work bench plans

[dirt1016]

This is my first post. WHAT A GREAT SITE!! I have been looking for something like this all year.

I am slowly getting my garage in order. I would like to make a very nice work bench. One that goes in a corner. I race dirtbikes so I work on them constantly. I am a soft. Eng and dont' have much experience around wood. I really don't know where to begin.
Are there plans or walk throughs for making a work bench for this type? I would like something that I can put two roll away tool chests under. among other storage.
Thanks a bunch Great site!

 

[REFLEXX]

Dirt,

welcome to your new addiction!

as always do a google search for "workbench plans" AND also do a google image search for workbench, you'll see hundreds and then get some great ideas.

I'm using kitchen cabinets in my garage, and will top them off with 1/8" steel tops about 36" deep. On those steel tops I put a piece of carpet for delicate stuff or a piece of rubber sheeting (pond liner).

The quickest way to build a bench is to use the Simpson brackets and standard lumber OR weld one together!

 

[MXtras]

Do you weld or will you make this bench from wood?

Scott

 

[lagunamiata]

I just found this site too, lots of good reading so far!
I wanted the same thing, a workbench to put my toolbox under. I decided to design and build my own.
Here's what I ened up with:

The top is a coutertop from Lowe's, whatever they had on clearance at the time.
A few weeks ago we built a 6-foot bench to the right and I've bolted down my drill press and vise. Need to take a few shots of that...

 

[rockwithjason]

Do lots of careful measuring and mock up the roll aways how you want them. You don't want to have a do over.

 

[MXtras]

Good point about the counter top - I got mine for my trailer at Lowes for next to nothing because it was damaged on one corner. It was an 8' piece and I only needed 6'. I think I paid $20 for it - dealt with a cool manager.

Scott

 

[lagunamiata]

The couter top has worked well. For any work that is done on something "nice" its good to have a worksurface that's smooth and clean.
The new 6' bench is 2x6 for the top since I have things attached and it will be used for beating and banging.

 

[dirt1016]

I definately don't know how to weld. Wood will be my choice. I was thinking 4x4 s for the legs. I want it to go in the corner but maybe making to identical benches put togeather would be better in case I want to move them. The top is what I am concerned about. Going to lowes is a good idea. I didin't think they would carry busted up stuff. I would love to find and old industrial door. Nice and heavy.

 

[lagunamiata]

Here's the 6' bench we made...

 

[lagunamiata]

Both of mine are made from 2x4 and 2x6, just the standard studs from Lowe's. The 4' was about $50 because of the counter top, probably $30 for it. The 6' was about the same, using 2x6's glued together and screwed down for the top.

All legs are 2x6. I think 4x4 would be overkill unless you're going to put a lot of weight on it or really beat on the workbench. I stood on mine to hang a shelf above it, no problem. One trick, screw the bench to the wall. I used a few scraps and attached it at the top to a stud. No movement when sawing.

I can clean off both and take shots of the tops, if you want.

 

[dirt1016]

I was at home depot an noticed that I could get a door for 50 beans and slap that on top of 4x4s or some black pipe to get a pretty big work bench. Actually two. Maybe cover it with tile for a nice finsh and easy clean up. I want it to be pretty sturdy. So I can put motors on it etc.

 

[carb454]

I have made two very solid work benches from solid core fire rated doors that have been found on work sites tossed in demolition , one has 2x4 legs and bracing the other has 2x6 only because that is what was laying around available at the time. The door knob hole comes in handy for running electric cords through if its in the back or if the hole is in the front it can be a holder of sorts or a place to set your trash can under for scraping debris through...

I have found that the size 36x82 or there abouts makes a nice deep work surface
and the bottom shelf is framed by 2x4's with 1/2" plywood or OSB on top for the shelf

It works well perhaps not as pretty as some but sturdy and a coat of paint will spruce it up nicely.

 

[z28toz06]

I am going to have 2 workbenches in my shop. One for heavy duty stuff that will have legs at each corner. It will be moveable so I can ocassionally clean under it.

The other bench will be a counter type that is cantileverd and bolted in to the wall with ply wood stanchions, which are triangle shaped. They will be wide at the top and angle down to nothing at the wall. This way I can roll stuff underneath the counters and I can roll it out to sweep etc. If you space the stanchions to your roll top needs everything will fit nicely. I saw it in the September issue of Handyman magazine. They also made rolling boxes that held chop saw grinder , other power tools. They all rolled righ under the table out of the way when not in use.

 

[indyjps]

ive got a good one that my father (steel building designer) drew up for me out of wood. its meant for a long run down a wall and not very deep but has shelf above and storage underneath. ill dig the scanner out if youre interested, pm me. it does require a mitre box or mitre saw to get it right.

 

[snorvet]

getting ready to build my workbench. Its going to be about 8-1/2' long (21" to 24" deep) between two walls. I think I'm going to build a butcher block top out of 1x2 maple. I have a Craftsman tool chest 41" high that I'd like to park under the top. The top of the butcher block top would have to be about 44" high. Most benchs I've seen are around 38" high. Is 44" too high? Using the top of the tool chest as a mini bench doesnt seem too high. Here's a sketch

 

[stinky]

My bench

This is the back wall - 2 - 5ft and a 10 ft top on the right (bottom pic) -will be- 2 -5fts
split by my sand blaster , will sink my table saw in the last one.

 

[lagunamiata]

getting ready to build my workbench. Its going to be about 8-1/2' long (21" to 24" deep) between two walls. I think I'm going to build a butcher block top out of 1x2 maple. I have a Craftsman tool chest 41" high that I'd like to park under the top. The top of the butcher block top would have to be about 44" high. Most benchs I've seen are around 38" high. Is 44" too high? Using the top of the tool chest as a mini bench doesnt seem too high.

I did the same thing, made the bench to go over the tool chest. The top of my bench is about 43" and works just fine for me. My father-in-law (who is about 5" shorter than me) says its too high for him.

Picture on page 1 of this post, about half way down.

 

[snorvet]

I did the same thing, made the bench to go over the tool chest. The top of my bench is about 43" and works just fine for me. My father-in-law (who is about 5" shorter than me) says its too high for him.

Picture on page 1 of this post, about half way down.

I thought yours was a little higher when I saw your bench over the chest and the top to the left a little lower. I think I can handle the 44" height

 

[lagunamiata]

I just went out and re-measured. Floor to the counter top worksurface is 42 3/4". The frame for the counter top is 2x4 and has about 2" of space between the top of the chest and the frame.

The "thing" on the left, where the water bottle and cooler are sitting is a good bit lower, but I don't use it for a worksurface. Now it holds my monitor, keyboard and mouse for the garage computer.

 

[RonBou]

Here is my new bench(s). My buddy Matt built them for me since I am very bad with saws and such. I will be shellacking the bottoms today. The top (the plan so far) will be just polyurethane.

 

[comp]

post finished pic's

 

[nvmygtz]

This is the back wall - 2 - 5ft and a 10 ft top on the right (bottom pic) -will be- 2 -5fts
split by my sand blaster , will sink my table saw in the last one.

What are the 2 nice shiny block boxes with the Bowtie on the back wall?

 

[TL1]

The 2x6 Tops Are Great But A Little Trick I Have Learned Is To Put Some 1/4" Plywood On The Top So Stuff Doesn't Accumulate In The Cracks.

Tony

 

[W-Cummins]

Here is a quick and easy style of bench that you can make to allmost any length. it's made out of construction grade lumber so they are also about the lowest cost way to get them built. I used 2x12 for the tops and 2x6 for the bottom level and 2x4 for the "frames" In the past I have made them 8', 10', 12' and 16' long. here are a few pics of some 12ft ers.. the "L" frames are very strong and nailed and glued with construction grade glue.

 

[RonBou]

The 2x6 Tops Are Great But A Little Trick I Have Learned Is To Put Some 1/4" Plywood On The Top So Stuff Doesn't Accumulate In The Cracks

I have a 2 x 6 top. It was glued and clamped together and I am in the process (tonight) of putting a third coat of poly on it. No cracks....no accumulation! On the bench in my old garage I did put plywood over the top as you suggest. I just wanted something different in the new garage since it is drywalled, painted and clean (most of the time).

 

[W-Cummins]

Yep clamping and gluing them up helps a lot. The ratchet straps work great for clamps. Also if you use 2x12's only 2 cracks on the top insted of a bunch with 2X6. Around here you get better lumber if you pick the wider stock as they have to come out of larger trees

 

[gerry]

one of my tables

Legs from 4X4, dadoed out for 2by crossmembers. Sturdy as all get out and 3/4 birch plywood top. Some free cabinents I just scrounged here too. Love the stainless steel tops and sink. Metal cabinents are ideal for the shop

 

[stinky]

Shelfs

A place to hide things

 

[barn9]

My garage is small, but had some cabinets when I bought the place. I later added a workshop area an auxillary bench on wall brackets to save floor space, works very well. The cabinet pictured I just built out of leftover materials. Got the doors at a yard sale for $1.00 each, and the hinges were $12.35, so my outlay was $16.35 for some nice and needed storage space in the workshop.

 

[RonBou]

Here's a shot of my bench(s) after shellac and poly. It was made from a friends deck that we took down a couple of years ago. Although it looks like a "gentlemen's bench" with my Ebay stuff on it, it is stong enough for anything. My vice will be moved from my old garage soon and I am thinking about a drill press. I don't do major work in my garage but I expect that their will be a motorcycle engine up there and whatever else from maintaining my vehicles.

 

[Remi]

Here is a bench top I installed yesterday. The workbench was already there when I moved into the house. But the top did not extend past the frame, so there was nothing to clamp on to.

I did it out of 3/4" white particle board. Screwed in from the bottom through the old plywood top. So If I want to replace the top in the future I can do it with the minimum hassle. Added a backsplash so I wouldn't lose things behind the bench. Rounded of the corner and applied the edging.

 

[RonBou]

"Here is a bench top I installed yesterday"

Looks good!

 

[dirt1016]

I was thinking about a kitchen table top for my work bench. HD has them pre cut to make a corner for 50-60 nuts each. Does anyone know how durable this will be? I am not doing anything too serious on this thing. Basic motorcycle ****. I probably (hopefully!) wouldn't even throw a motor up on it. Just use it for a work space.
Any thoughts???

 

[danski0224]

It is cheap grade laminate on particleboard. What do you want for $50?

 

[gerry]

Nothing wrong with plain old kitchen countertop. Pretty tough and cheap to replace if you ever need to. Personally, I don't like the little hump in the front because it doese give a 90 degree bend but for a place to assemble carbs and whatever it will help keep you from having stuff roll of. When I built my gunsmith benches, I added a cubbyhole accross the entire back width for Rubbermaid boxes to slip into out of the way for stuff like cleanning patches and the like. Bought enough of the blue, removable top boxes to fill the whole width accross two benches. Sure was handy to have these right at arms length. My big machinist's/gunsmith toolbox sat on top with all my small handtools. I also kept several carpet samples squares handy to put on the hard work surface to protect the guns while I was repairing them

 

[byrdman]

All right, this is kinda late, but here's some pics of my workbench. This is not a step-by-step how to, but maybe it'll give some ideas. I'm no carpenter, if I can do it anyone can! Draw it out first, then get started!

my workbench/corner hutch

 

[Uncle Buck]

barn9: Your shop has been put togeather like mine, on a shoestring budget recycling old kitchen cabinets and the like. I like my shop that way, it allows me to spend the small resources available for my tool addiction on more tools instead of fancy workbenches and cabinets.

 

[86swb]

All right, this is kinda late, but here's some pics of my workbench. This is not a step-by-step how to, but maybe it'll give some ideas. I'm no carpenter, if I can do it anyone can! Draw it out first, then get started!

my workbench/corner hutch

Byrdman, that is a really great job you did there. I would say you did a good carpenter job on it. Nice site. Thanks

 

[byrdman]

Thanks 86! Always nice to hear!

 

[KCHOTBOAT]

All right, this is kinda late, but here's some pics of my workbench. This is not a step-by-step how to, but maybe it'll give some ideas. I'm no carpenter, if I can do it anyone can! Draw it out first, then get started!

my workbench/corner hutch

Nice job. Is that glass or plexiglass?