Garage Workbench

[Terah]

OMO,

I've decided to replace my current workbench which is just a door sat on top of a coffee table. I'd like to build it myself as a simple project and it's to be an L shaped bench covering the 8 ft wide back wall of the garage and then going along one side of the garage to take it about 10 ft out from the back wall.

I've picked up a nice thick sheet of 8' x 4' ply which has been cut into two 8' x 2' sheets which should do fine for the worktop itself, and I've picked up a load of 2" x 4" for building a frame and legs.

My original idea had been to attach the frame directly to the garage wall (brick) using hammer screw fixings, and then have legs on the interior sides of bench. Is this going to be solid enough, or do I need legs at the wall side as well? Anything else obvious to think about?

Cheers

[Bibio]

depends on what sort of weight its going to hold.

easiest is to run timber along the wall then a frame on the front. strongest is a complete frame which is bolted to floor/wall.

[Specialone]

It's far easier and quicker to build a frame then level / fix to the wall, building it in pieces will be a pita.

Run a lower shelf or horizontal supports and it will make it really strong.

[Lozzo]

I've got a steel topped bench knocked up out of welded up angle iron. I salvaged it from an engineering workshop that was being cleared out. The holes pre-drilled for the vice that had been removed lined up perfectly with the monster Record one I had at home.

It weighs a ton but never moves around and I've sat a V6 Ford lump on it safely.

[savage86]

Run a lower shelf or horizontal supports and it will make it really strong.

This makes good use of space and should provide enough support. Maybe also run a thick piece of dowel from leg to leg makes a good place to hand things and stop warping.

[squirrel_hunter]

I built something similar to what is described in the OP. I ran a 2"x4" along the back wall of the garage bolted to the wall with a support leg in the middle. I then made an identical one to be the front and batons (x3, sides and middle to define the depth). Bolted the sides to the wall and then the front to the sides and center support. I then whacked B&Q's finest (cheapest) kitchen surface on top and sealed the edges with bathroom sealant.

Cost about £45 and lunch for my Dad who helped build it. Had bike engines and more on it including me standing on it and jumping to test it. The best thing is if the surface gets damaged to much I'd just unscrew it and get a new one. Its done me fine. The only issue I have with it is I messed up the measurement for height and its a couple of inches to high for comfort.

If none of that made sense I can post a few pictures.

[tigersaw]

I used kitchen worktop for my surface, inexpensive and quite strong

[Terah]

Can't imagine doing anything with silly weight requirements. Just aiming for something solid that will hold up to a reasonable amount of hammering. Steel would be great but would have to find and / or pay decent money and is probably overkill.

squirrel_hunter - sounds pretty similar to what I was planning - how did you attach the braces to the back length of 2 x 4? I'd been thinking of attaching the back length first to get it positioned, then taking it off and attach the braces and putting it all back on, then fit the legs to the front, and finally fit the front to the braces.

I could also just build them as two 8' x 2' free standing workbenches and then bolt them together and to the walls, but that would take a bit more wood and wouldn't guarantee a flush fit. Will look at the lower braces once I work out what needs to be stored under it.

I'd looked at kitchen worktop but opted in the end for the ply - going by the same thought that, so long as the frame itself is solid, it's easy enough to replace the top if it gets knackered.

[dizzyblonde]

In the Dizzy shed, I just ripped out the kitchen worktops, built a frame and put the tops on it. I've even got the kitchen sink!! All in a nice L shape :)

[yorkie_chris]

Frame underneath the ply top, 4 legs.
Enclose 3 or 4 sides underneath with cross-braces at maybe half of the leg height.

If you ever want to sit down at the bench for fine work then make the cross-brace nearest to you halfway back to the wall.

I'd say build it as a lump... if you ever want to have a shift around then an integral built bench is a right pain. Build it once and build it heavy then maybe join it in to the wall if it needs it for a bit of extra rigidity.


To do the frame I'd just do this but in wood, should illustrate the idea a bit better.
Even with only 3 sides enclosed at the bottom that is relatively rigid even without tacking it into the wall.
http://imageshack.us/a/img248/6228/imag0327i.jpg

[Sir Trev]

The best thing is if the surface gets damaged to much I'd just unscrew it and get a new one.

Cheap or salvaged worktop is good but as the OP already has some ply this will be equally fine. My bench is free standing so I can re-organise the layout if needed, it's made up of braced 4x2 and has two glued layers of 18mm ply as a top. Solid as a solid thing. As an extra feature I have lightly pinned hardboard on top as a sacrificial layer - just a couple of quid to replace if it needs it.

[squirrel_hunter]

squirrel_hunter - sounds pretty similar to what I was planning - how did you attach the braces to the back length of 2 x 4? I'd been thinking of attaching the back length first to get it positioned, then taking it off and attach the braces and putting it all back on, then fit the legs to the front, and finally fit the front to the braces.

I measured the back wall of the garage and then got B&Q to do all the cutting for me when I bought the wood, which worked out well. So with the longer back bar I screwed the legs to it.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Spannering/IMG-20110703-00297.jpg

Then I made the front support identical to the back and added some supports for the depth.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Spannering/IMG-20110703-00298.jpg

Then screwed the back to the wall with some L shaped brackets and the front to the back using the legs and the batons.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Spannering/IMG-20110703-00300.jpg

And then I put the kitchen surface on the top and screwed this to the frame with some more L brackets. I then sealed the edges with bathroom sealant so oil couldn't seep down the back. Its not pretty, but it works.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Spannering/IMG-20110703-00301.jpg

Note: Bike under the bench is an optional extra.

[Terah]

Hmm... That looks much easier than what I ended up doing. And I forgot to put a bike under mine.

Pics to follow...

[phil24_7]

I built 2 benches into the bay window area of the cellar. Used a floor joist on the rear and both sides, screwed down to a low wall and the same on the front, raised slightly to make the bench level. Then I used 22mm ply wood across the top. Relatively easy to build with a bit of measuring and strong as f**k, in fact I currently have about 200kg sat on one due to a a wet carpet because of a flood in the cellar!

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z282/phil24_7/House/IMG_4366.jpg

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z282/phil24_7/House/IMAG0187_zps199b2a41.jpg

[tigersaw]

A cave! cool

[maviczap]

because of a flood in the cellar!


A cave! cool

Close Tiger, I think Phil's got an indoor swimming pool =P~

[Terah]

OK, decided in the end to go for two free standing benches that I can stick together or separate as required. Started off with this lot

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10861049/sv650.org/20121229_163829b.jpg


And then put together the top of the frame with slots in for the legs. This is the second one I built - when I finished the first I realised it was completely squint as one of the rails had quite a twist in it - really should have checked that in the shop.


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10861049/sv650.org/20121230_161916b.jpg

Held the legs on with clamps until it was right and then screwed them in - will probably put a big bolt through them all.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10861049/sv650.org/20121230_172151b.jpg


And then with some 18mm ply on top

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10861049/sv650.org/20121230_173228b.jpg


I'll add a sheet of hardboard to the top and then work out the bracing once it's in place and the other bench is built. Will most likely brace all the legs front to back, bolt the two benches together (as an L), and then screw the back rails into the walls.

[phil24_7]

Close Tiger, I think Phil's got an indoor swimming pool =P~

The pool has now dried out and the leaky wall has been temporarily repaired, so it is back to a cave now! :)

[timwilky]

OK, decided in the end to go for two free standing benches that I can stick together or separate as required. Started off with this lot
<snip>

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10861049/sv650.org/20121229_163829b.jpg




Jeez, you buy timber from bodgit and quiver?

Please Please Please use a proper timber merchants and drive these overcharging fools out of business.

I used to like a sign I would see regularly.

When you been and queued
and they don't do it all
Dont let it get on your wicks.

This (http://www.cwberry.com/ProductCat.aspx?TreeNodeId=5171d4a7-f403-41c8-9b40-f14b01919834) is what I pay my local merchant

[Terah]

Jeez, you buy timber from bodgit and quiver?


I won't again...