Folding Metal Workbench

[ItsNemo]

Has been a few weekends in the making, but more less done my folding metal workbench. Turned out fairly decent, happy with the design but the fit up of everything could have been a bit better, my metal fab skills aren't top notch yet and I need a better drill press (or a mill). My main bench is wood and when working with metal it's not ideal, so wanted an extra work surface without taking up space (I have a tight double garage and don't want to give up the ability to squeeze in two vehicles).

Sits a little less than 4" out front the wall folded up. 2x4' top, mostly built out of 1.5" 0.100 wall tubing with a 3/16" plate top and 20 gauge backsplash. Didn't want to go any heavier or it would be too heavy to lift it up. Vise and bench grinder slide into the front on 1.25" 0.100 wall tubing and snugs up with a bolt. Can add whatever other attachments via these nesting tubes too.

The images seem to be gone but here's a video of it:

 

[Muggzy]

VERY NICE! But if I were to build one, it would never get folded. [emoji19]

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[lis2323]

Nice job![emoji481]

 

[2oolhound]

Very nice. I agree, it will be hard to keep it clear so it can be folded but then at least you know it will fold when you need to bring the car in.

 

[ItsNemo]

I'm pretty good at clearing off my benches each day...but that said, I usually park just one vehicle inside nightly and only bring both vehicles in if there's going to be a storm, so for the most part I won't be folding it out of the way unless I need to.

Thanks though guys...this is the most complicated metal fab project I've done, spent a few weeks thinking through the design that would allow it to fold as flat as possible but still be sturdy/strong and accomodate a vise.

 

[bullnerd]

Very cool! I've seen wooden versions, but never a metal one.

How do you like that welder?

 

[ItsNemo]

Very cool! I've seen wooden versions, but never a metal one.

How do you like that welder?

Yeah, I've seen a few wood ones but none were that inspiring from a strength perspective. I've stood on this one and it feels as solid as standing on the concrete floor below it, zero movement or flex whatsoever.

It's a Multimatic 215...it's a WAY better welder than I am lol can't say I've had any issues with it whatsoever. Only thing is the auto-set doesn't have a setting for 0.100 tube, it jumps from 14 gauge to 1/8", so I usually run one of those and tweak up/down from there...could theoretically also set it manually but I do find the auto-set elite (allows tweaking) works well.

 

[Stooge]

I really like that! Looks like a good working height too.

Im awful at cleaning up my work benches when im done so this would be doomed from the start unless I always folded it back up, but then I'd never use it

 

[ItsNemo]

I really like that! Looks like a good working height too.

Im awful at cleaning up my work benches when im done so this would be doomed from the start unless I always folded it back up, but then I'd never use it

It's 35" tall...a little shorter than my main bench which I think is 38". I was debating doing 32" originally, but the Miller welding table is 35" and my under hoist stands (have a mid rise lift in the floor) I've shortened to 34" which lets me use them as extended material support too....so decided to keep with 35" even though it's a smidge high for grinding something held in the vise. I might make a drop support for the vise at some point to let me use it at a lower height if I can figure out a design that would work for that.

 

[ItsNemo]

Was thinking about this...I might re-do the legs so that the horizontal tube comes all the way through the vertical one and is therefore open at the front to slide something in. Would let me put the vise down lower for a more comfy grinding height.

I also made the legs for the 32" height and when I changed my plans I used longer bolts to make up the height...so this would let me go back to the shorter bolts and more proportional legs.

Hmm...

And I've got some extra wall control pegboard I can put up next to this thing, that might be nice too

 

[rsanter]

I like it

 

[joe49]

Nice.

 

[nextlevelfab]

Great table. Very nice work!

 

[Kevin_11]

Wow, very well executed. I've seen similar homemade tables, but not quite as nice as this. Well done.

 

[cspcrx]

Nice work. How do you like the miller folding table. I have the HF which is a knock off and I am not pleased with the surface for aligning parts.

 

[ItsNemo]

Nice work. How do you like the miller folding table. I have the HF which is a knock off and I am not pleased with the surface for aligning parts.

It's fairly decent...3/16" top plate on it as well, fairly flat and ok to clamp to but certainly not as good as a proper 1/2" or thicker fixture table.

 

[lis2323]

It's fairly decent...3/16" top plate on it as well, fairly flat and ok to clamp to but certainly not as good as a proper 1/2" or thicker fixture table.

3/16 is more than decent. I’m a big believer in using what you have access to or what you can afford in accordance to your needs.

Once again, nice job!

 

[fourbyford]

Very well thought out and built! Thanks for the inspiration!
Hmmm... now... to find that much wall space!
...D

 

[cspcrx]

My issue is space and not having room for a full fixture table. Just seems like a much better surface than the strong hand design

 

[ItsNemo]

My issue is space and not having room for a full fixture table. Just seems like a much better surface than the strong hand design

Yeah, versus the strong hand nomad the top is over twice as thick on the miller and is just flat plate so you can align things directly on top. Also, the miller table is just damn sturdy...there's no shake or flimsy feeling in it whatsoever. I wouldn't hestitate to stand on it if need be.

 

[Mr onetwo]

Has been a few weekends in the making, but more less done my folding metal workbench. Turned out fairly decent, happy with the design but the fit up of everything could have been a bit better, my metal fab skills aren't top notch yet and I need a better drill press (or a mill). My main bench is wood and when working with metal it's not ideal, so wanted an extra work surface without taking up space (I have a tight double garage and don't want to give up the ability to squeeze in two vehicles).

Sits a little less than 4" out front the wall folded up. 2x4' top, mostly built out of 1.5" 0.100 wall tubing with a 3/16" plate top and 20 gauge backsplash. Didn't want to go any heavier or it would be too heavy to lift it up. Vise and bench grinder slide into the front on 1.25" 0.100 wall tubing and snugs up with a bolt. Can add whatever other attachments via these nesting tubes too.

Nemo...could you repost the photos of your bench please.I would like to see it....thanks!

 

[oldmachinenut]

Very nice Nemo!

 

[Vahispd]

That is nice. The time spent thinking through the design was worth it; I really like how you ran the braces from the legs to the wall support. I'd make one if I had any wall space!

 

[Jayman17]

Nemo, that's a real nice folding bench. I might possibly do something like that in my garage. The only other one I have seen is Jack Olsen's in his garage.
I'm limited in space but want a bigger surface. Any chance you could post a few photos that better show how you designed it, maybe something from the underside and of the hinge mechanism. Thanks,


Jay

 

[ItsNemo]

Created a video of it:

 

[Jayman17]

Thanks for posting that, very nicely designed.

Jay

 

[larry4406]

Here's a link to where the OP posted some pictures of his build that appear lost in the earlier part of this thread.

Fold UP (not DOWN) workbench ideas, please.

I built this, I think this is exactly what you're looking for? Hi, this looks brilliant! Doyou have any dimensions/ plans you could share? I’m looking to build a similar thing from wood. My house has straw (Stramit) walls - don’t ask!- so I’m looking to build a fold down work table that still...

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