New Old Workbench - Stockamöllan

Some projects lined-up to do involve woodworking. So I have been in search of a smallish workbench for woodworking.

Most children grown up in the 70s have some memories of the woodworking class in school. Me too. I know exactly what I want - a small no nonsense workbench able to hold the odd job while sawing or planing.

Historically, there have been a number of manufacturers of workbenches for woodworking in Sweden. One of the few remaining ones is Sjobergs. These workbenches typically cost a couple of thousand Swedish krona. But I know a secret: Way back before the Internet, people actually made stuff at home. And they bought workbenches in loads. These are all sitting in old cellars waiting for the taking.

So I went and published a wanted-to-buy ad in the local paper. Cost me some USD 10. After a couple of days, people started calling. Workbench for sale. Workbench for sale.

After having collected some 20+ replies, I made my move. The workbench I finally bought was made by "Stockamöllan" - a company which according to industrial historians stopped making these in 1971. The seller had bought it new himself and wanted to clear out the garage. Price: USD 100. Fair and square.

The workbench is made from "rödbok", European Beech, Fagus sylvatica purpurea.




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