Ideas on bracing workbench

[ryan t]

I was over at my Aunt's house cleaning up her garage and a few things and noticed an old workbench my uncle had was in need of some care. It is leaning. I was able to stand it up straight and took a picture but it won't stay for long. Normally the top will lean to the right and the bottom will lean to the left and it will sit that way. You can tell by the shape of the drawer how it normally sits. I'm going over there again tomorrow and was hoping for some easy ideas to reinforce the back of it to make it stay upright.

The toolbox on the top was my first thought as the culprit but it's mostly empty and probably only weighs 15lbs.

I considered building a wooden square frame and attaching it across the back of the top, down the legs and to the shelf at the bottom. Any better ideas? Also thought about attaching an L bracket to the top of each corner to hold it in place. The bench doesn't get used anymore it just bugs my Aunt that it leans sideways.

 

[er3456df]

Shear panel.

Cut plywood to fit the back, and screw it to both legs and the top. Have somebody hold the bench square while you do this.

 

[PugetDude]

Shear panel is a good idea.

Or just square it up and X-Brace the back with heavy-gauge steel strapping.

 

[Kevin54]

That's not a high dollar toolbox, so it doesn't really matter as to what you do as far as aesthetics. To brace it up and keep it square, I would take a sheet of OSB and screw it on to the back. The OSB will keep the base from racking sideways.

 

[ryan t]

I know it's not a high dollar box but it belonged to my uncle and has some sentimental value to my Aunt so she doesn't want the look of it to be wildly different.

 

[Kevin54]

I know it's not a high dollar box but it belonged to my uncle and has some sentimental value to my Aunt so she doesn't want the look of it to be wildly different.

Don't take it wrong....I wasn't knocking it, and if it sounded that way, I apologize.

The easiest way to keep it from racking would be to cover the complete back of it with a solid sheet of OSB. Or if you wanted to spend a little more, cover the back with a sheet of steel and pop-rivet it onto the frame and other key places.

 

[Steve.S]

The easiest way to keep it from racking would be to cover the complete back of it with a solid sheet of OSB. Or if you wanted to spend a little more, cover the back with a sheet of steel and pop-rivet it onto the frame and other key places.

Another advantage to covering the entire back vs. using a couple of braces is that it will prevent those little items from getting knocked off the back of the shelf...

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

Another way to tighten a wobbly bench is to drill a hole in each of the four corners of the bench on the back. Make the two lower one, in the center of the back of each leg, about 3" above the floor. Put the two top ones directly above the lower one, but as high as you can, but below the bench top work surface.

String a steel cable between one of the upper screws and the lower one on the opposite side, and vice versa. The should cross in the middle and form a letter "X" on the back of the bench. Cut a section out of each cable and secure each end of the cable to one end of a turnbuckle with a thimble and 2 cable clamps.

Now you can tighten the turnbuckles to square up the bench and then hold it rigidly.



.

 

[ryan t]

Don't take it wrong....I wasn't knocking it, and if it sounded that way, I apologize.

I certainly didn't take offense to your statement and I value your contribution to this thread. I was just saying that if I can keep the front of it looking as normal as possible that will give a lot of piece of mind to my Aunt. I'm going to take a spare sheet of plywood I have laying around and attach it to the back of the bench tomorrow. Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[DIC]

Plywood on the back and paint it black you wouldn't even notice it

 

[Vvmvbb]

Another way to tighten a wobbly bench is to drill a hole in each of the four corners of the bench on the back. Make the two lower one, in the center of the back of each leg, about 3" above the floor. Put the two top ones directly above the lower one, but as high as you can, but below the bench top work surface.

String a steel cable between one of the upper screws and the lower one on the opposite side, and vice versa. The should cross in the middle and form a letter "X" on the back of the bench. Cut a section out of each cable and secure each end of the cable to one end of a turnbuckle with a thimble and 2 cable clamps.

Now you can tighten the turnbuckles to square up the bench and then hold it rigidly.



.

I've had great luck with this too. You can even use light chain if it's handy, and will be easier to hook onto the turnbuckles. Cable will be less visible, though.

 

[ryan t]

Plywood with bolts at all 4 corners turned out to be the easiest and most secure method. Bench isn't going anywhere now.