Replies

1. 
   Scrit | Nov 27, 2005 04:17am | #1

   Stakeman

   About the simplest bench I've seen was put together in just under an hour by an old guy with a shop just down from mine. He makes pallets and few years back I watched whilst he ripped several pallets apart with a pry bar and bow saw (well, it was lunch break), then nailed the chopped-up pallets back together with a nail gun (now both narrower and shorter). He then nailed some recycled pallet planks across the tops of the two pallets and finished off nailing a couple of diagonals across the front and back of his "creation". Just about the ugliest, quickest bench I've ever seen. But that afternoon he was out in the sunshine banging away on it repairing pallets.

   A couple of months ago he came in my shop and was eyeballing my "temporary" site bench. I drag this out if I'm working on customer sites and need a bench or if I need an extra bench in the shop. It's just a couple of cheap folding plastic trestles (Home Depot specials) with a cut-down softwood core door screwed on top (the trestles were cheap, so why worry) and a clamp-on DIY vice at one end. A couple of hours later I saw him driving by with a replica top on his pickup - OK, it was a very second hand frame and panel door and the "vice" was rigged up with blocks and a couple of sash cramps. It was even nailed on top of that old butt-ugly bench. But he'd built another bench - really cheaply.

   Thing is it doesn't matter that much what a bench looks like unless you want it to feature in FWW. As long as you can rig-up a vice on it and it is stable enough it can be made from almost anything. My first bench was a discarded kitchen table....

   Scrit

2. 
   BG | Nov 27, 2005 04:57pm | #2

   steakman,
   In one sense your request is very simple...but like your steaks...one can quickly migrate from a 7th rib chuck to a corn feed porterhouse with some kielbasa on the side very quickly...workbenches are kinda the same way; what you want to do determines the characteristics of the bench.

   Many of us build supper sturdy workbenches to support our needs relative to the use of hand tools...chopping dovetails, planing wood, sanding, etc. The weight, flatness, clamping capability, in otherwords versatility of bench is critical. A 'Honey-do' workbench need not meet the same standards of functionality. For instance, vises are expensive but well worth it for the things we do. You might be satisfied with wooden clamps that are quite versatile for holding objects of various shapes to a flat surface.

   You might Google 'Bob's workbench' for a nice history of his evolution. Also, I noticed a simple bench made of plywood only in this issue of 'Tools and Shops'...might take a look at that.

   After I built my workbench I constructed cabinets up above with boxed doors for tool storage...power and hand...very convenient.

1. 
   sawdustandshavings | Nov 27, 2005 07:44pm | #4

   Hello,

   I have had the same trouble in choosing a bench to build that suited my skills.I am 13 years old and when I made my first ever bench for my workshop I then made one a bit bigger for my dad so that he could fit his compressor under it, after that i had a request from my granddad to build one 20ft long x 2.5ft deep and 3ft tall.However I did make some alterations to the bench by making the top out of 2" thick, edge jointed pineall of my benches have proved extremely solid and strong and will last a lifetime.When building the bench all you really need is a handsaw, a square,  a drill, a screwdriver, a tape measure and some screws.The link you need is below:

   http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20xl.html

   Good Luck,

   Sawdust.

   Edited 11/27/2005 11:46 am ET by sawdustandshavings

3. 
   hammer1 | Nov 27, 2005 07:31pm | #3

   If you hurry, Rockler has some Sjoberg benches on sale this weekend for about the cost of a couple of vises. You could use that to build your ultimate bench. The website is sold out but a local store may still have some.

   http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11430

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
4. 
   pagoda | Nov 27, 2005 08:16pm | #5

   a trick that i found that works real good is go to the sally anne and look for  used dressers  some even come  with wheels on the drawers

   build up the base by adding  a set of 4" wheels  (2 casters & 2 fixed )

   make a top that extends over the front & 2 sides using mdf or fir  ply

   cover top with tempered  masonite  so later you just change top  and its like new again

   watch when you  buy old dressers  some times there is a gem in the pile

   i  bought one once for 14 bucks  ,it was covered in paint  but built heavy duty

   i was all set to screw a top on it when wife looked in the drawers an found out it had been made  by a high end furniture mfg  and as a result it ended up being refinished & now resides in the  MBR

   I have since bought 3 more and turned them into work benches and storage as they cost a lot less than the plywood  alone to build a decent bench

5. 
   notDusty | Nov 27, 2005 08:28pm | #6

   steakman ,

                        For some reason this thread is making me hungry , back to your workbench .

                A quick and low tech bench top can be made from a solid core door , either a used one or buy a second or a B grade door for a very low price. The base can be saw horses or old chests of drawers for storage or what ever you may have laying around .

               good  luck hope this helps                    dusty

1. 
   papadan | Nov 29, 2005 04:13am | #7

   This one is very easy to build,cheap, mobile,and sturdy. http://www.hoistman.com/HoistMan/Workbench.htmlInfo for all  http://www.hoistman.com  Bad spellers of the world- Untie

1. 
   EdHarrow | Dec 13, 2005 02:10am | #8

   Ain't that the cat's meow!

2. 
   John_D | Dec 13, 2005 03:34am | #9

   I've been thinking about a storage system for the various tools that can't have dedicated supports.  I was planning a simple system of like-sized boards with bolt holes.  An easy stud cage to hold 'em, pretty much exactly like in your shop, then at work time I was just going to bolt 'em to a shopmade WorkMate sort of thing.

   But I'd not thought of a good way to handle dust control.  I love that, excellent for the chop saw, very nice.  The little downdraft insert is another great idea I'll put to use.  If I make the board wide or deep enough, I can probably even adapt this to hold my planer.  Hmm, maybe the dovetail jig too.

   Thanks for sharing your good ideas!My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

1. 
   papadan | Dec 13, 2005 04:25am | #10

   John, did you see all the pics. and the plans I have for the setup. It is a rolling work bench that has a solid top also. You can email me if you have any specific questions. danhoistman.comInfo for all  http://www.hoistman.com  Bad spellers of the world- Untie

1. 
   John_D | Dec 13, 2005 04:56am | #11

   Yes, I saw it all, and it's given me some excellent ideas.  In particular, as I said, I'd not thought to incorporate DC into the design.  I see how you've done it -- very smart -- and I intend to flatter through imitation.

   Thanks again!My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

6. 
   user-66911 | Jan 02, 2006 08:43pm | #12

   I recently made a workbench with a top I purchased from the local Woodcraft. It is 24"x60"x1.75". Laminated maple. Flat and smooth. Cost a little over $200. I'm currently making a base but there are many options using metal legs that are inexpensive. Going this route you will have a sturdy bench up and running in less then an hour with a cost not much more (or less) then if you built it from scratch.

1. 
   byhammerandhand | Jan 15, 2006 05:33am | #13

   Here's a good place to browse http://www.geocities.com/plybench/bench.html