Mobile workbench recommendations please

[joseywales]

So, after some thought, I think I'm going to simplify my garage overhaul, by simply buying a mobile workbench. With the concrete wall, I could Hiliti up some strips and hang pegboard, but my ceiling is rather low and the pegboard would be above the bench. By the time I slide the bench against the pegboard and put anything on the bench, I've lost a lot of space. So cost/effort to hang pegboard isn't worth the reward.

I've seen this Milwaukee mobile, which looks to be the same as the Husky. Same price, but this one is a nice color and has a few extras.

Any thoughts on other options? This one is 50" long and that's about right for what I need.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Don't put powder fasteners in your walls. Get some concrete screws...

Someday you, or whoever is the next owner will want to make changes. Getting those things out with a die grinder and patience ***** compared to twisting out anchors. Then you can actually fill the hole... my 0.02.

Also that milwaukee bench is 60" its not "that mobile" especially for a garage.
I own two and they are good units, but I bought them at $350 each not 6 or 700. I wouldn't buy them at full price personally. The cabinet and really deep drawers just aren't useful enough for me compared to shallow and mid drawers

Also the Husky is a better choice. 2" deeper overall. More drawers. A full length drawer (can't put a 42 or 48" pry bar, Level, pipe, etc in the Milwaukee. The extra **** Milwaukee gives you, minus the pegboard, is all sitting in a deep drawer in my box. Pretty much worthless IMO

 

[isb cornbinder]

I do not have a recommendation because something I did may not work in your situation.
I needed a work bench/welding table, hydraulic motorcycle lift table with mobile possibilities so I could roll the table to the back of my truck and raise the table to the tailgate height and unload heavy stuff. The lift table can be lowered to four inches above the floor.
The remote power unit is a 12 volt hydraulic motor/pump on a detachable cart. A Battery Tender keeps the battery charged and it is connected to a retractable cord reel. The hydraulics can power my press and the battery and cart assembly can be wheeled just about anywhere and then used as a booster battery.
The booster cables have quick disconnects. The hydraulics have a dripless quick disconnect on the hose. The pump is operated with a remote control. The cost to build this unit in 2002 about $750
The motorcycle wheel clam is made from the parts of a light duty floor-jack and is a floating caliper style.

 

[ScottsGT]

Build a bench and use casters that you can lift up to make the bench stationary. Flip the levers down and roll it around.

 

[joseywales]

Don't put powder fasteners in your walls. Get some concrete screws...

Someday you, or whoever is the next owner will want to make changes. Getting those things out with a die grinder and patience ***** compared to twisting out anchors. Then you can actually fill the hole... my 0.02.

Where were you 7 years ago. As I measure for my box, I realize I have to remove at least one, maybe two fasteners. Actually, I might just cut the garden tool rack and leave the fasteners in place! I did us tapcons in the basement to hang conduit and boxes.

Also that milwaukee bench is 60" its not "that mobile" especially for a garage.
I own two and they are good units, but I bought them at $350 each not 6 or 700. I wouldn't buy them at full price personally. The cabinet and really deep drawers just aren't useful enough for me compared to shallow and mid drawers

Agreed on the drawers. I don't need mobility perse. I won't be wheeling this thing around often. Just the ability to move it when necessary is all I need.

Also the Husky is a better choice. 2" deeper overall. More drawers. A full length drawer (can't put a 42 or 48" pry bar, Level, pipe, etc in the Milwaukee. The extra **** Milwaukee gives you, minus the pegboard, is all sitting in a deep drawer in my box. Pretty much worthless IMO

I'm going to have to agree with you once again. I just got back from HD. The Husky might be just the ticket. I like the depth of the unit. Before I left, I saw a nice video review of the Milwaukee. He mentioned the single drawer on the Huskey. I wasn't too concerned about the full drawer at the time, but honestly, if I can get my levels off the wall, then why not. Actually, I'm considering two units and might put 2-piece fishing rods in the top drawer of one! I see the larger 72" unit and am thinking that and the 60", or maybe two 60" units. I have to also say, the powder coat black looked much better than online. I thought it looked cheap online, but in person I was very happy with it. I wanted some color in my shop, but to be honest, I'm not a huge red fan either. I was thinking blue or green.

The 72" is $1,100, when it's back in stock and doesn't have a pegboard, which is fine. I have items that will take up that space anyway. The 60" unit is $600, with the pegboard. So two 60s for the price of one 72". I have to decide is the extra 12" on one unit really worth the difference in price. I really think not. Plus that 72 is a beast. But the wife did say, "just do it right". If I could rational the 72" unit to double as a shuffleboard table, then maybe I can live with it

 

[joseywales]

I do not have a recommendation because something I did may not work in your situation.
.

It doesn't matter if it will work for me. It gives others, and myself, ideas. So thanks and post on! I really like what you did there.

 

[joseywales]

Build a bench and use casters that you can lift up to make the bench stationary. Flip the levers down and roll it around.

You would be upset if you knew the materials I have to get this done. And I know I have at least two sets of caster wheels. In fact, if I buy a bench, I might swap out the wheels it comes with, for the ones I have sitting new in the box. I don't know where this **** comes from. it just appears. Anytime I've had a contractor to do something I don't want to do, he'll always end up asking for a tool to borrow. They can only carry so much in their truck, which is why I hold on to tools I know "I'll" never use again.

There are times when you just have to throw money at the problem. Often times, I have found that even that doesn't turn out great. However, in this case, given the time/space constraints, cash might be the ticket. If I had more room and could get really creative, it might be worth it to build one. But I'd rather get this shop in shape and get my girls in there working on projects. My teen daughter and I also want to start the bathroom remodel. I'm sure she'd be great help with a bench, but it's too boring. She wants a new bathroom and with her grades and attitude, she's more than earned it.

 

[James-W]

I built a wooden workbench that is 4ft by 8ft and it has 6 wheels on it so I can roll it around the garage if I need to. There is storage underneath it so I can put stuff I use when working on the bench and have it handy. I have a winch mounted to the ceiling so I can lift up stuff to work on and then move the workbench under it. That way I don't have to lift up the snowblower, or lawnmower, or whatever it is that I am going to be working on. Some of this stuff is heavy and I am not getting any younger. Having the winch there saved my back of numerous occasions.

 

[James-W]

You would be upset if you knew the materials I have to get this done. And I know I have at least two sets of caster wheels. In fact, if I buy a bench, I might swap out the wheels it comes with, for the ones I have sitting new in the box. I don't know where this **** comes from. it just appears. Anytime I've had a contractor to do something I don't want to do, he'll always end up asking for a tool to borrow. They can only carry so much in their truck, which is why I hold on to tools I know "I'll" never use again.

There are times when you just have to throw money at the problem. Often times, I have found that even that doesn't turn out great. However, in this case, given the time/space constraints, cash might be the ticket. If I had more room and could get really creative, it might be worth it to build one. But I'd rather get this shop in shape and get my girls in there working on projects. My teen daughter and I also want to start the bathroom remodel. I'm sure she'd be great help with a bench, but it's too boring. She wants a new bathroom and with her grades and attitude, she's more than earned it.

My oldest daughter likes to work on projects in our garage. She comes over and she uses the scroll saw to cut out stuff and then she paints them and I must admit, they look pretty cool. She gives them away as gifts and everybody loves them. She makes little snowmen and little dancers and all sorts of assorted animals and paints them up. They do look cute, but it would drive me crazy to sit there and cut them out and then paint them all.

 

[joseywales]

My oldest daughter likes to work on projects in our garage. She comes over and she uses the scroll saw to cut out stuff and then she paints them and I must admit, they look pretty cool. She gives them away as gifts and everybody loves them. She makes little snowmen and little dancers and all sorts of assorted animals and paints them up. They do look cute, but it would drive me crazy to sit there and cut them out and then paint them all.

That's great. My youngest makes slime. She gives it to friends, but sells it to others. What can I say, she's a go getter. Not much to TV, but likes to work with hands. Her slime is apparently some of the best. She did a lot of research and made a snapchat video, without her face because we're funny about that. She doesn't even talk in the video. She just shows the elasticity of the slime, the fact that it doesn't stick, it's ability to bounce, etc.

We knew she was making slime. She's always doing something in her room, but if we don't see smoke coming from under the door, we figure everything's ok We had no idea she was selling slime, until I walked her to the bus and she was carrying a bag with 4 Tupperware containers. She said I sold 4, so I have to bring them in. the next night, she's asking for a Paypal account, so she can accept credit cards and sell to a girl in Texas. That got mom's attention and she's having none of that.

The icing was when I overheard my teen daughter and my youngest talking. The teen, you see, is an A student and very organized. The youngest daughter is the mad professor. So the teen is taking notes on what all is involved in making slime, the costs, etc. So this is a Shark Tank deal, where she wants to invest money in the young one's slime business. Great stuff!

 

[isb cornbinder]

To make my lift table easy to move and turn in its own length, I replaced the steel wheels on one end with a walking-beam with two heavy duty castes on each side. The walking-beam compensates for the lift height and rolls over small thing on the floor, easily. On the other end of the lift table, I welded a tab to the crossbar for and inverted "fifth wheel" tow, lift and steer bar. One person can move the table easily with a Honda Valkyrie Interstate on board.

Three pictures. One of the tow-lift bar, the welded tab and the walking beam with casters

 

[tonyciambrone]

Where were you 7 years ago.

I was real young and real stupid...now I am... less young and less stupid.

I vote for the 2 60" boxes over 1 72", provided the 72" box is not like 32" deep. I have learned drawer depth and layout is practically the only thing that matters.

I've added butcher block tops, polyethylene tops, and steel tops to boxes. You can add a power strip easy. You can mount a pegboard easily As you said you can change casters, handle, pretty much anything. A box with a crappy drawer layout and 16" depth will never be a 32" deep box with great drawer layout.

 

[joseywales]

Where were you 7 years ago.

I was real young and real stupid...now I am... less young and less stupid.

I vote for the 2 60" boxes over 1 72", provided the 72" box is not like 32" deep. I have learned drawer depth and layout is practically the only thing that matters.

I've added butcher block tops, polyethylene tops, and steel tops to boxes. You can add a power strip easy. You can mount a pegboard easily As you said you can change casters, handle, pretty much anything. A box with a crappy drawer layout and 16" depth will never be a 32" deep box with great drawer layout.

Agreed. I found a decent deal on a Snapon, but the drawers are too deep and they no longer make replacements.