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LAN_403

Part Scavenger

Wed Jul 16 2008, 07:19PM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

I have workbenches made both from plywood and MDF. Plywood is way more durable, and reacts much better to spills, etc. If you need a smooth surface, try getting some Formica to put on top. It cleans off nicely, waterproof, and hard. MDF will deteriorate with spills, plywood will just stain. Plywood/formica would be best, but all my benches are just plywood. When the top gets finally ruined, just nail some 1/8" hardboard over the top of the table for a new, smooth surface.

If you go plywood, I'd go 1/2" if MDF go 3/4" I support all mine with 2x4's which are just fine for the legs if the back is attached to the wall.

Well, that's my two cent's worth.

Tom540

Wed Jul 16 2008, 08:12PM

Banned on 3/17/2009.
Registered Member #487 Joined: Sun Jul 09 2006, 01:22AM
Location:
Posts: 617

I have made two benches from Home Depot out of 2x4's and plywood. Make a 2x4 frame with 4x4 or doubled up 2x4's for legs and plywood on top. One is 4' X 8' the other bench is 2' X 4' and painted black. I abuse the crap out of them and they hold up well.

aonomus

Wed Jul 16 2008, 09:09PM

Registered Member #1497 Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801

I already built this a while ago but never got around to documenting the workbench. I'm going to throw probably several layers of white cheapo latex primer ontop to give it some spill resistance and smoothness, and then maybe toss some other material as a sacraficial layer.

On the other hand its damned heavy enough at 6'x2'

Dr. Drone

Thu Jul 17 2008, 07:53AM

Registered Member #290 Joined: Mon Mar 06 2006, 08:24PM
Location:
Posts: 1673

aonomus

Tue Aug 12 2008, 03:35AM

Registered Member #1497 Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801

So a bit of an update, finally finished the move from my old disaster to my new disaster (heh). Apologies for the photobucket fail which refuses to allow me to upload at 1024x768. I'm just starting to unpack and got a new drill press so its a bit cluttered. Nonetheless, the workbench is rock solid and should last me a long time (unless I manage to light it on fire).

Steve Ward

Tue Aug 12 2008, 05:24AM

Registered Member #146 Joined: Sun Feb 12 2006, 04:21AM
Location: Austin Tx
Posts: 1055

My only suggestion is overhead shelving. You can stash all the junk you need around you while working on projects up there, and have much more available space for the project on the lower main level. I finally added shelves on my bench and it helped out a lot. In any case, i see a lot of unclaimed space up there!

aonomus

Tue Aug 12 2008, 06:38AM

Registered Member #1497 Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801

The only problem is that this is in my apartment, with concrete walls (which can't be modified in any way), and adding posts for a shelf end up taking up too much space. I built a 4ft long shelf in an effort to place it ontop of the bench, but thanks to the blue parts bin, I can't fit it under the shelf.

I think the solution to this is not to take on too many projects at once...

Avalanche

Tue Aug 12 2008, 08:57PM

Registered Member #103 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 08:16PM
Location: Derby, UK
Posts: 845

Dr. Conner wrote ...
Ikea sell nice kitchen counter tops made of blockboard. It's a bunch of thick pieces of wood glued together, and is about 1" thick and looks pretty strong. I got one to use as a workbench, and it's been fine. It was a bit oily to start with, but that dried up.

I bought 2 bits of that stuff a year or so ago, used one as a workbench, then cut the others into various strips to make an equipment shelf (above), a junk shelf that goes beneath the monitor, and various other bits. Found a cheap under cabinet halogen light to put under the equipment shelf, wallmounted the tft. Welded up various bits of box section to hold in all together. I can probably dig out more pics if anyones interested.

aonomus

Tue Aug 12 2008, 10:14PM

Registered Member #1497 Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801

Wow thats really slick Avalanche, I might have to get an identical parts bin and ditch the old blue one so I can place a shelf ontop of that...

Myke

Wed Aug 13 2008, 12:56AM

Registered Member #540 Joined: Mon Feb 19 2007, 07:49PM
Location: MIT
Posts: 969

I made mine with some 2'x4' pieces of particle board. I screwed it to 2x4s to add support and it just rests on the cabinets I have that fit under it. There is another 2x4 piece in the corner where there is no cabinet for added support.

The pegboard is attached to some 2x4s screwed into the wall.

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