Workbench Vise Woes

[LinuxMercedes]

I've got a workbench I made from some 2x4s and a 4x8 sheet of MDF. It's 4' square and has a lower shelf. I have a vise mounted in the corner with some extra bracing in place.

Unfortnuately, the bench isn't really heavy enough to hold a vise in place for any sort of hammering or whatnot. I used a couple of air compressor motors as a weight on the bottom shelf to hold it in place, but I eventually want to do something with those.

I'm going to be adding some diagonal bracing (it has none currently), which should hopefully at least keep the table from twisting whenever I hammer anything on it. Do you think that will be sufficient to keep the table steady? If not, what are good ways to keep it from moving around when I'm working on it?

 

[AndrewV]

Bolt it down to the flooring, and counter the weight with lets say, a hammer rack at the other end. The heavy hammers(drilling hammers, soft face 24oz+).
And mabey bot it to the wall. It will add stabillity, and usefullness.
Unless you have a masive amount of random nuts/bolts like we have at my shop countering it.

 

[evildky]

I built a wood bench that was fine until I started clamping bigger heavier stuff in the vise. I built a new bench that is both anchored to the floor and through the wall. A mobile work surface is handy but one that is solid is a must!

 

[Todd.Brock]

I built my bench out of 2x4 sides, 4x4 for the posts and 1/2 plywood. I built two rectangles out of 2x 4 and attached to 4x4 posts. One for the top and one for the shelf. It seems when it's locked in with a shelf or bracing, it didn't move near as much. I try to hammer downward if that makes sense.

I have my Wilton vise on my bench as well. I sandwiched the plywood with 1/8" steel plates and them bolted my vise through all that. I'm not sure if that stopped the vibration, but it sue is sturdier.

 

[BikerDad]

You have two, maybe three separate problems. First, it sounds like the top of your bench is too thin. If you used half the sheet of MDF for the top, and half for the bottom, then you've got a top that's a mere 3/4" thick. That top will flex unless it is well supported underneath. Does it only have perimeter support, or are there stretchers running under the middle as well?

Second, as you've already noted, no cross bracing. You can make cross braces, or you can simply screw/nail some sheetgoods across the back and 1 or even both sides. Use plywood or something with similar screw holding ability (i.e. not MDF) that you can screw/nail things to so you can use the side for hanging things from. Best option would be to actually put grooves into the legs and such and set the panels into the legs, but simply screwing to the legs will give plenty of strength.

The third, potential problem, relates to the orientation of the 2x4s. Are they "flat" or vertical? If flat, then they are providing less strength for the top.

So, to address your problem: Add stretchers under the top. Add 1 or two more layers to the top. Best way to do it would be to use plywood for at least one of the layers, then finish with the MDF. Add panels to the back and one or both sides. Note that you want TWO panels, not facing one another. Each panel reinforces against racking in one direction. If the panels are facing one another (i.e. on both sides only), then they will be reinforcing against the same racking force.