Asked on Dec 21, 2014
How to build a strong wooden work bench for the garage?
by
Carole
+14
Does anyone have any plans or tips to pass on for making a strong wooden work bench for the garage. I want to be able to put my makeovers - small chairs, and bits and pieces I am working on, on the top of the bench for ease of access and also would like to be able to saw, paint, use a vice as necessary and so on. The hardware stores seem to only sell those that have the MDF top and am told that using a vice on that can bend the MDF. I have been checking ebay to buy one, but they are expensive and hard to transport as we only have a small hatchback car. I decided would be best to buy the timber and make our own.
12 answers
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Hi Carole, I found a decent article on Pinterest that will give you a good idea on what to do. If you do end up buying a table that has an MDF top my husband recommends that you buy and cut an additional sheet of MDF and screw it into the existing top. He said that you will not have a problem with a vice if it's doubled. In any case, here is the article I found and good luck with your project. http://thehuth.blogspot.ca/2012/08/diy-work-bench.html
MaryStLouis
on Dec 21, 2014
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You'll figure it out.
J.tilly
on Dec 21, 2014
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They give wonderful helpful tips on here.The 3/4 plywood would be good for the weight.
J.tilly
on Dec 21, 2014
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Here's a web site with lots of plans for work benches. Good luck. http://allcrafts.net/woodworking/workbench.htm
Leona G
on Dec 22, 2014
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I made a workbench with a couple of old kitchen base cabinets, braced them with 2x4's with a space between them for a couple of those plastic drawer carts, topped with a wood strip table top from Home Depot. There is enough overhang to use clamps on the edge. For a sturdy top, I recommend that you use 3/4" plywood that you can have cut to size at the store.
Darla
on Dec 22, 2014
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I found old lab tables at an old school that they where throwing away.three lined up makes great bench and the edges are roomy enough for vises and anything else I may need to put on my work bench.
Betty Koger
on Dec 22, 2014
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A WELDED FRAME MADE OF ANGLE IRON ( BED FRAMES ). BEST !!!! 4X4 FOR LEGS AND 2X6 FOR TOP AND BOTTOM SHELF. YOU WILL NEED 2 MULES TO MOVE IT, BUT MINE HAS BEEN THE GARAGE, 40 YR.......
Henrietta Retired-- Love Gardening
on Dec 22, 2014
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Head on over to HARBOR FREIGHT and buy their WOODEN WORKBENCH--don't forget your COUPON. The bench retails for about $135 (but with the 20% off coupon---) and it comes WITH a vice that mounts on the side; bench dogs and holes to hold your work in place; four felt lined drawers; drawer slides; a lower shelf that is re-inforced on the sides; a WOODEN TOP and frame. You will have to assemble some of this but it is pretty easy. We built one for a kitchen island. It has held up beautifully in a household with 7 people inc small kids. We sanded and poly'd the top and added a small piece of 1/4 round molding to the back edge so things don't roll off. The IKEA small wooden spice racks can be easily mounted on the SIDES to hold small cans or bottles etc; and the IKEA steel rod system can be used on the back for more storage if it is not going to be flush against a wall all the time. You can use casters if you will be moving it. Many guys use this as a re-loading bench which requires heavy metal equipment on top. We have talked about building another one---for our actual workshop! To get a coupon look in most "mens" type magazines--no not THOSE mags--Pop Science; Readers Digest; Pop Mech and biker and car mags. If you sign up for on-line alerts and coupons sometimes you can get larger than 20% off. I believe that HF will ship this to you; don't know how much it would cost; but we looked at a lot of these and read many reviews and feel this was the best one out there. So it might well be worth paying freight.
Comet
on Dec 22, 2014
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Thanks to all who replied. I just took delivery of a work bench made from recycled pine shipping pallets. There is no way I would have access to shipping pallets. The timber is very thick and heavy. Thinking about the cost of timber purchase to make one of these and having no work bench to work on to make one - LOL - I decided to purchase one from ebay. it is very heavy and strong enough to take a vice. All sorted out now! Not having to make my own will give me more time to work on my furniture makeovers!
Carole
on Dec 22, 2014
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For a strong bench simple get some used cabinets at the restore store and also get a 'solid-core' all wood door to use at the bench.
Anna
on Mar 29, 2015
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I see home improvement shows, and they trash the wooden cabinets. Simple unscrew them from wall, put up in garage. Base cabinets make great workbench island. Put wheels on it to move where needed in garage. Can be used as a buffet for garage yard parties.
Henrietta Retired-- Love Gardening
on Mar 31, 2015
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I have one we have been using for about two years and we are VERY happy with it---I think there was a different supplier a few years back that was not good. We did not mod anything structural; we did fill in the bench dog holes with dowels to keep dust out of the drawers. And since we were not loading the drawers with heavy tools we were able to change the glides to extend a bit farther. We found everything to be well made; we used Gorilla Glue (the brown stuff) to re-inforce just as we do with all wood construction. I would def buy another one and have recommended these to a lot of people.
Comet
on Jan 05, 2016
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