Lets see your workbench

[Chasbec]

did you build that box? I'd like to see inside the drawers on the bench if you wouldn't mind. That's an idea I may be stealing depending what fits in there and how nicely. Thanks.

I did build the box on top of the bench for my measuring and layout tools. I'll post some pictures of the bench drawers sometime tomorrow or this weekend (at work right now). One bit of advice I can give (from learning the hard way): Don't buy cheap - no name drawer slides. They **** and I'll probably end up replacing them with high quality ones. Lesson learned

 

[bdbecker]

I recently upgraded from this (17 sq/ft):

View media item 61722
To this (62 sq/ft):

View media item 65315

 

[Chasbec]

I recently upgraded from this (17 sq/ft):

View media item 61722
To this (62 sq/ft):

View media item 65315

Very nice! What's the countertop material / finish?

 

[bdbecker]

Very nice! What's the countertop material / finish?

Thanks!

The top is 23/32" CDX plywood topped with wire brushed 3/16" carbon steel. The steel was pretty rusty when I got it (which is also why it was cheap) so I cleaned it up enough to be smooth. The flash on the camera makes it look really gray in this pic, its actually more brown/black in person.

View media item 65162

 

[larry4406]

Slightly off topic, but for those of you with metal topped work benches or benches completely from metal, do you ground them?

 

[Westozfixer]

I don't, why would you?

 

[drivesitfar]

Larry: I've bought a few that had a little rust or paint on the top so i wired wheeled off the paint and rust and put on a few coats of BLO. i don't need them to be a surface plate, but i like a clean surface of course if i can keep one empty cause i've got FSD (flat surface disease)

 

[doorfx]

I just gave mine a light sanding with 120 gr emery paper on a 1/4 sheet electric palm sander. Then two coats of BLO

 

[bdbecker]

Slightly off topic, but for those of you with metal topped work benches or benches completely from metal, do you ground them?

Do you mean "ground" as in electrical? Like as a static discharge? That's something I honestly hadn't considered...

 

[larry4406]

Do you mean "ground" as in electrical? Like as a static discharge? That's something I honestly hadn't considered...

Yes - electrically grounded is the question. My work bench is made from steel fire rated doors. I spilled my beer on the surface, went to clean it up and was shocked/buzzed. Not sure why.

 

[dittle fart around]

Yes - electrically grounded is the question. My work bench is made from steel fire rated doors. I spilled my beer on the surface, went to clean it up and was shocked/buzzed. Not sure why.

What kind of beer was it?

 

[-Brent-]

Yes - electrically grounded is the question. My work bench is made from steel fire rated doors. I spilled my beer on the surface, went to clean it up and was shocked/buzzed. Not sure why.

What kind of beer was it?

Probably this:

 

[drivesitfar]

BRENT: TOO FUNNY

Larry: that's interesting cause i've seen some nice steel tables used as the ground for 220 welders. did you have anything running on the table at the time or in your hands?

 

[56vette461]

I have a small metal work area on my bench that I grounded to the grounding rod for the residence electrical panel. Not sure it is necessary but my electrician made sure it was properly grounded before I started using it with any power tools or cords placed on it. Basically welded a rod on the underside of the plate, drilled a hole through the bench base material and made the connection from there.

 

[larry4406]

Larry: that's interesting cause i've seen some nice steel tables used as the ground for 220 welders. did you have anything running on the table at the time or in your hands?

I don't recall if any tools were operable, I have a swivel arm type light that may have been on. The bench is on casters that have rubber/poly wheels. It has a 6' power strip bolted to it that is plugged into the wall. The work surface is the metal fire door and the frame is welded steel.

Following 56vette461's electrician's concern, I am thinking of using the electrical ground from the power strip and connecting it to the frame.

 

[bdbecker]

...Larry: that's interesting cause i've seen some nice steel tables used as the ground for 220 welders. did you have anything running on the table at the time or in your hands?

Connecting the negative weld lead to a table is a pretty common practice in industry. However, there is a big difference between a negative lead on a welder and an actual ground/earth wire.

http://www.thefabricator.com/articl...-record-grounding-work-leads-are-not-the-same

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/support/process-and-theory/pages/grounding-safety-detail.aspx

...Following 56vette461's electrician's concern, I am thinking of using the electrical ground from the power strip and connecting it to the frame.

You could try installing a drag wire first to see if its just static build up.

http://www.esdjournal.com/articles/Shoppingcarts.htm

 

[timbuk2]

need to clean it off

 

[drivesitfar]

Larry: you are a little out of my expertise, but sounds like the light or the power strip has a bare wire touching the table so check the wires. maybe with them unplugged?

BD: yes i know the difference, but like i mentioned about Larry's issue/problem, he must have a hot wire somewhere so i don't think it would matter if it was grounded or not. or would it?

Tim: looks like you are maybe a half hour away from having a ready to go work bench and very organized. if you are like me with FSD (flat surface disease) you just need to find a permanent home for those items that end up on the bench.

 

[Colin Len]

After slowly chipping away at this project for months my workbench is pretty much done (at least until I decide to make changes and customize more).

When I first got the house 2yrs ago (still has owner's old stuff in it):







Then Version 1.0 - reusing what I can of what was there and adding other things I had or found cheap/free on craigslist. Plus I added an HF 44" box to the existing bench.





Then I scored some metal cabinets on craigslist (the blue cabinets in the pics above) which lead to a Version 2.0.

 

[-Brent-]

I like your current set-up a lot Colin Len.

 

[eoncloud]

My two work benches a small steevo build and my fold up welding table

 

[dittle fart around]

My two work benches a small steevo build and my fold up welding table

Like the welding table, that would make a nice press brake.

 

[Flipper88]

This I what the tool area looked like when we were first looking at the property.

He left one bench so I built two wooden ones. Would still like to find a good laminate or metal covering for the tops of them.

And here is the used tool box set up im running at the moment. HF bottom box and Dewalt top box.

 

[richeyc2000]

My two work benches a small steevo build and my fold up welding table

Great job. Really like the look of both benches. Any pictures of the builds.

 

[eoncloud]

Great job. Really like the look of both benches. Any pictures of the builds.

Thanks, a couple

 

[eoncloud]

and the welding table

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

I built this one recently so I have a place to take apart my 650 BSA motor. It's mainly from stuff I had on hand. Some old pressure treated 4x4's for legs, 2x6 frame, and two layers of 3/4" plywood on top with a small shelf underneath. It's 29" wide by 48" long and 42" tall. I like the height and it's really stout.

Untitled by Joe, on Flickr

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Here is mine. It is a folding work bench so i can get two cars in my two car garage. So far I really like it. It is 78" long by 30" wide and a working height of 33." Above the workbench I have a 10' long shelf that is 6" deep with magnetic tool bars mounted to the front of it. When folded against the wall it protrudes out from the wall 6". It is not attached to the wall. It rests on the two 2x6 cleats. This way I can pull it out away from the wall and have access all the way around. It also has an extension for the top to make it an 8' long workbench.

 

[Knyte Tyne]

Always Thinking... That is a fantastic Folding Bench Design. That thing looks proper solid with Legs down...

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Always Thinking... That is a fantastic Folding Bench Design. That thing looks proper solid with Legs down...

Thanks Knyte. I have other photos of the finished bench at the link below if you are interested. It was fairly simple to build. Basically, the top is two layers of 3/4" plywood that are glued and screwed together. The legs are 2x4s and they pivot on 1/2" diameter carriage bolts.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345508

 

[TexasKen]

Recycled the island cabinet from my kitchen remodel for the base of my workbench. Built a frame using 2x4 lumber to support the counter top of pine 1x10. Made the counter top hang over the front several inches to make clamping easy, and to be able to put a power strip above the drawers some day. Also used PVC to build a vacuum system underneath the counter. Counter hangs 2 feet on either side for storing the air compressor and shop vac. The base cabinet had false drawer fronts on the right hand side above the doors, so I reengineered to make full size doors. And the best thing was using misc wrenches as the door handles.

 

[abaker1624]

It's a mess right now, but that happens.


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[vwb5t]

 

[topcok88]

vwb5t

Love the color contrast of the frames versus boxes. Did you paint and if so what color or powder coat?

 

[Vbwiley92]

Might be the first garage I've seen with window treatments!

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[smalltown]

Vbwiler92 how do you like the Craftsman garage stool ?

 

[johndeereman]

Smalltown i have two of those craftsman stool's and i really enjoy them.

 

[-Brent-]

It's a mess right now, but that happens.

This bench RULES! I love it.

 

[abaker1624]

This bench RULES! I love it.

Dcubb a member on here has the best work bench . He has built many and they get better every time.


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[vwb5t]

vwb5t

Love the color contrast of the frames versus boxes. Did you paint and if so what color or powder coat?

powder coat, tired to get it as close to the snap-on box as we could spent like an hour looking at color chips and trying to match it.

Might be the first garage I've seen with window treatments!

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thats the wife, she wanted to make it look better and some some vw fabric, there is route 66 themed fabric for the one over the side door.