Lets see your workbench

[BoilermakerFan]

Here's my basement workbench under construction...

I still need to wrap the sides in 1x6 Hickory and build a hanging drawer cabinet for it. The right hand side will get four 48" HD T-Tracks flush mounted into the top.


Here is the link to the video of the electric actuator legs in action:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f2f5cobai60hbfl/20161031_133252.mp4?dl=0

 

[SuperCat]

I have never seen a powered lift workbench before -- excellent job.
What kind of projects will you use this workbench for?

 

[BoilermakerFan]

I have never seen a powered lift workbench before -- excellent job.
What kind of projects will you use this workbench for?

Thanks!

The T-track will allow me to put different sacrificial tops, tools, or sub-benches on it. The adjustable height allows me to sit or stand.

Projects will range from building audio amps and sources, working on RCs, to fly-tying, and cartridge reloading. I'll use it to build my wiring harnesses for my motorcycles too.

The bench top frame is 32"x68" so when wrapped in the 1x it will be 33-1/2"x69-1/2". When it's fully raised the top of the bench is even with the top of my shoulders and I'm 5'11". I forgot to measure how tall it is when fully retracted. Each leg can support almost 180 pounds so the 3 legs gives me about 540 pounds of lifting capacity but the top weighs about 140 pounds. I figure I have 350 pounds capacity, but nothing I plan to use it for is that heavy.

 

[akpingel]

Here is mine for now. Pulled the door off a sketchy closet in the corner of the shop. More to come in as I get to work!

IMG_20170430_104804 by Alex Pingel, on Flickr

PS: you can see my other table top in the top left... an old keg and an old box

 

[Rewind97]

Thanks!

The T-track will allow me to put different sacrificial tops, tools, or sub-benches on it. The adjustable height allows me to sit or stand.

Projects will range from building audio amps and sources, working on RCs, to fly-tying, and cartridge reloading. I'll use it to build my wiring harnesses for my motorcycles too.

The bench top frame is 32"x68" so when wrapped in the 1x it will be 33-1/2"x69-1/2". When it's fully raised the top of the bench is even with the top of my shoulders and I'm 5'11". I forgot to measure how tall it is when fully retracted. Each leg can support almost 180 pounds so the 3 legs gives me about 540 pounds of lifting capacity but the top weighs about 140 pounds. I figure I have 350 pounds capacity, but nothing I plan to use it for is that heavy.

Very cool!! Where do you get legs like that?

 

[BoilermakerFan]

Very cool!! Where do you get legs like that?

Where else? eBay!

Those are Linak brand and they are 3 stage, but I have a second set that are Baker Work Space Solutions brand that are rated for the same 800N (179lb) max push force that are 2 stage so they don't drop as low or go as high. The Linak ones are heavy duty! And heavy on their own. I bet the finished bench will weigh 350-400lbs including the legs. I know the wood top alone is now too heavy for me to lift by myself, my estimate of 140lbs is probably low.

Both of mine are 3 leg sets. A Right, Center, and Left leg. The PSU has 2 inputs for the little controller I'm holding in my hand and it has 3 outputs for the legs. There are 2, 3, and 4 leg PSUs, but the 2 & 3 are most common. I'm still looking for a 4 leg controller...

I'm planning to use my second set to make a motorcycle engine building table. I have a HD SKF rotary bearing rated for 5,000lbs that I will put on it so I can rotate the engine around. I have a customer that is going to make me a small table top from 1/2" steel plate, drilled and tapped on the outside half on 2" centers for fixtures to hold the different engines. I may not be able to raise the height with the engine on the table, but the legs can support about 3X their lift rating when they're stationary.

 

[Rewind97]

I would appreciate a link.......not having much luck looking on ebay.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

I would appreciate a link.......not having much luck looking on ebay.

PM sent. It took me a while to find mine.

 

[72highboy]

i like those stops and did you buy them with the bench or where can you buy some?

Drives, the bench was built with leftover 80/20 aluminum extrusion from work. Caster and 'floor locks' were also extras that we had when relocating/downsizing. The easiest place I could think to purchase new would be McMaster

 

[-Brent-]

Here's my bench made from baker scaffolding and a solid core door blank.

I like the way you think! Simple, yet super solid set-up.

 

[Perfectstranger]

I got tired of working on the floor so I threw this up out of scrap wood that I had laying around and a dumpster dive for the sheet goods.

 

[Hdonly0]

Most of you keep your workbench way too clean.

 

[tjdux]

72: your bench looks like it's going to work out fine and i think the screws bolted through would be better and not that much harder to remove. so Baldors on both corners and a 519x vise on the third. looks like you might need an old Craftsman drill press on the other corner if you can find one as easily as you do vises. get the Craftsman with the heritage badge and the extra slo mo pulley so you can drill metal if you need to. or some members just put a DC motor and a switch on theirs.

i like those stops and did you buy them with the bench or where can you buy some?

ALL: I've owned a few of these 8 foot butcher block benches and the older Gladiator versions had better frames than the Chinese Costco ones like i have in my garage. with all the weight i tend to put on mine i noticed mine was starting to sag in the center like a few that i've passed on so i put in a temporary brace of a T made out of 4x4's for now. I measured both ends at 40 inches off the floor (yes the bench is raised up a bit cause i'm tall and my cabinets under it needed some more room) so with the old 4x4 being 4.5 inches wide i cut the other oak scrap 4x4 to 35.5 inches, removed a lot of stuff off my bench, then jacked up the one end and put in the T. then since the one end wouldn't go all the way back down i put maybe 400 pounds of tools and steel plates on the end and it has settled back. maybe not a perfect fix, but at least the bench won't get worse than when i load it back up on top.

anybody else own this bench and do something similar? i was going to put steel under it, but my Makita chop saw and wood was too handy and easy for a quick fix. i could have done it a bit nicer by 45 ing off the top brace, but wanted to see how it works first.

There is a popular ebay seller literally called 80/20 that is a major manufacturer of 80/20 aluminum extrusions. You can search ebay for 80/20 and it willncome right up or google 80/20 and go to their website and order or call them and order stuff.

I went through them when i made my custom table saw fence. Even emailed them with questions and got a cery nice response very quickly.

I don't know how their prices will compare to McMaster carr but none of its super cheap anyways.

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[mcmlvif100]

There is a popular ebay seller literally called 80/20 that is a major manufacturer of 80/20 aluminum extrusions. You can search ebay for 80/20 and it will come right up or google 80/20 and go to their website and order or call them and order stuff.

The 80 20 factory is only about 1 1/2 hours from our town. Would love to get a tour. Like using their products (for work) but too expensive for my home projects.

https://www.8020.net/ << Manufacturer's home page

https://8020.net/gallery << project gallery; lots of interesting stuff that people have built; even the DIY tab has some pretty high end builds

 

[tjdux]

The 80 20 factory is only about 1 1/2 hours from our town. Would love to get a tour. Like using their products (for work) but too expensive for my home projects.

https://www.8020.net/ << Manufacturer's home page

https://8020.net/gallery << project gallery; lots of interesting stuff that people have built; even the DIY tab has some pretty high end builds

Yeah its not cheap especially for big stuff but and i would never be able to afford to make a full table or wirk bench but my DIY table saw fence would up costing around 150 bucks and is accurate and easy to use. To get a bessimeyer fence woukd be more than double that although maybe a little mre accurate and many pricy accessories.

Here is a shot of my fence and table saw workbench. Sorry it may actually be on this thread already somewhere in the past pages i cant remember if I posted it before.

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[97nismo]

Here is my setup...

 

[Matthew3901]

So this is my new bench. Still getting it together. Second pic is of the frame. Over it is 3/4 plywood and then a counter top

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[mgnic]

Still a work in progress.

 

[stefan22]

Just finished this bench up a few hours ago...still need to add a shelf on top of the uprights with the pegboard and add some LED lighting and it will be good to use and abuse.

 

[jrp458]

Just finished a little renovation
Before



After

This is awesome. What size shop do you have?

 

[rmalkow2]

Refurbished and updated an old steel shop table to be my fab/welding table. I added casters, new paint, a crossbar for clamp storage and a vise.

 

[racestatus]

Most of you keep your workbench way too clean.

that's not a workbench, that's a storage shelf

 

[ptgarcia]

After

I'd love to outfit my garage with those. Are they the Pro series? Care to give your opinion of the build quality now that you've had them a few months?

 

[Ditch]

Just finished the big one

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362502

 

[-Brent-]

I spent a half hour cleaning the junk off of mine as well as giving the top a thorough cleaning and some wax.



Man, it was filthy. It was a black residue on the rag from spilled oils, grease, metal dust, PVC dust, regular dust, dirt, etc. While I do like the way a steel top cleans up afterward, after 6 months of use I can say that it's an upgrade over all my previous benches as far as how heavy duty it is.

But the surface itself, at least with how I'm using it, is more maintenance than my other benches. My wood-topped or Masonite benches got stained and could be swept off. My painted steel top, while too thin and would "oil can" didn't hold onto grime like this one. You could wipe it up and move on.

I've considered pulling the top and powder coating it BUT I know with bare steel I can clean it and it will look good again. Obviously, that's not the case with paint or powder.

 

[tjdux]

I spent a half hour cleaning the junk off of mine as well as giving the top a thorough cleaning and some wax.



Man, it was filthy. It was a black residue on the rag from spilled oils, grease, metal dust, PVC dust, regular dust, dirt, etc. While I do like the way a steel top cleans up afterward, after 6 months of use I can say that it's an upgrade over all my previous benches as far as how heavy duty it is.

But the surface itself, at least with how I'm using it, is more maintenance than my other benches. My wood-topped or Masonite benches got stained and could be swept off. My painted steel top, while too thin and would "oil can" didn't hold onto grime like this one. You could wipe it up and move on.

I've considered pulling the top and powder coating it BUT I know with bare steel I can clean it and it will look good again. Obviously, that's not the case with paint or powder.

You could rattle can matte clear coat on it to help it be a little more wipe off cleanable. Would also help reduce needing to oil/wax it. Once the clear gets scratched upnin a year or two then sand it a little and spray it again.

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[bagged89s10]

Cleaned one of my benches the other day. This is my clean bench.

 

[Joe-R]

Nice workbench! I love the Defender game!!! Does it work?

Joe

 

[Ditch]

Nice workbench! I love the Defender game!!! Does it work?

Joe

Of course it does.
I even have the manual that came with it.

I cleaned up today. things look much better.
the beauty of that bench is that it's quick and easy to make, sturdy and won't fall apart or loosen up like all the wooden one I see
if you have to move it, 6 screws and the shelves are off

 

[stevep1954]

this is one i painted up for my son.

 

[heffneil]

Here's my basement workbench under construction...

I still need to wrap the sides in 1x6 Hickory and build a hanging drawer cabinet for it. The right hand side will get four 48" HD T-Tracks flush mounted into the top.


Here is the link to the video of the electric actuator legs in action:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f2f5cobai60hbfl/20161031_133252.mp4?dl=0

Is that a Nexus21 lift? I recognize the lifts and the control box?

 

[Trey T]

this is one i painted up for my son.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

Is that a Nexus21 lift? I recognize the lifts and the control box?

No, it's a Linak commercial desk lift. Each leg is rated to lift 179lbs. It also has over 40" of range.

 

[jbibler]

I just picked up this workbench today. I was planning to make my own, but I found this one on Craigslist and it was free! It was removed from a window/door manufacturing plant and they just wanted it gone. It's 12' long and 52" wide. I may have to modify it a little because that's a little wider than I would like, but we'll see. What I love is it's 39" high, so it's perfect working height for me. I also like the look of an old bench with some time on it. It also has a nice deep, sliding drawer. Can't beat the price! Just need to remove the old thin top cover and replace with something else... ?

Josh B.

 

[Northern Early]

I think this is my first post but have been a lurker for a while. Here is my "dirty shop" work bench. made with 2x6, dried in my shop for a couple months. A machinist friend used the legs from a sheer press and had the table top so i incorporated it into my bench.



This side of my shop is for motor work, welding, and in general dirty work. The other 2/3rds of my shop is woodworking. ill get some pictures of that later along with the buildup of my modified Rousseau/ table saw/ assembly table/ most prized horizontal surface.

 

[Outlander]

I just picked up this workbench today.

Beauty!

 

[mcmlvif100]

I just picked up this workbench today.

Just need to remove the old thin top cover and replace with something else... ?

Josh B.

The "old thin top cover" looks like it might be hardboard panel, available in 1/8" or 1/4" thick, 4 ft x 8 ft sheets from most lumberyards, Menard's, Lowes, Home Depot, etc. If the workbench always had a hardboard top, the wood underneath might be look pretty good without a new covering.

 

[bimmerZ5]

after years on this forum, this has got to be my favorite thread. I love seeing everyone's work spaces!! and i mean everyone... it's nice to see the fancy (expensive) work spaces, but I also enjoy so much seeing people with limited budgets being creative and re-using what they can find. this is so awesome!!!

i live in a sub-urban area and so many homes here don't have "usable" spaces; there's plenty of space to "entertain" guests and sit around having tea and cheese and crackers; and are otherwise wasted and unused spaces in homes when no guests are around. one of my neighbors has a fancy "living" room with fancy furniture and a grand piano all color matched, but no one in that home plays the piano! the irony is they rarely "live" in that room. I don't mean to judge, people are free to do whatever they want with their money and home, but I personally find it confusing and pointless. I so much love spaces that are useful, for building things, fixing things, actually "doing" something whether that be working on cars, fixing electronics, working out, playing games, etc.

anyway, I subscribe to this thread on a weekly basis and it's one of the things I enjoy most every week to read. thanks to everyone who took the time to take pictures and share a little bit about their "space".

 

[raymondtm]

My weekend workbench project:

 

[Rick B.]

It works.