Need a new workbench

S_Kyle · Post by **S_Kyle** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:13 pm

Well I will be moving to a new place in early may and it looks like I will need a workbench for my garage. The one at the farm is older than the hills and too low for my liking so I don't really have a good example to model mine after.

So if any of you guys have a good bench and a tape measure, I have a few questions

Height to top of work surface
Depth
Steel or wood top
features

I'm not sure what to do for the top. My uncles has a real nice one with a 3/4" plate top. It would be nice but to heavy and to expensive. If I go wood, I used to work building laminate beans and trusses. I could get a beam made for the top fairly inexpensively. Or I could go plywood or steel. I am looking for any ideas here.

Thanks
Scott

JD600 · Post by **JD600** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:02 pm

Mine are 4ft high, and 2 1/2ft deep. I framed them in with 2x4's and put doors on the front to hide all of my crap. Used partical board on top, but it was too soft so i covered it with 1/8th inch steel plate to toughen it up. My grinder and vises are mounted on the edge so i can work on larger parts. I cut the top of the bench and lowered the top about 2 inches where i put my chop saw so that the table of the saw is flush with the bench. Then bent a piece of tin to form a tray for the saw to fit in. This way, it catches all of the sparks, and when I want to clean it out, I just lift the saw out, and remove the tray.

Something i would do different, I would mount some electrical outlets on the front of the bench so when i am working in the shop, i don't have my cords strung over the bench.

Hope this helps a little.

S_Kyle · Post by **S_Kyle** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:29 am

I was worried about a wood top being to soft/weak. That's why I was thinking about the beam for a top, Depends on what they are building the beam would be between 2.5" to 3 1/8" fir so I should be able to take some weight / abuse before it failed.

79 Spitfire · Post by **79 Spitfire** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 4:30 pm

Kyle seems like your in the same boat as me. I'm looking to insulate and clean my garage out this summer.I will be putting in a bench made of 2x4's for structure and putting a thin sheet off metal over the top with plywood under it,

tmartin · Post by **tmartin** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:35 pm

I just built one with a 4x4 frame and a nice 1-1/2" white ash top. I planed and varnished the top. Its hard and oil resistant with the laquer on it. I like the idea of electrical outlets on the front or under the bench. Wish I would have thougt of that. So far it has worked well. As far as heigt and depth make it suit yourself so your comfortable. Mine is high enough so I dont have to bend while working. Its not standard workbench height but Im a talll guy. If your going with wood go with at least 1 1/2" hardwood(oak, ash, maple). Hope this helps.

wycrumb · Post by **wycrumb** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:54 am

I have 2 different ones, One has a peg board back and a 1" wood top that used to be used in a window factory. Also my other bench has 2" steel square legs, 2" channel iron connecting the legs at the top and the bench top is 3/4" plywood covered with 12 or 14ga. steel with the front edge rolled over and tack welded to the front of the bench. These work very well for me and since I am still not in a semi-perminant place I like my things to be able to be moved, plus the top didn't force me to sell my Deeres to afford it. Lastly I just got done organizing all my parts, they are in boxes by category on heavy duty plastic shelves, and each part has a tag on it so I don't forget what sled it came off of ( I am not much for using JD part numbers). Good luck.

79 Spitfire · Post by **79 Spitfire** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:31 pm

Hey guys, well on my exploration on needing a workbench to I found this.

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/07/make_podcast_weekend_projects.html

Looks like I'm going to build it this weekend if i get to the hardware store. Looks like maybe 40-60 dollars of materials which aint bad for a 8' long bench and 30'' wide.

Jim

S_Kyle · Post by **S_Kyle** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:44 pm

I'll probably end up using almost all 4x4's as I can get them for free

. Every time someone hits a stop sign the maintenance crew has to go out and replace the post. There is a big pile in the yard that just sits there until someone has a use for them. For the top I think it will be either a beam or plywood and thin plate. First step is finding out what kid of space I have to work with.

Scott

79 Spitfire · Post by **79 Spitfire** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:56 pm

TakeItToTheLimit wrote:
79 Spitfire wrote:Hey guys, well on my exploration on needing a workbench to I found this.

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/07/make_podcast_weekend_projects.html

Looks like I'm going to build it this weekend if i get to the hardware store. Looks like maybe 40-60 dollars of materials which aint bad for a 8' long bench and 30'' wide.

Jim
Supply list:
1 sheet of 1/2" plywood, standard 4'x8'.
6 2x4s 8' long
40 2 1/2" screws
40 1" screws

Remember that you are making a work bench...not a potting bench. The plan is simple enough but I would use a minimum of 2 sheets of 3/4" exterior grade plywood (one side finished) and glue them back to back for the work surface (top of work bench). You could use the extra wood to box in the lower shelf area.

-Rich

Yup, I am thinking of get a extra sheet of plywood to add a back and side so bolts won't roll off. I don't need anything fancy just something to work on, so I'm not over at the Ford garage working on and keeping all my parts over there.