Workbench Legs
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metalhead212121
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- Joined
- Mar 21, 2010
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this MIGHT help you.... My bench is close to the size of yours...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128258
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128258
djjsr
Well-known member
I have 4 benches about that size. I used 4x4s for legs bolted to the front. No back legs, lag bolts to hold them to the wall.
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Jagmandave
Well-known member
Are you making it out of metal or wood?
If metal, 2" square tube properly braced will do....
If wood, I'd think 4X4's again properly braced.
nice shop there, djjsr!
If metal, 2" square tube properly braced will do....
If wood, I'd think 4X4's again properly braced.
nice shop there, djjsr!
I will check it out. Thanks.
I don't think I can attach it to the wall. It is ICF construction and don't really want to drill any more holes into the concrete.
It is actually a big chunk of bowling alley lane... It should be pretty rad.
machine_punk
Well-known member
Here is what I did...
two 2x6's, screwed together...
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The 'inner' 2x6's are notched, to give a solid base for the perimeter 2x6's, which are supporting the double-3/4" plywood top. I was going for 'beefy' too.
I cut an angle on the end of two legs and installed casters just off the ground. To move the bench, I just have to lift up the other end, like a wheelbarrow...
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two 2x6's, screwed together...
View media item 11627
View media item 11628
View media item 12621
The 'inner' 2x6's are notched, to give a solid base for the perimeter 2x6's, which are supporting the double-3/4" plywood top. I was going for 'beefy' too.
I cut an angle on the end of two legs and installed casters just off the ground. To move the bench, I just have to lift up the other end, like a wheelbarrow...
View media item 10267
View media item 10266
View media item 10265
PCO6
Well-known member
Not sure if this would work for you but pallet racks are VERY sturdy. My bench measures 30"x10'. The base is about 7' long. Pallet rack comes in 3' depth as well.
dwm
Well-known member
If you want to make it easy to construct versus pretty, the Simpson Strong-Tie RTC42 pieces with 4x4 legs work well.
dwm
Well-known member
if you want heavy (and pricey), there's always ones like these (107 lbs each):
South Bend cast iron workbench legs
South Bend cast iron workbench legs
I built an extra bench in my garage/workshop today.
I say "extra" because I had a nice work bench already but needed a place to store the welder, pressure washer and 5KW generator.
My bench top is 43" from the floor. I built it this height because it fits me and my son.
My bench is 24" deep because I store a utility trailer in the garage and I wanted to be able to walk to the bench with the trailer in the garage. My other bench is 36".
I made my bench 7' long because I wanted to be able to save 4' of room for lumber storage. I put two cross braces under the top so the top is supported on 4 points.
I used 2 x 6 for the top. I ripped one of them down to about 3" so that the top could come out to the correct width. I pur this board in the middle of the top so my front and back top boards were a full width.
For the my corner posts I used 4" x 4" pressure treated pine. I tried to find non-pressure treated with no luck so I have a combo of treated and untreated. My garage is not climate control so I'm okay with the pressure treated resting on the floor.
I crossbraced the whole bench on the sides and the back with some 2 x 4's.
My bench is solid. We loaded tested it today with 4 225+ guys sitting on top of it. That's about 900 lbs. We tried to rock it, sway it and break it with no luck.
I didn't bolt the 4x4's to the supports, I just used some 2 1/2" deck screws to hold it all together. I also used some Elmer's wood glue - I think this was over kill.
I've seen folks use 2x4 end butted to each other but this seems more trouble than it is worth.
Hope this helps.
I say "extra" because I had a nice work bench already but needed a place to store the welder, pressure washer and 5KW generator.
My bench top is 43" from the floor. I built it this height because it fits me and my son.
My bench is 24" deep because I store a utility trailer in the garage and I wanted to be able to walk to the bench with the trailer in the garage. My other bench is 36".
I made my bench 7' long because I wanted to be able to save 4' of room for lumber storage. I put two cross braces under the top so the top is supported on 4 points.
I used 2 x 6 for the top. I ripped one of them down to about 3" so that the top could come out to the correct width. I pur this board in the middle of the top so my front and back top boards were a full width.
For the my corner posts I used 4" x 4" pressure treated pine. I tried to find non-pressure treated with no luck so I have a combo of treated and untreated. My garage is not climate control so I'm okay with the pressure treated resting on the floor.
I crossbraced the whole bench on the sides and the back with some 2 x 4's.
My bench is solid. We loaded tested it today with 4 225+ guys sitting on top of it. That's about 900 lbs. We tried to rock it, sway it and break it with no luck.
I didn't bolt the 4x4's to the supports, I just used some 2 1/2" deck screws to hold it all together. I also used some Elmer's wood glue - I think this was over kill.
I've seen folks use 2x4 end butted to each other but this seems more trouble than it is worth.
Hope this helps.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
If you go with wood, the key is not how fat the legs are but how well they are braced. My bench top is 2X4's laminated together using glue and screws vertically so the base bench top is 3-5/8's " thick, on top of that is a standard Formica kitchen counter-top with a back splash, so its pretty stout. I have 6 2X4 legs but there is a plywood back and sides creating a three sided box.
The base is simply not going to allow any significant wobble at all. I do have it lag bolted to the wall studs, but that is so I can do things like put a tubing bender in my Parker vise and go for it. It used to be deck screwed to the wall, and I did rip that loose, so I did it right with lag bolts...
There are 1X's going across in a shelf, also well braced, and there are 4 heavy tool boxes siting on that. No visible flex there either. The only thing light weight on the bench is I used 1X4's to face frame it, and added doors to keep **** out of the storage area. It adds a little more shear strength to the structure, but I can't honestly say it was needed.
The base is simply not going to allow any significant wobble at all. I do have it lag bolted to the wall studs, but that is so I can do things like put a tubing bender in my Parker vise and go for it. It used to be deck screwed to the wall, and I did rip that loose, so I did it right with lag bolts...
There are 1X's going across in a shelf, also well braced, and there are 4 heavy tool boxes siting on that. No visible flex there either. The only thing light weight on the bench is I used 1X4's to face frame it, and added doors to keep **** out of the storage area. It adds a little more shear strength to the structure, but I can't honestly say it was needed.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Not sure if this would work for you but pallet racks are VERY sturdy. My bench measures 30"x10'. The base is about 7' long. Pallet rack comes in 3' depth as well.
PC06, you lucky dog; what do you use the Beverly shear for? Ive wanted one ever since I repaired one for a friend...
PCO6
Well-known member
It's actually cheaper version of a Beverly shear. I bought it at Princess Auto which doesn't seem to carry them at the moment. Eastwood carries the same one (see link below) and that's about what I paid for mine.PC06, you lucky dog; what do you use the Beverly shear for? Ive wanted one ever since I repaired one for a friend...
I have used a Beverly shear and there IS a difference. These aren't nearly as nice but with a few adjustments they work well. I use it for basic fabrication and auto body work. It suits a hobbiest's needs just fine.
Throatless shear ...
http://www.eastwood.com/throatless-shear.html
harvero
Well-known member
I guess my 2x3 legs are undersized. I built this bench about 10 years ago from material I had on hand at the time. The bench on the right is about 7 years newer than the one on the right with 2x4 legs. No bolts used, just screws.
No pics right now, but I used 1-1/4" square tube, and welded some square 1/4" plates on the top and bottom. I have solid core fire-rated wood doors for the tops and I never feel for want of more (bigger) legs. I went with the smallest I thought was ok, to minimize the space and make it easier to get things in/out.
I drilled the holes in the plates for mounting to the bench, and for tapcon into the floor prior to tacking them onto the tubing.
Another nice thing about making my own was that my floor is not 100% level, so I could vary the length of my tubing, cutting them 1/16" longer or shorter to get the workbench dead-nuts level....avoided shims that way.
Maybe pics later, but it's the begining of a crazy weekend!
I drilled the holes in the plates for mounting to the bench, and for tapcon into the floor prior to tacking them onto the tubing.
Another nice thing about making my own was that my floor is not 100% level, so I could vary the length of my tubing, cutting them 1/16" longer or shorter to get the workbench dead-nuts level....avoided shims that way.
Maybe pics later, but it's the begining of a crazy weekend!
Outlander
Well-known member
Built 2 workbenches recently, all with 4x4 as legs. I had a ton (exaggeration - it was more like a Canadian tonne) left over from fencing projects, and in the wood pile left by the previous owner of my house in the country.
Folding workbench that has never been folded (so I will make it permanent)
Folding workbench that has never been folded (so I will make it permanent)
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Kestas
Well-known member
My workbench is an old beefy butcher block, 9' by 3' by 3" from maple wood. I made six legs out of 2 by 6 wood laying around and secured the bench to the wall. I can freely hammer on it, stand on it, and do anything without wobble. I hate wobble.
littletoes
Well-known member
Not sure if this would work for you but pallet racks are VERY sturdy. My bench measures 30"x10'. The base is about 7' long. Pallet rack comes in 3' depth as well.
MAN, that's one nice set up! What a dog....
Built mine 32" wide, by 15 foot long, just for my gun stuff....used 2X6's for the legs, whats so complicated??? Wouldn't be afraid to use some heavy angle iron either.
Use what 'ya got! That story goes for everything in life!
PCO6
Well-known member
Thanks littletoes. I've actually made a few improvements since this picture was taken. I replaced the TV with a 32" flat screen and now use a lap top at my "computer tool box" on the left. I need to clean up my bench so I can take another presentable picture. 
littletoes
Well-known member
PCO6--Post up a pick when you do, can't wait! 
Fleet 1 Automotive
New member
Please post some more pictures.Outstanding use of available materials.Really makes a neat area of the shop. Just getting into my new shop.Lots of renovation before moving in. Steve