Build Work Bench vs Buying one?

[Chromdome35]

View media item 79423
Here's a pic of the rough framing. The bench is 2'X8" and none of the 2x4's are 8' long.
Pocket screws and glued to make the 8' pcs.
I love my Kreg pocket screw jig, I highly recommend anyone that doesn't have one to pick one up.
They are fantastic!

I 2nd this opinion of the Kreg. I use mine all the time. I bought the HD jig and used it for building the 9 door frames for my new storage shed. Made it very easy and the joints are rock solid.

 

[scarrylarry]

View media item 79423
Here's a pic of the rough framing. The bench is 2'X8' and none of the 2x4's are 8' long.
Pocket screws and glued to make the 8' pcs.
I love my Kreg pocket screw jig, I highly recommend anyone that doesn't have one to pick one up.
They are fantastic!

Solid looking bench you have there !
scarrylarry

 

[scarrylarry]

I'm also getting some great ideas here for my workbench build as well !

Think I will go with a combination of ideas . For the top I'm thinking of laminating 2x4's together and then laying the edge side down . So the top will actually be 3 1/2 thick. Or maybe an Ikea benchtop, will need to take a look at Ikea. I want to mount a made in England Record No 5 vise to the benchtop. What do you guy's think of that ?
Thanks
scarrylarry

 

[Djarum69]

Building your own is a good project, but if you happen upon a really good deal in the meantime, don’t pass it up. I found a medical supply manufacturer going out of business and picked up 20 ft of adjustable workbench with 2inch thick oak butcher block for $200 on Craigslist. Can’t beat that kind of deal.


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[PurpleZj]

I ended up building one as I couldn’t really find anything exactly how I wanted it. Perks of building you get to make it they way you want and need. I lucked out and got all the 2x6/2x8s from a buddy for free. They weren’t perfect but they were good enough for my needs. All in all after buying the 4x4s for the legs, a box of screws, and lag bolts I maybe have $50 into it and I was able to build it nice and heavy duty vs if I had gone with 2x4s like i originally planned.

So if you’re capable I’d highly suggest building it yourself. You can get it exactly how you want it and to best meet your needs





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[BuffettFan]

Solid looking bench you have there !
scarrylarry

Thanks!
Happy with it so far.
I don't use it for heavy hammering, but it would take it, I'm sure.

View media item 79430
I thought about the 2x4's as you mentioned, but ended up with 3/4" birch plywood doubled for a 1 1/2" top. I have some Masonite cut to cover it for any heavy or dirty work. I use it mainly for small woodworking projects and firearm cleaning/assembly projects.
I used this forum to come up with ideas for mine as well.
Look forward to seeing what you come up with!

 

[BukitCase]

Another vote for pocket hole construction here - needed a bench for my "semi-outdoor" work area (for smaller jobs). Legs are 2 PT 2x6's pocket holed @ 90*, those and the 2x6 perimeter frame make it as solid as 6x6's (but a bit lighter) - top is a free-to-me solid core door. I added 1/2x2 edge banding and a 3/4 ply cabinet on top.

Storage shelf on the right is Whalen from Costco, handles pretty heavy stuff... Steve

 

[scarrylarry]

I'm also getting some great ideas here for my workbench build as well !

Think I will go with a combination of ideas . For the top I'm thinking of laminating 2x4's together and then laying the edge side down . So the top will actually be 3 1/2 thick. Or maybe an Ikea benchtop, will need to take a look at Ikea. I want to mount a made in England Record No 5 vise to the benchtop. What do you guy's think of that ?
Thanks
scarrylarry

Okay still mulling some ideas over concerning the workbench build . Going to try and put together something like member cvairwerks has posted . It will be 10 feet long 24 inches deep . it's going to be attached at the back of the bench to the finished garage wall .Will still probably go with laminated 2x4 on edge for the top. Will need to stagger lengths to get 10 feet or buy 10 ft long 2x4sIf I build it free standing the leg height might be different over the length of the bench so maybe I build it in place and size the height of the legs to the slope of the garage floor so it will be level ? Other wise if I build it free standing then move it in to position the legs might not all evenly set on the floor . Does this make sense ?
Thoughts
Thanks !
scarrylarry

 

[ItsNemo]

I like your workbench !
scarrylarry

Thanks

To level my bench, I pulled it in and out from it's final resting spot several times and sanded down the bottom of the legs until it was level. Took a few tries, but made it so the bench doesn't wobble before even screwing it to the wall.

 

[mikegt4]

I always run a large lag bolt up each leg and use them as adjustable feet. My Dad use to do that on all of this model railroad layouts.

 

[Ray-CA]

Couple of Simpson Strong Tie brackets and lumber: http://diydoneright.com/projects/garage-organization/heavyduty-workbench/

These are easy to put together and strong.

Ray

 

[Fialaja]

Building it yourself allows for more customizable options for size, height, shelves, etc

 

[scarrylarry]

Okay I have laminated 16 2x4's on edge together that will be my workbench top and this is my first phase in construction. Now because the 2x4 are not perfectly straight they have some bows in them ,the top and bottom are not flat, not level . Any ideas how to get it flat ? I have hand wood planes a handheld electric planner that I have never used yet on anything and a sander .
Maybe I will post this in the woodworking thread as well !

Thanks
scarrylarry

 

[ez-duzit]

sl--you can flatten it with hand planes and winding sticks.

 

[Mr_B]

I've always done mine with 1" 14guage box section steel and done top double layer 3/4 ply.
Can beat **** out of anything in vise on these.
First bench I ever done was free 2" box section and old farm barn timbers 3" thick, Think must of weighed over 1/3T and could sit a full size truck on it lol .
Ideal for serious heavy abuse but total overkill and when had pay for materials more realistic choices got made.
Decent ply double layered makes a great top and if oiled lasts really well, cheap too and easy renewed .

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Shop around and try to find a good metal one, they'll last a lifetime and are so much sturdier when doing heavy mechanical work. Here is a pic of my metal bench I got recently at an auction for 100 bucks. Very similar to ones I've used at various job's. Now I just need a better vise.

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[Lelandwelds]

Okay still mulling some ideas over concerning the workbench build . Going to try and put together something like member cvairwerks has posted . It will be 10 feet long 24 inches deep . it's going to be attached at the back of the bench to the finished garage wall .Will still probably go with laminated 2x4 on edge for the top. Will need to stagger lengths to get 10 feet or buy 10 ft long 2x4sIf I build it free standing the leg height might be different over the length of the bench so maybe I build it in place and size the height of the legs to the slope of the garage floor so it will be level ? Other wise if I build it free standing then move it in to position the legs might not all evenly set on the floor . Does this make sense ?
Thoughts
Thanks !
scarrylarry

Congrats on starting your first bench build! Metal is first instinct for me but I like a good wooden bench. The ones shown will wiggle. Google "Nicholson" or "English" and build it out of 12 ft or 16 ft 2 X 14 lumber. Cheaper, stronger, and straighter. I would not go crazy and start using tools from 300 years ago but the design has its good points. You need to read a bit because the good points are subtle until you actually sweat over one.