Folding or knock down layout/work table

[jkwilson]

I've been thinking about building some cabinets for my shop, and one of the things I know would slow me down is lack of horizontal surfaces.

What would be great would be a 4'X8' table with a flat top that is well supported so I could do marking, drilling, assembly etc.. I have a woodworkers bench, so clamping and pounding is covered, but the surface area is too small to do more than one thing at a time.

So the idea of a 4'x8' table with a 2x4 frame and a couple of sheets of MDF on top is pretty easy, and it would sure be handy. But it would be terribly in the way most of the time.

What would be great would be a table that was stable and flat, but that would fold up to 4 or 5 inches thick when I wasn't using it so I could have the space back for vehicles. An evening of Googling really didn't find a solution I thought would work. Just not enough stability in anything where the legs fold. I found a knockdown table with a box base that might be a starting point, but it didn't seem ideal to me. Even reconsidering and reducing size to 4'X4' I just didn't think I found an answer.

I thought about some kind of ironing board type thing that hinges from the wall and sits down on 4x4 legs at one end when I pull it down. I was kind of excited about that idea at first, but it would require some pretty extensive relocation of stuff in the shop because doors, windows and workbenches limit my suitable wall space.


Sooooooo....................a little thinking has me leaning a different way. Instead of relying on the frame of the table to provide stability, what if I had a way to anchor the legs in or to my concrete floor? I'd give up mobility, but it seems like I could make it plenty stable with 4 posts. I could go with adjustable posts of some kind to vary height for different jobs, and maybe even have a top for woodworking, a top for painting and a top for greasy work. Of course I'd want to be able to unbolt the legs when I didn't need the table.

I'd be interested in your thoughts. 4'X4'? 4'X8'? 3'X6'? Any other folding ideas? What about the idea of mounting the legs in the floor?

 

[MarkG]

Install a car lift. Weld a 2" x 4' x 8' steel plate to the top. Done!!

Lower it when you need to park in garage, raise it to whatever height you want when using your 'portable table'! That wasn't so hard, was it? Or make the table top removable so you can also actually USE the car lift as a car lift.

(You get what you pay for on these forums, eh??)

 

[jkwilson]

Install a car lift. Weld a 2" x 4' x 8' steel plate to the top. Done!!

Lower it when you need to park in garage, raise it to whatever height you want when using your 'portable table'! That wasn't so hard, was it? Or make the table top removable so you can also actually USE the car lift as a car lift.

(You get what you pay for on these forums, eh??)

The thought had already crossed my mind, as had using an ATV lift as the table base.

It isn't a crazy thought, but my problem is that the area I want the table is where I walk through when I'm doing other things and I don't think I want something there when I'm not using the table.

 

[CJCar]

Google Image search "torsion box workbench".

Here's a thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182874

 

[astroracer]

I did something similar in the basement of my first house. I needed a drafting table but didn't have the room for it to "live" down there. I bolted a cut down Mayline top to a couple of heavy door hinges and mounted it on the wall. It swung up, out of the way when not in use and swung down when needed. The front legs were 2 x 2's which were also attached with hinges and would swing down and store against the bottom of the table, out of the way. Lowering the table would automatically drop the legs.
Mark

 

[sberry]

3x5 for general work. You can rig on the outside chance you need more but this is about as ergonomic as it gets. too big and you cant reach across, its in the way when you need one little section and becomes something to walk around.

 

[Thumper68]

Here is where I go simple, I have a 40"x96" top made of 2 layers of mdf (Heavy as hell) that I set on a set of folding sawhorses when I need addl workspace.

My other big table is a 4'x8' with a lower shelf on casters, I can roll it where needed and out of the way when needed

 

[Jlbc212]

I have a pair of Fulton Stablemate sawhorses:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/36-x-42-Sta...ol-/310519300085?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

They are very heavy duty and stable. You can place whatever kind of top you want on them. They fold easily for storage.

 

[jkwilson]

Google Image search "torsion box workbench".

Here's a thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182874

The Paulk workbench referenced in that thread has my interest. Finishing a basement may be in my future, and I could take it into the basement to work there which is very appealing.

Thanks for the link!

 

[CJCar]

The Paulk workbench referenced in that thread has my interest. Finishing a basement may be in my future, and I could take it into the basement to work there which is very appealing.

Thanks for the link!

You're welcome!

The Paulk workstations are exactly what I had in mind; the name just wasn't coming to me (and I didn't bother re-reading the thread).

I'll be building something based on his designs in the near future. I'm downsizing to a 2 car garage (from a 34x38 and a two car!) and will be cramped.

 

[headwrench]

Why not build a top that would lay on top of your woodworkers bench. When not in use it could lean against the wall out of the way. Just a thought.

 

[jkwilson]

Why not build a top that would lay on top of your woodworkers bench. When not in use it could lean against the wall out of the way. Just a thought.

I've actually been doing that with a sheet of 3/4" plywood. Not as stable as I'd hoped, and the fact is I'd like to have both so at least one is available as an out feed for my saw.

 

[Carves]

Have you got room for a steel frame, 7ftish l x 3ftish h x 1ftish w.

If so .........

... chuck some locking casters on it,
... hinge a coupla solid core doors/benchtops of your choice, either side of a central cross bar,
... fit the doors with fold down/swing out/whatever, legs ... or use saw horses etc.

Wheel it back under shelf/against wall, when finished.

If you got tricky and pedantic ... the door edges could be hinged so they would **** together when horizontal ... but a flush crossbar wouldn't concern me tooooo much.


No guarantees the idea would for you ... as its still just an ongoing thought I'm having ... for my own bench issues ..

 

[jkwilson]

I expect we'd all like to be able to convert every square inch of floor space from bench to floor instantly. All of us probably have trouble optimizing the floor to bench ratio. Maybe some have a harder time since we do woodworking and equipment maintenance in the same shop.

Have you got room for a steel frame, 7ftish l x 3ftish h x 1ftish w.

If so .........

... chuck some locking casters on it,
... hinge a coupla solid core doors/benchtops of your choice, either side of a central cross bar,
... fit the doors with fold down/swing out/whatever, legs ... or use saw horses etc.

Wheel it back under shelf/against wall, when finished.

If you got tricky and pedantic ... the door edges could be hinged so they would **** together when horizontal ... but a flush crossbar wouldn't concern me tooooo much.


No guarantees the idea would for you ... as its still just an ongoing thought I'm having ... for my own bench issues ..

 

[kbs2244]

Many a fine cabinet has been built on two plastic sawhorses spanned by two 2x4s with a sheet of 3/4 ply on top.
You just need a lot of clamps and spend time checking for square.