Let' see your homemade workbench/tables

I'm in real need of some kind of workbench since every aspect of my fabrication is pretty much done on the side of the house on the ground or on a makeshift bench with plank of wood propped up with buckets.

I plan on making something pretty small but basic, 6' wide by 2' deep with a shelf on the bottom to hold totes of extra steel, power tools or whatever. Not sure if I want to make it out of wood or steel. If I can get some remnant steel pretty cheap, I'd rather go that route. Maybe even put some casters on to make it mobile is need be.

Whatever I make it out of it'll be primed and painted to hold up to the elements since this will stay outdoors which kinda sucks since I can't mount a vice and bench grinder and leave it mounted permanently.

Let's see what you got

 

[zukman]

lol The zukman just permently borrows stainless steel worktables from the stores! lol

 

[corkey]

why not put a bench grinder and a vise on it , but elevate them enuff to cover them with a bucket to keep rain off them ??
i have a compressor i leave outside on a bench ,, i cover it with an old cooler,, it never gets wet,, and always works,,

 

[tdavis]

I made mine out of 2x4's and hangers.. The top is 3/4" pine. I'd take a picture, but it's buried at the moment..

 

[X~FACTOR]

My first complete project after buying a house. I went a little overboard using bolts instead of screws. 4x4 instead of 2x4. Bamboo table top instead of 1/2" plywood. This is so strong it could hold the weight of a truck.

 

[DB_1]

why not put a bench grinder and a vise on it , but elevate them enuff to cover them with a bucket to keep rain off them ??
i have a compressor i leave outside on a bench ,, i cover it with an old cooler,, it never gets wet,, and always works,,

I will have a vice and grinder on there, i'll just remove them when they aren't being used for any length of time. Not concerned with the vice so much but my grinder has a belt/disc sander attatchment which is a bit pricey so...outta sight, outta mind

Not sure what type of wood I wanna use for the top, something 3/4" and cheap. Would MDF be good to use or is plain old plywood good enough and cheaper? I never buy wood so I don't know what the going rate is on this stuff.

 

[tdavis]

I will have a vice and grinder on there, i'll just remove them when they aren't being used for any length of time. Not concerned with the vice so much but my grinder has a belt/disc sander attatchment which is a bit pricey so...outta sight, outta mind

Not sure what type of wood I wanna use for the top, something 3/4" and cheap. Would MDF be good to use or is plain old plywood good enough and cheaper? I never buy wood so I don't know what the going rate is on this stuff.

MDF will self destruct faster than plywood..

So I've got two tops on mine. The very top is MDF, and it's easily replaced. Nice and smooth top that way.

 

[DB_1]

MDF will self destruct faster than plywood..

So I've got two tops on mine. The very top is MDF, and it's easily replaced. Nice and smooth top that way.

Thats a good idea, I may just use 3/4" ply for the base then skin the top with 1/4" masonite. I've painted plenty of doors that were skinned with masonite and they've held up fine against the elements. I'm sure i'll have to re-skin it due to wear and tear from working on it long before the paint gives up.

 

[BrooklynBay]

You could get a sheet metal plate cut to the size of the top, and screw it down.

 

[section525]

Mine.


....and my build thread :

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153513

 

[Stic-o]

Sorry..I bought my $300 Craftsman one for $50 off Craigslist: and it was some guys office desk

also has a metal peg board on top, but not in pic

 

[DB_1]

You could get a sheet metal plate cut to the size of the top, and screw it down.

Thought about that, but considering what I paid for my last sheet of 3/16" plate i'll stick with wood.

 

[BrooklynBay]

What about using diamond plate sheets? Home Depot sells these.

 

[BrooklynBay]

This place has a lot of different things such as large diamond plate sheets you could cut to size or interlocking tiles: http://www.texasgarages.com/diamond_plate.htm

 

[DB_1]

I prefer to have a smooth surface...I've only seen small sheets steel at Home Depot and Lowe's and it's not big enough to make a top out of.
Besides, they charge a lot for their pre cut metals...one example is a 12" x 12" piece of 1/4" plate goes for $30

Section, nice job on your worktable but call me crazy, i like the old wooden one better:

As much as i'd like to go all out and build one out of steel, I'm better off building a wooden one with my budget. Anything will be better then working on a concrete slab holding the work with one foot while drilling/cutting with my hands.

 

[RockRanger]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150027

Needs bigger casters though. Also I ended up cutting a piece of plywood to fit on the bottom. Also the height is just a little to high. If it was about 2" lower it would be perfect for me.

 

[RockRanger]

LOL just saw your sig

 

[DB_1]

Nice table Matt, must be great for welding.
I thought you'd like the sig line:

 

[Brian1]

Here are my 2 tables. The big one, 4'x8', I got off craigslist for free and then added castors and electric outlets on 2 corners. 1/8" steel top. The smaller one is angle iron with a 3/8" top

 

[DB_1]

Nice tables Brian...if I had the room, i'd like to have a small table like that for welding as well as the bigger worktable.