Sturdy ness of a fold down table

[Gfercaks33]

I want a new work bench that I can dedicate to reloading and other stuff because my main work bench always has stuff on it but I want to beagle to fold it out of the way. I found something that I like the idea of but am wondering how sturdy it will be.

Here are pictures of said bench.

http://imgur.com/a/TWOuc

 

[mike93lx]

Are you going to remove your reloading press every time you are done?
Reloading benches should be very sturdy... I'd question how stable a bench like that is.

Can you make a solid, small mount for just your press(es) and use folding benches for your workspace? I have a super heavy and sturdy bench that my Hornady LNL is mounted to and a small portable table that I setup for each session. It has the bonus of making me put everything away after I finish he task for the day.

 

[Gfercaks33]

I Have all my equipment mounted on a board that I plan to clamp to my main bench but that always has projects on it. If I had more space I would build a second permanent bench but sadly I don't have that space available.

 

[Gfercaks33]

Mike I also have seen people using black and decker work mates and I did think of that also

 

[Gfercaks33]

I got it finished up today and it seams very sturdy!

 

[CJ7VFR]

That looks great! Nice job!

Jim

 

[Gfercaks33]

Thanks! I leaned onto it and it appears to support my 220lbs. I have 6 2 1/2" deck screws anchoring into 3 studs. I'm planning on using t nuts and possibly winged bolts for quick assembly and disassembly of everything mounted to it.

 

[Outlander]

Nice. I built a folding bench in the front area of my garage and have never folded it away since

 

[Gfercaks33]

I can back the car in and out with out flipping it up but I have about 3" off clearance so I think this guywillgo up when not in use.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Thanks! I leaned onto it and it appears to support my 220lbs. I have 6 2 1/2" deck screws anchoring into 3 studs. I'm planning on using t nuts and possibly winged bolts for quick assembly and disassembly of everything mounted to it.

I use the T-Nuts to mount a small pen making lathe and a pen press to my work bench in my basement. They do work really great for being able to install and uninstall things to a bench.

I installed the T-Nuts on the underside of the bench and used a countersinking bit on the holes on the topside of the bench top opposite the T-Nuts.

This way, when not in use, I can screw in large flathead screws into the holes with the T-Nuts so the top work surface of my bench is flat with no holes in it.

Jim

 

[404]

That is really slick.

 

[Zeke]

That's a nice little package.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I like that design a lot and I know I'd have it folded down and the top buried in junk in no time. I have a couple of work benches in the garage now someplace that I can identify with the piles of junk stacking up. Makes me really wish I had a spare room for storage.

Got a roommate that lives in a large bedroom behind the garage space for $300/mo that helps keep the garage going. If he ever moved out, I'd lose that income, but I'd gain a tool room. HMM. Nah, I'll wait.

 

[captain14]

what are your measurements for the table and other parts?

neat idea, thanks for sharing this project.

 

[Gfercaks33]

Table top is 3'L x 2'w ( I wanted 4x2 but it didn't fit my space.), the plywood top is 1/2" thick doubled up to make it 1" thick, the legs measure in at 39" so overall height is 40" (again personal preference, I prefer a taller work space), I used 2" wood screws that were counter sunk, for the legs to fold I used 3 or 4" barn door hinges and ti the wall the same sized hinge with a rectangle on one side and barn style on the other. If I had to build this again In the space where the legs fold in I would make it 3 3/4" not 3 1/2" (I don't know what I was thinking making the space the thickness of the 2x4), after every thing was installed I had to pull the legs and shave the wood so they would open and close freely. I used 2x4 studs for everything total cost was around $40-$50 from Home Depot.

 

[Gfercaks33]

I know I mentioned it before but I folded down and junk on top then then nova has to stay in the garage, so it's incentive to put everything away when I'm done. This is going to be for reloading and gunsmithing bench primarily, or use it to set tools on when I'm working ion that side of the car. I want to keep car/ tools/projects/junk on my main bench so not to "cross contaminate".

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

NOT a criticism because this bench looks very nicely done, just a question:

It seems like everyone who builds a folding bench folds it up so you can see the legs, etc. when it's not in use.

Why doesn't anyone build one so the bench folds downward and the bench top would show. Basically a flat surface and the "guts" hidden. This also has the advantage of hiding the hinge when it's being worked on and you COULD mount a small vice or something on the surface and leave it there, though I admit it'd be an ankle biter if you weren't careful.