Replies

1. 
   Len | Aug 16, 2008 06:38am | #1

   I designed and built my bench to roll around. It's a beast even when it's unloaded. I used a maple top I bought from a local hardwood supplier. It's 7' long and 24" wide. The bottom unit is made up of paint grade plywood. It is double thick in critical places. It was glued together with West Systems Epoxy. The lower unit has drawers on slides 13" deep. The back is used fro clamp storage. I have two vises on it. A quick release on the end and a pattern makers vise on the front. I floated the bench above the main tool box. This allows me to clamp anywhere along it. I also have a couple of wooden boxes which I put my tools I'm using in under the top.

   I had intentions to finish the edges and paint it but I never got around to it. I might still and I need to add bench dogs in the top as well. But it has served me for five years as is and I don't plan on making another any time soon.

    

   Len

   "You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox

   
2. 
   TomT226 | Aug 16, 2008 01:47pm | #2

   Here's my bench I've had for over 25 years.  Just 2X's and a double ply top.  It's got wheels on the back legs so I can pick up the front and move it around.

   Kinda ugly though.  For knock down or assembly, get some cheap luan hollow core doors and hit'em with some poly or lacquer so the glue doesn't stick, then place them over folding saw-horses.

    

   
3. 
   RalphBarker | Aug 16, 2008 06:26pm | #3

   Are you using "Multi-purpose Workbench" in the generic sense, or referring to a specific product/design? I believe Festool has one by that name, and there was a recent post about another design that looked like a cross between a large B&D Workmate on steroids and Swiss Army "transformer". Slick, but very pricey.

1. 
   SRogers93 | Aug 17, 2008 03:38am | #4

   OOPS don't I look like the fool I forgot the link to the article. Thanks for the pics and ideas on the other benches. I am hoping to make mine mobile some how also but that may not be possible for the features I would like to have as you will see in this article. And here is the link
   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/Workshop/WorkshopArticle.aspx?id=31110Thanks again.

1. 
   RalphBarker | Aug 17, 2008 04:11am | #5

   Ah, OK. That is a nice bench. But, I'd agree that with storage use, mobility is probably not feasible - unless the casters are on motorized hydraulic lifts, of course. ;-)What I found very helpful was to do a scaled drawing of the work space, along with scaled outlines of the tools. Then, I moved things around on paper (screen, actually), keeping in mind infeed, outfeed, and working room for each tool. Those tools that don't move easily, I arranged so they can remain stationary, but many items need to be moved around a bit, depending on what I'm doing. For me, the biggest problem with large, horizontal surfaces is that they tend to grow bench tools.