Building a work bench

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guitardemon

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Jun 8, 2005
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So I'm looking at building a workbench and came across these plains online: http://plansnow.com/wwrkbnch.html
And I thought it would be a nice addition to our garage. The question I have is, is this a bit low of a workbench? It says that it is 34 1/4" high. The work bench I am using now is 40" high. I am only 5'10 so this is to high for me to use the drill press, the grinder, etc. I will still have the old work bench so I can still do other things at that height if I want to. What heights do you guys like your work benches at for using the belt sander (just got my first one for Christmas. Cant wait to use it!), drill press, bench grinder, and just general working?

My second question is can anyone recommend what to use as the top? The directions say use a solid core door. I'm told most doors have press board in the center. Our garage can get awful damp and I think this would take quite a toll on the door. The work bench we have now has is made of 2 thick fur planks. I hate having a seam running down the center of the work bench. all sorts of crap seems to get stuck in there. My dad was thinking maybe i could do the use two fir planks, and then put Masonite paneling over the top. What do you guys think? Is this a good idea? Any other ideas would are welcome. I am trying to keep the cost down low, so bare that in mind.
 
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Mine all seem to be 34 - 36" high.
With Plywood tops.

Build it and make it the height you want.
It's just the length of some legs...
 
My bench is pressure treated 2x8s and on the "finish" end of the bench I have a piece of 1/2" ply wood on top of the 2x8s. I wouldn't recommend a door for a work bench, works great if you're going to make model airplanes or something light but you're going to wind up using a hammer on something on your bench eventually and then you'll have a nice hole in the bench. I've seen a sheet of 3/4" MDF flooring cut in half lengthwise used for a nice solid bench. Pretty inexpensive (and you can get it cut at the store) if you can deal with a 2 foot wide bench.
 
Depends on exactly what you want to use it for. I built a grinder bench strictly for my grinder at a low height so I can sit and grind on it. Then I built a ~41" - 42" bench for my finish work and filing so I can sit on a bar height stool if needed. Both I topped with G11. The height will be based on your own height (I'm 6'1") and the function of the bench. Would I put a drill press on my low grinder bench? No. Would I grind on a 42" workbench? No. It has to be comfortable for you.
 
Personally I would build my own. It is not hard to do. Most benches are somewhere between 32 to 36 inches high depending on the person. Some 2x4s for legs with some cross pieces of 2x4 or 2x6. Most of these you can find at most any building sites in the scrap pile. Get some particle or MDF board which is cheap, put one layer of MDF then one layer of 3/4 inch plywood, then top it of with either a work surface of Masonite board or even just put some formica on it. I have made several like these and they work pretty good, even in damp locations. Mine or in my garage and it gets pretty damp there. I have some plans somewhere if you think you need them but it is not really very complicated. Good luck.
 
I've moved several times and had to build more than a couple benches.
34" is a very good height. Consider using 3/4" plywood A/C grade. A side up (very smooth). C side is construction grade. Give it a few coats of polyurethane. Also, you want every edge to over hang the support beams by a couple inches for clamping.
 
I build my benches out of old kitchens. Craigslist always has someone giving away old cabinets. I just reinforce with 2x4's so they will hold up to some abuse.
 
A solid core, smooth face door makes an excellent bench top. Make sure it's solid core though. I use a commercial solid core 4' door for my top. If it's already bored for a knob you have a nice pre made hole for cords to run through.
A good place to find a cheap one is a local lumber yard. Ask if they have any that customer's never picked up or if they have any that came back off of a job for whatever reason. A lot of times you can get them for free. I did.
God bless,
Iz
 
Mine is 16 feet long and is made from PT 4 x 4's for the legs, 2 x 4's for the framefor the top frame and spreaders/lower shelf supports and 3/4' plywood for the top and shelf. Indestructible and very sturdy for attaching things like a vice. Believ it or not, my mom came up with the design and we have built a number of them. you build it in 8 foot sections and tie them togther. I use 2 1/2 and 3 inch deck screws because they are about the only thing you can get these days that aren't made out of some kind of cheap pot metal that the drill or electric screwdriver won't strip out. Pricey but well worth it. I know that we knife makers tend to go cheap at times, but spend the money on good materials and you will never be sorry you did. If you want a REALLY hardcore bench top, make it out of 2 x 6's and lay piece of 1/2 inch plywood over that!!!!!
 
Do you have a building supply recycling center nearby?

I found a laminate beam 12' long that was 12"x6" for like 20 bucks, cut it in three and made a work bench 2' wide by 4' long(6" thick top!) and used the other piece for a sharpening station, with the extra depth you can cut out recesses into the top and store tools in there.

Also you can find some solid core doors there, I picked up 4 for a closet project and it was very cheap.

For benches, I have several, some short and some tall, depending on the work and what sits on them, start tall and you can always cut them down later. For tops mostly I have 2x4 bracing and masonite tops.
 
Uh.... not wood for me here. Mine is 5mm thick steel (1000 x 600mm) with square tube (50 x 50 x 5mm) legs and a shelf of the same 5mm steel plate about 20cm from the floor to add strength. It also has angle irons welded on the sides of the steel plate to make it absolutely rigid. I made a few sets of holes on it so I can place my bench vice on 8 different positions. Same goes for the drill press and it will sport a new set of holes for my grinder (not a belt grinder mind you...). I made it out of steel because now it doubles as a welding bench and as a support for my homemade coal forge. It was my first welding work and taught me a lot I guess.

Weights a ton but... well... that means more workout for me! Anytime I need to work on a blade, so as no to scratch it, I always clamp a wooden board on it.

Mikel
 
I agree that for mounting power equipment a steel bench would be better.
My major bench is an old high school shop bench with a thick hard maple top !
A typical kitchen table is 30" high and typical counter 34". Adjust these dimensions to fit you.
 
Mine has 4x4 legs and double 3/4" plywood for the top all screwes for fasteners. Makes a good base for a vise and for a grinder and I can hammer on it with out it giving at all. I think I spent $50 on it when I built it.
 
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