wonkodsane.com

I own the house my dad grew up in and last year I moved my grandfather's workbench out of it.

I disassembled the bench completely, sanded every stick of it, put it back together, and refinished it, then put a sacrificial plywood work surface on top. Most of the wood was bowed from decades of moisture, so I did some straightening, as well.

I also disassembled and cleaned the Simplex #43 vise from the Desmond Stephan company that was attached. The vise needs further work and eventually I will cast or have machined replacement locking bolts for it. I will likely have to braze in four new teeth on the locking ring. Based on the damage done to the retaining clip and the teeth, the vise was likely hit by a vehicle or other piece of material or machinery, which broke the locking ring, the bolts, and the retaining clip, then it was discarded.

I later used the hardware I removed from the bench to make the letters for the names of my nieces and nephews, then mounted them in shadow boxes with pictures of my granddad.