dmeadow
Well-known member
I just moved into a new house and this is the third garage I've built workbenches for. After learning from the first couple of times, lots of surfing garagejournal, and much thought, this was the result.
The basic design was cribbed from another GJ thread. It is all built from 2x4's, 3/4" plywood, with a 3/4" Melamine top.
I needed it sturdy enough to put a small engine and/or transmission on it. After using 24" deep workbenches in the past, I decided I wanted it a little deeper at 30". This means a little less efficient use of materials (couldn't split a 4'x8' of plywood and use both sides fully) but I was willing to make that sacrifice. I was able to use the narrow side of the 3/4" plywood split for the shelf, anyway, so it worked out OK. The bench is 10' long. It is all glued and screwed together, mostly using 2 1/4" exterior grade screws with slightly shorter ones for the top, shelf, and trim.
I had used hardboard for tops in the past. I found that they looked good for a very short period of time, but absorbed everything-- paint, oil-- and weren't all that durable. They were also not particularly easy to replace.
This time I went with a "floating" melamine top-- not secured to the bench. I drilled some 2" holes in the supporting plywood deck so I could push the melamine top up from the bottom to flip it once, then replace it once both sides were messed up. I used some 1x4 around the edge to "fence" the melamine with a little taller piece in the back to act as some protection for the wall.
The tool boxes are cheap Clarke middle boxes that I bought for about $30 apiece on sale at Northern Tool (a GJ Hot Deals thread!). For that price it they made a good alternative to building or buying drawers.
I used an exterior stain to finish it. It didn't take much time/money to paint it and it gives a much more finished look to the garage, as well as matching the gray Ulti-Mate cabinets (I intend to review those in another thread).
Now to get the MaxJax installed and get the real work started!
The basic design was cribbed from another GJ thread. It is all built from 2x4's, 3/4" plywood, with a 3/4" Melamine top.
I needed it sturdy enough to put a small engine and/or transmission on it. After using 24" deep workbenches in the past, I decided I wanted it a little deeper at 30". This means a little less efficient use of materials (couldn't split a 4'x8' of plywood and use both sides fully) but I was willing to make that sacrifice. I was able to use the narrow side of the 3/4" plywood split for the shelf, anyway, so it worked out OK. The bench is 10' long. It is all glued and screwed together, mostly using 2 1/4" exterior grade screws with slightly shorter ones for the top, shelf, and trim.
I had used hardboard for tops in the past. I found that they looked good for a very short period of time, but absorbed everything-- paint, oil-- and weren't all that durable. They were also not particularly easy to replace.
This time I went with a "floating" melamine top-- not secured to the bench. I drilled some 2" holes in the supporting plywood deck so I could push the melamine top up from the bottom to flip it once, then replace it once both sides were messed up. I used some 1x4 around the edge to "fence" the melamine with a little taller piece in the back to act as some protection for the wall.
The tool boxes are cheap Clarke middle boxes that I bought for about $30 apiece on sale at Northern Tool (a GJ Hot Deals thread!). For that price it they made a good alternative to building or buying drawers.
I used an exterior stain to finish it. It didn't take much time/money to paint it and it gives a much more finished look to the garage, as well as matching the gray Ulti-Mate cabinets (I intend to review those in another thread).
Now to get the MaxJax installed and get the real work started!
