Lets see your DIY work benches . . .

[IRQVET]

After a year of homelessness (renting) I finally purchased a new 3 acre river front ranch out in the county. It came with a two car garage, and a third car garage on the opposite side of the house.

I've decided the two car garage will be built into the primary location where I will house my tools/ toys. The third car garage will house my project vehicle(s) which will be on hold until I get to each one: Willys Jeep, Mini Bikes, John Deere garden tractors, etc.

The two car garage is a blank canvas, it has some 1/4 in. wood paneling which I'm not crazy about; but I'll get to it in time. For now, I need to organize my tools and set up a work bench.

We just barley moved in, so we have boxes everywhere. Currently, my garage looks like a bomb hit Walmart.

Show me the work benches/ tool storage you fabricated, I'm on a budget, so I need to be inspired . . .

 

[astroracer]

I have a half dozen mobile work benches I built out of trash picked (or crash and dent) kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
This one I picked up at Lowes. 80 bucks. Dropped when unloading from the truck. I fixed it, added casters and a middle drawer.

This one was trash picked. it was dark brown. Built a lower frame, added casters, built a middle drawer and the 2 x 6 riser to get it to a comfortable working height. This is my "go to" work bench right now.

I got two of these at a yard sale for 30 bucks. One is my paint supplies cabinet and this one holds most of my sockets and wrenches.

Another trash picked vanity. This one has had a 3/8th's steel top added since this pic was taken. This is the grinding and cutting storage center. added the top drawer and casters to this one also.

Lots of options out there if you keep an open mind.
Mark

 

[adamgayton81]

I have a half dozen mobile work benches I built out of trash picked (or crash and dent) kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

This one I picked up at Lowes. 80 bucks. Dropped when unloading from the truck. I fixed it, added casters and a middle drawer.

This one was trash picked. it was dark brown. Built a lower frame, added casters, built a middle drawer and the 2 x 6 riser to get it to a comfortable working height. This is my "go to" work bench right now.

I got two of these at a yard sale for 30 bucks. One is my paint supplies cabinet and this one holds most of my sockets and wrenches.

Another trash picked vanity. This one has had a 3/8th's steel top added since this pic was taken. This is the grinding and cutting storage center. added the top drawer and casters to this one also.

Lots of options out there if you keep an open mind.

Mark

Bro! These are awesome ideas! I think I may hit Lowes and Home Depot this weekend just to get a vanity like this for my garage! Mine always have a few discounted for quick sale!



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[astroracer]

Thanks! the first one I have a hundred bucks into it. The last one, if you look at the bottom, is mounted on a Harbor Freight furniture dollie. You can get the dollies for less then the price of just buying the casters at most stores.
Don't forget to look along side the road on or before trash day. many Estate Sales will have stuff like this for cheap also.
Most of the roller benches have outlets and long extension cords so they can be parked anywhere and still power up corded tools.
Mark

 

[djcslice]

FYI, this thread already exists.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464

 

[regguy1]

go here, scroll to post 268

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50406&page=14

see bench in this video:

 

[mustange70]

How bout some beef?

 

[WWShop]

How bout some beef?

Wow...any idea how much it weighs?

That is awesome

 

[amlee]

Wow...any idea how much it weighs?

That is awesome

Better yet, how much will it hold?!!!!

 

[jimreed2160]

I have made quite a bit of shop furniture using 2x4s. First I make a ladder for each side and then join the ladders with crossmembers. All joinery is with woodworking glue and sheetrock screws so assembly goes fast. You can attach planks or plywood to the crossmembers for surfaces. Add thin plywood or X braces in the back to prevent racking. Make a low one and top it with a commercial office door that you get for free (I did that). Here is a picture of my main little hutch. I anchored it to the wall studs and added a light inside. The top is for lightweight storage.

Here is a close up of the sophisticated joinery.

Good luck with your new shop.

 

[dubcanuck1]

Here's one of mine. I replaced the staircase with something a little more.....sturdy. Still work in progress. The hole under the stairs is going to be 2 big drawers on longer sliders with a third pullout/retractable tray shelf. I wanted to have a large span beneath for storage (short term) and to slide a big welding table under (longer term).

 

[Thumper68]

not really cheap, but very effective

tool bench


Fab table.





you can see more of the toolbench in this video

 

[mustange70]

Wow...any idea how much it weighs?

That is awesome

bout 6-700lbs

Better yet, how much will it hold?!!!!

Limited to the jack stand leg capacity which is 12ton, so likely the concrete is the weak point.

Cost 250 to build, needed a strong immovable fixture bench for the stuff I build.

 

[C_F]

Limited to the jack stand leg capacity which is 12ton, so likely the concrete is the weak point.

Cost 250 to build, needed a strong immovable fixture bench for the stuff I build.

Looks like you've achieved immovable!
What stuff do you build on it?

 

[kbs2244]

I find the kitchen cabinets to be a bit flimsy for shop use.
Shelves designed for wash cloths don't last long when filled with wrenches.
And the cabinets are designed for support from walls.
But they have served me well, one for over 10 years, if not abused.

 

[MarkG]

This was merely designed/built to be a somewhat movable large, flat, multipurpose auxilary work table/outfeed table. It's butted up to my table saw on the other end (not shown). Nothing fancy, nothing 'ultra-heavy duty', nothing innovative. Just a plain, useful 4 x 8' table! Particle board top with many many coats of poly. It's been sanded somewhat smooth and recoated once of twice, but I try to avoid using it as a cutting board as much as possible. If I were doing it over, I might have mortised in the lower 'stretchers' into the 4 x 4's just because I can, but I didn't and it hasn't been a problem. I get a little extra shelf width this way, I guess.

 

[FadedGray]

Here my start at a miter table/storage table. I have little room to work with so I built a nice long table on casters so I can move close up to a wall for storing it when not in use. The 2 drawers are already full so I'm thinking on the other side where I can store scraps, I might build 2 more drawers. Most the material was all free stuff I had lying around. I'm gonna put thin plywood around it and trim it out and paint it to look all nice... Someday. The bottom works nice for storage for all the hand power tools. Still gotta locate all my tools to fill up the table underneath too.

 

[FadedGray]

Don't know why I can't upload more than one photo at a time. So here's another.

 

[IRQVET]

If you don't patent that design, your nuts cause that is awesome!

 

[strength_and_power]

1/2" thick work surface with laser cut slots for more clamping coverage. 6"x6"x3/8" legs, leveling feet. C-channel frame with cross braces between each slot. Didn't have the funds for an Acorn table and the associated fixtures so this was the next best option. Has served me well. Only regret is not going 1" on the top and have it Blanchard ground.

 

[4 FN 27]

Build this last winter:

I took this pic at work. Didn't have my cut off saw at home hooked up yet.

At the home shop:

The big bench I did this spring, modified an existing from my old shop by adding an 1/8 inch thick Stainless Top and .100 THK Aluminum Pegboard Panels to it:

Going to start another one in a few weeks for my Machining Center area.

 

[JamesW]

These are home made...do they count?

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here is a very heavy mobile bench that doubles as a shop crane. Fabricated out of 1-1/2" steel plate and scrap it weighs enough you can even lift over the side without it tipping. 16" double roller bearing wheels up front with heavy 8" casters on the rear help it move around the shop

It also has quite a bit of storage below the surface which has tapped clamping holes scattered accross it for clamping. Not cheap or easy to make but very useful. That's a full barrel on the end hook in the second pic. Ed.

 

[ilovevocs]

^^ awesome and unique bench!


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[Guster]

That is a rocking little setup

I do the odd machine recondition and this is the perfect work platform for that type of work! Sure some implement and auto mechanics would love it too!

 

[sberry]

Agree, that is a neat setup.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Thanks guys for the comments. Here is one more pic showing some of the versatility that Guster mentioned. Mounted on the bench is an engine mount which falls right under the hook allowing you to pull a motor with a clear floor under the car and swing it around to the mount and still have a clear floor below with the full bench available for parts and tools. The motor mount is home made and uses a heavy slack adjuster to easily control roll on the mounted engine. Ed. (Oh ya and James W that is one fine looking and very clean shop.)

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I've got three workbenches right now. They're not glamorous, but suit my small garage just fine.

Cantilever:

Freestanding wood. Was originally 4x6 but was since cut down to 3x6. Finished after these pictures with spar urethane, a very durable finish for automotive work I've found:

Finally a welding table. 2x2 1/8" tubing now with 3/8" plate top, 5'x3' top dimensions. Caution, terrible pics ahead. Future plans for the welding table include studs to adjust the top level, proper feet under the legs, hangers for grinders, drills and clamps, slots in the top for machinists clamps and finally some receivers to mount things like a small bandsaw table and a vice.

 

[sberry]

I like the tricked up tube jobs by James and 4FN. Nice shelf and leg designs and while I am not a peg board fan and may have traded some for small shelves they are very good and well located.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Here's my creation. This is right after I finished it...it's a mess now.

 

[ilovevocs]

^^ looks nice

I have the same power strips. Bought them a year ago for temp power near my benches with intentions to put a wire chase in but they haven't moved. I think they have become temporarily permanent... [emoji51][emoji106]


My previous garage had wood cabinets. Went to pallet racking in this garage thinking I would upgrade but found the space offered to be much more useful in the shop.

How do you feel the cabinets work for you?


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[rattle_snake]

4 NF 27, that is quite the pair of benches you build. nice work!

Here's my current only/multi purpose bench. It's been revamped a few times. Used to have a separate woodworking bench to go with it. I'm in process of building an outdoor metal fab bench. Then a real welding table.

 

[4 FN 27]

4 NF 27, that is quite the pair of benches you build. nice work!

Here's my current only/multi purpose bench. It's been revamped a few times. Used to have a separate woodworking bench to go with it. I'm in process of building an outdoor metal fab bench. Then a real welding table.

Thank you.

I really like the Cabinet style Work Bench like you have done. Very nice.

I designed one last year which can be made in 28 inch sections. A drawer on the bottom just above the toe kick with double doors above. Made from .063 Galvanneal. 400 lbs drawer slides and adjustable shelve behind the doors.

Plan is to build 26 of these for another room in my shop. Just need to find the time...hoping this winter if things work out. If they work I will redo both benches like this and design and build upper cabinets too. I don't find myself dong the heavy duty work I once did where I need beefy work benches. I must be getting old.

I would really like to keep thing behind closed doors as you have done.

 

[C_F]

Rattle Snake, I like your door pull handles. I may have to borrow that idea one day.

 

[bullnerd]

427, any pics of your machining area or machine center on here?

 

[Vernon1969]

Here my Steel Bench Made with a 1/2 plate top 4' X 8'

 

[IRQVET]

I love all the fabrication on this thread, keep them coming ya'll . . .

 

[speed bump]

Here is my utilitarian 30x96 wood bench. Not really anything out of the ordinary: 2x4 frame, 4x4 legs, 3/4 Baltic birch top, and a 1/2 plywood bottom shelf. I like it because of the 42" height which makes it much easier to work at.

One day I will put in some shelves to hold bolt bins and add on a vise.

 

[4 FN 27]

427, any pics of your machining area or machine center on here?

Under development...

Latest pic

When I first started moving in

 

[sberry]

If I could afford to build it all for a hobby would retire.