Workbench leg joint help

[TheClaw]

I'm building a workbench around 2 Husky 46" boxes. I need to have a cross member just inside the legs to support the boxes. I had planned on using Simpson tie brackets. However the bracket is between the legs and the extra cross member.

I'm looking for ideas to build this joint, out of wood!

I know... Get a cheap welder practice and build one out of iron.

 

[PCustoms]

Get rid of the crappy brackets and 2x4.

4x4 legs and 2x6 horizontal members. Half lap joints and glue.

Or get a structural engineer.

 

[TheClaw]

......

Or get a structural engineer.

Ha!

Thought of that except with the two 46" boxes that put it over 8' long complicating how to build the top.

I thought for sure you'd try and sell me a welder!

 

[PCustoms]

I thought for sure you'd try and sell me a welder!

For a metal box, absolutely.

But that ship seems to have sailed.

Wood benches should have wooded drawers

 

[TheClaw]

I wouldn't quite say that ship has sailed. I'm getting a little frustrated honestly. I've built plenty of workbenches and garage storage shelves/carts/boxes over my time. This has really got me scratching my head on how to do it right.

I just might have to weld something. How hard can it be! It's just a bunch of right angles!

 

[NUTTSGT]

You can't drill pilot hole through the inner 2x4, drill slightly larger hole through the metal bracket and run a screw through both into the exterior 2x4 ?

 

[gleman]

I wouldn't quite say that ship has sailed. I'm getting a little frustrated honestly. I've built plenty of workbenches and garage storage shelves/carts/boxes over my time. This has really got me scratching my head on how to do it right.

I just might have to weld something. How hard can it be! It's just a bunch of right angles!

Can you extend the length of of the top? It'll give you some clearance on the corners.

Or maybe just fasten the crossmember after the Simpson.

Or pre-drill extra holes in the straping and use some construction screws. It's not a deck so it doesn't need to be perfect.

 

[matt_i]

After removing the metal brackets, I would recommend the GRK-RSS screw found at HD and Lowe, despite wood screws into end grain being generally bad, these are the exception and it will be frighteningly strong that way. There is a ~6" long screw which will easily penetrate the 4x4 and give you several inches on the other side.

 

[Wolley]

Make the entire end out of one or two layers of plywood, similar to a kitchen cabinet.

 

[Lynden]

Bolt and barrel nut plus a shallow tenon ....OR.... 1/2" diameter dowels and glue.

 

[CraigStu]

I 'think' your plan is to remove the wheels from the boxes and support them inside this framework right? If so why not rethink that? Leave the wheels on the boxes, bolt them together and lay your benchtop on top of them. You could also put 1-2" walls under the edges of the top to capture the boxes and skip bolting them together.

 

[DGersic]

I'm building a workbench around 2 Husky 46" boxes. I need to have a cross member just inside the legs to support the boxes. I had planned on using Simpson tie brackets. However the bracket is between the legs and the extra cross member.

I'm looking for ideas to build this joint, out of wood!

I know... Get a cheap welder practice and build one out of iron.

I wouldn’t use those brackets. Assuming you’re going to load up these boxes with a significant amount of stuff, that’s a lot of shear force on the brackets at the ends.




I’d use construction screws. I might also shoot some wood glue in there, depending on how much stuff I intended to store in the boxes.

From the right side, screw to the inner board as well as the vertical 4x4.

From the front, screw to the inner boaed and the 4x4.

Along the length of the inner, screw it to the outer. Or switch to a 4x4 and notch it for your vertical at the corner.

Cosnider adding more ladder rung boards under your drawers to tie the front and back together.