SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Workbench ideas?

1781 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: west of houston
Workbench ideas?
Posted by drodrig on Saturday, September 3, 2005 12:12 PM
I am thinking of making a workbench. I pulled out the FSM that had ideas for closets and regular benches. Do any of you have ideas for a small to medium work area that I could build. I live in TX and the garage gets hot during the summer and I dont have a basement.

Thanks,

David
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Saturday, September 3, 2005 12:33 PM
I'm thinking about adding a fold down table to an old upright bookcase I have. The shelves would be for storage of paints etc., and the table when folded up could hide most of the clutter. Something along these lines (don't laugh at my crude drawing! I'm a sensitive artiste!! LOL)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/astr8shooter/Bookcasedesk.jpg

It wouldn't hide all the clutter, and you would have to attach the lamp each time, but given the limited space in my house, this should work for me.

So long folks!

  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Saturday, September 3, 2005 1:56 PM
hey bill that bookcase idea really looks good
how about more details materials list etc.....
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Saturday, September 3, 2005 1:59 PM
Well, I've only thought of it since reading Drodrig's post, so give me a moment or two! LOL!!

Okay, sizes are based on my existing bookcase, so this will need to be adjusted to fit each person's own space.

My bookcase is 34 5/8" w x 72" h x 10 1/2" d (though that's not important!). A comfortable working height for me is 28". I'm going to use 1/2" MDF board for the top as it's smooth, and moisture will not be a concern, neither will how the edges look. If you need this to also look good, then you'll have to find the appropriate edging for your taste!

I figure I'll need:

TOP: MDF 1/2" x 34 5/8"x44"
LEGS: 2 x 1/2" x 27 1/2" 5/4 pine (I'll taper them down to 2" w at the bottom starting 4" from the top)
LEG CROSSPIECE: 2 x 1/2" x 26 5/8" 5/4 pine, this will have the legs screwed on with a full overlap joint. It will also be the piece that will have the hinges attached.
TABLE CROSSPIECE: 1 x 1/2"x34 5/8" 5/4 pine that will be hinged to the shelf and attached to that end of the table top.
HINGES: 4 hinges, cheap hinges I figure 4" x 2" will do the trick
SCREWS: 8 x 1 particle board ones, about 30 of them, 4 each per leg, 6 each per hinge and the balance to attach the top to the top cross piece. These were scientifically chosen based on me already having a box of them!

The leg assembly (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/astr8shooter/Legdetail.jpg) will obviously need to attach at the appropriate spot for a level table top!

I've left over scrap plywood for the legs and crosspieces, so I only need to buy the MDF and the hinges. I've even have some left over paint to cover up the raw materials. Now to build it!

edit I decided the plywood would be too flimsy for legs. I have some 5/4 pine boards that will do much better! /edit

So long folks!

  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Saturday, September 3, 2005 10:28 PM
it honestly sounds good
don't forget wood glue
dip all your screws and nails in it because particle board and your mdf board with movement of the hinges will SLOWly loosen up over time
ever notice that with your kitchen cabinets the handles or the hinges get loose the wood glue will stop it
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Oak Harbor, WA
Posted by Kolja94 on Saturday, September 3, 2005 11:12 PM
I just have one of those long folding tables from wal-mart. Works like a champ :)

Karl

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Sunday, September 4, 2005 12:14 AM
Thanks! Not too shabby for thinking on my butt, eh? Good point about the glue! I'll definately do that, don't want it falling apart in the middle of a build, do we?

I have some stuff to take care of before I build it, like rebuild my deck, but It should be done in about a week. Pics to come!!

Today I started my spray booth. I should have that finished tomorrow, except for the final painting. I post some pics of it the moment it's done.

So long folks!

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Utereg
Posted by Borg R3-MC0 on Monday, September 5, 2005 8:50 AM
I thing that I find really easy to have in my workbench is a magnetic rails for all the tools. It's a real space saver,the magnetic rail prevents the tools from cluttering the work area but they are always at hand.
I found mine cheap at the kitchen setcion of the Ikea.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: west of houston
Posted by drodrig on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 11:59 AM
I hadn't thought about a bookshelf. I wish I had one available to use. Thanks for all the good ideas. No I just have to decide which one to use.

Thanks again.

David
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 8:24 PM
My work bench actually started life as a workbench - kit that is. My local lumber yard carries a work bench kit - every thing is precut, top is already assembled (out of 2 x 8s) and all the hardware necessary is included. The only thing I added was a piece of 1/8" pressed board to cover the gaps between the 2 x 8s. The top is 72" x 32", has a shelf about 12" off the floor. It's higher than a normal desk (not sure of the heigth) but a bar stool works great for a seat and if I want to stand up to work, the height is perfect. Kit cost me 49.95 plus about 5 bucks for the hardboard.
Quincy
  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 11:21 PM
my youngest kid says she is movin out in june after graduation Big Smile [:D] Party [party]Yeah!! [yeah]Yeah!! [yeah]Yeah!! [yeah]
then i will have a 7x12 modeling room so i can build right into the wall and everything
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 11:33 PM
I am SO jealous! That's some serious space.

I'm still building on the kitchen table until I get my bookcase space geared up. I did manage to scratch together a bit of a spraybooth in the meantime...

So long folks!

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.