"Surface Plate" Workbench

[Crusty]

I found a slab of granite counter top leaned against the dumpster at my local hospital and after breaking it into two pieces because I couldn't lift it as a single piece I brought it home. I made a stand using lumber and hardware I had left over from previous projects and purchased 15 ½" lag screws which I installed in the top edge of the stand as adjustable plate supports. Using a long straight edge and a feeler gauge I was able to adjust the top within a tolerance of .010" overall and less than .005" in smaller areas, and this level of precision will be more than adequate for most of my projects. Now I've got an adequately flat and sturdy work surface that cost me the price of 15 lag screws and it will be an enhancement to my capabilities. The makeup mirror in the background (also from the dumpster) is handy to direct and focus sunlight onto my work so that I can see what I'm doing better.