work bench size?

[Farmall plowboy]

I've valued all the advise I gotten over time, so I'm askin again. I put up a 36'X45' shed over summer, I park 2 smaller farmalls and the 2N ford plus a few attach. in it, plus a few metal racks for spare parts and what not. I plan on doing some over haul work in the shed and such...so, what would be a good size for a work bench? thanks for any ideas!

 

[Dick2]

If you are a neat person, it would not have to be too large. If you are prone to laying stuff on any bare surface, that bench will never be big enough. That being said, will the bench be against the wall? Then you should be able to reach to other side, so that could determine the width. Length can be determined by space available against what your future needs might be. #36" wide X by 8ft. long would be a good size. The height should be according to your height; usually about the height of your belt line.

 

[Mike M]

I'm just guessing mine is 3 foot by 5 foot ? made of wood and fastened to the wall with a vise at each end of it. Done a lot of work on there. Also hard to keep from piling too much junk on it too. I also used a smaller wood one 2 x 4 ? Dad made it many years ago from a recycled grinder stand from some where most likely a factory. I just drag it to where I need it. Right now it is on casters which I don't like because it moves too easy. I have a few others made from recycled computer cabinets. About 2x2 nice height to stand and work on stuff. These can roll where needed. I put a small vise on one.
For the really big projects I use a pair of heavy saw horses I put a counter top on the top layer and these horses are set up so I can make a smaller shelf on the bottom layer and then the floor below that. Nice to keep things piled in order.
Should of made a heavy metal welding table but never did. Now I don't do as much as I used to.

 

[old]

I tend to never have enough bench space but then I also tend to have 2 many projects going at the same time. I I thought a bench that was 10 feet long and 3 foot deep was big enough it would have to be 3 times that plus some

 

[Jim in Ma.]

I have two, 1 is 3'x12' bolted to the wall with a vice on one end.
The other one is 3'x5' on casters to roll around to a project. Works for me!

 

[gab]

Had to go measure mine, 18x30, frustrating when I have to use the solvent tank or the floor to work on something, recently got the tank cleaned off and about 5 foot of the bench.

 

[JMS/.MN]

I got my workbench in a salvage yard for a song, maybe $25? It was a packaging machine in an assembly line. Made out of 2x2 by quarter steel angle frame and one side covered with 3/16 steel plate. Looking at it, I figured I could make something out of it, and it was cheap! Tipped on another side, makes an excellent bench, with the plate on top. It"s about 30 inches by 10 feet. Bonus was numerous shafts and pillow blocks or other bearings used in the packaging process.

I put a vise on one end, double wheel grinder on the other. I mounted a plywood panel on the back side for a tool board. Shelving underneath the bench holds the plasma cutter, portable tools, hyd jacks, and parts. Even the holes in the plate, where the shafts came through, are handy at times.

 

[dzc3]

I have 4 smaller ones spread around the shop. The ones that get used the least are mounted on hinges, when I don't need them they fold down against the wall. Yep vise included. This give me a little more wiggle room when needed.

 

[Steve@Advance]

The size depends on how much room you need or want to devote to work space, or in my case "projects on hold" space! LOL

But just as important, get the height right, typically about waist high, especially if there will be a vice mounted or heavy items on the bench. A bench for lighter, more intricate work might be a little taller.

If there is going to be a large vice, or a pipe vice, the bench needs to be heavy enough, or bolted down to take some muscle without walking around.

The top needs to be matched to the job. Light use can be MDF, or steel over wood. Heavy use needs to be 1/4" steel over heavy wood. Welding and torching needs to be 3/4" steel, no wood. The last thing you want to work directly on is wood... Think splinters under the fingernails!

Last, put a back stop on! And seal the front to the floor or have it high enough to retrieve that tiny special screw that hits your shoe and flys to parts unknown!

 

[pete 23]

The height is the really important measurement. Around here, every one seems to build them way to tall. You need to be able to lay your arms out in front of you, and not be reaching up while working. Like others have said, in the belt line area. If you have room, one portable with wheels on one end and handles on the other really works well also.

 

[M-MAN]

Mine is about three feet by five feet. 5/8 boiler plate top with a six inch Columbian vice on one end and casters on the bottom. It's big enough and heavy enough to handle anything I can throw at it.

 

[ASEguy]

Mine is about 3x5. Standing in front of it I can place my palms down for a correct working height for me. The top is OSB board 3/4" thick with galvanized sheet metal over the top to protect it. I have a very large vise bolted to the top on one end and I have a beam with a 4 ton chain fall that passes directly over the bench which helps my back immensely when I need to work on mower decks "etc". I also have a nice big window just above workbench height behind the bench.

 

[IAtractorKid]

I have a very heavy table on casters that is 4'x8' so that I can move it around the shop to where I'm working. My bench, is about 26" deep and 18' long. Vices mounted on both table and bench.

 

[44 massey]

I mounted my big vise on 5 inch telescoping heavy square tubing that I can raise and lower to accommodate whatever am working on!!! Works great!!!

 

[Dr. Walt]

One of the cheapest & easiest workbenches I've ever made, was nothing more than 2 empty 55 Gallon drums with an old hollow-core door placed over their tops.

Years ago I bought 12 used hollow-core doors for $20. at a yard sale; and when I worked in the Mines I got dozens of good, empty 55 Gallon drums FREE for the hauling.

I still make impromptu workbenches this way whenever the need arises.

 

[Mike M]

Steve you are so right on that tiny screw flying under a bench. Every time I do that I think I need to make a way to block this bench off , but I never seem to do it ? At least when I drop something I know where to look first.

 

[Farmall plowboy]

Thanks for all your ideas! I've got some time time to work on it before I really need it, so it looks like a winter project, along with the rest of the normal stuff that needs see'in too. Thanks again.....

 

[showcrop]

The size of he bench is not what matters, it is the organization around it. It is having adequate shelving and bins nearby so that the things that you get out while on a project can readily go back where they are kept instead of taking up all your bench space. Mine is only about 30 by 48 but it is big enough for everything I do as long as it is clear. I also use a 22x22 portable table.

 

[Oregon Tractor Jack]

Work bench size depends on what you are working on. I have 3'x4' half inch steel plate welding and mechanics table. I use it for welding, grinding, hard pounding and mechanic work. If I am working on an engine or a tranny, that's where it goes. I also have wood working bench thats 30" by 60". I have a woodworking vice on one end. I use this table for gluing and clamping. This bench is in a different shop because woodworking and grease don't mix. The height is always an issue. I make all of my benches for standing up. If you have a hobby that would require a lot of fine work and you would be sitting the height should be about what a desk is. No one work bench will cover all possible uses unless you can design it to have variable heights.

 

[Dick L]

My advise would be to make the work bench 45' X 36' . This would give you a half a chance of having a flat space large enough to set a coffee cup after a couple years. Probly not though if it was my place.

 

[hd6gtom]

I have 2-- 1 Is 16'x3' plywood topped, the other is 16' x3' with drawers and covered in steel plate.

 

[Pops1532]

I have a couple. One is 14' X about 3'. That one has 2X12's for the top. It's too big.....it turned into a big shelf!
The other is 7' X about 2 1/2'. The bench top is a formica covered solid core door out of a hospital. When I first built it back in 1981 I figured the formica would get broken up pretty bad. The formica along the edge has some battle scars but the laminate on the top has held up surprisingly well, and it's very easy to clean.
A new shop is in the planning stages. The formica covered bench top will go in the new shop.

 

[NoNewParts]

another vote for at least 2.
I have 3, smaller one in the middle holding toolboxes and my benchgrinder.
a 3' by 6' very nice one out of an old factory. steel frame, butcher block top. Other bench is a little bigger, all steel, very heavy for heavy, tough stuff like engine parts work.
All are bolted down and to the wall studs. A bench that moves is useless on some/most jobs.
Wiring in some outlets on the bench front is handy too.
and like said, the more cabinets you can mount in every available spot, will keep your bench.........useable.

 

[D beatty]

I have I have 3 work benches . The one in picture is about 3 foot wide and about 24 foot long with steel top and has drawers for bolts, nuts and bunch of other stuff. One of the other benches is on wheels with small vise and can be wheeled around to where I am working.

 

[Donald Lehman]

There are two ways to go here. Make the bench just big enough to hold one motor and nothing else, or make every square foot you can squeeze into the shop a work bench, and then throw enough stuff on the floor to make room for the motor.

 

[Old560]

No matter what size you make it it'll just get buried under junk so you can't make it too big

 

[Ultradog MN]

I got lucky a few years ago and bought this bench at a giant machine shop auction.
It's about 42" deep and 8' long.
The sides and drawers are 14 ga and the top is 10 ga.
I like the extra depth as it allows you to set stuff behind whatever you are working on.
Am planning on a new/bigger garage in the next year or so and will add some more benches. I will make those 42" deep also probably out of 2X material.
I bought the vice at that auction too. USA made.
Paid $25 for the vice and $150 for the bench.

 

[marloweg]

the bigger you make it the more junk will be on it and you still will not have any room

 

[Farmall plowboy]

Ya, plenty of good stuff. I'm hoping I can keep it cleaned off! Right now think'in on 3'X8' or 10' attached to the wall,3/4" top covered with 1/8" or 12 ga. steel. Just not sure how spendy that could get.

 

[TomH in PA]

Woodworkers will tell you never build a workbench against a wall. Put it out in the open so you can work from either side; mechanics might disagree.

For me it doesn't matter; one bench gets piled high with junk so I just add another bench somewhere else.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

The workbench I use the most is the tailgate on truck. Not to mention it's self cleaning. Pick up tailgate and things fall off. My truck has 3 tool boxes and is used to do repairs away from home. Like garages, pole barns, no workbench will be big enough. Something will fall on it and you never have enough room to work on anything. Put workbenches on all perimeter walls along with outlets. Never have enough of outlets. Add outlet on ceiling so you don't trip over extension cords. Go ahead and add air lines above workbenches.