Workbenches.....

[Highland_Defender]

Hi everyone,

Im wanting to make a new workbench out of timber probably, since i have lots available.

I was just wondering how anyone else has constructed theirs, or what you have incorperated into the bench etc.
Any ideas or pointers/tips would be greaty appreciated before i start.

Thanks

Callum

[MudRat]

Height is very important, decent vice secured to bench and bench secured to floor, apart from that as big as possible, as if you are like me it will be full of sh*t in 10 minutes!

[Dr.Ed]

Worth seeing if you've got a wood recycling place nearby - got all the wood for mine for <£20! Mines in the corner of the garage, (well!) screwed to the wall on two sides with a fence post as a leg in the remaining corner. bench itself is built it out of 3/4" plywood with a 2"x4" frame round the edge. the metal work (coach bolts, screws and a fence post base that i was going to rawl-bolt to the floor) cost as much as the wood did!

Ed.

[crazymac]

I got some kitchen cabinets for free, stuck some 3/4 ply on top Fastened the other half to the wall then screwed the bench to the piece on the wall.

[robkav]

Mines steel wheighs a ton and has a big old vice and a draw on it, saved it from scrap  :D

[carbore]

Agree with all the above, plus

Kitchen worktop makes a nice work surface as its easy to clean up oil spills etc. Its strong enough provided ou fix it in the right way (good base etc). It may not be wide enough, but uou can have a "trough" behind it by using a peice of ply/plank etc which is useful for catching bits/tools etc.

Thnink aboout some power outlets, even if all you do is cable clip an extension lead somewhere, this just prevents trip hazards around your feet etc.

I put a "bottle" shelf above my becnh with a lip on the shelf. This means that if a bottle (spray can, wd40 can etc) falls over ald rolls, it wont fall off onto the bench. Aslo good for small parts. Youd be surprizes how much vibration can go round the workshop that makes things dance of shelves.

Vice is a must, begger=better and fix it very very securley (spreaders on the bolts etc)

Think about under bench storage. I made mine to fit some ncie cheap plastic storage boxes that B&Q had (as in the shelf spacing was made for them)


An "anvil" is also useful, I used a big random lump of flat steel, but a brake disk is aslo good. Ideal for if you want to tap out drifts, center punch steel etc

The time to think it all through and do it properly. Youll love it for years to come if its right, and curle it if it falls apart the first time you use it.

good luck.

[dxmedia]

Most 'how to' carpentery books have a bench as a first project.  Might be worth a quick look in your local book shop or libary for a few suggestions and how toos?

I've a set of school draws under mine (free from the local primary school)  that's 18 draws in a very compact space.

For an anvil, see if you can get hold of a couple of feet of railway line (off cut rather than going and helping yourself ;) ) just about perfect.

2 vices one at each end - great for holding longer bits like rock sliders when your making something up.

A sheet of metal you can lay over one side is also handy for an earth when welding or cutting. Just place the item on the sheet rather than having to mess about with an earth cable.

[Range Rover Blues]

Tell you what, send me some timber and I'll make a couple of protortypes, then I can tell you which I found most effective :D

[Lucy1978]

Mines made of 2x4" timber with a double thicknes £/4" ply top to it, painted with floor paint and has a shelf under it for the middle section with an old chest of drawers I got from a second hand shop for about £15 under one end and my compressor under the other. it together with the frames for the lifting beam are all quite well attached into the framework for the shed. I've not screwed it to the floor but it doesn't bounce around but that could have something to do with the 2" thick shed floor.

[stretchy]

mines made out of scaff board. my advice is to go over board the first time. you dont want to be half way throgh mending something then have something break or colapse. If you have a brick work shop see if you can go the whole length of one wall with your bench, cut the boards so they fit exactly or jam some wood at one end so It cant move from side to side when yanking on the vice. also I cut a pice of scaf board and used it as an upright colum directly under the vice to stop vibration and also put some shelves of this below the workbench

[Highland_Defender]

Wow where to start,

Worth seeing if you've got a wood recycling place nearby - got all the wood for mine for <£20! Mines in the corner of the garage, (well!) screwed to the wall on two sides with a fence post as a leg in the remaining corner. bench itself is built it out of 3/4" plywood with a 2"x4" frame round the edge. the metal work (coach bolts, screws and a fence post base that i was going to rawl-bolt to the floor) cost as much as the wood did!

Ed.

Well im a plant operator for a building contractor so ive got access to heaps of spare timber. The bench top made of 3/4 ply is a good shout, along with 6x2 crosspieces/framing.

Agree with all the above, plus

Kitchen worktop makes a nice work surface as its easy to clean up oil spills etc. Its strong enough provided ou fix it in the right way (good base etc). It may not be wide enough, but uou can have a "trough" behind it by using a peice of ply/plank etc which is useful for catching bits/tools etc.

Thnink aboout some power outlets, even if all you do is cable clip an extension lead somewhere, this just prevents trip hazards around your feet etc.

I put a "bottle" shelf above my becnh with a lip on the shelf. This means that if a bottle (spray can, wd40 can etc) falls over ald rolls, it wont fall off onto the bench. Aslo good for small parts. Youd be surprizes how much vibration can go round the workshop that makes things dance of shelves.

Vice is a must, begger=better and fix it very very securley (spreaders on the bolts etc)

Think about under bench storage. I made mine to fit some ncie cheap plastic storage boxes that B&Q had (as in the shelf spacing was made for them)


An "anvil" is also useful, I used a big random lump of flat steel, but a brake disk is aslo good. Ideal for if you want to tap out drifts, center punch steel etc

The time to think it all through and do it properly. Youll love it for years to come if its right, and curle it if it falls apart the first time you use it.

good luck.

Trough behind it, now that is a good idea, i think id have added power points as an after thought but thats definatly some thing im going to do at the start.

Most 'how to' carpentery books have a bench as a first project.  Might be worth a quick look in your local book shop or libary for a few suggestions and how toos?

I've a set of school draws under mine (free from the local primary school)  that's 18 draws in a very compact space.

For an anvil, see if you can get hold of a couple of feet of railway line (off cut rather than going and helping yourself ;) ) just about perfect.

2 vices one at each end - great for holding longer bits like rock sliders when your making something up.

A sheet of metal you can lay over one side is also handy for an earth when welding or cutting. Just place the item on the sheet rather than having to mess about with an earth cable.

2 vices now that is a handy idea. i just thought about the 1. shame they are so expensive. and funnily enough i know exactly where to find a length of rail line.

Mines made of 2x4" timber with a double thicknes £/4" ply top to it, painted with floor paint and has a shelf under it for the middle section with an old chest of drawers I got from a second hand shop for about £15 under one end and my compressor under the other. it together with the frames for the lifting beam are all quite well attached into the framework for the shed. I've not screwed it to the floor but it doesn't bounce around but that could have something to do with the 2" thick shed floor.

I dont think i'll mount my compressor underneath as its a bit too big but air outlets at the back of the bench would be handy too.

Im going to sketch something up and make a start tomorrow.
keep you all posted