building a workbench.

I have a lot of .50" and .75" black gas pipe to take out that is just like new. Probably 50' in the farm shop and maybe 80' in the house. I have a good batch of pipe clamp sets just waiting for that pipe. Some I bought new and a batch I picked up at yard / garage sales cheap.

You can't have too many clamps. They may not be the fancy ones Norm uses but they will do the job.


.

Thanks, my dad was a very good handyman. His shop included a pipe cutter/threader machine, etc. My idiot brother received all that equipment. I have not said another word about the workbench to my brother since that day of our disagreement. I will eventually build another one, but I would just like to show my brother the plans that my father used because he thinks he is never wrong.

workbench wrote:Thanks, my dad was a very good handyman. His shop included a pipe cutter/threader machine, etc. My idiot brother received all that equipment. I have not said another word about the workbench to my brother since that day of our disagreement. I will eventually build another one, but I would just like to show my brother the plans that my father used because he thinks he is never wrong.

Fear not! Someday he will realize that no-one uses steel pipe anymore(except for gas lines).

I think popular mechanics or some similar magazine might be the original source.