AusBonsai

Hi all,

Today my husband let me use the BIG drill (a first). My old potting bench had seen better days - it was a metal frame with laminated chipboard top. Needless to say the chipboard was no more. It was a bench from our business, and I aquired it when we moved premises.

I went to B#@$#ings and had them cut decking to size. Being hardwood, the cordless drill I usually use wouldn't look at it - so out came the BIG drill. Bolted cross beams to the metal frame, then screwed down the decking. The cordless did its bit as a screwdriver. Was almost dark when I finished, so I didn't take photos, but I will tomorrow. I am very proud of myself.

Glenda

Girls using power tools! What next? Hubby better watch out or he'll end up chained up in the kitchen.

Well done Glenda. Hope the bench gives long service. What sort of decking was it that the drill had so much trouble with? Must be hard so it should be durable.

Welcome to the Boys club Glenda. It is an interesting fact that people visiting my Nursery, and i ask the question to all, who is the one that is interested in Bonsai, 85% male. Come on Female of the species stop letting the boys have all the fun and imitate Glendas passion

Hi all, here is a photo of my refurbished potting bench. It looks so good I am kind of sorry I didn't repaint the metal frame Thankfully the kind gentlemen at B@#$%ings cut the timber to size free of charge. .

Bohdi, I am quite used to being very independant and a woman in a man's world. I teach Maths and Science and for many years was the only female in my school in either faculty. Now I am the only Aussie female (all the others are from Sth Africa or Zimbabwe). I was also one of only 3 qualified female sewing machine mechanics (at the time I qualified) in Australia (when I worked at my husband's business - sewing machine retailer and repairer). I figure timberwork is not much different to sewing - cut the pieces to size and join them together!

Glenda

looks good glenda the one thing i would of done was to put spaces on the bench so that when doing work there if soil or anything spills, it will go down onto the ground and be cleaned easy, just a thought but its done now, well done


jamie

I had intended to do that, Jamie, but the spaces were too wide if I left out one of the lenghts, and the width was just right as it is. I wan't going to attempt to saw 1.6 m length of hardwood by hand and my husband had no power saw. I did manage on the narrower shelf on the bottom. It was simple maths that dictated the finished product! Besides, a bannister brush does wonders.

Glenda

Sewing machines are incredibly complex things compared to most of the boy's toys, Glenda! I've heard of the parts being used in employment skill tests for engineers, in the 'what is this thing designed to do? category. Husband has about 5 old industrial sewing machines (eg bootmaking, walking foot machines etc), which we are trying to figure out what to do with. One we have used for shadecloth, they all work I believe.
Great bench, at least with no gaps you wont be forever having little bits and pieces drop thru the gaps, or get your wire caught up. Yes now it really does look like paint is the next job, out with the angle grinder to clean it up!