Show me your floating workbench setup...

[Cobra4B]

Looking for ideas on how to best frame a floating workbench i.e. one where the legs run to the bottom of the back wall vs. the floor.

I'm going to convert my old kitchen counters into a kickbutt workspace at my dad's house and am looking for the best method to frame up a strong floating bench.

There are a few at my work and they utilize the following design... tired to show it via MSpaint as best I could. Each different color is a 2x4 except for the black which is the bench top.

 

[pixelmonkey]

download and play with google sketchup.
download page for google sketchup



several cabinet designs available for free on the 3dwarehouse, which is the upload site for all models developed in sketchup.
have my cabinets posted here
and a few photos of the actual cabinetshere

hope it helps
chris<pixelmonkey>

 

[76cb750]

I usually just frame them like you would frame a wall. 2x4's standing up on 16" centers then just mount a 2x4 inside the framing going back to the wall.

 

[have2goski]

I made a similar bench with the supports going back to the bottom of the wall. Once I got it in, I figured that I could still put a shelf under the bench that was just over 1/2 the depth of the bench. It has actually worked out nicely and doesn't get in the way when sitting at the bench at all. Would have been wasted space otherwise.


Just something to consider in your plans.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I made mine fold up:

 

[idunnosh#t]

Thats nothin! I dug a MOAT around mine and put alligators in it.

 

[cletus66]

Thats nothin! I dug a MOAT around mine and put alligators in it.

 

[rieferman]

a moat, that's funny

The angle bracket that you drew in the one pic works really well. Super sturdy. But, you can also do that bracket above the table instead. Depends on which space is more valuable to have totally unobstructed.

 

[MG David]

If you have a moat you must be a member of parliament!

 

[idunnosh#t]

If you have a moat you must be a member of parliament!

I am, but I work from home.That commute everyday got to be a killer.

 

[dipper]

Here's mine i built. It is topped with a 32" solid core door covered with carpeting.

 

[Cobra4B]

Nice... good idea using the door for a surface.

 

[rieferman]

Dipper - does a downward force on the front lip of that table put a lot of "pull out" force on the portion of the top surface that's attached to the wall? Have you found that screwing into the studs is enough, or do you think lags are needed?

 

[Vernmotor]

I did mine like that.. I don;t like to sweep around legs.. made the foor alot easy to clean...

 

[cletus66]

Here's mine i built. It is topped with a 32" solid core door covered with carpeting.

That looks real nice !!

 

[dipper]

Dipper - does a downward force on the front lip of that table put a lot of "pull out" force on the portion of the top surface that's attached to the wall? Have you found that screwing into the studs is enough, or do you think lags are needed?

NO. The top 2x4 is screwed into the wall studs (i had all the wall studs behind the drywall marked from when i built it). I pretty much used 3" deck screws to put it all together. It is built pretty solid and does not pull out of the wall at all. The top is a 32x80 birch solid core interior door that i got from my part time job for $5.00 along with the carpet which was an end of roll freebie.

 

[PoPo]

I've been debating on what kind of counter top for the new garage and after buying some seville cabinets I was set on getting theirs. But after seeing this I might just save some $ and build mine so its floating, The cement is not level (addition done 20 years ago) where the counter top needs to go and it will drive me nuts. Looks great guys.

Also Jack, I have saved every one of your pictures of those work benches. I have two extra counter tops from HON industries 100lbs compressed board and I plan on making some fold down counter tops in front of where the wife parks. I love that idea, now I just need the warm weather back so I can clear out the vehicles and get to work.