Optimum Height and Width for Work Bench

[iiibdsiil]

My step-dad owns a construction company, so I have access to plywood for pretty cheap (read: free). I was thinking about 36 inch depth and 30 inches off the ground? That is what my one metal table is at, and it seems good. But then today I was with the mechanic that is fixing my transmission for me, and his was higher, 36-40 inches I think. Maybe my numbers are wrong here, I am going off the top of my head.

What I want to do is 24 feet (3 sheets 3/4" plywood) long work bench. So what's the height on yours and maybe I can experiment a little with one bench first. And is my depth too much?

Also, what's the best way of doing the legs? On an angle to the wall, obviously as least an angle as possible when I measure and cut. Or should I just go straight down?

Also, I should from the edge out correct? 2 x 4, 2 x 6?

What I would do is take the scrap and make a shelf, either above the work bench or below. I realize with the 36" depth it would be kinda difficult to reach the shelf if it is up top.

Also, what would you guess the weight rating would be? I notice today on the shelves when my transmission was plopped on the shelf, it didn't budge a bit, so I am assuming this would be very strong.

Along the edge I would mount my bench grinder, vise, drill press and couple other tools I have.

Thank you in advance.

 

[OI812]

Towards the height I think it is kind of personal preference. I like my benches shorter in height, because I am not real tall. A friend of mine is 6'3" and he likes his benches at 48"... to tall for me, but it works for him.

Can you mount a 2X4 on the wall so that the plywood can mount to that? Kind of keeps the legs off the floor at the rear of the bench. Towards the weight, 3/4" is fairly strong, and I am relative sure it would care a transmission. However over time I think it would belly out. It also might seem spongy when pounding on it. Just an idea. Good Luck

 

[JohnHenrys48]

It depends on the space you have available. I built my workbench to fit on the side wall of my garage and still be able to park two cars. It ended up 22 inches wide, which brought the front edge just even with the track for the garage door. I made up for depth in width, by making it 16 feet long. I used two sheets of 3/4 inch MDF ripped to 22 inches wide. I screwed and glued the 22 inch pieces together to give two 8 foot by 22 inch by 1.5 inch thick tops. These proved to very stabile when supported at 48 inch intervals by the legs and cross members. I can stand on this with no problems and I think it would support anything I could possibly lift onto it. I also just used 4x4 inch legs on the front and supported it with a full length 2x4 cleat on the wall. I wish I could have gone 36 inches wide but I just didn't have the room. The top is level and varies in height from 38 1/4 to 40 1/4 inches due to the slope in the floor. I'm 6'2" and it's at a comfortable height the full length. I'll attach some pictures to give you an idea of the construction.

Hope this helps,

Jim

The scale is misleading in the pictures. From the corner of the top in the foreground to the drill press is 8 feet, from the drill press to the cabinet is another 8 feet. The space the scooter is backed into I plan on locating a 60 gal 2 stage compressor and a Millermatic 175 with gas bottle (I can dream can't I ?), at least that's where I located the 220 outlets...

 

[iiibdsiil]

Thanks a bunch. I have plenty of room. A nice corner of my step-dad's 12,000 square foot all open warehouse. About 70 feet by 30 feet or so I claim to myself, although I haven't gotten the tape measure out yet. I can always take over more, as we don't have much use for the building right now.

Your benches look top notch, I think I will try to reproduce them. In the 2nd pictures, the red wood that runs parallel to the top, that is a 2 x 6? The part that the top rests on in the front.

 

[JohnHenrys48]

Thanks a bunch. I have plenty of room. A nice corner of my step-dad's 12,000 square foot all open warehouse. About 70 feet by 30 feet or so I claim to myself, although I haven't gotten the tape measure out yet. I can always take over more, as we don't have much use for the building right now.

Your benches look top notch, I think I will try to reproduce them. In the 2nd pictures, the red wood that runs parallel to the top, that is a 2 x 6? The part that the top rests on in the front.

Wow ! You'll have plenty of room to be creative. The frame for the bench is all 2x4 with 4x4 legs and a quart of Rustoleum Safety Red enamel. It seems to be pretty solid. I used 3 1/2 inch deck screws to secure it all together. Good luck, it sounds like you have a nice place to set up shop.

 

[aero]

(JohnHenrys48 ) I would like to invite you to post in the small garage thread your garage looks sweet.

 

[330Scott]

Fwiw, I am 5'10" tall & have both 36" & 40" tall workbenchs and I prefer the 40" tall one. I don't know exactly why I like the taller bench, but I think it has something to do with the angles of my arms in relation to the item that I am working on on the bench. You know, kind of like everything fits & feels better with the taller bench.

May I suggest that since to have access to so much bench making material that you build a couple of small frames of different heights & see which one feels better before actually building your workbench.

 

[Wile1Coyote]

Ply really doesn't make a great top, I'd suggest checking out the premade countertops at your local Lowes\Home Depot they get screw up special orders all the time, that they sell cheap, I just saw a 10' premade faux butcher block one at mine for $40! Its' tough to beat $4 a linear foot for something that is allready done. As far as height roughly 2/3 of your total height should be the height of the bench top, so if you were 6' the bench should be 48" off the floor. If you were 5' then 40" and these are just rough guides you may prefer anything from 6-8 inches either higher or lower. A higher bench though alleviates back pain\strain from bending and cuts fatigue and a lower bench allows for seated work so you may want to have 2 tall ones and one that is shorter.

 

[iiibdsiil]

Yeah, I definitely agree that the best way for me to do this is gonna be for me to just sit down and take some scrap and see if I like it or not.

I have heard that a couple times now about the ply not making a great top. My dad told me to get that thin brown wood (I just woke up), some people call it hard board, and seal the top, then I can just wipe the oil off. I think for the amount of car parts and stuff it will see, vs other stuff, the ply will hold up fine. I'll paint it.

I would really like the formica (sp?) but finding it in the length and depth that I am looking for is not going to happen. I hope that home depot doesn't make a mistake 24 feet long on someones counter tops.

 

[OHEKK]

Top suggestions:

Here's a few ideas:

I got a hold of a stainless steel elevator door...this is gonna make a GREAT workbench top.

I also found that plywood is avail in 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" pricey but should make a GREAT top.

Someone else suggested solid core doors Home Depot surely hase some in the discount secxtion!

 

[Wile1Coyote]

Thats a good point you may want to top your ply with some sheet steel to make it both tougher and easier to clean.

 

[Concrete Video]

My bench is 30-36 high, and 30 deep, about 15 feet long. I love it, lots of storage under, lots of room on top. The top is all treated 2x4 and easy to clean with a small hand brush or air hose.

 

[ranger_dood]

Here's the bench my dad built.

It's not that big, but give's plenty of space and is reasonably portable (we moved it from our old basement to this garage). Also has the bottom shelf for even more space. Made out of 2x4's and 2x6's, I believe. The top is plank, not plywood or steel or anything.... still works out well.

I can take measurements if you're interested.

Edit- sorry, no shelf on in that pic. It was just 3 more planks laying across the leg supports.

 

[a462goat]

Nice setup, Jim. I might have to steal your paint scheme - looks very cool.

 

[spud]

I plan on measuring from the floor to my elbows(when standing) the subtracting 2 inches, and that will be the height of my cabinets............... very complex,