Fasten workbench to floor or wall

[JackOfDiamonds]

I have one sturdy 4'x4' workbench that I'm going to put my vise on. It's heavy because it's made of 4x4s, but it's too tippy to leave freestanding.

My garage slab has an annoying curb around it so I can lag it to the wall but I will need to add a 4x4 spacer to take up the extra space. On the other hand I could fasten it to the slab but I don't know what type of concrete anchors to use and for some reason drilling into my slab makes me nervous. Even if I do try to anchor it down, do I just use steel L-brackets?

 

[tarmy]

I have both ways. They are both very stabile...

Freestanding but with the tool box weighs way over 1000 lbs.


This one is bolted like you are contemplating...has the same annoying curb you mentioned.

 

[ZRX61]

I'd do the *go-big* option:
Lag bolt a 12x4 horizontally to the wall with at least 6in of it above the bench top. Then lag bolt the bench to it.
Nothing falls down the back of the bench & now you have a shelf

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

Yeah I was just thinking also that if I put up a 4x4 or 4xX I can fasten it to each stud in the wall with some of those expensive skinny lag bolts that look like giant wood screws. Then I can just attach the workbench to that with deck screws. I don't have to screw through the whole thing at once.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, given the choice of fastening the bench to the floor or wall; I recommend the wall.

A bench fastened to the floor will be subject to stresses that will want to make the legs wobble.

A bench fastened to the wall will be supported by the floor and being anchored to the wall, movement stresses will be controlled by the rigidity of the wall.

 

[MikeF2316]

I say the answer to your question is, "Yes!" Fasten it to both, that's what I did. I think the wall is more important, most of the force you apply to something in the vise is in the horizontal plane, that provides the most direct path to something solid.

 

[Colin Len]

IMHO, given the choice of fastening the bench to the floor or wall; I recommend the wall.

A bench fastened to the floor will be subject to stresses that will want to make the legs wobble.

A bench fastened to the wall will be supported by the floor and being anchored to the wall, movement stresses will be controlled by the rigidity of the wall.

I would agree. The only weakness I could see here is that if the bench itself isn't rigid enough and you're doing something where you're applying an upward force on the vise (presumably attached to the front edge of the bench) that the front legs and leading edge of the bench could lift off the ground. In that instance you'd be well served to also secure the front legs to the floor. But, if the bench is rigid enough that probably wouldn't be needed.

 

[stayalert]

Yeah I was just thinking also that if I put up a 4x4 or 4xX I can fasten it to each stud in the wall with some of those expensive skinny lag bolts that look like giant wood screws. Then I can just attach the workbench to that with deck screws. I don't have to screw through the whole thing at once.

All my stuff id on wheels....but to do what you are doing?

I'd do that with Timber loks to the wall ("a brand of those skinny expensive woods screws")

I like the big flat headed ones

 

[stainlessyyc]

Anchor to the wall but maybe an X-brace under the table on the legs to prevent the twisting from reefing of the vise?

 

[619DioFan]

My benches have steel frames and are bolted to the floor. I used lag shields and 3/8 lag bolts. 6 per bench. I know wedge anchors would be stronger but I already had the lag shields and bolts. the benches are plenty solid.

 

[HenryAZ]

My smaller workbench used to be my reloading bench. To withstand the forces of working the press, I anchored it to the wall. On the bottom shelf there were always boxes of bullets waiting to be reloaded, and in addition, I added some bags of lead shot right over the front legs. Now that I no longer reload, just the bags of lead shot and anchoring to the wall make it rock solid.

 

[jonshonda]

I have limited experience bolting benches to the wall, but remember the one I did have bolted to the wall would shake the wall bad enough that things would fall off the pegboard.

But I am also 6'2" and 260lbs, so I might exert more force then others?

 

[CraigStu]

Yeah I was just thinking also that if I put up a 4x4 or 4xX I can fasten it to each stud in the wall with some of those expensive skinny lag bolts that look like giant wood screws. Then I can just attach the workbench to that with deck screws. I don't have to screw through the whole thing at once.

I think you have a plan here. If you ever find it lifting off the floor you can always do that later. I am 72 and about 3 months ago I bought my first hammer drill ( a corded Dewalt for $99) to bolt some 2Xs to the foundation. Wow, what I have been missing all these years. I got some drill bits and some Tapcons at Lowes and the process is so easy it's unbelievable.