Eds_tls
Well-known member
I framed the top and bottom completely. And then tied the vertical posts to them
work benches... from scratch
- Thread starter R6rider
- Start date
I made this one out of 2x4's and mdf. The top is three layers of 3/4 inch mdf with dog holes drilled for clamps. It has 6 layers of poly with sanding in between each coat. 7 years old and still looks like new. the casters let me take it any where I want. It gets used every day.
did you actually stain it, then poly it? or just a dark colored poly? someone mentioned to me that i could not stain my mdf... so, i'm curious why yours looks so dark.
oh, and it looks good.
trodery
Well-known member
Not a great picture (and can't get a good one since I sold this one) but this was the one I built. The legs are 4x4's, two sheets of 3/4" plywood cut in half and glued/screwed together form the top work surface and the bottom shelf. It was 8' long by 40" tall by 24" deep.
Technic_569
Well-known member
Not sure if someone has already said this but if your building it from scratch then i would put an outlet in the front of the bench. On mine their is just a 4 socket outlet mounted to the front of the bench with a piece of 12 gauge running out the back. then their is a 3 prong end on the wire. Comes in very handy when using power tools on the bench.
Colonial Cobra
Well-known member
Exactly what I was thinking of doing. But with two of the HF boxes.
heres mine... Found an old wood door and used it at the top portion of the surface...
OccupantRJ
Well-known member
You can build it upside down, using your top for a work surface. Build one side, then the other. Stand them up, attach cross pieces. Flip over and attach the top when done. By doing this on sawhorses, there's hardly any squatting down. (I'm not getting any younger) If your floor is unlevel in it's intended location, make the legs 1/2" longer. Set the bench on the floor on it's legs, level the unit, using temporary shims under the short legs, then use a piece of suitable material laying on the floor and a pencil to mark all around each of the legs. (Called scribing) Then cut the legs off at this mark. You now have a table that won't rock, but only in that particular location.
RJ
djkilgus
Active member
Here are pics of the workbench I just built. 2 - 8' X 3' workbenches. 1 of them has a shelf on the bottom. They are approx. 36 3/4" high.
pmpski_1
Active member
For those of you using casters - what are you using? I'm looking for something that will be pretty stout and the ability to lock.
I'm starting to organize my garage and the new mantra is "if it's not bolted down it needs to be on wheels".
I'm starting to organize my garage and the new mantra is "if it's not bolted down it needs to be on wheels".
RobSmith
Banned
Hey Jack Olsen ! What's the one hanging on cable above your porsche ?
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logical
Well-known member
I have direct access to my basement from the attached garage, so a lot of light duty projects end up down there instead of in the garage. I posted the work table I have down there in other threads...but here it is again.
Go to youngscasters.com They are near my place. They have been around forever and have more choices than you can imagine...
BlindViper
Well-known member
Should take at most 5 min a joint
But then again I do use them for shelves I build. I mortised and tenoned full 2x4 into the douglous fur 4x4. Guess i need to take some pictures.Cobra4B
Well-known member
Some better shots of the floating bench my dad and I built in his garage over Christmas.
Snap50
Well-known member
Built ours on a base of two waist high dressers, providing drawers on the ends and spanned between with 2x4 framing for both a top and midheight bed of 3/4" plywood.
Other than that, also picked up some pretty HD General Electric manufactured steel assembly tables from a military camp GSA auction.
Other than that, also picked up some pretty HD General Electric manufactured steel assembly tables from a military camp GSA auction.
pmpski_1
Active member
Should take at most 5 min a joint
I cut a bunch for my carriage doors this past summer - didn't take too long with a dado blade. I think it looks cleaner for the workbench legs too.
Cobra4B
Well-known member
No clue... but I'm 6'4" 235 and I sat on it and it didn't move or make a creak at all.
The stringers have 2 3.5" wood screws in each stud... you could do pull-ups on them if you wanted. The triangulated leg puts the downward force back into the wall, there's one 3.5" screw securing the legs back into the studs. At the top of the leg we put one screw in sideways and one in from the front of the bench... it's all in the geometry
It works great for that space because you can store all kinds of stuff under it, it's easy to clean/sweep, and the nost of most cars can fit under the bench if you had to.
EDIT: the race car is sitting on jack stands in these pics... we made the bench 3.5' tall so you don't haveto bend over when working at the bench (Dad's 6'1").
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Furious D
Well-known member
Heres one I built from uni-strut. The top (when you can see it) is maple plywood I scored for 16 bucks on clearance. I had the strut left over from a job so total investment was around $20. I had enough materials left to make another bench.
I made it a little taller than most benches, around 42". I use it for working on carbs and such. It seems the older I get the closer I need my work to me
I made it a little taller than most benches, around 42". I use it for working on carbs and such. It seems the older I get the closer I need my work to me
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cdrewferd
Well-known member
I just got done building mine this weekend. It's basically two 4' benches with a 2' space in the middle so I can get really close with my work stool. The perimiter on the top is 2x6's with 4 2x6 supports front to back, then 2x4 perimiter about 13" off the floor with 3 supports front to back. The corners are 4x4's notched. Each bench is like this and then 2 layers of 3/4" ply for the top spanning the entire 10' length. Each side is screwed to the wall. For the 2' span there is a 2x6 along the back and then 2 2x6's laying flat to support the middle. It should be plenty strong for anything I want to do.
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A couple more screws and that last shelf, and it will be ready for its top sheet.
What about access to that outlet? Surely the top sheet will get in the way...
Mister B
Member
Cobra4B
Well-known member
That looks really nice... wish I had a basement sometimes. I like the hanger bar... was that a random pipe already there or something you built?
Mister B
Member
Yes, the bar was already there. I was actually going to take it down, but now I am not sure. It works good for hanging clamps from.
TXST8tj
Well-known member
I will unfortunately have to notch the top sheet to clear the outlet. I thought about cutting the outlet face plate, but I think it would be better/safer to notch the top.
There is an outlet below that one that will be inaccessable so I will be moving it forward and attaching it to one of the 4x4s.
I just picked up my top sheet today. It is just a smooth top 3/4" plywood. I also grabbed some 1/4" round for the front edge just to clean it up. I understand it won't cover the whole edge, but it will protect my skin and clothes from the rough leading edge.
Cobra4B
Well-known member
Yeah I like it... if it doesn't get in the way. Good for haning towels and you could hang a dirty shirt w/ a coat hanger etc. etc.Yes, the bar was already there. I was actually going to take it down, but now I am not sure. It works good for hanging clamps from.
Cool75280Z
Member
I really like the simple yet strong design especially leaving room for a work stool. That was a great idea. Nice job! I am really enjoying this thread!
All I need now is a really cool work bench so I can build myself a really cool work bench....
Home Depot has an Internet special sale on the Simpson Strong Tie workbench kit KWB1 at $35 right now so I went ahead and ordered one tonight. The brackets and screws would have been well over $60 purchased separately.
twardnw
Member
you have a link to the kit?
Indycars
Well-known member
Mister B,
Come on now, are we to believe that's the way your bench always looks??? The tools are just too neat and tidy.
Seriously it looks very nice!
Rick
twardnw
Member
thanks for that!
thdewey
Well-known member
Well I guess that I need to post a picture of my benches. They are a little meesy due to several projects going on at once.
Tom
Tom
Mister B
Member
Mister B,
Come on now, are we to believe that's the way your bench always looks??? The tools are just too neat and tidy.
Yes it always looks that way. Especially since I have not used it yet. I just finished building the bench less than a week ago.
This is what I've come up with based on the Simpson Strong Tie KWB1 kit. I really wanted a half shelf so I would have the ability to pull up a chair and/or store taller items on one side. But then I added a 12" deep shelf on that side for a little extra storage "just in case". On the full shelf I plan to store my ShopVac and under it store my floorjack and jackstands, oil catch pan, etc. The top would be two layers of 3/4" sheet, the shelves 1/2". Considering adding a couple drawers after I get it built but want to try it on for size first.
The image is pretty big if you click on it.
The image is pretty big if you click on it.
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Garage Junkie
Well-known member
Here's mine-
I carried the 4x4 back legs up 8' high to support the pegboard and black iron pipe rack.
I wanted a bench that I could really hammer on, so the top is glued 2x4's with threaded rods for extra measure. There is also a 30"x30"x3/8" steel plate for welding/hammering, etc.
Sorry about the crummy cell phone pics...
I carried the 4x4 back legs up 8' high to support the pegboard and black iron pipe rack.
I wanted a bench that I could really hammer on, so the top is glued 2x4's with threaded rods for extra measure. There is also a 30"x30"x3/8" steel plate for welding/hammering, etc.
Sorry about the crummy cell phone pics...
pmpski_1
Active member
Wow. That'll do it.
