Need ideas for repurposing this old work/ potting bench.

Laurie C
by Laurie C
I got this from my sister-in-law. She had it on her patio for several years. It has some cool drawers , a vice and shelves on both ends. Would love to hear some ideas on how to clean it up and use it for a serving area on my patio.
  49 answers
  • Z Z on May 17, 2014
    Wow, that's awesome Laurie. I'd clean it up and paint it a leafy green, leaving the hardware rusty. Personally, I'd probably get a beveled glass top cut for it too.
    • See 1 previous
    • Z Z on May 17, 2014
      @Laurie, actually a tung oil finish would be nice. Be careful not to get splinters.
  • Vickie Foss Vickie Foss on May 18, 2014
    I Adore this piece! Can't wait to see what you do with it!
  • Wendell Davis Wendell Davis on May 18, 2014
    I can see it as a beautiful buffet table with a few modifications. The vice would need to be removed. add a backstop piece and doors for the sides with hidden hardware. (spring Magnetic door catches). Add a top border mold and/ or apply a wood/wood burn applique to the front. I would not paint it. I would sand it and apply a gel stain to get an even color in the existing wood grain. The top would look great with a resin finish and apply a gloss to the lower parts. Modify the drawers to install quality drawer slides and add use the wood pulls that are on the drawers now. I can see it. I like it.
  • Donna H Donna H on May 18, 2014
    Can't wait to see the finished product. If glass is too expensive for the top use plexiglass. We did that for our bow window and it's just as nice.
  • Irish53 Irish53 on May 18, 2014
    I would leave the top the natural wood and paint the open shelves and drawer fronts a color that matches the house.
  • Redeemwood Redeemwood on May 18, 2014
    Be careful.... some people (myself included) would kill for a project like this.... keep posting progress!! I am in the clean, sand here and there, touch up stain and finish crowd....
  • Tudyrunningwater Tudyrunningwater on May 18, 2014
    clean it up, put a thick piece of glass on top... "The Most Awesome Kitchen Island Ever" <3
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on May 18, 2014
    Hey, let's not get carried away here! Remember the actor James Bronson who was so craggy looking but sure was sexy because he radiated such a safe, solid feel? This piece reminds me of him! If you want to use it inside, I guess you better do a little botox injections to its craggy face, but were it me, I would clean it up some and love it just as it is!
  • Michelle Mersdorf Michelle Mersdorf on May 18, 2014
    I am a whitewash kinda girl. Its an awsome piece. Whatever you do with it will be great.
  • Sheila Miller Sheila Miller on May 18, 2014
    If you are going to put it outside I like the stain idea or rustic look with paint. I can picture your drawers with items for BBQs, silverware, and plates, Is patio covered? I put piece of glass on my table because I already had it left from something else. I love the size of it and would love to redo myself!!! Want to see it finished!!! Rustic metal too.
  • Pat C Pat C on May 18, 2014
    i would just clean it up and put oil or something on it and use in dining room or in house-too pretty for outside!! lucky you to have that
  • Kate Colvin Kate Colvin on May 18, 2014
    I would clean and sand it. Then depending on how it looks put a poly coat or two on it with a glass top. Rustic and wonderful! If you need to paint inside the shelves to lighten them up. Leaving it outside? Paint with the same color as your house.
  • Carol Carol on May 18, 2014
    I would love to find something like that for a kitchen island. Can't wait to see what you do with it
  • Laurie C Laurie C on May 18, 2014
    Great suggestions! @redeemwood, yes, I want to be careful. I love the look of it as is. It is outside and not really undercover, so it should have some protection. I will keep posting pictures. Thanks for all the input everyone.
  • Chris aka monkey Chris aka monkey on May 18, 2014
    wow nice sister in law...i would add wheels and just poly acrylic the heck out of it just like it is way cool xx
  • Sherry Werley Sherry Werley on May 18, 2014
    Industrial wheels would keep with the rustic look.
  • Creating a Life Creating a Life on May 18, 2014
    What an awesome piece! Can't wait to see what you do, but personally I wouldn't change it much :)
  • Joguymo Joguymo on May 18, 2014
    You can clean the wood with salt water and a brush and good old elbow strength. It removes the gunk, but leaves the wood still looking old and full of character.
  • 153091 153091 on May 18, 2014
    Wonderful piece! Someone may have use this for a potting bench, but we purchase one very much like this and it was a work bench in a man's shop;it also had a similiar vice grip on one side. It would finish up VERY nice, after you strip it, lightly sand and then give it wax and buff. Either clean the drawer pulls or buy some with "old" design look. Just like other answers....don't forget to post it finished!...and I do think it's a workbench.
  • Dragonfly Dragonfly on May 18, 2014
    I personally see a great indoor piece. Scrub down with Ammonia and HOT water. Get some Formby's Tung Oil and treat it a couple times. I would love it for an Island in my kitchen!!!
  • Mary Jo-Bragg Mary Jo-Bragg on May 18, 2014
    I love it
  • Janet Baack Janet Baack on May 18, 2014
    I have used the ammonia and water mix but added a powdered detergent to it. This mixture does an excellent job cleaning off the dirt and grime. A light sanding is all you need. I like tung oil but have been using a good paste wax instead. Can't wait to see the finished project.
  • Rhonda Skeens Rhonda Skeens on May 19, 2014
    Clean it up and use as a potting bench !!
  • Nikki Nikki on May 19, 2014
    If you have a wookshop this would be a great piece just to work off of! It looks like an old wood working bench to me, looking at the leg vise.
  • Buster Evans Buster Evans on May 19, 2014
    If I did ANYTHING to it I would sand it down and refinish it with stain or polyurethane as close to the same color as it is now.. Its a very nice piece with a LOT of character!
  • Cindy Lehman Reusser Cindy Lehman Reusser on May 19, 2014
    with a little TLC I would clean it up a bit, seal it with wax or tung oil and use it for a buffet in your outdoor dining room!! Super cool!
  • Nancy Hatcher Nancy Hatcher on May 19, 2014
    I think it's beyond hope. I would be happy to take it off your hands ;-}!
  • Sherrie B Sherrie B on May 19, 2014
    Don't put it outside, it's too special in character to rot away. Repurpose it as a Kitchen island/work table. Leave the old hardware on it for decor.
  • Lisa Cuddy Lisa Cuddy on May 19, 2014
    I agree with the keep it inside posts. You could also scrub it down with TSP. I've found that it works on the dirtiest pieces. Otherwise I would leave it as. If you want to make it beautiful, strip it down and put a nice stain and poly or wax finish. It's a fantastic piece. Wherever did you find it?
  • Laurie C Laurie C on May 19, 2014
    It was left behind in my sister in laws house, by previous owners. I am loving everyone's suggestions. I think I am going to use it as a buffet inside my house after all. It needs a bit more cleaning and scrubbing. Then I am going to finish it either with a natural stain and or tung oil or a natural type bees wax finish. Does anyone have any suggestions for making your own stain? Here is a current picture. Also going to remove and flip over the board you see on the back for a better back splash. Considering wheels too. Then I could move it outside just for parties.
  • Laurie C Laurie C on May 19, 2014
    Current photo
  • Sami Ditmars Sami Ditmars on May 19, 2014
    If it were me I would sand it, stain it, then use it as a kitchen island or seal it and use it for gardening outside.
  • Kelly S Kelly S on May 19, 2014
    I'm see a totally industrial entertainment center/TV stand. Or the vise could be fitted with a bottle opener with a little catch bucket hanging off the handle for bear bottles. Too many things running through my head. I love it, want it and wound just rough sand, wire brush it and seal it. Definitely add casters though.
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on May 20, 2014
    what a GEM,,,,,,, IF THIS PIECE COULD TALK,,,,,, what we could learn !
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on May 20, 2014
    I like the buffet idea also, I also see it in a huge kitchen as an island storage/prep area. I'd sand the top good to remove any chemicals that may be there..then seal it..Like the idea of wheels, since ite such an industrial piece... Cute snack center in a man cave....Microwave and mini frig on top.. and the rest snack storage, and supplies... I could also see it as a garden potting style bench.. cleaned up a bit and add a shelf behind it.. Craft bench too....
  • Andrea R Andrea R on May 20, 2014
    absolutely clean it upmaybe put a protectant seal on it and use drawers for plastic,utensils napkins paper plates anything you'd need for outdoor eating. hang some adorable colorful tea towels on it too! Love it!
  • Lana Trumpey Lana Trumpey on May 20, 2014
    CLEAN IT UP AND MAKE A NICE CABINET IN KITCHEN;BAR/ISLAND
  • Artistmom Artistmom on May 21, 2014
    Gorgeous. I clean houses for the wealthy and one has a piece just like this in their home.
  • Roxy D Roxy D on May 21, 2014
    How cool is that??? What a treasure. I bet it's about a hundred years old too. I would sand it and stain it a similar color it is now. If its going to be outside, poly, poly, polyurethane. I would love to see how it turns out.
  • Swe349334 Swe349334 on May 28, 2014
    Hi Laurie, We have one that has the wood top, no drawers. We sanded and varnished the top, painted the legs white and added locking casters. We use it as a cutting table for fabric in our sewing room. It works great because we don't have to bend over, which makes it easy on our backs. We are looking for another wood work bench so if anyone knows of one or if you decide to sell yours Laurie, anyone can contact us through our blog...SweetMagnoliasFarm
    • Laurie C Laurie C on May 28, 2014
      Do you have a picture? I am pretty much finished with this one and will try to get some new pictures posted today. I am going to use it for a buffet in my informal eating area.
  • Roxy D Roxy D on May 29, 2014
    Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
  • P.j. C P.j. C on May 31, 2014
    Polyurethane is not appropriate for any antique. If it's used outdoors, marine varnish should protect it from the elements.
  • Har1675200 Har1675200 on May 13, 2015
    I would 've and still would like to buy this piece of furniture from you ...I absolutely love it !!!
  • Nancy Nancy on Aug 23, 2015
    A good cleaning and a sanding- a wax..and then a kitchen island.
  • Janice Wasson Janice Wasson on Sep 08, 2016
    OMG LOVE IT !!
  • Jana The Hip Homestead Jana The Hip Homestead on Aug 17, 2018

    This piece is gorgeous

  • Heather Olinde Heather Olinde on Aug 17, 2018

    This piece is absolutely AMAZING and I would keep it just the way it is!!! It has so much character that you don't want to cover!

  • Jeremy Hoffpauir Jeremy Hoffpauir on Aug 17, 2018

    Take it from a woodworker, clean it a little but leave it as is. This workbench is truly amazing.