Workbench plans?

[Invalid]

Anyone know any good free workbench plans online? I am finding a bunch with google, but most are aimed towards woodworking, etc. Since its mostly for modding and around the house stuff, I want something more like a generic workbench.

Any help? Thanks

[JamesM]

Even though you want something more basic, you might get a few ideas from this great electronics workbench :-)

http://www.davehylands.com/Wood-Working/Electronics-Workbench/index.html


[edit] There's also a different bench here (http://www.davehylands.com/Wood-Working/Work-Bench/) :-)

[dutchcedar]

Hey, I like that "different" bench... :thumb:

[lbreevesii]

oo i like that bench.

If i had the room i'd build a nice big bench to work on, but alas, no room and god knows it'd just get piled w/ stuff if i did. Kinda like the existing bench(es)...

[rhysmodder1]

I has a look through by bookmarks and came across this (http://www.freeww.com/workbenches.html) site, just click on the links for the different plans.

This (http://www.boston.com/yourlife/home/articles/2004/03/18/work_that_bench/) is the guide i used when i made my workbench. Made a very strong worth while bench for all my modding needs. :D

Rhys

[mnpctech]

Luvin those bench designs James. I have got tons of tiny parts I could stash away in those.

Nice link rhys. My father-in-law is hobbyist carpenter and would luv that site (link sent!)

[Invalid]

Thanks guys. Gonna use the one rhys provided. Off to Home Depot I go!

Thanks again

[rhysmodder1]

hey,
Just built my workbench for the electricary side of modding... :D
Will get you some piccies tommorow folks,
Have fun building the workbench 'Invalid' and happy building! :thumb: :dremel:

[Invalid]

Thanks. Just got home from Home Depot. Bought all the stuff. Gonna get started after lunch.

I actually have a big workbench in my garage. But like dutch and others, its freezing here and so Ive decided to make a secondary winter workbench in the basement. Hope it comes out good lol.

[rhysmodder1]

Gonna get started after lunch.

get us eager people some piccehs when the workbench is finished:thumb:

[Invalid]

Well its done. Phew. Gonna set everything up and take some pics tomorrow before I continue on my project.

[2JSC]

wish I had the place for a bench of my own... i would need a garage or shed first :h34r:

[Invalid]

Here it is. Nothing special. Still have to make a bottom for it so I can use the below as a shelf.

Bench
http://www.aeonx.net/wb/workbench.jpg

Closer
http://www.aeonx.net/wb/workbench2.jpg

Tool Closet
http://www.aeonx.net/wb/cab.jpg

[JamesM]

Looks great, makes me want to do more work on my shed... bloody lack of electricity and cold weather :(

[dutchcedar]

Nice... :thumb:

[mnpctech]

Nice indeed Invalid :thumb: decent lighting too.

I wish I had couch to crash on downstairs.

[2JSC]

love that cabinet's windows... and that bench is just perfect!

[GodsUnicorn]

Looks great.
All you need now is some shelves and a wall mounted power strip (with an RCD)

[Invalid]

Yeah its almost totally done now got all my modding stuff moved downstairs now. The man couch is the shit!

Just need to get all my tools now out of the garage. :wallbash:

[mnpctech]

How about stool? (http://cgi.ebay.com/BLACK-VINYL-CHROME-BASE-DOCTOR-DENTAL-STOOL-WITH-BACK_W0QQitemZ7582728042QQcategoryZ106434QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem)

Fill your empty walls with a your own storage system here (http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_3000&L2=L2_3010&SKU=92680) :thumb:

more basic (http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?SKUupsell=92392)

[Invalid]

Good call. I was just thinking that i needed a stool. How could I forget such an important piece? lol

Thanks for the links!

[rhysmodder1]

nice bench matey! :D
Looks as though you have followed the plans exactly ;) Spot on mate! Looks alot better than mine...- i will get you some photos tonight.
Rhys

[JamesM]

Hey, I like that "different" bench... :thumb:
lol, yeah, I just noticed how that read. Ooops >_<

[BigBen2k]

This would make a good sticky (after cleanup); every modder ought to start with a workbench.

[rhysmodder1]

hmmmm, im thinking about doing a guide maybe... i will see what i can do!:thumb:
Rhys

[Lynk3x]

I has a look through by bookmarks and came across this (http://www.freeww.com/workbenches.html) site, just click on the links for the different plans.

This (http://www.boston.com/yourlife/home/articles/2004/03/18/work_that_bench/) is the guide i used when i made my workbench. Made a very strong worth while bench for all my modding needs.

Rhys
I'm kinda new here but I've been lurking around a while. I tackled a the project Rhys mentioned (the second guide) while working on my garage ramp this weekend. Figured I'd post my log. Hopefully I've got the right spot to post it.

I started out with a Visio drawing of the garage layout. I don't have much space to work with since we have way too much junk to store. The bench is in the left corner.
http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10002/workshop_2.jpg
The drawing doesn't show it but I decided to put the bench all the way in the left corner. The spacing worked out better that way. Also the shelves on the side walls have casters so they can roll out of the way when I want to use the whole bench.

I laid out the spacing in Visio before I installed the bench. I was just playing around with learning Visio. I imagine it will be easier for most people to rough out the height and position of the bench with a tape measure and some masking tape (which I should have done).

I wanted a bench I could stand up at as well as use a stool at. I ended with a total height of 38". My first try had the bench at almost 46". Way too high. I had to cut the legs back down.http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10002/workbench_2.jpg
The sketch on the right shows the front of the bench with the optional back-plane. I will probably build that this weekend if my little girl lets me. She loves to help but tends to slow things down a bit.

A pic of my little girl. She's a little over a year old and likes tools just as much as I do. She also likes her new bike helmet.http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Feb2005_015.jpg

I read through the plans linked to above then ordered materials needed for the bench. Ignore the plywood. It's for a different project. http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/Alpha/General/Garage/workbench/normal_workbench_006.jpg
I found everything at Lowes. I just walked around grabbing the SKU's then put them on a piece of paper with the quantity I needed. I then handed it to the lady behind the commercial contractors' counter. Lowes will pull the order for you and have it ready to load. It's much easier than trying to walk around with one of those noisy blue metal carts picking everything up. I didn't need the materials until the next day anyway.

Material List

1 package fine steel wool
1 qt Danish finishing oil
3 2x4 steel angle brackets
1 box 1 1/2" drywall screws
1 box 3 1/2" drywall screws
2 4x4x8 pressure treated boards
4 2x4x8 boards
1 80x36x1 3/4 Solid Core DoorHere are the tools I gathered for the project.
http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/Alpha/General/Garage/workbench/normal_workbench_007.jpg
Don't you love my bright orange speed square?

I am using the speed square to mark the lines. It makes the job a little faster.
http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/Alpha/General/Garage/workbench/normal_workbench_010.jpg

I hate handsaws. I'm uncoordinated so handsaws give me a bit of trouble. http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/Alpha/General/Garage/workbench/normal_workbench_013.jpg

4x4s cut and laid out.
http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/Alpha/General/Garage/workbench/normal_workbench_014.jpg

2x4s cut and laid out. I used my circular saw for this. http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/Alpha/General/Garage/workbench/normal_workbench_017.jpg
I know the directions said to use a handsaw but like I said, I don't get along well with handsaws.

2x4s attached to 4x4 legs. http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/Alpha/General/Garage/workbench/normal_workbench_019.jpg
The directions said to not worry about squaring everything up too much at this point. I used my speed square because I tend to be picky about how my projects turn out.

A picture of me trimming the legs down after I had originally made them 44" tall. This put the bench at almost 46" which covered my outlets and part of the window. It was also too tall for me to work on comfortably. I had thought it would have made a good standing bench but even with me being 6' the bench was uncomfortable to reach across. http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10002/normal_IMG_1059.JPG


Dry fitting the legs in the corner of the garage.http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10002/normal_IMG_1063.JPG
Notice how the legs sit below the window and outlets? Much better.

Dry fitting the bench with the top in place. It is much easier to have help at this point. Trying to get the door on the legs and then getting the legs squared up with the end of the door is awkward without someone to help. Not to mention a solid core door is a bit heavy.http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10002/normal_IMG_1064.JPG

I used a level to make sure everything was lined up correctly. The guide called for using "carton" between the top and the legs to level things out if necessary.

After dry fitting the legs and top I placed the steel brackets underneath the door. Getting the 3 1/2" screws through the brackets and into the 2x4 studs was difficult. I had to put the screws in at a slight angle (towards the center of the stud) to avoid splitting the studs. http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10002/bench_wall.jpg
In my case finding the studs was easy but If you have drywall over the area it might be even more difficult to get the brackets attached correctly. The bracket has to be well centered over the 2x4 stud in the wall. If I had it do do over I would predrill the holes then attach the brackets.

Mostly finished at the point. I've got an inspector coming to do a final on the electrical so I can't put the back of the bench up yet (would cover the conduit for the electrical). http://www.nerdwarz.com/photogallery/albums/userpics/10002/normal_IMG_1065.JPG
I had my wife sit on it to make sure it was sturdy. It's very solid. The project took me about 2 hours total with me doing a couple other things in between. I spent around $70 once everything was finished. The door was the most expensive part at $52 bucks.


I plan on putting a nice finish on the top of the bench and adding a few features like a back-plane, pegboard, and some plastic bins. I will do this once the inspector looks at the electrical. I'll post the rest of the worklog once I'm able to.

[AWACS]

nice one... if it sometimes does become a little "unstable" due to wood getting dry you might want to consider throwing in a cross between the back feet... but it sure look it'll be a longlasting workbench

[JamesM]

... I had my wife sit on it to make sure it was sturdy....
Brilliant :lol:

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

Nice work bench. i wish i had the room for one.

[rhysmodder1]

Nice one matey :D
Im gonna build another... workbench soon as i jus managed to get hold of a whole kitchen top from a recycle centre for free so it should tun out cheap :)
Rhys

[JamesM]

Nice one matey :D
Im gonna build another... workbench soon as i jus managed to get hold of a whole kitchen top from a recycle centre for free so it should tun out cheap :)
Rhys
Yup, that's what I used, perfect stuff, especially when free :thumb: