Work Bench for Shop
- Thread starter Steve9681
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LopezBart
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Can you cut & weld metal, or is this going to be made all from wood?
Firebrick43
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What kind of work?
All from wood
LopezBart
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I'd look on-line; you-tube is full of nifty workbench designs. It's really mostly an aesthetic process - what do _you_ like? If I were limited to wood, I'd probably grossly overbuild the workbench w/ 6x6 legs. Since you're building it from wood and using a butcher block top, I assume you're going for mostly woodworking projects. Figure out what tools you want bolted to the top/sides - vice? drill press? You likely want some overhang on the edges for clamping; you may want some square holes for dogs.
Check out
looks neat.
Check out
ez-duzit
Well-known member
Butcher block would be an extremely poor choice for a workbench top. You want edge grain--not end grain, if using solid lumber. But tempered hardboard is more practical.
My 4' x 8' work/assembly bench (lower left) serves also as the offcut table for dual table saws.
My 4' x 8' work/assembly bench (lower left) serves also as the offcut table for dual table saws.
rocksnstumps
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A 4 x 8 assembly table makes sense or as shown for sheet goods for around table saws. The classical woodworkers bench made from solid wood and having a bench vise and and spots for bench dogs is typically smaller. Maybe 3 x 6 or even a bit narrower like 30". So what is the intended purpose of this bench? Does it have to remain relatively flat? A 4 x 8 wood surface is gonna take some framing underneath to prevent sagging. Again if some sort of solid wood strips/blocks/planks need to consider wood movement with fastening to the framing underneath.
A bit more on intended use would help with others meeting your intended vision.
A bit more on intended use would help with others meeting your intended vision.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
This is the best stout cheap bench I have seen. Its a woodworking bench but you don't have to make the tool till or put the vises into it.
Made with 2x lumber. I would suggest screwing a piece of tempered hardboard smooth side up on top as a sacrificial surface and wax it.
https://picnicpark.org/keith/woodworking/workbench/BobAndDavesGoodFastAndCheapBench-ne.pdf
I have built 1 woodworking style bench and 3 regular benches but in the same construction manner. They are super strong.
A piece of angle iron across the end of the legs can hold a pair of ratcheting casters at both ends. The extending ratchet arm makes it quick and easy to lift the wheels off the ground and make a rock solid footing or lower the wheels and roll it to where you need it.
Made with 2x lumber. I would suggest screwing a piece of tempered hardboard smooth side up on top as a sacrificial surface and wax it.
https://picnicpark.org/keith/woodworking/workbench/BobAndDavesGoodFastAndCheapBench-ne.pdf
I have built 1 woodworking style bench and 3 regular benches but in the same construction manner. They are super strong.
A piece of angle iron across the end of the legs can hold a pair of ratcheting casters at both ends. The extending ratchet arm makes it quick and easy to lift the wheels off the ground and make a rock solid footing or lower the wheels and roll it to where you need it.
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rocksnstumps
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If you really want to keep this at a 4 x 8 size and keep it mostly flat, suggest you search here and Google for torsion box table or torsion box build. If you want a substantial feel to your top slap on another laminated layer to increase the thickness as most of these designs are focused on stiffness but keeping light weight. They tend to have tops that are 1/2" or less.
MushCreek
Well-known member
I learned how to make stout work benches from a guitar maker. The legs are a 2X2 or 2X4, but the secret is the plywood outer legs that really stiffen it up. It's also important to glue and screw everything together. For a bench that big, I'd add a set of middle legs.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
A much better way to build a large bench is by moving the 4 legs inboard, decreasing the span between the legs, and providing overhangs on each end....For a bench that big, I'd add a set of middle legs.
MushCreek
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Depends upon what you're putting on the bench, and its location. I had a 1600 lb. plastic injection mold on mine. Wouldn't want that cantilevered over the edge.
Maxcustody
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Here are some free plans similar to the one I built. Pictures of my bench.
www.bluenorthwoodworking.com
www.bluenorthwoodworking.com
jives
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Sitting in the middle of the shop as an all purpose bench precludes this as any form of standard woodworkers' bench. It will eventually be used for assembly, parts/tool holder, perhaps an outfeed table, and so forth. If truly 4 x 8 (that is some hunk of expensive butcher block) it will likely have on it more than one project at a time. It is also likely that it will be exposed to glue, paint, stain, varnish, oil of all types, greasy grime, cleanser, hammer strikes, chisel gouges, and whatever else. Are you sure you want the BB (edge or face grain) to be exposed to that?
I have two primary work tables. One serves as the table saw outfeed table. It is an old formica office work desk with two pedestal legs. It works great, and for the $5 it cost, it was a no brainer. I added wheels and spacers to raise it up. This table takes on most woodworking projects. In the pic below it is being used for another "random" project, this time the repair of a car top bag. It is aso to store the miter station. The next table is an old steel tanker table (not desk), that is 32" x 60". Removed the crumbling vinyl top, replaced with a sheet of 1/4 steel. made a rolling base for it with shelf. It has two drawers but I never use them, the the shelf is indispensable.
With that said, a huge BB table in the center of the shop would be a proud showpiece.
I have two primary work tables. One serves as the table saw outfeed table. It is an old formica office work desk with two pedestal legs. It works great, and for the $5 it cost, it was a no brainer. I added wheels and spacers to raise it up. This table takes on most woodworking projects. In the pic below it is being used for another "random" project, this time the repair of a car top bag. It is aso to store the miter station. The next table is an old steel tanker table (not desk), that is 32" x 60". Removed the crumbling vinyl top, replaced with a sheet of 1/4 steel. made a rolling base for it with shelf. It has two drawers but I never use them, the the shelf is indispensable.
With that said, a huge BB table in the center of the shop would be a proud showpiece.
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Spareparts
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What about a solidcore door from HabitatStore 30" or bigger for the top
Lynden
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Norm's work table with stressed skin panel under MDF top and retractable casters.
This work bench will be in the middle of the shop.
I have a few butcher-block-top benches, including one in the center of my garage. I think it makes a great work surface.
All of this is subjective, of course, but 4x8 is a fairly unwieldy size, and benches that roll don't appeal to me at all (again, speaking personally).
I put some multi-drawer cabinets under mine. Usually, most of the space down there gets wasted.
All of this is subjective, of course, but 4x8 is a fairly unwieldy size, and benches that roll don't appeal to me at all (again, speaking personally).
I put some multi-drawer cabinets under mine. Usually, most of the space down there gets wasted.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Butcher block is end grain up. Its done to allow disinfectant and UV light to sterilize the surface. It make for really lousy workbench tops as it has no significant strength due to grain running 90 degrees to the typical load path of a workbench top.
mattthemuppet
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built mine from scrap 2x4, 2x6 and 4x4, with plywood at the back and ends. Top is around 1.5" thick wood/ply/melamine. Very sturdy and isn't bothered at all by the 500lb lathe on one end 
MovingAlong
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Stuart in MN
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That's what I was going to say, for a very large workbench his method is strong, flat and relatively light, and it has a lot of space for holding tools.
Hooked
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Thank you for the link to those Ratcheting Casters.