First time building a work bench, came out ok

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

I don't post here much these days since all my questions are answered by searching. But after reading the work bench threads, I settled on the EAA 1000 design. I've not done any kind of wood work before, didn't even own a saw, but really needed a bench for car maintenance, amateur radio projects, occasional repairs to my drum and percussion gear, and other random DIY stuff. Trying to use the top of my HF 44" box was no longer sufficient.

I had a few minor problems along the way, but nothing terrible. Dimensions are 39"H, 60"W, 30"D. I would've made it longer but I only have a one car garage. Anyway, I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and ideas here, I'll be mounting a vise soon and have already been combing through vise threads.

 

[The Cobbler]

looks great!

 

[captain14]

Looks great and it’s a confidence builder.

I can do that. After using it awhile, you may decide to add something to make it function better. Is it bolted to the wall? Consider that if you are using the vise for heavy work.

 

[bri_man57]

Looks good to me!! Nice job.

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[PelicanPines]

Awesome... If you pop up to New Jersey... can you make me two ? I have a two car...

Very nice design.

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Looks great and it’s a confidence builder.

I can do that. After using it awhile, you may decide to add something to make it function better. Is it bolted to the wall? Consider that if you are using the vise for heavy work.

No, I'm in a rental, so I'd rather not do that. anything I put in a vise will probably be light to medium duty anyway. Not doing any really heavy work with it.

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Awesome... If you pop up to New Jersey... can you make me two ? I have a two car...

Very nice design.

I think you'll find my prices quite reasonable. [emoji28]

 

[ScottsGT]

Not a workbench until you mount a vise. Until then, it’s just a garage coffee table.

 

[PhantomEB]

Correction.....beer shelf.

Looks great for a first time. Benches in my opinion have an evolution of their own. I never will take mine or the cupboards to my next place.

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Not a workbench until you mount a vise. Until then, it’s just a garage coffee table.

... with jack stands and an assortment of fasteners

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Correction.....beer shelf.

Looks great for a first time. Benches in my opinion have an evolution of their own. I never will take mine or the cupboards to my next place.

Thanks. I'm a little bothered that the top isn't perfectly centered but it's not noticeable unless you look for it.

Mine will come with me and it should last a while. All the workbenches I remember from my youth were home made, the idea of buying one didn't appeal to me at all.

 

[ScottsGT]

... with jack stands and an assortment of fasteners

A manly coffee table!

Looks good. You did it right.

 

[Redwngr]

Thanks. I'm a little bothered that the top isn't perfectly centered but it's not noticeable unless you look for it.

Thought you planned it that way...


Well done!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Looks nice !

One issue first timers run into when building a wooden work bench is somewhere they wind up screwing into end grain. End grain will not hold screws well long term. If you run into this dilemma, first screw the joint together using as few screws as possible. Buy a 1/2" forstner bit. Drill through the outer 2x4 and and at least 2" in to the end grain. use a hardwood dowel and a liberal amount of glue. Aft 2 are installed you can remove the original screw and add more.

Not an original idea.

Simple sturdy workbench build

 

[nadogail]

Good Job, add work bench builder to your resume.

 

[Marctrees]

Looks good.

If you ever decide to overlay the top w another layer of ply, make it overhang all edges by 1 1/2" - 2" so you can clamp work anywhere on perimeter.

Marc

 

[PhantomEB]

How do you mean not centered? I can’t find it.....

HF 44, still got that? I built mine around my tool boxes and beer fridge but I did start out with just a sheet of plywood on the box and progressed from there.

 

[Joemctag]

Overhang like marctrees said. I prefer about 2 1/2” and stiffened by gluing, say, a 5/4 strip under the overhang. Actually, OP can clamp stuff, he just needs to have big C-clamps or “Bessey” type.
The proportions he has, with the bottom shelf about a foot high, are how I do mine.
I Like the horizontals being recessed into the posts.

 

[LOW1]

Very nice. Nothing less than a Wilton will do!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I'm certain I will get **** for admitting it but I'm building one of these with the plastic legs. If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery well, whoever owns this will be very flattered because I'm copying it exactly. The red will work in my garage.

I found it on Pinterest but I'm pretty sure a GJ'er posted it here in the past.

PS: Not to hijack but anyone know where to get the plain shiny metal edging he used with the pre drilled holes? It used to be everywhere carpet and flooring is sold but I've not found it at Lowe's, HD, Amazon, etc.

 

[welder4956]

PS: Not to hijack but anyone know where to get the plain shiny metal edging he used with the pre drilled holes? It used to be everywhere carpet and flooring is sold but I've not found it at Lowe's, HD, Amazon, etc.

Probably got it from someplace like this: https://heffrons.com/retro/banding.html

 

[kaymccampbell]

Looks great. Enjoy it.

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

My bench is very similar to this as far as design and materials. I did not put a metal edge on it though. I'm pretty sure I bought the kit from Northern Tool.

I'm certain I will get **** for admitting it but I'm building one of these with the plastic legs. If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery well, whoever owns this will be very flattered because I'm copying it exactly. The red will work in my garage.

I found it on Pinterest but I'm pretty sure a GJ'er posted it here in the past.

PS: Not to hijack but anyone know where to get the plain shiny metal edging he used with the pre drilled holes? It used to be everywhere carpet and flooring is sold but I've not found it at Lowe's, HD, Amazon, etc.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Good job. Now you have to christen it.
Drill a few holes to mount a variety of tools, them drill some more to place tool where it should have been placed originally.
Buff it with a wire wheel to get that special sheen.
Burn it strategically with a torch to give character.
Straighten a few nails on it to give it that worm wood appeal.
Score it with a slotted screwdriver to mimic what could happen if one isn’t careful.
Drill a few Phillips screw below surface and then totally obliterate by camming them out to the point they look like they have been drilled out.
Glue something accidentally to it and scrape off excess with the claw of your hammer.
Overfill chainsaw oil and blend into wood grain for added patina.
I’m sure others can help with other methods to add character to your bench.

 

[bri_man57]

Spill a half quart of oil on it.

Get slag/ burn marks from welding.

Run an angle grinder tio close to the edge and dig into the side.

Plenty of ball peen marks in that ”one" area.

Mount a power strip in 3 different places because it somehow is never in the right spot.

All joking aside, I always liked taking the 0.99 cent yardsticks from home depot for mixing paint and screwing one or two to the front. Nice for quick and dirty measurements. If you're really cool, youll make one ear of the vice match with the begining of said yardstick so you have a stop to **** up against.

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[SuperCat]

The best thing I have learned about work benches is to have a top surface that can be easily replaced. Some folks use hard board because it is smooth, some use 1/4 inch plywood, etc. If you do that, you won't get too bent out of shape if you spill something on top of your bench, like dirty, disgusting, smelly, old engine oil. Don't ask me how I know about that. ;^)

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Looks nice !

One issue first timers run into when building a wooden work bench is somewhere they wind up screwing into end grain. End grain will not hold screws well long term. If you run into this dilemma, first screw the joint together using as few screws as possible. Buy a 1/2" forstner bit. Drill through the outer 2x4 and and at least 2" in to the end grain. use a hardwood dowel and a liberal amount of glue. Aft 2 are installed you can remove the original screw and add more.

Not an original idea.

Simple sturdy workbench build

Most of the plans I saw, including the ones I used, included screwing into the end of of the board to fasten the "ribs" into the upper frame to support the top. It struck me as a less than perfect idea, but I guess now that it's done I will see how it holds up. The YouTube link is good! I'll save it for the future

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

How do you mean not centered? I can’t find it.....



HF 44, still got that? I built mine around my tool boxes and beer fridge but I did start out with just a sheet of plywood on the box and progressed from there.

It's not visible in the pics, but at the read of the bench, the corner of the top is not aligned with the corner of the bench frame by maybe 1/2". Of course it didn't help that when I bought the 2x4s at Home Depot many of the boards were warped. I tried to sort through them as best I could, but one or two were a little off.

Still have the HF box, and I considered building a bench around it, but I plan on buying the upper chest to stack on top soon.

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Overhang like marctrees said. I prefer about 2 1/2” and stiffened by gluing, say, a 5/4 strip under the overhang. Actually, OP can clamp stuff, he just needs to have big C-clamps or “Bessey” type.

The proportions he has, with the bottom shelf about a foot high, are how I do mine.

I Like the horizontals being recessed into the posts.

It would definitely be easier. I can use my quick grip clamps if I need to. Not sure if my C clamps are big enough