New to me Diefenbach workbench

[George Yetka]

My grandfather got into woodworking late in life when my father was too busy to be bothered with it so he moved all his tools and a few new ones including this bench to my grandfathers basement. My Grandfather used the bench for woodworking for about 2 years before he kind of lost interest then it became a catchall and used for all types of house projects, and for grand kids to come over with their projects(so there are minor imperfections do to the misuse, all cosmetic or correctable.) My grandfather died about 5 years ago and once owned a home where I could host tools I was supposed to get the tools, but my grandmother said no they are for everyone. 5 years goes by and I've stocked my garage with all but a good workbench which i had planned to build in the next year or s, I even bought 2 twin turbo vices.

My questions are as follows.
I would like to take a light sanding to the surface and a plane to the box joints that have come a little out of perfection. What should I coat the bench with after that?
I really wanted to use the twin turbo vices. Should I bastardize this thing? or sell off the vices.(im thinking sell the vices)


Bench is identical to this with the exception of 9 drawers instead of 6/cabinet
https://www.finewoodworking.com/forum/selling-a-diefenbach-workbench-not-sure-what-to-ask-for-it

[Jim Koepke]

This raises a few questions.

It is unclear if the bench is in your shop or in your grandmother's basement.

Are the vises on the old bench working well?

One of my favorite recommendations is to not try fixing that which isn't broken.

When it comes to coating one's workbench you could get a discussion to rival a sharpening thread.

jtk

[George Yetka]

The bench has already been relocated to my garage. The vises are in great shape. The bench overall is in great shape. Its as if it were used as table to hold things, I dont see any signs of actual woodworking use.

[Jim Tobias]

You will love it as it is.....I have that exact same bench and would not change a thing. I'm with Jim.....don't fix what is not broken. Just use it!!

Jim

[Jim Matthews]

The vises might be satisfactory, once cleaned and lubricated. Rather than sand the bench top, I recommend using a larger Sandvik scraper (around $25) to clear off the old finish, glue and paint spatter.

Boiled Linseed oil is an easy to apply finish that can be refreshed as needed.

Fully laden, these are heavy - a sturdy two wheeler and furniture glides will help when repositioning the bench.

Nice legacy for your family.

[George Yetka]

You will love it as it is.....I have that exact same bench and would not change a thing. I'm with Jim.....don't fix what is not broken. Just use it!!

Jim


Have you had to add oil or refinish it at all?

[Christopher Charles]

What a score-that's a great bench, especially since you don't have to build it. One tradition says surface with a toothing plane and leave raw to increase sticktion. (See Patrick Edwards' website). Other traditions say oil and treat as an altar (Franz Klausz). I've done both. Thus, I'd say do whatever you would most enjoy :)

Congrats and will look forward to seeing what you build.

Best,
Chris

[William Fretwell]

The vises are your sticktion, say no to the toothing plane!!! Smoking hot BLO applied with wire wool and tongs will leave a high friction surface, three coats a few days apart. After each coat has soaked in for half an hour wipe every drop off. After that Tung oil can be used to address ‘use marks’.
You will love the tail vise, it will get a lot of use.

[chris carter]

I would scrape off the gunk and then flatten the top with a jointer plane and a smoother (I'm assuming it won't be flat after doing whatever you need to do to remove all the gunk). If you will be doing any glue-ups on the bench I'd apply one coat of boiled linseed oil and then wipe it off. That will make it easier to clean up any glue that lands on the bench. Don't do anything else unless something else is broken.

[George Yetka]

I will definitely go smooth. And blo was what I was thinking just checking. I've only ever used it cold or mixed not hot. Sounds like a good use for the hot plate I bought for my brand . Just need a pot

[George Yetka]

I would scrape off the gunk and then flatten the top with a jointer plane and a smoother (I'm assuming it won't be flat after doing whatever you need to do to remove all the gunk). If you will be doing any glue-ups on the bench I'd apply one coat of boiled linseed oil and then wipe it off. That will make it easier to clean up any glue that lands on the bench. Don't do anything else unless something else is broken.

Im picking up a sheet of Masonite or 1/2" ply for glueups/epoxy/finishing

[Mike Manning]

George, you know we love pics. Hint, hint.

[George Yetka]

I'll try and get some pics up later

[Jim Tobias]

Have you had to add oil or refinish it at all?

Nope, just use it and vacuum/wipe off. If I spill anything on it I use whatever solvent is required and wipe that spot off.

Jim

[George Yetka]

433877

Heres a pic of the bench. I had to build a platform to raise tablesaw but worth it

[Sanford Imhoff]

Nice it stays in the family. What an heirloom!

[Stew Denton]

George,

I think the idea of the masonite, I would go with 1/4" stuff, is the way to go. What you don't get on the bench does not need to ever be cleaned off. When you are done with the finishing or glue up job, the masonite gets stashed in your plywood storage. Top is then still clean: no runs, no drips, no errors.

I have a tool cabinet I built out of three old lab bench base cabinets that I bought many years ago. They were well made heavy duty solid oak base cabinets that held up the lab bench top. When they built the new lab they sold the old cabinets for maybe five bucks a pop....been long enough ago that I don't remember for sure. The framework on the inside of the cabinets was full 4/4 solid oak, not 3/4" and the face frames, etc. were 3/4" solid oak. I built the top for the tool cabinet out of old oak flooring that I had salvaged from a house of a coworker that unfortunately had burned. The finish I used on the top was BLO, but used cold, not hot. It made a nice finish.

Stew

[Mike Manning]

Great bench and what looks like a very nice shop too! Is that a Barbie ATV? If so nice touch! ;0)

[Blake M Williams]

Man I'm jealous! My bench was my first project using hand tools and, well, it's on pretty lol. Than bench looks awesome!

[Joel Gelman]

Just found this thread while Google searching "Diefenback workbench" as I was thinking about selling my Diefenbach with 9 drawer. It was one of my first woodworking purchases, and I was always proud to own it, but would have been more proud if I built it. It has always worked great. I more recently purchased a Barth 500V bench with hydraulic lift and a perforated top along with vacuum clamps, and now that I have the very expensive Barth, I find that I do not use the traditional workbench other than storage. If not for that, I would never sell my Diefenbach. Giving it thought as it seems to belong in a better home now that it is not #1.

[Scott Goldthwaite]

Anyone know what kind of wood the Diefenback workbenches are made from?

[Jim Tobias]

I believe they are made of Beech........at least, mine is made of Beech.
Jim