Hell all,

I just finished a new workbench for my shop. I had been looking for a design for a while and found one on the internet I liked (link below). I modified the dimensions to 60" L x 31" W x 32" H to fit my needs. All together the materials ran me $35 at Lowe's, including the free wood cutting service. It took me about 2 hours when I got home to srew it all together. There is no way you can build something this sturdy and useful for less. I also added sheet rock to the top of the OSB material to use as a building surface for my planes. I have found its easy to push pins into and is cheap to replace if you get it dirty or scar it up and want to throw it away, since a replacement is only $10 bucks. Hope this helps anyone who needs to build or replace their existing, aging work bench. I still have to add the bottom storage shelf, but I will save that for next weekend. Take care -

Aaron

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/w...below20xl.html

Very nice! [sm=thumbup.gif]

Maybe a coat of paint too?

Nice bench.

Great bench, you will certainly be happy I think. I have been using three of those benches in my Cabinet shop for years. They hold up great and stay true. One upgrade you might consider is using Melamine for the top instead of OSB. You can find 3/4 mel at almost any big box hardware store for around 20.00 a 4x8 sheet. Most glues will not stick to it and its very easy cleanup. You can usually get it in white, grey or black. White works great to lighten up a workspace and makes it easier (for us old guys) to see small parts while you work. you can see one of mine in the background. I spray laminate glue all over them and then scrap it back off.

One 'alternate' to using sheet rock would be for those of us that already have a door blank as a building top would be to modify the bench to accommodate the door blank as a building surface. Nevertheless, that's a good looking bench and would work for me just as it is!!! As I said, I do have the door blank so I, personally, would modify it to fit the door blank.

DS.

That's a fine looking wood shop Nut, it makes me jealous.

Thanks Tom, unfortunatly its only for the business. I did use it that night to build a bunch of flight tables though. I had it all cleaned up by 4am
I did tell my wife that when I retire that the cabinet shop will be covered with half built RC planes the next day Its 1500sq ft, 10ft ceilings, radiant heat in the concrete, central dustcollection system on a remote, 45,000.00 in tooling. I have been a lucky man.

Nut: The envy of all RC'ers!!! My shop is a spare bedroom that I converted into a storage space then part of it with a bench. I am planning on putting up one of those temp sheds that I can get from Home Depot in the 'back yard' (small.. very small area but will fit a shed quite nicely with no room to spare). I intend to insulate it, put a ceiling area for storage of planes and a work bench, probably the width of the building. Dream on.. but hopefully this time next year. It's a town house but we have some condo-assn rules that I have to follow (pain).

DS.

Oh no, like I said. I dont get to do RC stuff in that shop
My aiplane shop is much much much smaller. I am 6'4" and my RC shop ceiling slopes down to 6'!! Here is a picture I took last night.

Nice bench and you sure can't beat the price. I'm going to build one with the following additions:

Add 2 or 3 2X4 cross braces, on edge, under the top so it doesn't sag with time. Same with the shelf. Those dormatory refrigerators get heavy when they're full of beer.

Put a door blank on top of the OSB with homasote on that. Homasote takes pins very well.

Add lag bolts into the bottom of the legs so I can level the bench and accomodate any wavyness in my basement floor.

Bottle opener mounted on the right side front leg, high enough for the cap to fall into a waste basket situated below it. I'm right handed and drink bottled beer.

A hook just above the bottle opener to hold my ear muffs. Ear muffs block the noise my wife makes when she calls down stairs to ask if I'm ever coming up for air.

How about a skirt around the base so when you drop the last screw you have to mount the engine, it doesn't disappear under the bench?

Help, what else do I need?

Thanks for all the comments, building the workshop is almost as fun as building the planes themselves.....we'll not really, now all I have to do is get cracking on my JHH F-86 kit, starting something new is always the hard part! -

Aaron

Starting is easy........finishing is the hard part