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Posted: 7/27/2008 3:14:39 AM EDT
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I was trying to do the samething but quite frankly SAM'S has one that is extremely heavy duty and very nice for a hundred something dollars that can be put together in 15 minutes. I couldn't justify building it myself for the small difference in money I would have saved. http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=329601 Good Luck |
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Well, as long as I could bolt a bench vice to it, that would be fine. Problem is we don't have a Sam's Club anywhere near me. We have Costco, which as I understand it is more or less the same thing, but I'm not seeing anything on their web site that looks like it would fit my needs. I may have to borrow a card, though, and check it out in person, just to be sure. |
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Costco had a nice one also but if I remember it was similar just black and was 8ft I think (not Sure) Also I think theirs was a little more expensive than the SAM'S, the one I bought has a very nice butcher block type of top and I did bolt a vice to it no problem. Take Care Thomas |
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I built the bench in the link below. Extremely simple to build, yet built like a tank. No brackets are needed for this one, just 2x lumber and screws. Only tools needed are a circular saw (even a hand saw would do) and drill with driver bits. MDF for the lower shelf (or plywood) and a solid core door for the top. I substituted two layers of 3/4" MDF for the top, this stuff is very stable and heavy, the top is probably close to 100 lbs. Cost was well below $100 dollars and you end up with a nice heavy, stable bench. Plans for some drawers are included as well, which is nice. Since you want to mount a vise than I'd go with the door for a top, or laminate plywood and MDF since the top overhangs the base quite a bit. www.woodstore.net/bawoand6wato.html |
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My dad told me about this www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93454 my Birthday is coming up this weekend...that would be a great present.  ETA..Pops called to let me know I'm getting the bench for my B-day...and get my junk parts room clean to put it together on site...damn things heavy. |
that thing is only 3 ft 2 inches tall....i dont know about you, but im not bending down to work on my rifles... |
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not sure if you have one in your area, but if you do, check out the surplus lumber stores.... we have one here that sells blems and whatnot for nearly half price.....maybe try and get some lumber that might have knots or bends in it, and possibly a laminate counter top for a kitchen |
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http://www.2x4basics.com/WorkBench-Legs.asp I used this kit. Even though the legs are polymer, they're stronger than the wood I used for the bracing. The best part is that you can scale any side to your liking. I ended up with 3' by 8' bench for my gun work and reloading. I doubled up the bench top with two sheets of 3/4" cabinet-grade oak plywood so my presses don't shift. For a more durable surface, I countersink the screws on the top so I can cover it with a piece of Eucaboard (masonite). When it gets banged up enough, I just have to rip off the Eucaboard and replace it with a new one. |
If you want something small and compact. Check this out. The table was about ~$30 at Lowes. $20 for vise, at Lowes also. And ~$10 in bolts/nuts/washers. It's stable enough to put on barrels. Also, the table collapses and folds over, with the vise still on it. I just wrap a plastic bag around the vise, and store it in the closet. |
Check out Simpson Strong Ties workbench/shelving unit kit, comes with the screws and brackets and you can can make it any size you want up to 4' x 8'. I,ve built mine using this kit and is very solid, I used two pieces of 3/4" plywood and a 1/8" piece of masonite as a sacrificial cover for the top of the bench. The kit uses 2 x4's only and no miter cuts needed. 
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| Second the simpson kit but go to your local lumber yard the best top is a solid core flush birtch door. My dad has used this configuration on many work benches both at his shop and home. If you can't get the door the Homedepot (where you can get your kit) has birtch 3/4 plywood two layers and poly will work nce |
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I built a 8 ft bench in about 30 min and you can make it as cheap or as expensive that you want. check it You need (6) 2x4 8 ft long (1) sheet of plywood that is it I built mine for $25 and it is very sturdy. The plans You have homepo cut your plywood into 30 12 6 inch pieces. you cut (2) 2x4 into 40 inch pieces so you have 4 of them (the legs) you can also shorten them or make a little longer depending on the hight you want. next cut 1 2x4 in to (4) pieces 24 inch long make the fram with the 2 8ft piecse and 2 24 inch pieces, put the the top on then the legs and the middle shelf and the back to the shelf (the 6 inch piece) done and I love it You can make in out of oak or pine what ever this is a awsome bench trust me |
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Here's what I did. It's VERY SOLID. I can pound on it with a 3 lb. maul and it doesn't shake, or bounce things around that are on it. 2 ea. - 2 x 12's, side-by-side. Total width = 22 1/2 inches. Length to your choosing. Sandwich these between 2 pieces of 1/2" plywood of the same width and length. Everything screwed together. Use 4 x 4's for legs, and mount the whole thing to the studs of the walls in my shop. Anchor legs to the floor also. Add a little paint and you're GTG. The plywood is attached to the 2 x 12's with screws, so that when the top gets all beat up and chipped or stained, unscrew it, discard, and replace with another piece. It's cheap and easy (just like my first wife), and VERY STURDY. Try it. You won't be disappointed. a-bare ETA: oops. I forgot. Put 2 x 4's, on edge, around |
| I don't have any plans to give you, but I built mine out of 2x4s, galvanized steel hardware and 1.5" thick x 30 and 36 inch deep used office partition system desktops. The desktops are particle board covered with formica, and you can find them pretty cheap. I got mine for free from a guy I used to work for. I built them into my garage. |
Do you think its stable enough for a reloading press? |
Definately not. I built a small table out of 2x8, 2x4, MDF, and peg board, as my reloading table. But as of right now, it's just collecting dust. Been to lazy to reload.  I wanted something small, but heavy. This works out.            I've since, shifted the reloader to the right a bit. Also, I wish I had a harder top on it. The pine board is very soft. |
| +1 for the 2X4 Basics kit. Bought on Amazon for something like $50 or $60, figured out what size to build, stopped by Lowes, and the sucker was together in nothing flat. I have my vice on one end and my reloading set up on the other. Works great and you can build it to fit your size requirements. |
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Well, I decided to break out the graph paper and just design one of my own. That way I have nobody to blame but myself it if doesn't work out, and it'll be more satisfying if it works out. I'm using a design not unlike A96HondaAccordEX's, except I'm using 4x4's for the vertical posts, and I'll be bolting the upper frame into place with lag bolts. In the end, it'll measure 36W X 28D X 38H...give or take. Obviously, because 2x4's aren't exactly 2 inches thick by 4 inches wide, there's some minor shinkage in actual vs theoretical, but not enough to bug me. But, in any case, I'll use 3 cross braces for the top surface and 2 for the lower shelf, all secured with wood screws, or perhaps joist hangars, to make sure it stays nice and rigid. And yes, I know I'm probably overbuilding it, but I'm doing so deliberately, to make it heavy enough and strong enough to last a good long while. Currently, I'm debating between iron-on laminate, or a few coats of hard enamel for the work surface. Any suggestions? Here's a quick diagram of the top level I slapped together in photoshop. 1 square = 1 inch, obviously. (I know the image says it's 26 deep. Had myself a genuine blond moment) http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n153/Nylans_pics/workbench.jpg |
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