I have never had a workbench (I usually used the concrete floor).

I went out a bought a real heavy vice and need to install it on a table. Any suggestions on a bench/table? Should I buy one or make one (I have limited woodworking skills).

I have looked in the hardware stores, and tractor part stores and really have found nothing to buy (maybe one really cheap and flimisy one).

Your suggestions and experience appreciated.

Thanks.

 

If you're looking for a simple, inexpensive workbench like this, I've seen them sold as kits at Lowes, Home Depot type stores:


I'd secure it to the floor and add diagonal braces to make it stand more securely for a large vice. ... If you haven't made up your mind about the kind of workbench you want, do a Yahoo image search and see lots of examples. Good luck.

 

My workbench

I built my own workbenches similar in design to the picture posted above by Kellsdad, out of 4" landscaping timbers for the 4 legs, angle iron for a frame running from leg to leg around the top of the bench, 2x4s for a frame running from leg to leg about 1' off the ground to support a shelf, and 3/4" plywood for the top as well as a shelf below. I bolted the top plywood to the angle iron which was bolted to the top of the legs, and sealed the top in 10 or 15 coats of urathane sealer.

Biggest workbench lesson learned - make sure the bottom shelf is high enough off the ground to be able to put typical items on the floor under it.

My Vice
I like mine mounted on the front, right corner of my workbench so I have easy access from 2 sides. I used flat steel plate (one side of old angle iron) under the bench for the mounting nuts to compress against.

The biggest lesson learned from my vice, is that I really wish I would have attached my workbench to the wall because when I'm hammering or wrenching on something that is in the vice, my bench moves around in response to my work and so energy is lost in the movement of the bench.

Jeff

 

I built mine about 15 years ago. Got the plan from Home Depot / Lowes. Made it 8 feet long, with the bench heighth at 4 feet. Under the bench is an open storage area for bulky items (deck about 4 inches from floor). above bench (part of the bench) is peg board, then 2 shelves (store large items on the top - coolers & things). I have a heavy vice mounted similar to Jeff on the right front corner. I also have a set of storage modules in front of the Corvette for things specific to the car or often used items. The more room I make for working area, I always find a use for it, and wonder how I got by without it. Good luck finding what best fits your needs.

Dave

 

Find a place that sells used Commercial kitchen supplys/Restaurant supply. They usually have the heavy duty stainless steel ones. These are usually the ones I look for.....
Also easier to clean than wood when you spill something like oil paint or whatever..... Just went to the basement to check the ones I have. They both have metal adjustable legs for uneven surfaces. I paid $90.00 for them. I am sure these can be found cheaper. Hope this helps. Sixty4....

 

I built one similar to the bench pictured but added heavy duty wheels, 2 stationary and 2 rotating... they work great and I can move the bench out of the way or roll it to the work area and even out of the garage for less sawdust etc. good luck

 

You can build one much better and cost less out of wood as the others said. I built one out of 4x4 legs, 2x6 framing and top. Over the 2x6 top boards is a piece of 1/2 plywood and .090 sheet metal. The bottom shelf is 1/2 plywood with 2x4 supports. This bench is heavy and big 3'x8' but I rebuild everything on it and had engines, trannys, differentials all on it without any movement. Cost about $200 but it was worth it.

 

I build them all the time. I'm a maintance carpenter at a window factory. We build all the benches, tables, cabinets and carts for a couple of thousand people in the production facility. We use 4x4, or 4x6 for the legs. 2x6 for the joists, 2x4 for the bottom joists and framing for the shelf. Notch all the legs on top for the rim joists and on bottom for the 2x4's that support the self. We use a product called plyron for some tops. It's plywood with tempered hardboard (masonite) on both sides for a really durable top we use gardura, a UHMW plastic product. Put maple trim around the top and round it of with a router so no sharp edges and no slivers. At home I use an old wood solid core door for the bench top they are very flat, stong and heavy. A lot of the benches at work have been In the production areas for 10 or more years, 2 or 3 shifts a day.

 

Built my bench myself. Very sturdy. Bench materials were around $75.00

39" deep x 12' long
2'x6" top frame
3/4" plywood top
2"x6" supports under the top
Attached to the wall
Grizzly Tools 6" jaw 70 lb vise

Roy

 

Guys, ah he said he had limited woodworking skills. Rim joists, 4x4 posts not trying to put the guy down but a purchase for the guy may be easier and cheaper for him?

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Stainless-NS...QQcmdZViewItem

This is close to the ones I have. Hope it helps... I am sure you can find one closer to you. Good luck Sixty4.

 

OK, here are some pics of my benches and storage. And yes, I know it is a mess so you don't have to tell me to straighten it up.

Dave

 

The design of a good bench is dependent upon it's use. Woodworking, welding, mechanics, metal working (milling, drilling, grinding) are ideally done on different types of benches. Most people do not have the room for separate benches for different use and compromise.
I fortunately have several workbenches, each with different uses. I have two sections of steel workbench (bought from a manufacturing company going out of business).
They were made by Equipto, in Aurora, Ill. URL="http://www.equipto.com/"]http://www.equipto.com/ One end is my welding and bead blasting area (these functions are compatible in the same area). The other end is general mechanics with a vice and the parts cleaner off of that end. These benches include steel shelves and roller drawers. New, these are fairly expensive, but they are heavy and do not need to be bolted down to hold a good vice.
For general miscellaneous work, I use an old clothes folding table.
It is light weight and moveable. It has no shelves, a formica covered composite top with backstop approximately 4 to 6" tall, around three sides. It also is tall enough to sit on a stool with wheels and work comfortably at it. This is probable the single most used bench I have.
I have another dedicated for woodworking. It was made out of MDF. I mention it since I designed it for specific purposes. A wood lathe, a large multi purpose bench vice, and a tabletop drill press are mounted on it. When designing it, I adjusted the height to work each of these tools comfortably while standing. Don't forget to include a toe kick (space at the bottom of the bench of cabinets for of course, toes). With open bottoms, this isn't an issue, with the design of this bench more like a cabinet, this had to be included.

 

All good ideas, Kellsdad's example is what I built. Used 4X4's for the legs, and frame work, and 2X12 planks for the top, with a 1/2" top for a smooth surface. It is heavy, real heavy, but when you wack on the vice, the table does not even vibrate.

Mark

 

I like the finished looks of the melamine cabinets with the molded formica tops. The top has extra support under it with 1"X4" firring strips. I also added an additional 30" wide table of 1-3/4" thick plywood and melamine for heavier work on the left side where the small vise is mounted.

I particularly like the large vise stand, as I placed it off the floor and away from the bench so I can pound with out knocking every thing over. The legs do not go to the floor, but back to the foundation footer.

 

Try Sam's Club if you have one in your area. I noticed a nice sized one that had a maple top with steel legs when I was there last week. It was reasonably priced.
Cheers
Steve

 

Current garage is too small, but in the last one I built the bench from 2x4s and 2X6s as an integral part of the garage. That is, I fastened the structure to every stud in the wall behind it (along the back and one end). Very very stable...

Top was two layers of 3/4 plywood covered with 12" square floor tiles. I covered the edges with vinyl "stair-nose".

It was a great bench. Just wish the current garage was big enough...

 

I was admiring a 6 foot work bench at menards the other day. Had a moderate steel frame with wood top and pegboard back with a drawer and shelf below. Didn't seem it was too expensive <$200 I think.

I need a better work bench in my garage too.

 

http://www.plansnow.com/workbenchplans.html

Here is a bunch of bench plans...I did a search on Google under "workbench plans" and a bunch of stuff came up. I had previously found some free plans on line and made my own. it was for a 6 foot bench that I adjusted into an 8 foot bench....then I got one of my vendors to make me a stainless steel top for it....1/8" thick. The top was bent on the ends to cover the bench top. so it had a "skirt" of about 5 inches....they really took care of me and welded the ends and ground them smooth....talk about a bench top! I took black spray paint to the legs and such so that it wouldn't look like wood....

Bottom line, you have to have a work bench.....I wish I could have MORE!


I went to Sears and bought a bench top light and peg board for the top of it.....