Ideal Work Bench Design???

[bjamison]

I've got a piece of plywood, 4 ft x 8 ft x 3/4 in thick. I'm thinking about making a workbench and using this for the top. The idea would be 4 x 4 inch posts coming up from the floor at each corner and a 4 x 4 inch post on each side centered. Under the plywood, around the perimeter and at the center 4 ft width would be a 2 x 6 and about half way down would be another perimeter of 2 x 4 inch boards. I may even put a shelf across this mid section to store stuff.

All of this material I've got is scrap or stuff not being used.

The work bench would be against a wall on one of the 4 ft sides with the three other sides such that you could walk around it.

What do you think? How tall should I make it? I can see me working on all sorts of stuff on this - from mowing decks to engines.

What did you do/consider/design with your workbench?

 

[jharvey]

Bill
I would have some trouble reaching for stuff at the back of the bench, especially if it is heavy. (think short like 5' 6") Maybe rip it to 32" and use the leftover 16" for the shelf.

 

[mfrade]

X2, a 4 ft bench is too deep. 30 to 33 is good in my opinion. I also like a bench top about even with my waist.

And a shelf is always handy but it will also add rigidity. Always a good thing!

 

[aschumacher]

Bill, for more ideas, do a Google search on 'how to build simple workbench'.
A whole bunch of ideas, too many for me to relist. You'll have a great bench when done. As far as my ideas, think of a kitchen counter...too high? not deep enough? just right!

 

[kide]

I prefer tops made from 2x6's with no perimeter framing, (set the top frame in at least a couple of inches) as you can't get a decent clamp when you're trying to clamp on 4 or 6 inches at the edge.. Also any bench that's going to have a heavy vice on it should be anchored to the floor (I love my Milwaukee Falcon hammer drill - I can put anchors in the floor in a minute - takes me longer to set up than to finish..). I can put an old bumper jack under the edge of one of mine and use it to break beads down on tires... I like a back splash to keep stuff from disappearing over the back and the cracks between the 2x6's kept tight for the same reason (start with dry wood). Use the plywood for shelves...

I can see the bench you describe as good for working on mowers or large projects, but as others have said, a little too big for general projects.
BTW, a work bench is really just a large shelf, used as a drop zone for placing all objects in your workshop, with the requirement that the objects be small enough to push aside when you need bench space to actually work..

 

[dfrisk]

BILL - I'd rip the plywood in half the long way and make the bench 16 ft X 2 ft. 34 to 36 inches high is about right. And if you can tie the bench to the wall to steady it that helps a LOT.

Put a few extra outlets above AND below the bench too. You'll use them a lot. And don't forget proper lighting too.

My first little shop was 8 ft X 16 ft OUTSIDE dimensions. Eves were seven feet off the ground. My bench was about 7 ft long in one end and 32-34 inches wide. Just enough room for my Knipco kerosene heater, the Cub Cadet, and if I moved some stuff around I could even get my OSSA 250 dirt bike in there too. Now I have a work bench over 26 feet long plus a couple mobile benches, and a grinding/drilling bench that's "L" shaped in a corner, 8 ft X 4 ft on the outside against the walls and 2 ft X 6 ft on the inside. And I have a hard time finding enough open space to put a beverage can down while I'm working. 'Course I have about 35 yrs more accumulation of tools now than I did then too.