Homemade Work Bench

Nah! You don't have to pack it away-gravity will do it! Actually -looks great like a murphey (SP?) bed. But you will have to be a neatnik-which is good! I believe you said you had children-good idea to stow that stuff anyway.

nice

That's really cool, I want one now.

Thanks guys!

As I said it's not pretty! I certainly wouldn't want it in my living room. This is in the basement in the only spare room in the house. The closet you can just see on the right is chock full of my tools, there is also two computers and a craft table crammed in there. I needed the table to fold out of the way as it blocks off one of the computers when it is set up.

I had to buy the top ($17 CDN) and 2 offset hinges ($7 CDN) to attach the table, the wood is from my wood stash and I had 2 door hinges in my junk box. The bookcase is an ancient particle board bookcase that was actually the first furniture purchase my wife and I ever made 22 years ago! I would have adjusted the shelves to fit the table better, but it had previously been glued and screwed together as it was literally falling apart. The bookcase is strapped to studs in the wall so it doesn't fall and kill somebody.

I have an old 6 light bathroom fixture I can install directly above it for lighting. The fluourescent tube in the magnifier light is good , but not good enough! It will work until something better comes along, like when the kids move out. Since they're only 11 & 14 that won't be anytime soon.

It looks like a real space saver!
Only problem for me would be that I would have clean my desk to fold it in!

That reminds me of the hobby bench my late father built when he was alive. He made it adjustable, so he could use it as a modeling workbench, a drafting table or a music stand simply by having it flat or slanted. When he wasn't using it, it folded up just like the one in this thread, then slid behind an armoire. I used it a few times when my folks took their last big trip together and I did some house sitting for them. I really liked it.

Thanks, Jim!

Since I posted the pics I've moved the bookcase into the closet so I DON'T have to fold it up all the time! I can now leave it out with a big mess on top, just like most everybody else's!

yeah but now you lose a valuable closet space
btw put some posters or pics of models on the underside so when you do fold it it will look a bit better

LOL that closet was full of JUNK! I took all the things that were in it and made two piles: Keep and Chuck. I ended up with a smallish box of stuff that easily fit in elsewhere and piles of crap I had no idea why I still had it. Like 8" & 5 1/4" floppy disks and Lotus 123 software from the early 90's.

Besides I couldn't use the darn table as it interfered with a comp that my sons use. Now I can build, they can play and everybody is happy!

Looks kul. Pity my tables are all glass based... (worst decision ever to get anything in glass...... the dust...)

My one suggestion to make it look nicer: get another panel of plywood to fit the bottom open part of the book case after u flip the table up. you can install two hinges on the further side of the bookcase from where you will be sitting so you can open it up anytime to get the things on the bottom shelves and having the whole bookcase look cleaner after the desk board goes up. also you can put a pretty nice poster (like the others had suggested) to cover up the entire fold down leg part, that way you simply got a poster showing after the desk gets flipped up instead of just the legs. finally for an even better flushed look, paint the whole thing white to match the wall and the counter top black or white so you won't lose the small brass PE parts as easily due to the natural wood brown color since you will have better contrast....

but again, really awesome idea! props to you for that.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bgrigg LOL that closet was full of JUNK! I took all the things that were in it and made two piles: Keep and Chuck. I ended up with a smallish box of stuff that easily fit in elsewhere and piles of crap I had no idea why I still had it. Like 8" & 5 1/4" floppy disks and Lotus 123 software from the early 90's. Besides I couldn't use the darn table as it interfered with a comp that my sons use. Now I can build, they can play and everybody is happy!

i have 9 computers in my house and 2 still use those floppies lol

and they still work

Durr, you still have comps that use 8" and 5 1/4" floppies? That work? Those are pretty old computers!!

Ryan, I'm planning on laminating white melamine. For now I'm using a large white piece of paper that I get from work (I work for a printing co.). Planning = never actually having to do it!

The unit is in our craft room, so I really don't care much how it looks. I'm more interested in how it works!. Besides I can always fold up the table and close the closet door on it!

Hey, that's a pretty good idea.

NIce set up Bgrigg. Nothing like desperation to motivate a persons creativity. I'm working out of the garage at the moment but winter is a comin' and I need to think of something fast or get busy and build that hobby room in that garage. My oldest is 11 so I'm not going to get a spare room anytime soon either! I'd have the perfect spot in the family room except for that dang piano!!

Hee hee! I would have put it in the living room except for our new piano! LOL

Good Job, nothing beats having a place to do your hobby, especially when you can build it yourself! Great idea, by the way-having the table flip up when not in use!

yes Bill my oldest computer (it still works) is a trs80 from radio shack from the late 70's

lol