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Fold up / compact assembly table ? Need ideas

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vartz04

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Feb 17, 2009
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LaSalle County IL
I'm looking for something that I can easily set up temporarily in my 12x20 workshop. I am thinking like 30"x48". I have no issues building it but need some ideas. If I keep it to that size I can slide it up in the attic when not in use. Main purpose is so I can have a bench I can get to all 4 sides of. Would be handy when doing push mower maintenance and assembling medium sized wood working projects. Needs to be able to hold like 150lbs or so. No real pounding or banging going on. I have a 12'x2' bench built in against the wall for that.


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619DioFan

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San Diego , Ca.
since I don't have a garage I work out of a 10x8 metal shed that sits about 100 feet from our carport ( this is a private residence ) I have two shop carts that live on the carport but no actual workbench. I pickup one of those 6 foot folding table from HD. pretty stable, use it to set tools on , lay out parts , etc. not sure what the weight limit is. when done it folds in half and is easy to store. might want to look at those. the top is plastic but I think putting a piece of plywood over it would help.
 
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V

vartz04

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LaSalle County IL
619DioFan said:
since I don't have a garage I work out of a 10x8 metal shed that sits about 100 feet from our carport ( this is a private residence ) I have two shop carts that live on the carport but no actual workbench. I pickup one of those 6 foot folding table from HD. pretty stable, use it to set tools on , lay out parts , etc. not sure what the weight limit is. when done it folds in half and is easy to store. might want to look at those. the top is plastic but I think putting a piece of plywood over it would help.
Click to expand...


I thought of that but it's a little flimsier than I was planning on


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matt_i

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SE Michigan
It could be anything from sawhorses with a dedicated top that you bring out or something like a "rental table" that you see at outdoor parties sometimes.

Pretty sure the same style folding tubular legs can be found for purchase, or, roll your own out of round or square tubing.

If there is a free wall, or a "slot" next to a cabinet that's a great place for it to stay when not in use.

The top could range from sanded 3/4" plywood, edged with 1x3s for more rigidity or some S4S oak or maple planks that you glue up into a panel from strips. The balance of course being surface area vs. your ability to manhandle the tabletop.
 
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todd_fuller

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Jul 9, 2013
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Look up a Paulk workbench. You can drill it to work in a similar way as an MFT if you want. It's a DIY affair but that means you can make it any size you like too.

395245-438x.jpg
 
T

theoldwizard1

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SE MI
todd_fuller said:
Look up a Paulk workbench.
Click to expand...
I have watched the whole YouTube series on the Paulk workbench a couple time. I think it is a great bench, well though out. Great for any kind of woodworking.

I would be very reluctant to use it for any kind of "mechanical" project. I would not want ANY grease/oil/gas stains on it !
 
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bullnerd

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Jersey
Knaack makes exactly what your looking for.

I came real close to buying one here on CL, maybe check your area.

The Chuck Norris of folding tables!
 
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Voi

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Western South Dakota
When we bought our house there were a couple of hollow core door blanks up in the attic.

I used one on sawhorses for a temporary assembly table and it worked very well and stayed quite flat. I assembled all of my shop cabinets on top of it.

I found an electrician standing on it one day and was shocked to see it hold up but it did. It also held our lawnmower fine.

It's not the ideal solution but if you can find an older HC door at Habitat you could cut it in half an laminate the two sides together and get around the size you want. Fill the cut ends with some ripped down stock.

I do like the Paulk workbenches a lot but have not built one. If one is worried about mechanical projects I would drill dog holes on one side and laminate the other side and/or put a sacrificial top on it. Clean side for wood working projects, laminated side for anything not so clean.
 
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GettinJunkDone

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South Jersey
619DioFan said:
I pickup one of those 6 foot folding table from HD. pretty stable, use it to set tools on , lay out parts , etc. not sure what the weight limit is. when done it folds in half and is easy to store. might want to look at those. the top is plastic but I think putting a piece of plywood over it would help.
Click to expand...

I did something like this one summer at my old house. I didn't have a garage so I grabbed a table like this...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lifetime...-Fold-in-Half-Table-in-Almond-80455/205825880

and used it to rebuild a 750 cc motorcycle engine over the course of several weekends. The table handled the weight of the engine just fine and I wouldn't call it wobbly at all. I kept it covered with a tarp when I was at work. It has now been retired to crafting duty for my girlfriend.
 
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larry_g

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Apr 28, 2007
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oregon
For a heavy folding table search out Sheep shearing stand . A lot of these are a fold up table that could suit your needs with a change to longer legs.

lg
no neat sig line
 
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jmarkwolf

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Jan 15, 2013
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Southeast Michigan
Saw a folding table once, maybe somewhere on this website, where one end was a hand truck.

Folded up nice and neat into the hand truck, and wheel it out of the way!
 
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vartz04

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LaSalle County IL
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gahrajmahal

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Cincinnati, Ohio
I have a plastic table with metal frame and folding legs purchased from SAMs club 10+ years ago. I have used it for everything, painting, assembly, as saw horse, engine assembly etc. it is light weight and has spent extended time outdoors in the rain and snow. If you go this route buy the solid top and not the fold in half version. You will not regret it. The main pain in the **** is the uneven underside makes clamping stuff kind of tricky.
 
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PT Doc

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Nov 12, 2010
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Keter with adjustable legs for sure. They came with a ratchet clamp or a milling style clamp system.
 
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kbs2244

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The local HVAC guy uses one of those white plastic, 72x30, fold up tables for an on site work bench.
They are the ones that have replaced the heavy, brown, particle board ones.
He is not shy about putting stuff on it but seems to stand up to him fine.
 
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