Folddown Workbench

I've been plagued for years with a 1 car garage that did not allow space for a workbench.  I finally decided I've had enough and needed to come up with a workbench that would fold away to allow parking of my wife's car, as well as be sturdier than the 2 plastic sawhorses + piece of plywood I've been using.



Supplies:
5 - 2x4’s
22+ – 3” Wood Screws
18 – 2” Wood screws
3 or 4 – Old door hinges
18 – 1” Wood Screws
2 – 3/8”x3 ¾” Bolts
2 – 3/8” Nylon lock nut (Nyloc nut)
6 – 3/8” Washers
1 – 3/8” – Drill bit
1 – 4’x8’x¾” Sheet of Plywood
2’ – Web strapping (or rope to be used for handle)

Tools:
Saw
Drill
Measuring tape
Level

Step 1: Dimensions

Determine desired Length and Height of workbench. For the legs of the bench to fold up inside of the table top, your length will need to be at least twice the height plus some.
The Depth of your workbench will need to be less than your Height. (In my case I had to deal with the Footing extending up past the floor so my Depth was 4” less than my Height) If you get your Height just right, your workbench will rest on the floor when it is folded down.
My dimensions: 79” long, 36” high, 32” deep

Comments

[Michello71]

This is great! It's exactly what i was looking for. Do you have any idea what it's weight capacity is? Or have you had any problems with excess weight?

Thanks.

[jooknon]

I actually did get to use it to much before I moved. But if your legs are straight and the 2x4 across the back is screwed well into the studs, it should hold a couple hundred pounds.

[Yerboogieman]

Step 1: Tell your wife to park in the driveway.

[jooknon]

Ha, you first.

[Germy]

Nice instructable...I recently made a drop table for extra counterspace in my kitchen.

You might add a removable bolt-on-a-string that can be inserted into a second hole through both legs and frame so that when extended, the leg can't be kicked out accidentally and risk your work crashing down. You could then use the same removable bolt and another hole near the center of the frame to lock the leg in when being stored against the wall.

[jooknon]

The pin is a good idea. But I tried to avoid that by incorporating the little cutout on the outside top of the legs. It allows the leg to open greater than 90 degrees, and the frame is resting on that notch. My thinking was that to accidentally kick the leg in you would have to use enough force to lift the whole side of the workbench enough to swing the leg....if that makes sense.
Oh and also, when folded down I wanted the front of the table to either rest on the floor or be just above it. So the pins might get in the way of that.

Good thoughts though I appreciate it.