Workbench Help

[rock324]

I've attached the pic of my workbench area. I want to hang a pegboard on the wall behind my workbench, but nothing too large (maybe 4x4 feet). Also, I want to add some sort of lighting and a power strip to the bench. There's an outlet on the wall where the pegboard would go so I was thinking about attaching the pegboard to the bench somehow. Where can I put lights and the power strip? Can you guys suggest to me on how I can do this or what products? Obviously, I'm not overly handy so please speak "beginner" language or maybe even add some pics of possible. Thanks for any help.

 

[Ocho]

You can use right angle plug on your power strip and run the cord behind your pegboard, mounting your power strip just below your pegboard about six or eight inches above your workbench.

You could also just cut out the pegboard around the electrical outlet. If you wanted to get real fancy, you could get one of those electrical box extensions and make your outlet flush on top of the pegboard.

I would recommend the latter, but have done the former.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I was also going to suggest the use of a mud ring also for the box. I'd mount the ppower strip right on the pegboard.

 

[Nowater]

I suggest put furring strips either 12" or 16" on center behind the wall behind your workbench. Then put furring strips around the perimeter of where you expect your pegboard to go. Mount the pegboard to the wall. That's what I did.

 

[rburke65]

How about taking 2 pieces of 2x4 and run them vertically from each end of your bench and attach by screws. These could extend up the 4' that you mentioned. Then another 2x4 horizontal and attach it to the tops of the 2 verticals. You now have a basic frame onto which you could attach your peg board. Screw two 12" x12" shelf brackets to the uprights and from them you hang a 2 lamp fluorescent fixture. Hope this at least helps a little. Good luck.

 

[mesquiteforge]

If you can see the photo/drawing: what I have done in the past, make 2x4 uprights attached to the bench legs with carriage or lag bolts, attach pegboard to uprights, attach power strips on the sides of bench or pegboard, the one I built had a shelf on top-with a fluorescent light hanging from the bottom-plugged into the power strip.

 

[rburke65]

There you go....my exact thought!

 

[rock324]

If you can see the photo/drawing: what I have done in the past, make 2x4 uprights attached to the bench legs with carriage or lag bolts, attach pegboard to uprights, attach power strips on the sides of bench or pegboard, the one I built had a shelf on top-with a fluorescent light hanging from the bottom-plugged into the power strip.

This is pretty much what I was looking for. I may try this out, but have a few "rookie" questions if you don't mind:
1) What did you use to attach the pegboard to the uprights?
2) With the shelf, what kind of wood did you use and how did you attach it?
3) In the attached picture, you can see I have a "lip" between my top surface and the 4 legs. Therefore, if I put 2x4 uprights on the back, they would not be flush with the legs. How could I attach it on mine?

I really appreciate it! Also, do you have any pics of your complete bench? This is perfect.

 

[mesquiteforge]

This is pretty much what I was looking for. I may try this out, but have a few "rookie" questions if you don't mind:
1) What did you use to attach the pegboard to the uprights?
I took coarse thread drywall screws, small flat washers and screwed the pegboard to the 2x4 uprights. If you are hanging heavy tools on the pegboard-I would put a 1x2 across the middle between the uprights as a support-as the Masonite/pegboard is not all that strong.
2) With the shelf, what kind of wood did you use and how did you attach it?
I used a yellow pine 1x12. I screwed the back into the top of the uprights. I cut the leftover 1x12 into triangle gussets and made supports for the shelf. You could also attach metal "L" brackets to the uprights and support the 1x12.
3) In the attached picture, you can see I have a "lip" between my top surface and the 4 legs. Therefore, if I put 2x4 uprights on the back, they would not be flush with the legs. How could I attach it on mine?Depending upon the gap between the benchtop and the legs, you can cut a board that is the same thickness as the overhang of the top and sandwich it between the leg and the upright. From the pic it appears to be a 2x, so just put another length of 2x4 between the top and the bottom shelf of the bench and it will make up the difference.
I really appreciate it! Also, do you have any pics of your complete bench? This is perfect.

I will dig to see if I can find a pic... I made it for a friend who was a gunsmith-and he passed away a couple years ago.

See answers in red above.

 

[Silver Heels]

My advice is to not attach the pegboard or shelf to the bench. Workbenches move ever so slightly when working on them, especially when using a vise. Whatever is on the shelf will be on the bench and a set of wrenches on the pegboard will sound like a set of windchimes.

 

[mesquiteforge]

Bingo! Found it....on a previous post on this wonderful forum!! This was before I added the shelf on top...

 

[mesquiteforge]

My advice is to not attach the pegboard or shelf to the bench. Workbenches move ever so slightly when working on them, especially when using a vise. Whatever is on the shelf will be on the bench and a set of wrenches on the pegboard will sound like a set of windchimes.

Agreed if you are going to be using the bench for heavy work-I have a post vise mounted to my wood bench, built with 4x6 legs and a heavy 2x4x8 on end top. I beat, saw, file and do a lot of heavy work on it-it doesn't move much. My friend that I built the above bench for used it for rebuilding SKS and AK type rifles that he sold. He wasn't doing too much heavy work on it. The shelf was used for boxes of clean rags and other light weight stuff. I never thought about swinging wrenches.

 

[pfhWJ]

I built a new bench a month ago. old one wasn't doing it. I overbuilt it. Its in my garage pictures but cant figure out how to upload it onto a thread..

 

[rick carpenter]

Mesquiteforge's drawing is the way to go. If your final height is as short as his pic, then I'd put the powerstrips on or attached to the underside of the top shelf. I've seen pics of some bench-and-pegboard setups that had box sections attached to the bench top at back that boxed in either regular outlets or powerstrips with a little shelf on top, then the pegboard going up from there. They look nice when constructed with care, but for me the cords would always drag across the bench knocking stuff off, etc.

 

[marty_p]

It's all been said, well, except for... 'Geaux Tigers!'