6' vs 8' workbench?

[gsea]

I've been planning to build a new 8' workbench. In the process of searching for a nice maple top, I stumbled across a sweet deal in a gladiator bench that is brand new in the box for $160. And gladiator base cabinet/drawers cabinets also new for the same price. Trouble is it is only a 6' bench. I was planning to put a pair of toolboxes underneath and still have room for a stool in between, but other than that am I going to regret not having the other two feet of bench space?

Of course I could just buy the other one for sale as well and have 12' with a seam in the middle, though that seems like too much horizontal surface to clutter up.

 

[493mike]

You cannot have too much bench space!
Mike

 

[budco]

I have a workbench down most of one wall of my shop, it's about 18' long. My new shop I'm building will have the same, about 24' long. Never have too much room to work on things.

 

[CNGsaves]

The Gladiator bench deal for 6 ft at $160 sounds pretty good.

Is this local CL deal . . . or . . . local Sears bargain ??

If that includes the 6 ft maple top, base & back, I'd go for it.

I was lucky and scored 8 ft stainless steel top Craftsman bench and base from SearsOutlet website on a deal I couldn't turn down . . . . $75 top and $43 base. Then I found the upper pegboard back for little over $30 . . . AND . . ended up with TWO complete 8 ft benches !!

Good luck with decision . . . but . . . 12 ft bench from two 6 footers would be nice.

 

[Cyberbear]

Bigger is always better, she said.

 

[BD1]

Get the 6' one and set a roll a round cart at the end of it. Could be one of those HF ones. They have a variety of types and sizes. I think this one is in their flyer for $99.00
http://www.harborfreight.com/material-handling/service-carts.html

 

[justanengineer]

Others might disagree but Ive got much better uses for floor space in my garage than a massive bench which inadvertently would only fill with clutter as 99% of them do. Realistically I usually need ~4' of bench space at a time on any given engine/trans/machine/other project so 6' for me made the most sense. Excuse the moving mess but here's a quick view of one wall of my garage. I could've put in a ~16' bench, but I chose a 6' bench instead. With the Vidmar turned sideways its a bit skinnier and leaves just enough room to comfortably have full table travel on the mill OR open Vidmar drawers, also lets me get into either top box. My current garage is only a 2.5 car but I've had similar problems with large pole barns, when you start adding a mill, lathe, shaper, welders, compressor, boxes, bolt bins, and projects you run out of room quick so better not waste space on unnecessarily oversized items.

 

[dlcwent]

Any bench space is good space. But I like 8 footers myself. Never enough bench surface.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Get them both. You could always put one box under each top and have two places to sit and surface for two active projects. Or just more surface for **** to pile up. Either way it's a win.

 

[bluestripe67]

Given the size and configuration of my garage I made use of a old 6'x30" work bench my neighbor gave me. You can see the before and after of it. Then on the back wall I used two repurposed kitchen cabinet bases, topped with a repurposed solid oak door 6'8"x30" attached with ell brackets. Both are covered with 3/16 masonite. Each gives me work space and storage. I know the place doesn't look worked in, that's because I just finished refurbishing it.

 

[Toofast28]

8 foot, you'll be cussing yourself every time you use a 6 ft and it's just not big enough. Also if you're looking for a wood top I've heard people use old bowling lane for a top. I'm sure you can peruse CL and find some. Should be cheaper than the $160

 

[Qyota]

How much space do you have? That matters.

My garage is used for everything from parking 2 cars, to woodworking, to welding, to motorcycle parking and maintenance, to storage for our stuff (house has very little storage room, and no basement). Due to this, my new bench will be about 6' x 2.5'. My current 8' x 3' is nice, but it gets cluttered, and I can't move it. The new one will be on big casters, allowing me to get it where I need it, without it being too long to manage.

As another member said - any bench space is good space!

 

[nafterclifen]

I have an Equipto 5' bench and wish it was bigger. Without a doubt, I'd go for the 8'.

If you end up running out of room, you can replace with a 6' to recoup some space. But if you start with the 6' and then want to go bigger, you'll likely have to displace/reorganize stuff to make room for the larger bench.

 

[zkling]

Agree with Justanengineer

You cannot have too much bench space!
Mike

Disagree. Depends on the person. No sense in having an 8' long bench if all someone works on is small parts. They could fit a cabinet/shelving/machine in space saved by having a shorter bench, and quite possibly reduce the temptation of clutter.

 

[skipnay]

Agree with Justanengineer



Disagree. Depends on the person. No sense in having an 8' long bench if all someone works on is small parts. They could fit a cabinet/shelving/machine in space saved by having a shorter bench, and quite possibly reduce the temptation of clutter.

The temptation of clutter overwhelms me at times. I was taking to a girl at a hoagie shop one day and she actually had taken some class's for decluttering, and organizing which the other person said she can make everything that's a mess be organized and use less space. My wife was all for it until she seen her.... Not like she was in a miniskirt or anything but she definitely was a looker.

 

[Toofast28]

Here is my currently cluttered 8ft bench. 36" deep. Wired/switched light and a plug so I don't have to dig behind to plug a tool in.

Compressor is a repair job, not my location for it. Tiller is a freebie I'm repairing. Never intended to put my box on there but nowhere else to put it right now.

 

[Toofast28]

My point is, go as big as you can fit, you'll always have stuff end up on there that you didn't plan on.

 

[beakie]

My point is, go as big as you can fit, you'll always have stuff end up on there that you didn't plan on.

exact reason I would say go small as reasonable.
more "stuff" ends up on your bench and you end up needing more room for more "stuff"



one 6' x 2' work surface which is heavy duty & permanent, vise attached, able to hammer on it without worry of breaking, bouncing, @ whatever height you are comfortable standing/working at.

one or more smaller 2'x2' benches which fold down/up from the wall. these can be used to sit at in a chair or stool, and since they collapse you can hide them once you're done with them.

 

[51cub]

Go as big as is practical for the space you have, and what you'll be doing on it.I have an 8' bench, but I'm going to build a cart on wheels, the same height, to put next to it for the times I have to go longer. What I'm saying so badly is, if you need a 6' bench 99% of the time, that's what to get. If there comes a time you want to put a driveshaft on it, just build something the same height that can go on the end temporarily

 

[51cub]

If you're so inclined, you can put a piece of plywood 2 feet long on hinges at the end of the bench. Put fold up legs under it, or have some manner of contrivance to put under it when you have to set it up

 

[tarmy]

View attachment 511674

Go big or go home...just kidding. I built this after many smaller versions...finally got to a place in life where I could...

I do recommend building it stout...so that when you are beating on something...or doing something in the vise that your work surface is stationary.

I also figured out after years of different benches...to use 200 lbs. drawer slides...and the plywood top allows for easy replacement and patching...

 

[ZRX61]

You cannot have too much bench space!
Mike

Actually you can, it just becomes shelving. I had at least 42ft of *bench* in my old garage. Half that would have been better.