Garage Workbench

I scaled down my grandfathers plans for a workbench, the first ones he made lasted 50+ years and counting. Mine is a single section 2'x8' workbench for a 1 car garage. Designed to fit a rolling tool chest underneath one side, and to fit crates on the shelves on the other side. 2' deep workbench is plenty for many projects. If i have time I will clean up my drafts and sketches into proper blueprints.

Step 1: Cut List and Dimensions

The work surface is 2'x8'

• covered by 2'x8' OSB or plywood (two layers)
• 2x 2'x4' hardboard for a smooth work surface (a 4'x8' could be cut lengthwise)

The frame is 2"x4" so 1.5" by 3" dimension lumber

• 3x 8" long sections (2x top, 1x back)
• 6x 21" inner cross pieces
• 6x 37" legs
• 1x 46.5" front face

hardware

• 2.5" decking screws
• 1" screws for top
• .5" brads to nail down hardboard

Step 2: Legs and Rear Crossbar

Adding the legs, tacked on with one screw each until everything is square. the rear cross bar is set at 14" from the bottom. this allows for milk crates to be stored underneath. To make it easier, I rotated it on the side and then finished each joint.

Step 3: Set Up

Put the bench upright and test to see if it is level. Middle legs after adjustments (if needed) and the shelf will be added last

Step 4: Table Top

Adding the top, the two layers of OSB are screwed down every 12" and alternated for the layers. The hardboard is tacked onto.

Step 5: Almost Done

Top is complete, the shelf is about to be added. Only a single layer of plywood as it should not take the abuse of the workbench top.

Comments

[Yonatan24]

Hi, I've added your project to the "Make Your Own Workbench!" Collection

This is the link If you are interested:

https://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-Work...

[LuisiJ]

thanks for the add, its a good collection

[Yonatan24]

Hi, I've added your project to the "Make Your Own Workbench!" Collection

This is the link If you are interested:

https://www.instructables.com/id/Make-Your-Own-Work...

[TNCupRanch]

Hum... I think you've given me the confidence to try this on my own... Thank you

[WoodieWannabe]

Incidentally, it took little more than half a day to make!

[WoodieWannabe]

Do it! It's much easier than you think! I've just made one, prior to reading this instructable, but mine is virtually identical, except that my shelf runs all the way through, and my bench is a bit shorter, because the space in my garage workshop is a bit limited. For the top, I used two sheets of 22mm laminated South African Pine plywood (I'm in South Africa), glued and screwed together. Not quite as thick as I would maybe like the top to be - there's still a tiny bit of bounce when bashing things with a hammer - but it's doing the trick so far. Great instructable - very clear and efficient!

[LuisiJ]

DO IT! it is easier than you think, just plan ahead. A helper could make it go faster

[sawfishsam]

I made one for our garage using your plans today dude. Thanks!

[LuisiJ]

looks good!

[zsmith14]

quick question: did you mean 3 x 8'?

[tjdux]

great looking bench. have you heard of hockey puck leveling feet? the technique is to insert a coupler nut into the table legs then run a carriage bolt into the coupler nut and the put the rounded head of the carriage bolt in a small hole drilled cut 1^4 depth into the hockey puck.

it will keep the table from wobbling on uneven concrete and keep the wood legs from getting wet.

[ptabakaru1]

tjdux

could you do an instructable on the hockey puck leveling feet? sounds interesting

[tjdux]

its currently in the works. I will let you know when its finished

[LuisiJ]

the heat down here might dry rot them, colder temps would probably be a great solution

[tjdux]

Most rubber rot is from UV rays in hot temperature. Moisture freezing in cracks in cold climates is harmful as well. The salt air may not be great either but none of that stuff should be too serious indoors even in a garage. a good puck is dense thick rubber and built to take being beat with a stick. Too boot that beating is ment to be in the cold when rubber is most brittle.

[swatson8]

what I love about instructables is I look at what you did and adapt it to my needs. the way you built the durable top is the one thing I couldn't figure out. thanks a lot.

[LuisiJ]

if you need any other info on the top just ask. any pics of your bench?

[swatson8]

Just planning ahead. I need to talk my wife into buying a new house first. Had a killer garage in MI but had to give it up when we came down to FL. Plan on using things you did here to modify/rebuild the second hand desk I got. I will post on that when I'm getting finished.

[MarloB]

I build one similar to this with my dad when I was a teenager. A few years back we built one together for my garage when he was in town for Christmas. The one recommendation I would make to anyone making a work bench...find a solid core door for the bench top. Search craiglist....its super heavy and perfect to mount a vice or bang on or whatever.