I want to build a workbench and i want to use 2x4's to build it.I want to do it to where it looks nice,not just slapped together.Any tips?
Tips on making a workbench outta 2X4"s....
- Thread starter daves66nova
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Buy these resin legs:
http://www.amazon.com/2x4basics-90164-Wo...ords=bench+legs
Then you can buy 2x4s and some plywood to make a workbench in a size of your choice.
Earlier discussion here:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2122157/
http://www.amazon.com/2x4basics-90164-Wo...ords=bench+legs
Then you can buy 2x4s and some plywood to make a workbench in a size of your choice.
Earlier discussion here:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2122157/
Is it freaky that I was thinking the exact same thing earlier??!
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
I want to build a workbench and i want to use 2x4's to build it.I want to do it to where it looks nice,not just slapped together.Any tips?
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
I want to build a workbench and i want to use 2x4's to build it.I want to do it to where it looks nice,not just slapped together.Any tips?
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
Use 2 1x4's laminated together instead of 2x4's.
Much more resistant to moisture and temperature changes.
Seal them well with poly and they wont warp easy.
Seems like a good idea
Use 2 1x4's laminated together instead of 2x4's.
Much more resistant to moisture and temperature changes.
Seal them well with poly and they wont warp easy.
Seems like a good idea
You probably know this already, but -
Measure twice, cut once.
Make sure all your corners are square.
Use straight lumber
Use screws rather than nails - it will hold together better.
Build it 36 inches high, two feet wide and six feet long with a shelf underneath.
Do not paint, stain or seal it. It's a work bench and is going to get stained and dirty - that's the mark of a good bench.
Measure twice, cut once.
Make sure all your corners are square.
Use straight lumber
Use screws rather than nails - it will hold together better.
Build it 36 inches high, two feet wide and six feet long with a shelf underneath.
Do not paint, stain or seal it. It's a work bench and is going to get stained and dirty - that's the mark of a good bench.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/woodworking/4219723
Complete instructions and blueprints. Looks like a nice little project and a much better bench than anything you could buy.
Complete instructions and blueprints. Looks like a nice little project and a much better bench than anything you could buy.
Construction grade lumber will not look good for long. It's not intended for finished uses. A bench needs to be as flat as possible and you simply won't achieve this unless you have significant wood working tools at your disposal, and are using high quality kiln dried lumber.
You won't find this quality of wood at a big box, and the typical grade lumber will shrink and warp quickly.
Making the bench from plywood or MDF will yield a far better product. I am speaking from experience on both counts.
MDF is heavier, resonance dampening, and cheaper than other options.
You won't find this quality of wood at a big box, and the typical grade lumber will shrink and warp quickly.
Making the bench from plywood or MDF will yield a far better product. I am speaking from experience on both counts.
MDF is heavier, resonance dampening, and cheaper than other options.
Originally Posted By: 123Saab
Use 2 1x4's laminated together instead of 2x4's.
Much more resistant to moisture and temperature changes.
Seal them well with poly and they wont warp easy.
Really bad idea. Wrapping with poly means moisture cannot evaporate and 1x4 is far from being anywhere near strong.
Op.
We built them from sheets of 1/2" osb with a 2x4 frame. And we make them strong enough to last,but fast enough that there isn't a large investment in time(money) so if they get forgotten or run over with a forklift its no biggie.
If you are referring to sawhorses buy the bracket type system. Cheap,fast and easy
Use 2 1x4's laminated together instead of 2x4's.
Much more resistant to moisture and temperature changes.
Seal them well with poly and they wont warp easy.
Really bad idea. Wrapping with poly means moisture cannot evaporate and 1x4 is far from being anywhere near strong.
Op.
We built them from sheets of 1/2" osb with a 2x4 frame. And we make them strong enough to last,but fast enough that there isn't a large investment in time(money) so if they get forgotten or run over with a forklift its no biggie.
If you are referring to sawhorses buy the bracket type system. Cheap,fast and easy
Do NOT use OSB - if you plan on doing any kind of intricate work on your bench, it will cut your arms to pieces and you'll be digging splinters out of your arms every time you use it. I have over 80 feet of work bench and started with OSB as a surface material - ended up throwing all that out and using 2 x 4's for bench surface as well as plywood. I built everyone of mine out of scrap lumber, (I even used an old door in one section). They look good, are very durable and do the job.
The question in my mind is are you building it to look pretty or are you building it to use. Mine look good but are stained with all manner of grease, oil and paint. I have vices and grinders mounted to mine and they are marked where I have hammered on work pieces and have burn marks from welding. They are covered with drawings and measurements from various projects. To me, that's what a work bench is suppose to look like. But then, that's just me.
The question in my mind is are you building it to look pretty or are you building it to use. Mine look good but are stained with all manner of grease, oil and paint. I have vices and grinders mounted to mine and they are marked where I have hammered on work pieces and have burn marks from welding. They are covered with drawings and measurements from various projects. To me, that's what a work bench is suppose to look like. But then, that's just me.
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Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
Do NOT use OSB - if you plan on doing any kind of intricate work on your bench, it will cut your arms to pieces and you'll be digging splinters out of your arms every time you use it. I have over 80 feet of work bench and started with OSB as a surface material - ended up throwing all that out and using 2 x 4's for bench surface as well as plywood. I built everyone of mine out of scrap lumber, (I even used an old door in one section). They look good, are very durable and do the job.
The question in my mind is are you building it to look pretty or are you building it to use. Mine look good but are stained with all manner of grease, oil and paint. I have vices and grinders mounted to mine and they are marked where I have hammered on work pieces and have burn marks from welding. They are covered with drawings and measurements from various projects. To me, that's what a work bench is suppose to look like. But then, that's just me.
+1 OSM my God no! Home Cheapo you can grab a 3/4 sheet pine plywood sand it and seal it...then use a 1/4 of whatever cheap ply you want on top and change it ut when necessary.
IMHO best way to go is ask a pro cabinet shop for leftover strips of whatever his prevalent hardwood of choice is (most in my NY area are Phil Mahogany or Ribbon Mahogany) and glude these up with Titebond III and that is your top. Will have to be a decent size shop but most will give it up because other than what you want to do with it they use it for fire wood.
Last thought, is what I'm doing for a 4ft long bench in my garage for a sink/small work area. Granite guy in the city I work I offered to buy a small leftover piece 4ftx26. He was great, gave me many choices and for $150 out the door cant beat it.
My original plan was SS but way to expensive.
Do NOT use OSB - if you plan on doing any kind of intricate work on your bench, it will cut your arms to pieces and you'll be digging splinters out of your arms every time you use it. I have over 80 feet of work bench and started with OSB as a surface material - ended up throwing all that out and using 2 x 4's for bench surface as well as plywood. I built everyone of mine out of scrap lumber, (I even used an old door in one section). They look good, are very durable and do the job.
The question in my mind is are you building it to look pretty or are you building it to use. Mine look good but are stained with all manner of grease, oil and paint. I have vices and grinders mounted to mine and they are marked where I have hammered on work pieces and have burn marks from welding. They are covered with drawings and measurements from various projects. To me, that's what a work bench is suppose to look like. But then, that's just me.
+1 OSM my God no! Home Cheapo you can grab a 3/4 sheet pine plywood sand it and seal it...then use a 1/4 of whatever cheap ply you want on top and change it ut when necessary.
IMHO best way to go is ask a pro cabinet shop for leftover strips of whatever his prevalent hardwood of choice is (most in my NY area are Phil Mahogany or Ribbon Mahogany) and glude these up with Titebond III and that is your top. Will have to be a decent size shop but most will give it up because other than what you want to do with it they use it for fire wood.
Last thought, is what I'm doing for a 4ft long bench in my garage for a sink/small work area. Granite guy in the city I work I offered to buy a small leftover piece 4ftx26. He was great, gave me many choices and for $150 out the door cant beat it.
My original plan was SS but way to expensive.
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I had a very heavy solid core oak shop door sitting in my garage. I milled up some douglas fir 4x4's and 2x10's. Made them into a base. Then mounted the door onto the base frame. Made it barstool height so I could work or have a cold one on a stool.
Cheap, sturdy, quick and easy.
Cheap, sturdy, quick and easy.
...then use a 1/4 of whatever cheap ply you want on top and change it ut when necessary.
This is what I do, learned it from my Dad. On one of my benches I have a sheet of clear plexi from lowes. This is where I mix paint, or rebuild a cv joint, stuff like that; I can wipe the oil and paint right off of it.
This is what I do, learned it from my Dad. On one of my benches I have a sheet of clear plexi from lowes. This is where I mix paint, or rebuild a cv joint, stuff like that; I can wipe the oil and paint right off of it.
Mine has a 2x4 frame and 2x8's for the work surface.
Think about how you're going to use it, and the stuff you want to store, and make some sketches.
I'd rather stand than sit when I'm working in the garage, so I put the work surface 47" off the ground. It's also high enough to keep stuff out of reach of the little kids.
I also made specific slots to roll a generator underneath for storage, and to place a shop vac so I can use it without rolling it out. My shelves are sized and spaced to fit 18 gallon plastic storage tubs.
Screws are much better than nails - makes it much easier to take things apart and fix them if your carpentry skills are bad (like mine). Self-drilling torx-headed deck screws work great, well worth the extra few bucks vs drywall screws.
Think about how you're going to use it, and the stuff you want to store, and make some sketches.
I'd rather stand than sit when I'm working in the garage, so I put the work surface 47" off the ground. It's also high enough to keep stuff out of reach of the little kids.
I also made specific slots to roll a generator underneath for storage, and to place a shop vac so I can use it without rolling it out. My shelves are sized and spaced to fit 18 gallon plastic storage tubs.
Screws are much better than nails - makes it much easier to take things apart and fix them if your carpentry skills are bad (like mine). Self-drilling torx-headed deck screws work great, well worth the extra few bucks vs drywall screws.
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I use the flip top table, converts from a table to a bench...
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0015XGCN0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1372476209&sr=8-1&pi=SL75
www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0015XGCN0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1372476209&sr=8-1&pi=SL75
You can use Simpson Strong Tie parts from Home Depot
http://www.strongtie.com/ftp/fliers/DIY-PROJECT08.pdf
http://www.strongtie.com/ftp/fliers/DIY-PROJECT08.pdf
Thanks for posting that. I was looking for simple plans like the #5 heavy duty table and was going to just use a bunch of screws, but those strong ties look better and easier.
Here's a good site with lots of different benches + the plans are available to buy.Plans
You can also look up "Ask this old house" and search the previous videos. They built a couple of workbenches + a great picnic table.
When building your own, you get to customize it to your size. My general purpose bench is 23 yrs old now. It's height is the same as my waist so I don't have to bend over as I'm 6'4".
You can also look up "Ask this old house" and search the previous videos. They built a couple of workbenches + a great picnic table.
When building your own, you get to customize it to your size. My general purpose bench is 23 yrs old now. It's height is the same as my waist so I don't have to bend over as I'm 6'4".
I like a clean look and something that is attached to the wall with L-Clamps.
Just get some butcher block from lumber liq or take 2 pieces of plywood and glue and screw them together and just hang them on l-clamps all around the room or one corner.
The best part is that you can half height metal shelves that roll and store underneath the work surface.
This way you can clean floor.
Just get some butcher block from lumber liq or take 2 pieces of plywood and glue and screw them together and just hang them on l-clamps all around the room or one corner.
The best part is that you can half height metal shelves that roll and store underneath the work surface.
This way you can clean floor.
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