Build a workbench with a HF 44" tool cabinet?

[mtbguy]

I saw Steevo's awesome build using 4 harbor freight 44" tool cabinets:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126086

I was hoping for something a bit less ambitious. Based on a single cabinet and not requiring any custom welding.

Steevo mentioned:
I have for the HF 44" boxes, without the wheels or side handle are 42-3/16" Wide x 18-1/8" Deep x 33-5/8" High

Anyone know of some nice sturdy legs/mounting hardware so I can build a workbench out of plywood to house the HF44"?

Or even just a prebuilt workbench that could fit a 34" tall x 42" wide HF44 on the bottom shelf.

Ideas?

 

[firworks]

Without welding, you could build it out of Unistrut. I'm getting ready to embark on a work bench build with some US soon hopefully. It's cool stuff if you haven't seen it before.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDFYZ-h1u54" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[mtbguy]

Ah, I'll check it out.

I found this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006XD1ZKM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But it looks just a bit too short, a 40" tall version would likely work.

 

[stonesfan68]

Why not build a frame out of wood?

 

[Thumper68]

I saw Steevo's awesome build using 4 harbor freight 44" tool cabinets:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126086

I was hoping for something a bit less ambitious. Based on a single cabinet and not requiring any custom welding.

Steevo mentioned:
I have for the HF 44" boxes, without the wheels or side handle are 42-3/16" Wide x 18-1/8" Deep x 33-5/8" High

Anyone know of some nice sturdy legs/mounting hardware so I can build a workbench out of plywood to house the HF44"?

Or even just a prebuilt workbench that could fit a 34" tall x 42" wide HF44 on the bottom shelf.

Ideas?

This looks like a great time to buy a welder and learn.

Other than that Uni-strut would work well

 

[mtbguy]

Why not build a frame out of wood?

Well my main concern was supporting a 250 pound toolbox with a fair bit of tools in it for the life time of the bench. I'll have to look into a nice way to mount the cross braces to vertical 4x4's as legs. Was hoping for some ideas from similar projects.

These feet mentioned here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5215901&postcount=586

Look pretty awesome, but require a significant amount of metal work.

How would you make a shelf to handle 500 pounds?

 

[mtbguy]

This looks like a great time to buy a welder and learn.

Tempting, I've done a fair bit of brazing with an oxy-acetalyne torch, but not with my own equipment. Managed design on paper, and turn a pile of uncut/unbent steel tubes into a pretty nice mountain bike.

What exactly would you recommend for welding tubes like Steevo used?

 

[ibedayank]

wooden bridges held up steam trains so a tiny lightweight toolbox should not be a problem

 

[csp]

I have two full 41" (the 44" measurement includes the 3" handle) HF boxes with the casters removed. Each one sits on its own frame made out of 3/4" cabinet grade plywood. It's just four pieces of plywood on edge screwed together with pocket screws.

You're underestimating wood's ability to support lots of weight.

 

[Oldgloryfirearms]

Well my main concern was supporting a 250 pound toolbox with a fair bit of tools in it for the life time of the bench. I'll have to look into a nice way to mount the cross braces to vertical 4x4's as legs. Was hoping for some ideas from similar projects.

These feet mentioned here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5215901&postcount=586

Look pretty awesome, but require a significant amount of metal work.

How would you make a shelf to handle 500 pounds?

If you read through the entire thread yes i know its alot but there is a hell of alot of good info in it. Many people have made them out of wood and other combinations

I have two full 41" (the 44" measurement includes the 3" handle) HF boxes with the casters removed. Each one sits on its own frame made out of 3/4" cabinet grade plywood. It's just four pieces of plywood on edge screwed together with pocket screws.

You're underestimating wood's ability to support lots of weight.

Exactly hell you live in a house made of wood.

 

[countrytech]

Well my main concern was supporting a 250 pound toolbox with a fair bit of tools in it for the life time of the bench. I'll have to look into a nice way to mount the cross braces to vertical 4x4's as legs. Was hoping for some ideas from similar projects.

These feet mentioned here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5215901&postcount=586

Look pretty awesome, but require a significant amount of metal work.

How would you make a shelf to handle 500 pounds?

500 lbs of weight is not that much to support with a bottom shelf of 2x4s. You wouldn't even need 4x4 legs.

 

[littlefan]

I made legs out doubled 2x4s with doubled 2x4 cross braces 4 sets top is 3 2x10x12. This made 3 bays under bench center bay has hf cabinet right bay has bolt bin with small drawers left bay open stool and jack stands. Top has 3/4 mdf overlayed and I have had a garden tractor on this with no problems

 

[mtbguy]

500 lbs of weight is not that much to support with a bottom shelf of 2x4s. You wouldn't even need 4x4 legs.

Sure, was just hoping for some examples Plywood supported by horizontal 2x4's? Or particle board? Supporting 2x4's attached to the legs with bolts? Brackets? Notches? Sure houses are made of wood, but I wouldn't just bolt a shelf onto a wall and put a 500 pound tool chest on it.

Was just hoping to a wood version of Steevo's build for some ideas. My garage floor does occasionally get wet, so I didn't want to leave anything but some rubber feet on the ground.

 

[firworks]

I'm pretty sure that a lot of woods are comparable or even stronger than steel by weight, but the problem is you need a lot of wood to make up the weight. Just using steel by itself in a bad design or undersized isn't going to necessarily be stronger than 2x construction done right.

Whatever you come up with detail the whole thing on here and I'm sure you'll get a lot of solicited and unsolicited advice and encouragement.

 

[rsanter]

What is the complexity here?
If you want the easiest way, just bolt it to the wall with the exsisting wheels holding it up. Would really confuse a thief that tried to steal it.

With a little more effort you could set the box on a couple of wood rails made from 4x4 or 4x6 and that would,leave an opening in the front so you could slide something under it like oil drain pan for storage

Bob

 

[JOHN 86GT]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266821

Look at post no. 17