Building a bench.

[beetroot72]

Any thoughts about using 10 feet of kitchen countertop for the top of a bench? I want to build a bench along the back wall of my garage this spring and saw up to 10 foot legnths of countertop at Home Depot for under $60 Bucks. The black one looked pretty cool

 

[MXtras]

It will work. It won't handle a whole lot of beating, though.

Scott

 

[SteveU]

Built mine with 4x4 legs, 2x10 around the top & 2x4 around the bottom. The top is 2x10's and the bottom shelf is 2x10's. Very sturdy but also very heavy, about all me & a buddy could do to move it into place after building it. This thing is about unbreakable & if one of the boards on the top gets buggered up it is easy to replace. Cost in materials for 10' long was right about 100.00. I can push, pull or whatever on this thing all I want & it doesn't move a bit. Something like this with the top of your choice screwed to the 2x10's from underneath?

 

[christian]

Steve, could you post some pics if you have them?
thanks

 

[toolman]

I used 4x4 for the legs and 2x6 for the upper and lower support. For the top I used ¾ mdf, which is easily replaced if damaged. The bench in the picture is 16' long.
View attachment 9835

 

[SteveU]

Steve, could you post some pics if you have them?
thanks

I'll see what I can do to get hold of a digital camera or take some pics of it with a regular camera & scan them in.
Steve

 

[Big_John]

I had an old work bench that was needed a new top and as it turned out, it was the perfect size for a kitchen counter top. So far so good.

One thing, while your at Home Depot, walk over to the carpet area and buy some of that black vinyl carpet runner. I use it on the bench when I put something nasty on the bench that might screw up the surface. That stuff is also great for roller benches and I even have it between my rooler cabinet and the tool box on top.

 

[Morrisman]

Built mine with 4x4 legs, 2x10 around the top & 2x4 around the bottom. The top is 2x10's and the bottom shelf is 2x10's. Very sturdy but also very heavy, about all me & a buddy could do to move it into place after building it. This thing is about unbreakable & if one of the boards on the top gets buggered up it is easy to replace. Cost in materials for 10' long was right about 100.00. I can push, pull or whatever on this thing all I want & it doesn't move a bit. Something like this with the top of your choice screwed to the 2x10's from underneath?

That is pretty much what I'm planning for my new shop, gonna be full length along the short side of the shop, so 15' long. Probably 2' deep, and solid as hell It'll have cupboard built under it for storage too, to keep all the regularly used stuff, like grinders, drills, chop saw etc

The kitchen surface stuff works well as a bench top, used a piece for several years in my last shop, took all the hammering I gave it. It didn't like getting hot though when I welded stuff on it

 

[christian]

One thing, while your at Home Depot, walk over to the carpet area and buy some of that black vinyl carpet runner. I use it on the bench when I put something nasty on the bench that might screw up the surface. That stuff is also great for roller benches and I even have it between my rooler cabinet and the tool box on top.

i use the same thing, the padding, for sanding wood projects so the side against the bench doesn't get marred.

 

[ersatzs2]

My legs from global industries arrived, and I'm very happy with them. Strong, adjustable for height, with neat cutouts for outlets, just $22 each (plus shipping not inconsequential)

 

[KenBaker]

I bought 47 feet of uncut kitchen counters at a local place for 120.00. They were in 4 pieces and were a matching light grey. Get light colored counters. You will appreciate the difference when you are working on them. I made a frame for each with 2x4's. It is all out in a 30x30 garage and will do everything except hard-core grinding and welding. I bought heavy-duty clear plastic carpet runner to unroll when working with things like cylinder heads and like items. I put one of them at a lower level which allows me to work on things in a normal chair. And for the record, every square inch has stuff on it

 

[hammlm]

My legs from global industries arrived, and I'm very happy with them. Strong, adjustable for height, with neat cutouts for outlets, just $22 each (plus shipping not inconsequential)

Can you post up a P/N or a link to those. I looked on their site (I think it was thiers) and couldn't find what you got.

What gauge are they?

Thanks.

Slim

 

[beetroot72]

Built mine with 4x4 legs, 2x10 around the top & 2x4 around the bottom. The top is 2x10's and the bottom shelf is 2x10's. Very sturdy but also very heavy, about all me & a buddy could do to move it into place after building it. This thing is about unbreakable & if one of the boards on the top gets buggered up it is easy to replace. Cost in materials for 10' long was right about 100.00. I can push, pull or whatever on this thing all I want & it doesn't move a bit. Something like this with the top of your choice screwed to the 2x10's from underneath?

Yes! that is what I need. Something that won't budge. I'm so sick of putting something in my vise and having to hold my bench in place while I work.

Post some Detailed pics so I can get an Idea how to start!

 

[beetroot72]

I had an old work bench that was needed a new top and as it turned out, it was the perfect size for a kitchen counter top. So far so good.

One thing, while your at Home Depot, walk over to the carpet area and buy some of that black vinyl carpet runner. I use it on the bench when I put something nasty on the bench that might screw up the surface. That stuff is also great for roller benches and I even have it between my rooler cabinet and the tool box on top.

Great Idea...thanks!

 

[beetroot72]

My legs from global industries arrived, and I'm very happy with them. Strong, adjustable for height, with neat cutouts for outlets, just $22 each (plus shipping not inconsequential)

How sturdy are they? The price is right, but does it need to be anchored to the slab for stability?

 

[ersatzs2]

Can you post up a P/N or a link to those. I looked on their site (I think it was thiers) and couldn't find what you got.

What gauge are they?

Thanks.

Slim

www.globalindustrial.com



Follow the menu to workbench, then workbench components, then adjustable height leg.

The specs say 13 gauge steel. I used their stringers ($15-20 depending on length) to stabilize them, I also got a shelf for one section. They are quite rigid and I don't plan to tie them to the floor, although my tops are very heavy.

 

[hammlm]

www.globalindustrial.com



Follow the menu to workbench, then workbench components, then adjustable height leg.

The specs say 13 gauge steel. I used their stringers ($15-20 depending on length) to stabilize them, I also got a shelf for one section. They are quite rigid and I don't plan to tie them to the floor, although my tops are very heavy.

ERS;

Thanks for the navigational help. I found them. Looks like just what I've been looking for, and pretty sturdy, to boot.

I'm somewhat enamored by the receptacle mounting knockouts, but can't discern from the photos how you might mount a box in the "C" channel to house the recep. Any thoughts, or will you nix the recep idea?

Thanks again!

 

[ersatzs2]

ERS;

Thanks for the navigational help. I found them. Looks like just what I've been looking for, and pretty sturdy, to boot.

I'm somewhat enamored by the receptacle mounting knockouts, but can't discern from the photos how you might mount a box in the "C" channel to house the recep. Any thoughts, or will you nix the recep idea?

Thanks again!

Their website has a lot of info and photos, but it isn't easy to navigate. Which is my way of saying that once upon a time I did find a photo of how they install the receptacle, and basically they do it without a box, ie the back of the receptacle is open. Can't find it now. Basically those two 6/32 machine screws that normally attach the receptacle to the box are now going to attach the receptacle to the 'C' channel. The channel is deep enough that something would really need to wedge in from behind in a creative way to cause a short, but I'll wrap it with tape anyway...

Also not shown in my photos or theirs is they include a pair of plastic blanks that clip into the back of unused receptacle cutouts for a finished look.

 

[Speed Shop]

My bench is similar to toolman's, except messier in the pic. When the top gets beat up looking, I just pop out the screws and lay new masonite on it. The bench has to be about 15 years old. If I need to move it, it comes apart so it can be moved in sections easily. It's 8' x 2'. BTW, if Toolman's dog is a boxer, we have something else in common.

 

[HybridG]

I hav a bench they i made of 4x4post with a steel top for welding has done me real good so for it is 8' x 4 '

hybrid

 

[Kong]

For a workbench top I use a sheet of 3/4" plywood and a sheet of 3/4" particle board cut into 2' x 8' pieces. I then sandwich them together (wood on the top and bottom, particle in the middle) with glue and screws. Finish with a marine grade varnish or a hardwood flooring varnish. Very, very solid. If you have some semi stationary tools that you don't use constantly you can make removable "ledges" that slide into cut-outs that you pre-cut into the particle board portion of the benchtop and either permanently mount them to an extra ledge or use bolts and wingnuts.

Kong

 

[autoist]

Same kinda thing in my shop but I just used 3/4" plywood for my tops:

 

[toolman]

My bench is similar to toolman's, except messier in the pic. When the top gets beat up looking, I just pop out the screws and lay new masonite on it. The bench has to be about 15 years old. If I need to move it, it comes apart so it can be moved in sections easily. It's 8' x 2'. BTW, if Toolman's dog is a boxer, we have something else in common.

You bet that's a boxer. I have always had boxer's. You just can’t beat their personalities.

View attachment 10034

 

[Speed Shop]

Here's my guy! 20 week old puppy. Even though he looks peaceful, one ear is alert. Our third boxer. My wife grew up with them. I agree, great personalities. If I have a bad day, he can make me laugh.