Good workbenches for home? - Page 3

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Posted: 11/9/2017 3:29:27 PM EDT

[#1]

I have DIY 'd this workbench several times. Cost is about $100 and it's great. It's better than any of the ones you can buy plus you can create variations of it. I took the plan and made my wife two shelves with it

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/workbench/how-to-build-a-workbench-super-simple-50-bench/amp/

Here it is in my work shop. I think I need another one

Posted: 11/9/2017 4:50:10 PM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted: You're making a mistake. Here is a legitimate gets used cheap work bench. 8 foot by two foot top with 3/8 plywood. 2x4 built with 100 freedom bucks for the while thing. You need twice as much space as you think.
https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/309434/PicsArt_11-08-11-357462.JPG

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I started with a 7' bench for my first at home.

Then it became 24x96.

Next one will be 36-42" x 144 and have several "stations" for various tasks. Probably going with a steel substrate and maple or oak top. I like the look of wood but the rigidity of the wood top.

The steel have countersunk bores on both surfaces that screw it down to the frame and also allow the top to be removed if needed.

Also:
https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Workbench-Thread-Please-help-in-anyway-that-you-can-/139-1520165/

ETA: There's some really nice work in this thread.

Posted: 11/9/2017 5:50:46 PM EDT

[#3]

I vote build your own. Here's one I built for my basement for working on guns and other small things. It is all 2x4s and plywood (not counting the pegboard, obviously). Here are the plans I used with some modifications: https://www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/workbench/how-to-build-a-workbench-super-simple-50-bench/view-all/

I installed LED lighting and I have a vise I'm going to attach to the surface.

ETA: I'm going to build another one for my garage. The one in the garage will be larger and use thicker plywood.

Posted: 11/9/2017 6:08:41 PM EDT

[#4]

Quote History

Quoted:

Saw horses and a small sheet of plywood is all you need for a basic work bench. You will have both if you are doing the most basic of wood work. No need to buy a bench to make a bench. That's crazy talk.

Hell, I used saw horses and plywood for a year doing many things before I had the time and space to build my workbench.

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My "go to" temporary bench is a couple of saw horses and a stainless steel top. Stainless is nice because you can clean up anything that spills on it. Pic from some engine work on my kid's car last winter.

For you guys buying the benches from Sam's/Costco - Are those tops solid butcher block or do they use an MDF core?

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Posted: 11/9/2017 7:02:34 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya1-xWjTzT0

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I probably should have done that for my latest bench top ...glued 2X's face to face.

Instead I used the dado set on my tablesaw and milled tongues and grooves on the edges of a bunch of 2X6's I had around already.

What a bitch that was...with all the various twists and warps each 2X had.

I literally applied the glue to the grooves and tongues with a paint brush.

I think the top still isn't wide enough and I have to add one more board.

My first reloading bench was meant to be free standing because I lived in an apartment at the time. I made it at an Air Force base hobby shop. Its top was made up of 2X's glued face to face, like in the video. That was back in 1994. Back then I had access to a 24 inch wide planer. I still have that bench. In fact, one of the improvements I made to it was I used a round nose router bit to plow a gutter all around the top. That keeps bullets and brass from rolling off and falling to the floor.

Just an FYI...these panel clamps from Rockler don't do jack shit for getting boards flush with each other:

Posted: 11/9/2017 8:39:29 PM EDT

[#6]

My previous post back on page two about finding butcher block/bowling alley section/ trailer flooring and using gas pipe floor flanges and gas pipes for the legs could result in something like this:

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and this:

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Posted: 11/9/2017 9:03:35 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
Sams club and buy their Seville HD workbench.

It has like a 2" butcher top and it can hold 1,000lbs on it.

$199

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+1 it’s what I use for my reloading setup and gun work.

Posted: 11/9/2017 9:05:44 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

What he said.

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I concur.

Posted: 11/9/2017 9:38:44 PM EDT

[#9]

Great thread! I’m in need here soon and just started looking. Does anyone know who sells the legs for the Husky or Sams Club table? I’d like to use those with a 3/8 steel table top so I can weld on it.

Posted: 11/9/2017 10:43:14 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
I tend to favor 4x4s, 3/4" ply, and a shit load of screws/lag bolts. Lets me fit the bench to the workspace.

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this is what I did.

Posted: 11/9/2017 11:30:57 PM EDT

[#11]

Building your own is nice since you can design it to your specifications.

Posted: 11/10/2017 12:21:20 AM EDT

[#12]

Didn't prefer to use metal fasteners, all connections are glue / dowels. Wanted to keep the perimeter around the bottom somewhat open to allow legroom / sliding a stool under the workbench. Somewhat heavy.

Posted: 11/10/2017 1:27:52 AM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
Didn't prefer to use metal fasteners, all connections are glue / dowels. Wanted to keep the perimeter around the bottom somewhat open to allow legroom / sliding a stool under the workbench. Somewhat heavy.

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/banditbigdog/IMG_1206_zps60c68350.jpg

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt138/banditbigdog/IMG_1187_zps7511aeb3.jpg

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Nice, I admire your skills.

Posted: 11/16/2017 11:51:17 PM EDT

[#14]

DCV_117's bench speaks to me.

It's started me on this collection of vises now because it's something I'd like to have for my company in coming years.

My wife and I stopped by my parents house after dinner tonight, and my stepdad gave me this old Sears 3.5" vise that I'm adding to my collection of various manufacture.

It seems since September, I've bought 1 or 2 a month.

I'm going to need a 12-16' bench to put them all to use

Posted: 11/17/2017 12:01:33 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
That’s what I bought. No ragerts.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Sams club and buy their Seville HD workbench.

It has like a 2" butcher top and it can hold 1,000lbs on it.

$199

That’s what I bought. No ragerts.

I use one of those at my store. No ragrets. It has been in use for over three years assembling AR uppers. I have found bottles of gun cleaner and Hoppes and cold bluing that spilled on it for no telling how many days and the finish looks great. The Chinese must use some heavy duty toxic clear in the wood top.

Posted: 11/17/2017 12:13:14 AM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have DIY 'd this workbench several times. Cost is about $100 and it's great. It's better than any of the ones you can buy plus you can create variations of it. I took the plan and made my wife two shelves with it

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/workbench/how-to-build-a-workbench-super-simple-50-bench/amp/

Here it is in my work shop. I think I need another one

https://i.imgur.com/A6YQuU0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WrBiJ99.jpg

View Quote

That's a good, basic bench design. A bench should always have clamping lips.

Posted: 11/17/2017 1:54:19 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:
Great thread! I’m in need here soon and just started looking. Does anyone know who sells the legs for the Husky or Sams Club table? I’d like to use those with a 3/8 steel table top so I can weld on it.

View Quote

I've bought from here: http://www.globalindustrial.com/c/work-benches/components/legs-shelves

Posted: 11/17/2017 1:59:37 AM EDT

[#18]

Why fuck around?

https://www.strongtie.com/miscellaneousconnectors_woodconnectors/wbsk_kit/p/wbsk

Posted: 11/17/2017 3:24:16 AM EDT

[#19]

I built my bench in the last house. 2x6s for the top, 2x4 frame, 4x4 legs. Lots of screws and carriage bolts. Left it with the house when we sold it. If I built again, I'd probably go another route with a plywood top and different construction all around.

New garage is still a work in progress, but I was in some serious need of organization and a quick fix on a work bench. Went with the Sam's Club Seville stuff based on good reports on Arfcom and Garage Journal. The bench is the best value out of that collection. I also got two tall rolling cabinets, a small rolling tool cabinet (tucks up under the bench and has a work top of its own), two wall cabinets, and a stool. The cabinets aren't by any means heavy duty, but they're fine for my purposes.

Posted: 11/17/2017 7:25:16 AM EDT

[#20]

One job op...

Posted: 11/17/2017 7:42:37 AM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Build your own. It'll be far cheaper and customized to whatever dimensions and attributes you desire.

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This. I searched high and low to find a nice work bench that didn't cost some ridiculous amount of money. Ended up buying a butcher block top at menards and my dad has a welder so we welded up 3" building legs from some 3" square tubing for legs.

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Posted: 11/17/2017 8:10:22 AM EDT

[#22]

I got a 72" Gladiator adjustable leg butcher block from Sears on sale with points. It is heavy as hell and doesn't move.

Posted: 11/29/2017 11:15:32 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
I have DIY 'd this workbench several times. Cost is about $100 and it's great. It's better than any of the ones you can buy plus you can create variations of it. I took the plan and made my wife two shelves with it

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/workbench/how-to-build-a-workbench-super-simple-50-bench/amp/

Here it is in my work shop. I think I need another one

https://i.imgur.com/A6YQuU0.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/WrBiJ99.jpg

View Quote

Quoted:
I vote build your own. Here's one I built for my basement for working on guns and other small things. It is all 2x4s and plywood (not counting the pegboard, obviously). Here are the plans I used with some modifications: https://www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/workbench/how-to-build-a-workbench-super-simple-50-bench/view-all/

https://i.imgur.com/UsIu1TL.jpg

I installed LED lighting and I have a vise I'm going to attach to the surface.

ETA: I'm going to build another one for my garage. The one in the garage will be larger and use thicker plywood.

View Quote

I am getting a new house on Friday; here is a 62"x24" spot I will need to fill with a custom bench - and this style looks great. Will go 3/4" plywood though, same for the shelves I need to build in the shed.