Thank you to @foxtailjewelry for sharing your jewelry bench modifications! It’s so awesome, and I love that you did it on a budget 🙌
“This bench has been my cockpit for nearly 4 years, and I built the entire thing for less than $100. I’ll upgrade to something else someday, but it’s served me well thus far, and I don’t have plans to build or buy anything better anytime soon. It is solid, quirky, and stores/organizes my tools beautifully! Here is a list of instructions and modifications to customize your own roll-top bench:

☑️ Acquire a used secretary roll-top bench (they’re CHEAP)
☑️ Replace the ugly wooden drawer pulls to solid brass hardware (the most expensive part, tbh)
☑️ Cut out the curved desktop, and install a GRS bench pin and drop-plate for a ball vice
☑️ Lower the center drawer and line it with a perfectly sized baking sheet
☑️ Install a secondary half-shelf behind the drop-plate to hold a micromotor and heat gun
☑️ Lift the desk up on blocks to gain 8”
☑️ Install a microscope and flex shaft, along with various tea hooks and magnetic strips for extra tool storage and organization
☑️ Remove the desktop drawers to turn them into cubbies
☑️ Orient all pedals (micromotor, graver max, and flex shaft) underneath for an amazing manual drive feel ☻

Hope this inspires you ♥︎ Have you made modifications to your custom built or repurposed workbench?” if you’ve done some customizations to your bench, I would love to feature you. Please email me videos or pics at tips@metalsmithsociety.com. #jewelersbench #artiststudio #studioorganization