Collapsible workbench concept

[drummingpariah]

I don't imagine this is a new concept by any means, but I couldn't find anything after browsing the forums and Popular Mechanics for awhile, so I grabbed a pen and paper and started putting my concept into a format that's easy to communicate.

Because my space is SO limited (undersized single-bay) I need something that can easily be moved out of the way. Because it's a rental, I'm uncomfortable with building a fold-down/fold-up bench space that bolts to the wall. I need as much workspace as I can get, a bit of storage for a bare-essentials tool/supplies set, and I need to be able to wheel it right out of the garage if I'm working on a big project (like replacing/fabricating an exhaust).

I have a bunch of 1" box steel, which seems to make perfect sense for this. I have a bit of steel sheet metal as well, but I'm not sure that's what I want for a top workspace. I like having a lip around my main workspace, so I'd build an exo-frame on top of the work surface on the main portion. The wings should have roughly the same height workspace (as close as possible without causing clearance issues) so they would need to have an endo-frame under the work surface.

Because my floor is so god-awful, I need adjustable feet, which means threaded casters that can raise or lower the corner.

The wings offer additional workspace and some hide-away storage (ideally, they should secure their contents so I won't have to spend an hour digging through a pile of stuff after going over some rough ground). They would slide right into the main portion of the unit (haven't decided what to use as a hinge yet, so I'm really open to suggestions).

Has anyone done something similar to this? I'm looking at fairly thin-walled steel for everything on it, as being able to push it around is a priority and in my experience wood benches tend to weigh more than I do.

 

[drummingpariah]

Mysta2's Post makes me want to build it so it can support the weight of a bike (around 500lbs total).

Rolling motorcycle lift (requires a ramp) with extendable wings?
Great idea, if I can actually pull that off.

 

[chiz1180]

I have seen a slimmer system on youtube, Its Jamie Hyneman from myth buster's shop.
Here is a link

hope it gives you some ideas.

chiz1180

 

[drummingpariah]

I had seen that video before, but somehow missed that awesome design. That'd be WAY easier to make than what I was thinking of, and looks like it'd work equally well. I think I'm just going to attempt to refine that design a little and add leveling and casters.

 

[turbolence56]

Actually you can improve on Jamie's design quite a bit. I plan on building a workbench similar to his but mine would have another row of legs to it instead of 2 halves of a bench like his setup. I would be building it with square tube, and have the end braces open allowing me to slide my third-side legs into the 4 legged bench. Picture 2 receiver hitches as the sides of your square tube frame that your wood top attaches to. I would then build another set of back legs with just the top rails welded that I would slide into the 2 receiver hitches and lock them in place. When I want to extend my bench surface, I would unscrew the top piece of ply like Jamie does, and unlock my third leg from the receiver hitches slide it out, adjust the feet (since it a little bit shorter then the 4 legged bench) and slide and bolt the other top on. Thus creating a bench that is TWICE as wide as original.

Hope you get what I am saying. Would be a ton easier if drew it.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Actually you can improve on Jamie's design quite a bit. I plan on building a workbench similar to his but mine would have another row of legs to it instead of 2 halves of a bench like his setup. I would be building it with square tube, and have the end braces open allowing me to slide my third-side legs into the 4 legged bench. Picture 2 receiver hitches as the sides of your square tube frame that your wood top attaches to. I would then build another set of back legs with just the top rails welded that I would slide into the 2 receiver hitches and lock them in place. When I want to extend my bench surface, I would unscrew the top piece of ply like Jamie does, and unlock my third leg from the receiver hitches slide it out, adjust the feet (since it a little bit shorter then the 4 legged bench) and slide and bolt the other top on. Thus creating a bench that is TWICE as wide as original.

Hope you get what I am saying. Would be a ton easier if drew it.

Could you take a crack at drawing it? I think I am following you but I would be interested in a drawing.

 

[drummingpariah]

I'm interesting in seeing it drawn up as well, even if it's just a crude sketch like mine was.

 

[chiz1180]

Also in for a drawing. I would like to make work tables like that at some point and i would like to see how others would interpret making improvements.

chiz1180

 

[turbolence56]

I could try to draw it up. Although imagine one regular work bench with 4 legs. The with both top and bottom rails opened to allow another square tube to be inserted. Like a trailer hitch into a square tube on your truck.

Now imagine taking another 4 legged table and cutting the front facing legs of but keeping the forward facing rails.

Now slide these rails into the 4 legged bench. So fully extended would give you 6 legs. Fully closed would give you 4 legs with another set 1 inch or so off the ground and hanging from the back.

I will see if I can get a crude picture if still unclear

 

[turbolence56]

Go here and look at the drawing with the two receiver hitches (bench grinder and vise) http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109087 . Now instead of having a bench grinder and vise inserted into the open square tube of the bench. I want to fab up another set of legs. Just to vertical legs with a cross bar the length of the bench and square tube that is welded to the corners and facing the receiver hitches. Basically allowing me to accordion the bench either wider or longer depending on where the square tube openings are.