I have recently gotten the itch to build me a new gun tinkering bench. The old one just isn't cutting it anymore. I need some ideas so could some of you post a picture of yours?

I’ve always been partial to four legs and a nice flat top when it comes to work benches.

Seriously, build your bench to fit you, your equipment and your own style of working.

Is this to be portable or not?

gunmaker, Not portable. I just need some ideas for shelves, drawers, etc.

Hello,
I was able to buy laminated oak for box truck flooring. My planks are 10 inches wide and 1.5 thick. I made angle iron legs with adjustable feet.
John

I don't know the dimensions you are looking at but for mine I built my frame work to fit the 2'x4' pieces available at your local fixit place. This way when it gets all buggered up, I just lift out the thin top section and replace it with a new one. I fastened it to a wall with shelf brackets above it. Good Luck.

My bench has followed me around since the summer after my second year in gunsmithing school. It's not pretty but works well for me. Very portable. The "goat hooves" holding the rifle are usually used for holding a barreled action doped up with inletting black. Kind of a handy feature to keep from dinging up the metalwork. The chisels, files, inletting black & scrapers are close at hand. Got some "birthing stirrups" as some would call, on either side of the vise to support the rifle. They offer more support when really gettin after a stock from a blank.
old picture

I like a ply or MDF top, two pieces of 1/2 inch laminated together, "book matched"- buy two sheets off the same pile, glue and screw them "back to back" to take the twist out of them.

The metal leg kits work OK, but they need a little extra bracing. I like the work surface at about my belt heigth, maybe an inch or two higher. A large sheet of 1/4 inch ply painted mat white placed on the wall behind the bench reflects a lot of good light on the work- if you want a pegboard back, get a white one. A white surface overhead is a good idea, too.

I leave at least three inches around the perimeter of the table top clear of the framing underneath so clamps, small vises, etc, can be easily used on the table edge.

A couple six-outlet plug strips are nice, made to each front leg, mounted rather high.

3x5 is a good size for me, one or two metal drawers, and a high stool.

A small plywood box, maybe 12x8x8" is useful to put one foot on while standing at the bench, eases back strain.

Add a decent ballgame on an old radio, a Brownells catalog, and no pesky disturbances, and you're fixed.