I need a workbench....

[chrischris]

Hi,

I have a new 3 car garage and its my first garage. I need a workbench. I am after a solid maple surface that is strong and can handle heavy projects. I don't want something cheap and flimsy and I remember Costco used to sell a Whalen brand but I learned it is discontinued.

Examples of what I am after:

Anyone have any suggestions on where to find an affordable, solid maple workbench?

 

[bczygan]

Size?
Movable?
Upper cabinets attached?
Weight and type of projects?
Storage under?
Kit or assembled or you design and build?

 

[bobcatdan]

Craftsman has or had a simple 8' work bench very close to your second picture. I bought one for garage and it is overall very nice. Level the feet, it is surprising sturdy. I haven't done much hard work, eaten more meals on it then anything. For general puttering around, it is fine bench.

 

[chrischris]

I would like it to be at least 6' in length. Cabinets are fine but it seems like most benches that offer cabinets are flimsy and weak. I will check on the Craftsman.

 

[Mandres]

New garage? Build a bench Or if you could just build the frame and buy a length of maple butcherblock top from Ikea or Sears.

 

[bczygan]

I am looking at the benches you posted photos of.

They look OK except for two things.

I would cover the tops with a 1/4" hardboard wear surface.

And I would clad the back and both sides with plywood panels glued and screwed in place.

This would make the top a renewable surface and would also greatly improve the rigidity of the bench.

Bill

 

[nesw20]

here's the bench i built using some cabinets i got from a family member, and a piece of butcherblock i got from lumber liquidators:

including the poly coating on the top, i think i have about $250 into it. measures 8' long, 25" depth, 37" work surface height. it's very sturdy.

 

[A**holes Garage]

Costco had just the bench portion in stock this year. Maybe check a different store?

 

[A**holes Garage]

Grizzly?
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Super-Heavy-Duty-Workbench-Leg-System/D2910

 

[cdestuck]

I built my own and wanted a good sturdy top. Elected for a solid core exterior door. 36'' x 80''. Not to bad of a price from Lowes

 

[ncaddy87]

I've seen ads for maple bench tops at Woodcraft in the past. Might be worth checking out. I'm looking forward to seeing what you go with - I'll be looking at designing a new work bench myself this year

 

[norcaljr]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Gladiator-...ustable-Height-Workbench-GAWB08MTZG/204246906


They also have 4' and 6' ones also..

 

[Zapp Branigan]

Sam's has this for $200.

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ultra-heavy-duty-workbench/prod1490086.ip?navAction=

 

[nicksnothereman]

I see "ponderosa pine" blocks at big box stores, don't see maple. If it's sealed and you're not drilling into it it shouldn't really matter. Takes a lot of boards to make one of those blocks, with maple or oak you're probably in for a couple hundred bucks in the finished product (haven't priced it out though). Pine? Maybe 50 bucks.

I'm sure you can buy finished pieces with such a top though. The real problem is if you pay too much for it then you're not going to want to use it...at least I wouldn't. Even if you make it yourself out of boards it's going to be big money (you can get oak in some lowe's and probably home depot, don't know about maple but the wood has similar properties).

I don't know what "heavy projects are", when I build something out of pressure treated hem fir studs it holds a ton of weight (200+ pounds) and I don't particularly reinforce it that well. I'm sure any one of these blocks can hold around that or more. I'd assume 300 pounds without failure of the block (not necessarily what's holding it up). I wouldn't put a transmission on one of those, but it's not like it would even fit.

 

[ZRX61]

Those tops you see on the benches etc at Costco come from Rubber trees.

 

[monomach]

A home workbench is a thing a man should make himself, I think. At least that's what my father, grandfather, and shop teacher all taught me when I was a wee lad.

Instead of some piece of maple on top, use 2x4's on edge. Or even better, use hardwood 2x4s if you have somewhere to get them at a decent price. You'll never beat the strength without going up to steel.

 

[dickusfu]

I bought one for garage and it is overall very nice.

 

[rsanter]

IKEA has the top you need
Then go buy 2 of the 27" toolboxes and both the top,to the toolboxes
Workbench with drawers......
Want it more stable? Then bolt the toolboxes to the wall

Bob

 

[top drive]

im in the build it camp. - initially i wanted butchers block tops like you then i saw what the prices were , some of the "bargains" you see on these were actually chipboard core laminated pish so i changed tack after seeing a thread on here and experimenting with some old laminate floor i have an a hammer - surprisingly robust if supported underneeth !

these are 8ft long by 2 ft deep.

im in about 300 GBP for the pair INC the tool boxes i built in(1 in each bench)

The legs are 100mm square fence posts , the top and bottom frames are built out of 75x35 CLS , the top and back is 18mm birch ply screwed onto the frame. Over this ive put 10 quid a packet laminate flooring as my sacrificial surface (and its pretty robust to boot) framed it with red wood quarter round and put a drip style facia on the front to hide the coach bolts and screws holding the frame in. the bottom shelf is covered in a friends old decking i salvaged and the whole lot is painted in ronseal cabinet paint - which is supposedly robust - and to date it seems to do what it says on the tin.

its very very solid - and very very heavy - took 2 of us and an engine hoist to move the first one into place .... we built the second in situ.

hasnt argued with my 1950s meddings pillar drill being put on it ... and again thats a 2 man lift.

 

[Larry_AZ]

I would keep an eye on Craigslist.

Not sure where you live, but here are some examples here in Phoenix:

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/tls/4500674429.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/4511762057.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/4489431575.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/tls/4505768840.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/4467038553.html

Have a good night,
Larry