Steel Workbench: Suggestions Please

[Jxnatti]

Hi all,

I'm setting up my garage and need a 8 ft steel workbench. In terms of quality/cost I'm generally in the "cry once" category but not if its super extra pricey.

In this case I am looking to BUY a table. I'm not a professional doing heavy work everyday, just a retired dude wanting to WELD, GRIND, CUT and generally WAIL on a real man's workbench.

Budget is under a thousand, but I'd really like to stay around $700. Ideally there will be a 4" splash in the back and a good down lip on front.

What I've found so far is that first it's really challenging to actually see a variety of steel tops these days. I like to get my hands on a tool/piece of equipment before I buy. You can only tell so much online, but I might have to chance it, so I thought I'd ask here to see if anyone had experience with the following commercial brands:

Bench Pro (Sears)

Little Giant (Sears)

Tennsco/Tennscoa (Grainger, Sears, others)

Pollard (sears) These have a backsplash and pretty decent lip. One issue is they also have side splash guards, but I could cut those off o) Anybody know this brand???

Lyon (Sears)

Stackbin (globalindustrial.com) This website advertises on amazon. They have what looks like quality industrial items... Anybody ordered from them?

Grainger also sells steel worktops, and of course legs, etc....but again for this bench because its heavy weight bearing I'm not inclined to go DIY. At most I'll weld the splash guard on if the one I get doesn't come with.


I'm sure there are others out there but this is what I've found so far. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[turbowoodworker]

I see a variety of the Lyon and similar stuff on CL all the time. Typical prices are 250-350 but they are not 8 feet. They usually have a backsplash too. Check out www.storageequip.com, frequent CL poster in NC.

 

[hayhauler71]

Check out Shure here is a link http://www.shureusa.com/products/index.html?category_uid=1&submit=View

 

[feFIFO]

Equipto. I had the good fortune of finding one on CL for fifty bucks. Needed some TLC, but damn if it isn't the best fifty I've ever spent. Meets all your requirements save the eight-foot length.

 

[Jxnatti]

Thanks Turbo I'll check it out! I sometimes forget about CL and of course am wary of "the CL burn"

 

[Jxnatti]

Woah Hayhauler those Shure's look pretty cool. Sent them an info request.

 

[Toofast28]

Jxnatti, seems you're looking for something similar to this? Maybe no cabinet beneath though?.

 

[Mooniac]

I'd monitor CL closely, and perhaps auction places like bidspotter.com as they frequently have large industrial auctions with all kinds of equipment, including steel benches. If you have a truck and possibly a trailer, you should be able to find a great deal on something that might cost thousands new. I used to monitor bidspotter regularly, but it seems most of the auctions are on the east coast and a few in CA, which makes it too far from me to be practical. You might have a more realistic chance of finding something close.

Another alternative is to look for bowling alley lane remnants. I built 2.5 benches with those at home and they are super-stout. I also have a steel bench I got from company surplus years ago for "messy" work, but it will likely leave my garage when I find a mill.

 

[Mooniac]

PS, my dad years ago bought a couple steel benches from Grainger for his shop, and that turned out to be a fiasco. He does electrical work primarily so his benches were geared towards that and not heavy mechanical work & pounding. They had a line of drawers on one side, hutches/shelves on top, and electrical outlets all over. Top was the same thin-ish steel as the rest of the bench assembly vs. butcher block. Many of the pieces were bent *in* the boxes, and required a couple trips back to grainger to get replacements, with the 2nd trip needed to replace the first round of replacements. We had to open each piece on-site until we found enough good ones to complete the build. Really frustrating, and the quality:cost ratio is terrible IMO for what he got.

I'd much rather find a 50 year old surplus item somewhere... and of course the chase is sometimes fun too.

 

[Swan]

Be proactive and try a "wanted to buy" ad on Craigslist. Worth a try and its free.

 

[Jxnatti]

Jxnatti, seems you're looking for something similar to this? Maybe no cabinet beneath though?.

Yeah pretty much TooFast. Actually the cabinets are cool with me, either way.

 

[Jxnatti]

Thanks Mooniac and Swan for the good advice.

The hunt is part of the fun!!!

 

[Toofast28]

Jxnatti, I built that, 8ft long, 38" tall, 30" deep, 1/8" steel, 16ga doors, casters, 10ga top, very stout. We sell em for around $1000 (I'm in Iowa), but may be worth checking with a local fab shop? (I think your profile says you're in Maryland)

 

[Jxnatti]

Jxnatti, I built that, 8ft long, 38" tall, 30" deep, 1/8" steel, 16ga doors, casters, 10ga top, very stout. We sell em for around $1000 (I'm in Iowa), but may be worth checking with a local fab shop? (I think your profile says you're in Maryland)

Very impressive Toofast! I have just moved into the area here (MD), and will have to scout about for fabricators. But that is a great idea as well and definitely worth checking into

 

[SIKPUP]

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Work-Benches in Newark De , Where in Md are you ?

 

[Jxnatti]

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Work-Benches in Newark De , Where in Md are you ?

About 10 minutes from Newark, Fairhill area of MD. Thanks SIKPUP!

 

[SIKPUP]

No sales tax in De ! There is a Harbor Freight in Newark too.....

Glad I could Help , SIKPUP

 

[Gwarren]

Also look at Grainger if you have one near

http://www.grainger.com/product/DURHAM-Workbench-1PE53?functionCode=P2IDP2PCP

 

[nickjj]

If you can weld grind and cut you may as well make your own, me and a friend made up this from pallet racking and box section, easy to do and makes very strong creations:

 

[Bib Overalls]

I had a general welding/fabrication shop build this workbench for me 25 years ago. I recently added the adjustable feet and the plastic bin drawers. It has followed me from Miami through the Philippines, St Louis and here to Arkansas. Basically 2" by 2" by 1/8" square steel tubing and angle iron. One sheet of 3/4" plywood for the top and shelf. About $100 in materials to duplicate the basic bench plus about four hours labor. You can do it too!

 

[willow1]

I get a really nice steel bench from

www.rackmart.com.au

. They have heaps of shelving stuff too. One for the aussies in the forum!

 

[sberry]

Yes, this seems kind of a wasted effort, buy an expensive bench so you can cut junk on it. Build something, it doesn't have to be exotic,,, better yet scrounge and build.

 

[My Old Tools]

Do a search for Steevo benches on GJ. They are hard to beat.

 

[tarmy]

I built a few for my shop…

 

[no704]

Keep a lookout for used restaurant supply. Many a nice SS counter.