I'm ready for one, but don't necessarily want to built it. Anybody have recommendation to offer? Thankyou.

 

I made mine from two Craftsman rollaway service carts (left the casters off and set them on the floor), and had my kitchen counter guy make a butcher-block top that spans across both of them, with a kneehole in the middle (double-click the pic for a better image).


:steering:


[Modified by JohnZ, 11:10 AM 10/11/2003]

 

VERY nice setup IMHO. What about a vice? I want something that I can hammer things on held in a vice.

 

Do you have a Lowe's near you? Lowe's exclusively carries a new line of garage cabinetry by Coleman (the outdoor company) that looks similar to GladiatorWorks but is considerably less expensive. There is a nice looking workbench in the collection. I can't seem to find a picture online - too new I guess. I have the cabinets -- very nice!

Vaughn

 

My set up is similar to JohnZ's. I have 2 Craftsman 26" wide roll-aways bolter together. So 52" wide. I left the outside casters on. I then put a 1/2" piece of plywood top of each cabinet. Then put a 3/4" piece on top to span the entire top. I then covered it with a black rubber runner I found at Ace Hardware. I stapled that down and trimmed the extra. I have a vice on the back corner, a medium size one. I have another vice for heavy use. I also installed a lighted magnifying glass on an articulating arm. On the back I have a trough that spans the length of the work surface for cans of cleaner, wd-40 etc. I also put a power strip on the side.

This makes a great work surface that is mobile. And is handy since your tools are right below you.

I rebuilt my tranny on there, install u-joints in drive shafts, test batteries, just about anything. The rubber mat cleans and shines nice with some Armour-All.

The roll-aways are like the one in JohnZ set-up. (the one on the right). There were around $200.00 each, and another $25.00 in plywood.

The other one I have is a stationary home built. I used 4X4's and 2"/12" planks. This is the unit the heavy vice is mounted to. It weighs a ton, but solid as a rock. Took a day to build and another afternoon to paint.

Mark

 

Vaughn,
http://www.colemanstorage.com

 

Well done! It actually looks far better in person. It looks a little chincy in that picture. The cabinets are laminate, not solid steel like GladiatorWorks, but it also won't break the bank... Don't know how sturdy the bench for it is.


[Modified by SeaLawyer, 9:31 PM 10/11/2003]

 

Great looking workbenches! I've got a slightly different low budget approach. Got some used kitchen cabinets, put a 3/4" plywood top on and then a formed piece of 12 ga steel which goes up the back like a backsplash and folds over the front edge. Totally indestructable with great utility and solid enough to mount a good vise. Impervious to grease and oil and you can hammer on it fairly vigorously without damaging anything. If you have a recycle store in your area, take a look. Usually you can pick them up for very little. If you know a remodeler, you can get them for free. The nice part is you can ususally get some matching uppers in the process.
Just another approach :cheers:

 

I have a suggestion on what you can use for a workbench top.

Go to your local Lowes, Home Depot, Menards etc. and look for a solid core wood door that has some damage. You can make them an offer on the door.
I have a workbench in my basement like this.

I got that tip from a woodworking site somewhere on the web.

Ryan

 

Your garage looks pretty good as is! What I did, which I really like, is on one whole wall I put kitchen base cabinets on the bottom, a regular kitchen countertop, and kitchen wall cabinets above. If you buy stock cabinets & countertops that HQ or Lowes sell the price is reasonable and looks good. Mine are Oak. Looks good and I have tons of storage - 20 foot wall full of cabinets.