Asked on Apr 03, 2015
Shop table to bar - but need to heighten
by Rjack
+17
This is an old heavy duty work table that my dad had in his shop. My daughter has moved into her first house & we thought this would be a great piece to put in the breakfast area.
back side
Really there is no perfect back or front side.
front side
Yes it definetly needs some cleaning up but its solid. Her idea is to raise it about two feet & we will remove the bottom shelf (at least I think so) in order that she can put two bar height stools she has underneath.
end
I'm looking for ideas & sources (Lowe's, etc.) to make the legs longer. We need another 20-24" of height. She likes the shabby chic & industrial look.
I was thinking some kind of metal. Cool to add wheels to the bottom too.
Suggestions/comments always appreciated.
I was thinking some kind of metal. Cool to add wheels to the bottom too.
Suggestions/comments always appreciated.
19 answers
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Make a box type platform for it a little larger than bench, attach legs to it from underneath . then get some type of railing to add to the side of box platform at the base. and there ya go foot rail for you bar adds height to the bar and dresses it up!! You could even add some crown molding to it if you wanted to get real fancy. that is unless you want wheels to make it mobile.
![Lori Hepp]()
Lori Hepp
on Apr 03, 2015
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Oh forgot to add. If you do what I suggested I would also close in the front and the side of the bar. Would give you a shelf to keep things. Would end up looking kind of like an old time western bar!!
![Lori Hepp]()
Lori Hepp
on Apr 03, 2015
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sorry didn't read all of the post before I got carried away with suggestions! What ever you do with this piece will be great. Fantastic piece!! I also love industrial!!!
![Lori Hepp]()
Lori Hepp
on Apr 03, 2015
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Go to your home improvement store and purchase industrial looking wheels and attach those. Get ones that have a locking mechanism and now you have item that can be easily moved about but safely kept in one place. If you don't like the finish on the wheels (the metal part...the wheel is likely a heavy rubber/plastic) you can carefully tape off the wheels and spray paint the metal to a more desirable finish!
![Cathy]()
Cathy
on Apr 03, 2015
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I would remove the top and add a shelf to the legs then reattach the top you can make wine glass holder in the shelf and make wine bottle rack...options are endless but these are a few that i would try! Cannot wait to see your posting of the end result!
![Myrtle L'Hirondelle]()
Myrtle L'Hirondelle
on Apr 03, 2015
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My first goal is to figure out what material & how to add height. I thought of drilling hole in center of bottom of legs then inserting galvanized pipe (or similar). But I'm concerned that drilling into the legs will weaken them.
![Rjack]()
Rjack
on Apr 03, 2015
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You only NEED one 4x4 post, 8 feet long, cut in two feet lengths. The trick is gonna be in finding a well worn post that will match the color. If you get a one inch round dowel rod, drill holes in the post to make a sort of "tenon". I have done similar "fixes" and it works like a champ. Where the new piece is attached to the legs, can be hidden with some decorative strips of wood, or better yet, metal. Hope this makes sense.
![Jerry Toombs]()
Jerry Toombs
on Apr 04, 2015
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Jerry- that's what I'm talking about. Someone with some experience at this wood working stuff. I think there may be some 4x4 post at my dad's shop. Thanks!
![Rjack]()
Rjack
on Apr 04, 2015
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You could try pallet wood , t should be weathered whatever you us the side rails nailed together should be the right thickness for this project. pallet wood comes in different wood types and the aged tuff is easy to find and usually free to boot !!
![Sherry Stow Ryan]()
Sherry Stow Ryan
on Apr 04, 2015
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You could add another top above the existing top. Basically, make a table as tall as you need the entire piece extended and attach. This would make the top you have now a shelf. For knee room, just make the new top wider and longer than the top is now. The work bench in the picture looked much like the one rjack is working on. We added 4 boards that we sanded very smooth and rounded the edges and corners. Then we stained them and added several layers of wax. The legs initially looked like those on rjack's bench. We cut them off even with the bottom and added wheels. We put beadboard on the sides and back to help hide the drawers.. Now, it can be used from every side. We only had to buy the top boards, the drawer pulls and the wheels.
![Becca]()
Becca
on Apr 04, 2015
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Since its going to be used with bar stools maybe a platform/footrest
![4ja251581]()
4ja251581
on Apr 04, 2015
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I have no answers but would love to see what you do. My favorite piece of furniture is an old work bench that came out of a friends dads house. She thought I was crazy for wanting it. So I understand why you want to preserve this as much as possible in its original form
![Wendy Johnson]()
Wendy Johnson
on Apr 04, 2015
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We have one in our garage I am saving for maybe a kitchen island; it is tall enough. I am planning to leave the drawers and shelf but depending on where we finally put it, we may widen the top. so stools can be used at it. But, the scarred wood top is part of the charm so I don't want to totally replace it either. I too am anxious to see what you finally do.
![Shirley Midgett]()
Shirley Midgett
on Apr 04, 2015
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how bout adding to top,under theoringinal(want to enlarge anyway)Keepin the legs sturdy
![Janet Friend]()
Janet Friend
on Apr 04, 2015
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Attach wheels to bottom of legs, which would elevate it & also make it moveable.
![Sonya Theos Hohl]()
Sonya Theos Hohl
on Apr 04, 2015
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Square blocks of wood the height you need and Big round casters
![Alisa]()
Alisa
on Apr 04, 2015
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When I need to add height to my Upcycled workbenches I add locking wheels. You can get them in various sizes at home improvement stores.
![Cgs312754]()
Cgs312754
on Apr 05, 2015
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Decided not to raise; just cleaned up & put in dining area as buffet.
![Rjack]()
Rjack
on May 23, 2015
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JerryToombs had the right fix!! I have done this to make really thin legs a bit more sturdy, added dowels in them with lots of glue....very sturdy!! With these legs being 4 x 4...should be easy!!! But now the decor/design has changed...you have a fix for any other table!!!
![Pauliegirl1]()
Pauliegirl1
on May 23, 2015
Lori Hepp
on Apr 03, 2015
Cathy
on Apr 03, 2015
Myrtle L'Hirondelle
on Apr 03, 2015
Jerry Toombs
on Apr 04, 2015
Sherry Stow Ryan
on Apr 04, 2015
Becca
on Apr 04, 2015
4ja251581
on Apr 04, 2015
Wendy Johnson
on Apr 04, 2015
Shirley Midgett
on Apr 04, 2015
Janet Friend
on Apr 04, 2015
Sonya Theos Hohl
on Apr 04, 2015
Alisa
on Apr 04, 2015
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