Medium Duty Workbench

[BuickBoy]

Hi all,

I'm interested in a medium duty workbench. Something with a solid wood top that I can also mount a nice vise to. 48"-56" ideally.

I had considered building one, but graduate school is time consuming and the majority if my time in the garage is much needed auto maintenance.

Right now I don't know if I should look at spending $300 on a Gladiator 48" open bottom OE consider a solid wood top roller cabinet. I can always use more tool storage.

I know there is a show off your workbench thread somewhere but I'm looking for something out there I may be missing?

Thanks in advance.

 

[SuburbanRuss]

Graduate school is expensive so i figure why not something like this. It is a really good deal. My dad has one he got through a woodworking supply store about 25 years ago and I recently got one of these. It is honestly comparable. The bench dogs are nice, and it can be easily drilled for a sizable metal bench vise.
http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/workbench/60-inch-workbench-93454.html

 

[Bull]

Watch Craigslist. Sturdy benches or cabinets that can be made into a bench come up pretty regularly.

I might be in the minority, but I've never been super impressed with the feel of the Gladiator products when I've handled them in the store.

 

[BikerDad]

What is the primary duty of the workbench going to be? As an example, a workbench for woodworking exclusively/primarily with handtools is going to be a very different bench from one intended primarily for doing electronics.

I have looked at the HF bench above, and if you intend to do any hand woodworking on it, it's extensive limitations will very soon be revealed.

 

[hrvitalijr]

Sears has the 6' Maple top adjustable leg Gladiator bench for $249.99 Thurs-Sat of the Thanksgiving week. Bottom of page 61 of 64 on the Sears Black Friday ad. Link: http://www.sears.com/gladiator-6'-a...=Y&PID=2187655&AID=11034749&redirectType=SRDT

 

[lightning02]

i been eye balling this one....

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ultra-...90086.ip?sprodId=prod1490086&_requestid=93632

 

[zkling]

What are you going to use it for? Heavy pounding on objects?

Check CL for just "table" sometimes you can find solid kitchen tables on the cheap.

If you don't plan on pounding on the worksurface a bottom roller cabinet (HF44" come to mind) and a solid wood top would be a nice setup, portable and lots of storage.

It would only take an afternoon to knock out a simple bench from 2x4's, 4x4's, some MDF, a circular saw and a drill. Something you could really pound on without worry of damage.

I'd recommend looking at making or buying a vise stand, I don't think I could go back to a bench mounted vise for general use.

 

[sparky5982]

You could always buy any cheap wood top bench and top it with steel plate if you need to pound on it.

If you're going to do that though, it would probably take the same time investment on your part to build one from scratch to suit your needs.

 

[kazlx]

You can buy a wood top at ikea and bolt some legs to it.

 

[erty67]

Watch Craigslist. Sturdy benches or cabinets that can be made into a bench come up pretty regularly.

I might be in the minority, but I've never been super impressed with the feel of the Gladiator products when I've handled them in the store.

This ^ You can find some great deals in regard to a workbench or something capable of being a bench for really cheap. I have seen many sturdy workbenches in the free section. I ended up buying an old steel office cabinet and made it my bench. Love it!

 

[pendragon1998]

I'm in grad school and I built a really sturdy wood bench out of 2x4s (doubled up for legs) and plywood for like $150, including over-building it with bolts instead of screws and doubled-up 3/4" ply for the top. Took me and my dad just a day and made for a fond memory. I'd save the $150 over the $300 option above and add a Craftsman Professional vise or find a craigslist vise.

You could do the bench for under $150 if you screwed instead of bolted.