Building a nice little workbench

[green2kgt]

Well ive been wanting a nice workbench that i can put 500lbs on, beat the $hit out of it with a sledge hammer, and not worry ab out the table. You know, the type of work bench that every man needs. Well, here it is. Its not done but heres what ive got up to this point. This is my first go ahead with something that has doors and drawers. As usual, many changes from my initial plans.

Here are the initial drawings. Didnt use solidworks at all for this one, just went by hand and by eye. Kinda like it that way. This isnt a bar for my house, which it damn near turned out that way, lmao. So i didnt need to be perfect. just wanted it good.

IMG_1998 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_1999 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_2050 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_2057 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_2056 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

The top of this table is made out of pressed maple. Its 1 piece that is approx 7' x 3'. It is layered with 2x's on the bottom. Its a beast.

IMG_2147 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

I wanted the front sheeting to be out of 1 piece.

IMG_2151 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_2152 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

backside

IMG_2155 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_2154 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_2153 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_2384 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

Im not done obviously. I got the other drawer front on this past week and got the doors mostly built. Doing bifolds on each side. using 1x4 frames for each door half and the same sheeting used on the bench for the inside of the door. i used a router on the backside of each door to inset the sheeting. Should look pretty damn nice when it gets done. I will put some trim on it too when its done and a small backsplash to keep things from rolling off. i will also put my Vice and Grinder on the top.

 

[green2kgt]

The top of this table is made out of pressed maple. Its 1 piece that is approx 7' x 3'. It is layered with 2x's on the bottom. Its a beast. I got the top for free b/c it was hanging around at work for many years. Its 3/4" thick. It was 7'x4' and had rounded corners so when I cut it down it still had some of the radius left as you can seein the pics so i will either leave it or cut off the 2x's to have them match it.

I plan on putting a bartop epoxy or something similar on the top b/c i dont want to damage the hell out of the top and have to replace it multiple times.

 

[920kip]

Bench looks great. I'll keep an eye on how you finish it.

 

[green2kgt]

Bench looks great. I'll keep an eye on how you finish it.

thanks. Its been a fun project. Especially since ive never built anything with drawers before. These came out perfect. First time using a Kreg jig too, so im hooked on that!! lol.

FYI for all, Im going to paint it, not stain it. Everyone always asks me.

 

[aka Larry]

Looks good man. Nice work!

 

[2fat2fly]

I concur. It looks really good.


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[Scout3918]

Great job, I'm wanting a portable bench for my garage too. good idea, thx

 

[green2kgt]

Looks good man. Nice work!

Thanks! Nice Stang! Heres our New Edge. I love your signature about Photobucket. lmao. Facebook did the same to mine and on the Kawasaki forum. i had over 200 pics of 89 ZX10 build and it F'd em all up.

Mustang Lowered by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

I concur. It looks really good.


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Thanks a lot!! appreciate it.

Great job, I'm wanting a portable bench for my garage too. good idea, thx

Thanks man! You can see from my first drawing that i was going to do a shelf halfway up. After thinking about it, the bottom shelf would be approx 15" tall and 30" deep. That would be a huge pain in the A$$ when trying to grab something from the back of that bottom shelf. It was a last minute change to do drawers to give more room on the bottom. i almost made the bottom to fit a tool chest i have, on one side, but the tool chest is 1" too tall, lol. I also changed up the casters and went with 4 swivel and did the front 2 locking. I should have did all 4 locking to have the option. I can still swap em out. I was going to do 2 ridgid casters on one end and 2 swivel on the other but i want to be able to pull the table straight out from the wall so i changed it to 4 swivel for that reason. i wanna be able to move the table however i want to.

 

[tjdux]

Great looking bench. I love the single sheet front.

Are you ok with smashing it with a sledge with castor wheels? I always worry they are a weak link when hammering hard

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[gahrajmahal]

As time goes on you will really appreciate that you spent the time to make it look nice and not just functional. Great job!

 

[green2kgt]

Great looking bench. I love the single sheet front.

Are you ok with smashing it with a sledge with castor wheels? I always worry they are a weak link when hammering hard

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Thanks. The single sheet front was also a last minute change. I was going to piece it in but then after looking at it for a few minutes, i just put a couple small nails in it to hold it up, then traced the openings and cut it with the hand saw. Then i measured the drawer openings b/c they were easier to measure and more square, lol.

I was exaggerating when i was saying hitting something with a sledge hammer. Worst i would do is with my 3lb mini sledge. lol. but at least the table can handle it. If i break a caster, i will just upgrade to a better caster and upgrade where its mounted. But ill wait til that day and see what it takes to get to that point!

As time goes on you will really appreciate that you spent the time to make it look nice and not just functional. Great job!

Thanks a lot. i agree!!

 

[green2kgt]

Got the doors built. Heres what they look like. Had a car show this weekend so I didnt get much done beside the inner panels put on. Used 1x4's I assembled with a Kreg jig, then routered out the backside about 3/8" deep and used 1/4" sheet from left over pieces of the exterior sheeting of the workbench.

IMG_2450 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

Also a buddy of mine gave me an Irwin vice off his line truck. Just needed cleaned up and a new retaining ring as the jaws wouldnt retract. When you unwound it, you had to pull the jaws back. They would clamp together to hold something, just a pain to use so im tearing it apart and fixing it. Im going to powdercoat it either silver vein or blue vein. Below is an example of Blue Vein. This will be mounted to this bench along with my grinder.

IMG_2449 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

CAC6D5CE-4C59-4659-8417-F1950085C095 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

IMG_2452 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

 

[53PontiacSD]

Nice bench. It's a toss up on the color of the vise. Maybe flip a coin. I'd like to see the bench done and everything mounted on it.

Billy

 

[green2kgt]

Nice bench. It's a toss up on the color of the vise. Maybe flip a coin. I'd like to see the bench done and everything mounted on it.

Billy

thanks. Me too! lol. Wont be too long. Getting the colors today. Local restaurant i eat lunch at 3-4 days a week has the colors in their interior that i want. Hopefully they have the color swatches or can get the colors from the people who painted their walls and trim. Easiest way to say the colors are almost like a titanium and a cream color. look pretty sweet together.

 

[jblnut]

First time using a Kreg jig too, so I'm hooked on that!! lol.

It is pretty rare that I do something wood working related and the Kreg Jig doesn't come out to get used. It is a wonderful piece of equipment that makes life SO much easier !!

The bench looks great !!

 

[green2kgt]

It is pretty rare that I do something wood working related and the Kreg Jig doesn't come out to get used. It is a wonderful piece of equipment that makes life SO much easier !!

The bench looks great !!

HAHA!! anymore im going to be the same way man!!

 

[aka Larry]

Thanks! Nice Stang! Heres our New Edge. I love your signature about Photobucket. lmao. Facebook did the same to mine and on the Kawasaki forum. i had over 200 pics of 89 ZX10 build and it F'd em all up.

Thanks. I spy your Cobra caliper upgrade on yours. It really pisses me off about Photobucket. I have a ton of pics linked on different forums and now there are all gone.

 

[green2kgt]

Thanks. I spy your Cobra caliper upgrade on yours. It really pisses me off about Photobucket. I have a ton of pics linked on different forums and now there are all gone.

I stole your signature idea and added a note next to my "garage build" link. lol

Yah the cobra calipers are powdercoated zinc yellow along with the intake and a few other little things. Rear calipers are next to match. I didnt want the COBRA embossing to be a different color b/c its not a cobra so i didnt want it to stand out. other than that its lowered and a few other suspension parts and exhaust. About it.

 

[green2kgt]

Finally! Here is what it looks like. Only thing left to do is door and drawer handles, paint, and some trim on the 4 vertical corners.

You can see in this corners of the doors where the hinges are mounted that i recessed them. This way the doors dont stick out so far when mounted. I had to run the 1x across the top and bottom of the openings bc my dumba$$ made the doors the same height as the opening and not 2" taller. I made em the correct width i wanted, 3" overall wider, but forgot to add in the extra height... errrrrrrrrrr.... its ok, its just then garage, not my house. still looks good!!

IMG_2486 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

Looks good all together! Just need some door bumps and some magnets to keep the doors closed.

IMG_2488 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

Heres the inside of the doors...

0A05C22D-0E89-4F8E-8064-E25C2336B295 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

Had to put a 45 on the 2 inside doors so they didnt hit when they open.

IMG_2489 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

 

[Dirtydan69]

Actual cabinet hinges would have made that unnessassary. But you found a simple solution.

Finally! Here is what it looks like. Only thing left to do is door and drawer handles, paint, and some trim on the 4 vertical corners.

You can see in this corners of the doors where the hinges are mounted that i recessed them. This way the doors dont stick out so far when mounted. I had to run the 1x across the top and bottom of the openings bc my dumba$$ made the doors the same height as the opening and not 2" taller. I made em the correct width i wanted, 3" overall wider, but forgot to add in the extra height... errrrrrrrrrr.... its ok, its just then garage, not my house. still looks good!!

IMG_2486 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

Looks good all together! Just need some door bumps and some magnets to keep the doors closed.

IMG_2488 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

Heres the inside of the doors...

0A05C22D-0E89-4F8E-8064-E25C2336B295 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

Had to put a 45 on the 2 inside doors so they didnt hit when they open.

IMG_2489 by ICEMAN TMCF, on Flickr

 

[green2kgt]

Actual cabinet hinges would have made that unnessassary. But you found a simple solution.

I wanted hinges that came out as far as these do (4") to help support them and keep them from sagging over time. The doors are approx 16" x 10" x .75". I dont know if they make cabinet hinges that hold out this far and to be honest, i didnt look. If they do, im guessing they are a lot more than the $3 each that i spent on these hinges. lol.

Thx for the input tho.

It was a quick trip to lowes for hinges and i didnt even think of cabinet hinges. My main priority was for support.

 

[green2kgt]

Been a couple months since i worked on it. Finally decided to stain it instead of painting it. Definitely starting to look too nice for a work bench. lol.

Used Dark Walnut and Satin Urethane.

Left door has 1 coat of stain and no urethane. Right is bare.

Doors with/out Stain by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Left cabinet side has 1 coat of stain and no urethane

Side with stain by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Drawer fronts are stained (1 coat) and have 1 coat of urethane. Will get 1 or 2 more coats of urethane.

Drawer fronts stained and coated by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Cabinet doors are stained (1 coat) and have 1 coat of urethane. Will get 1 or 2 more coats of urethane.

Doors stained and coated by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Cabinet front is stained (1 coat) and has 1 coat of urethane. Will get 1 or 2 more coats of urethane.

Cabinet stained and coated by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Entire Cabinet is stained (1 coat) and has 1 coat of urethane. Will get 1 or 2 more coats of urethane.

Cabinet Back stained and coated by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

 

[Bears Fan]

Yeah your right looks to nice for a work bench! Looks like the wife could use it in the kitchen as a work space...nice job

Your blue print reminded me of Kevin McCallister's battle plan blue print from The Home Alone movie

 

[green2kgt]

Yeah your right looks to nice for a work bench! Looks like the wife could use it in the kitchen as a work space...nice job

Your blue print reminded me of Kevin McCallister's battle plan blue print from The Home Alone movie

Thx for compliment.

Now that's friggin hilarious!!!!!!! Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! Thats great!

 

[green2kgt]

Well i got her assembled. Just need to get the corner aluminum trim put on and the drawer/door handles on. Still figuring out how im going to finish the top. Got a few cool ideas.

Workbench by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Workbench by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

 

[green2kgt]

Got the handles added and im working on getting a logo put on the top. I printed it, made a connect the dots, traced it, now im going to etch it with a dremel. Im going to practice on the same type of wood to see the depth I wanna go and i also want to burn the logo to see if i like the look and also to see if i can do it good enough and if the wood takes to it good. So we'll see, otherwise itll get some paint inside the etching, then shellac'd. Stormed really bad and rained all day yesterday so this gave me some fun stuff to do all day, lol.

Handles Added by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Handles Added and **** cleaned off the top by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Redwings Logo ready to go by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

This took HOURS...

Redwings Logo getting dotted! by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Finally traced it with a pencil. I also counter-bored all the screws that are in the lines i traced, this way they will be below the etching. I will cover all the screws with wood filler so they dont stand out as much. I didnt plan on making the bench like this when i made the top so thats why the screws are there.

Redwings Logo traced by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

 

[green2kgt]

Well my practice piece came out really nice. Good enough that im going to router it, clean it up some, and hang it up. lol. This took about 4 hours.

Practice Piece Complete by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

After some little messing around to practice i got started on the masterpiece. lol. This little bit of outline took around 3-4 hours. Im guessnig ill have 25-30 hours into this entire piece when im done. That dark spot on the top is where some stain dripped when i was staining the sides. errrrr.....

Table Top 1 by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

 

[skrap metal]

cool

 

[green2kgt]

cool

Thanks.

UPDATE...

I forgot to post the finished pics of the burning. Came out Great!! After a lot of looking around and reading, im going to use bartop epoxy to finish the top. Im not going for a perfect finished look, i just want a thick protective coating.

Here is the finished outline...

Outline Complete by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

Here is the Finished Burning...

Burn Complete by Polisher Detailing, on Flickr

 

[Unruh]

Sweet work. I just built a work bench as well, I wish I would have seen this before I started! Do those wheels lock good enough so you don't get any unwanted movement?

 

[green2kgt]

Sweet work. I just built a work bench as well, I wish I would have seen this before I started! Do those wheels lock good enough so you don't get any unwanted movement?

thanks!! they arent perfect. They lock good but the table does wiggle some Since I have all 4 casters swiveling. It doesnt bother me one bit though. If you lock them and you dont want movement you can kick them to a certain angle to where the table doesnt move but a very little bit, if any at all. I should have put all 4 locking so i can lock all 4 when i bring it out from the wall. I needed all 4 to be swivel so i can move it around my garage in any fashion but theres no reason all 4 couldnt be locking as well instead of only the front 2. It only saved me 10-20 bucks making the back 2 casters not locking.

If you want to make it where it will not move at all and have it on wheels when needed, put 4 swivel wheels and put 4 of these as well... just need to make sure when its off the floor locks, that it sits nicely on the wheels without dragging the floor locks. It may get expensive doing all of that if you want the bench to be a beast like mine is. youll have a few hundred in wheels and floor locks i would imagine. I thought about putting 2 of these floor locks in the front but that little bit of movement isnt any issue to me. Only putting 2 of them will give the table a slight angle when they are locked.

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