So I've wanted a new LARGE (8-10ft) work bench for awhile and was pretty set on getting one through Zoro with a Butcher Block top. Problem is I could never wrap my head around the price, even post sale i'd be looking at over $500 for some stamped steel legs and the single work surface. I don't mind spending for quality but it irks me to spend so much for so little.
Anyway I stumbled across a company called 2x4 Basics that sells kits. Pretty simple, they give you the legs/shelving guides, screws, and instructions, you supply the wood. They advertise no fancy cutting required, just a circular saw. I checked out the reviews on Amazon which were good and I liked what i saw in the review photos which started the hamster wheel in my head rolling. I purchased through Amazon and got the full kit for about $65. I made a couple trips to the big box store for some wood and all told I think that bill ran about $150 with the brunt of the cost being the sheets of oak veneer ply that I was going to use for the tops. I just like the look but you could easily make the top out of whatever you want.
The kit itself consists of the 4 main legs and 6 smaller shelf links and a bag full of 1" screws. The legs/links are made of a nylon plastic and feel quite sturdy to the point that the company advertise up to 1000lb capacity per main shelf with a maximum of 3 shelves.
Assembly was straight forward. The best part about this kit is you can build it as big or small as you like with as much, or as little, bracing as you want.
The kit does have a couple issues though. The lower bracing only has 2 screws per 2x4 which I felt was inadequate. Its plastic though so I simply drilled and zipped in a third. My BIGGEST complaint though is with the provided screws. As stated they're 1" which is far too short to catch the 2x4 through the legs with any real bite. I'd estimate only the last 1/4" is actually hitting wood. I plan to remove all of them, trash them, and replace them with 1-3/4" screws.
The provided screws are also too short for any additional bracing but I keep boxes of deck screws around which I used quite a few of.
All in all for around $225 (added in a slapped on coat of stain and poly) and a few hours of labor I got myself an 8' wide 36" deep work bench. I braced the hell out of the tops to prevent the ply from sagging and plan to further brace a corner to mount a vise. For the moment I left the middle shelf out as im going to put two smaller shelves there so I can store taller items such as my chop saw.
Not complete but this is the current result.
Anyway I stumbled across a company called 2x4 Basics that sells kits. Pretty simple, they give you the legs/shelving guides, screws, and instructions, you supply the wood. They advertise no fancy cutting required, just a circular saw. I checked out the reviews on Amazon which were good and I liked what i saw in the review photos which started the hamster wheel in my head rolling. I purchased through Amazon and got the full kit for about $65. I made a couple trips to the big box store for some wood and all told I think that bill ran about $150 with the brunt of the cost being the sheets of oak veneer ply that I was going to use for the tops. I just like the look but you could easily make the top out of whatever you want.
The kit itself consists of the 4 main legs and 6 smaller shelf links and a bag full of 1" screws. The legs/links are made of a nylon plastic and feel quite sturdy to the point that the company advertise up to 1000lb capacity per main shelf with a maximum of 3 shelves.
Assembly was straight forward. The best part about this kit is you can build it as big or small as you like with as much, or as little, bracing as you want.
The kit does have a couple issues though. The lower bracing only has 2 screws per 2x4 which I felt was inadequate. Its plastic though so I simply drilled and zipped in a third. My BIGGEST complaint though is with the provided screws. As stated they're 1" which is far too short to catch the 2x4 through the legs with any real bite. I'd estimate only the last 1/4" is actually hitting wood. I plan to remove all of them, trash them, and replace them with 1-3/4" screws.
The provided screws are also too short for any additional bracing but I keep boxes of deck screws around which I used quite a few of.
All in all for around $225 (added in a slapped on coat of stain and poly) and a few hours of labor I got myself an 8' wide 36" deep work bench. I braced the hell out of the tops to prevent the ply from sagging and plan to further brace a corner to mount a vise. For the moment I left the middle shelf out as im going to put two smaller shelves there so I can store taller items such as my chop saw.
Not complete but this is the current result.
