Work bench!

[hunterhawk]

I am in need of a work bench for reloading, processing critters, and of course any and all work projects! I was looking through the man cave pictures because that's kind of what it will turn in to but I need the work bench! Doesn't have to be anything amazing but I have been wanting to get it in place so I can finally set everything up and get my garage in order so...
if you could give me dimensions of your work/reloading bench and possibly post a picture... And if anyone has one they are looking to get rid of let me know! Trying to do this on the cheap if I can! I have a spot 8ft long to work with and as wide as I want, just not sure so any help would be appreciated!
thanks!

[Inconel710]

I'm using a basic 2x4 based kit I picked up from Lowes about ten years ago. They don't carry it anymore, but take a look at 2x4 Basics:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200226224_200226224

Or this from Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/buy/simpson-strong-tie-workbench-hardware-kit-kwb1.html#.USgKLzdW9NI

Another possibility is Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/garage-shop/workbench/60-inch-workbench-93454.html

Good luck!

[ColoFarmer]

Go buy a solid core door blank, instant benchtop...build a frame out of 2x4's or 4x4's, or if you want storage cabinets cruise Craigslist or go to the Habitat restores...

[jerrymrc]

processing critters That means something non porous.

[hobowh]

Sams has a nice butcher block one in stock. I use a rolling stainless table from the same for processing, and random other stuff throughout the year, has a shelf under it to keep the grinder stuffer and dehydrator on

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Check Craigs List. A lot of people damn near want to give away counter tops. As Jerrymrc pointed out "non porous" Last house I had did a great butcher bench.

[hunterhawk]

The top I'm not so concerned about a buddy has a nice slab of granite I can use for butchering on.. I just need a bench! Thanks for the leads and ill except more if you'll give them. Thanks guys

[BPTactical]

Go buy a solid core door blank, instant benchtop...build a frame out of 2x4's or 4x4's, or if you want storage cabinets cruise Craigslist or go to the Habitat restores...

This, mine is framed with 2x6 with 4x4 legs (6). Stout sumbitch and less than 100.00.

[Jer]

I finally got around to building mine this summer...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n_zEObI6ALU/UHiF2OK6vvI/AAAAAAAADoY/bVisMn7QW9w/s800/IMAG0639-1.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--8sU70nSbsM/UHiF3-pAkMI/AAAAAAAADog/yFHWsnHC5YU/s800/IMAG0643-1.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CX-xh03Wf1c/UHiF5WZ8g8I/AAAAAAAADoo/1uKtfOgyn5Q/s800/IMAG0645-1.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fXcz0FOOxpA/UHiF7GStN4I/AAAAAAAADow/OcsR5rMDA_E/s912/IMAG0646-1.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kcWPb_NcXFU/UHiF8nFFHMI/AAAAAAAADo4/HxrlrVP8dwY/s912/IMAG0647-1.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P63Y8XANQxc/UErVcceSh3I/AAAAAAAADgY/9tw3TFTyd8o/s1024/IMAG0649-1.jpg

And about a day later it's already a cluttered mess...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BHDIjaluPnQ/UHiN5kpfWMI/AAAAAAAADvQ/OjnwlpvAP78/s800/IMAG0677-1.jpg

[Goodburbon]

I finally got around to building mine this summer...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n_zEObI6ALU/UHiF2OK6vvI/AAAAAAAADoY/bVisMn7QW9w/s800/IMAG0639-1.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--8sU70nSbsM/UHiF3-pAkMI/AAAAAAAADog/yFHWsnHC5YU/s800/IMAG0643-1.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CX-xh03Wf1c/UHiF5WZ8g8I/AAAAAAAADoo/1uKtfOgyn5Q/s800/IMAG0645-1.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fXcz0FOOxpA/UHiF7GStN4I/AAAAAAAADow/OcsR5rMDA_E/s912/IMAG0646-1.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kcWPb_NcXFU/UHiF8nFFHMI/AAAAAAAADo4/HxrlrVP8dwY/s912/IMAG0647-1.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P63Y8XANQxc/UErVcceSh3I/AAAAAAAADgY/9tw3TFTyd8o/s1024/IMAG0649-1.jpg

And about a day later it's already a cluttered mess...

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BHDIjaluPnQ/UHiN5kpfWMI/AAAAAAAADvQ/OjnwlpvAP78/s800/IMAG0677-1.jpg



That's vurrry Nice.

[funkymonkey1111]

Jer,

that looks great. do you know what light fixtures those are? they seem to put out alot of light--are they T5 bulbs?

[Mtn.man]

We make everything outa steel.
Go on craigs and get a ST St rone, then put some wood on 1 end etc etc.
We just put together a complete set up for a guy, he got all the stuff a sink, counter top, off craigs we cut and welded and fabed it to fit his deminsions and he added the 1 1/2 cutting board that came with it to a set of legs we made.

[Kraven251]

Always been a fan of using the industrial steel shelves from costco or sams club. They cost about $150, and you can put another $50 into lumber and have a good top. Plus with the upper cross beam you can mount lights or even block and tackle to it.

Each of the shelf brackets is rated to 1500 bounds, so you can easily process game etc. I don't have a picture of the ones I've helped people put together, and I haven't built one where I currently live because I am renting.

[10mm-man]

We make everything outa steel.
Go on craigs and get a ST St rone, then put some wood on 1 end etc etc.
We just put together a complete set up for a guy, he got all the stuff a sink, counter top, off craigs we cut and welded and fabed it to fit his deminsions and he added the 1 1/2 cutting board that came with it to a set of legs we made.

Pic's?

[Mtn.man]

Pic's?

Will call and see if he will send me some.

[10mm-man]

Will call and see if he will send me some.


That would be cool!

[HoneyBadger]

Always been a fan of using the industrial steel shelves from costco or sams club. They cost about $150, and you can put another $50 into lumber and have a good top. Plus with the upper cross beam you can mount lights or even block and tackle to it.

Each of the shelf brackets is rated to 1500 bounds, so you can easily process game etc. I don't have a picture of the ones I've helped people put together, and I haven't built one where I currently live because I am renting.


I made a thread about some costco storage racks that I used for my workbench currently... let me see if I can dig it up.

Edit: Found it!
http://www.ar-15.co/threads/58266-Great-Heavy-Duty-Storage-Racks-at-Costco!
These racks are in stock again at the Powers Costco in Colorado Springs, but are now priced at $64 each.

[Jer]

That's vurrry Nice.

Thank you sir.


Jer,

that looks great. do you know what light fixtures those are? they seem to put out alot of light--are they T5 bulbs?

Those light fixtures were freebies. A buddy of mine (also a member here) works at a car dealership in Fort Collins. They recently remodeled and these lights were just going to get tossed. He was able to get his hands on several and was nice enough to give some to me. I wired them all up and hung them and love them. They do a pretty decent job of lighting things up.

[hunterhawk]

Awesome Jer looks good! And thanks to everyone else for ideas and comments.

[00tec]

Always been a fan of using the industrial steel shelves from costco or sams club. They cost about $150, and you can put another $50 into lumber and have a good top. Plus with the upper cross beam you can mount lights or even block and tackle to it.

Each of the shelf brackets is rated to 1500 bounds, so you can easily process game etc. I don't have a picture of the ones I've helped people put together, and I haven't built one where I currently live because I am renting.
These things? I've been thinking of doing the same
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/edsal-3-level-welded-storage-rack/prod3790516.ip?navAction=push

[BuffCyclist]

I've been considering this topic too, since I mounted my new single stage press to a somewhat wobbly, crooked and very stabby (lots of nails and splinters) table that the previous owners of the house rigged up with an old cabinet face, a piece of plywood and random pieces of scrap wood. It works for now, but I will eventually build a nice workbench. Possibly on wheels so I can move it out of the corner for larger projects.


I'm using a basic 2x4 based kit I picked up from Lowes about ten years ago. They don't carry it anymore, but take a look at 2x4 Basics:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200226224_200226224

Or this from Home Depot: http://www.homedepot.com/buy/simpson-strong-tie-workbench-hardware-kit-kwb1.html#.USgKLzdW9NI

Another possibility is Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/garage-shop/workbench/60-inch-workbench-93454.html

Good luck!

I like the idea of those kits, but it isn't that much harder to use some 4x4's for the legs.


Go buy a solid core door blank, instant benchtop...build a frame out of 2x4's or 4x4's, or if you want storage cabinets cruise Craigslist or go to the Habitat restores...

This is a really good idea to create a basic bench, I'll have to keep that in mind for other projects, thanks!

And Jer, that is a very nice looking work bench! I don't have near as much space to build one, and I'd prefer it to be on wheels or at least easily moveable (perhaps casters that flip down). On your top shelf and bottom shelf, did you box in the shelves (put plywood on the underside of the framing) or did you only put the plywood on top? I've read that boxing in the framework on a workbench significantly increases the strength. Or is that unnecessary?

[jreifsch80]

hey Jer, is that a cornhusker game on the tube? i'm a die hard fan myself...originally from scottsbluff

[Byte Stryke]

work bench top suitable for critter processing?

Corian (http://www2.dupont.com/Corian_Global_Landing/en_US/index.html)


that is all

[Jer]

And Jer, that is a very nice looking work bench! I don't have near as much space to build one, and I'd prefer it to be on wheels or at least easily moveable (perhaps casters that flip down). On your top shelf and bottom shelf, did you box in the shelves (put plywood on the underside of the framing) or did you only put the plywood on top? I've read that boxing in the framework on a workbench significantly increases the strength. Or is that unnecessary?

Thanks man. I'm lucky and was able to build a spacious garage with our new house. That back area that you see in the picture was wide enough to park two smaller cars side by side when we were building the house before I got all the shelves and garbage in there. I'm still able to park three cars in the front section of the garage and can even back my truck into that left side with the trailer on and the tire comes just to the edge of that gray mat on the floor so I still have room to work on the bench. You can see how I built it by the pics and the various stages. I basically got my height and anchored 2x4's to the studs in the wall. I then built out from those and created a frame and base with the legs. I then cut/laid the work surface (they're literally laying on top so if I jack them up bad enough I can replace them in about 15min at the cost of less than $20) and then framed the surface in 2x4's as you can see in the pics. The lower shelves are in there a little bit differently and replacing them would take a little bit more time but save for something leaking that is stored down there it's likely I will never have to worry about replacing those.

As for having a mobile bench you will want something rigid and solidly mounted for reloading. You want something as solid as can be when you're pressing bullets. Personally, I wouldn't want something mobile for that purpose.


hey Jer, is that a cornhusker game on the tube? i'm a die hard fan myself...originally from scottsbluff

Sure is. I've got an Xbox with Windows Media Center hooked up out there so that I can stream live TV or our recorded programs and movies. There's also a PC so I can even watch games that we don't get in Colorado which comes in handy since it's rare that a Husker game is televised in Colorado. That's what you're seeing in that pic. BTW, I do recall you're from Scottsbluff because we had this conversation when I asked if you were Jeff that I went to high school with. I think you said he was a cousin of yours.

[jreifsch80]

Oh yeah lol well I think you're referring to my cousin Jeff Reifschneider who lives somewhere in northern Colorado now if i remember correctly. so are you roughly the class of 94 or 95 or something like that? Anyways that's a cool bench. I didn't know I'd be able to do that with my Xbox, ill have to research maybe it has more of a use besides bf3 and Medal of Honor lol

[n8tive97]

Check Craigs List. A lot of people damn near want to give away counter tops. As Jerrymrc pointed out "non porous" Last house I had did a great butcher bench.

http://denver.craigslist.org/zip/3633404452.html

[BuffCyclist]

Thanks man. I'm lucky and was able to build a spacious garage with our new house. That back area that you see in the picture was wide enough to park two smaller cars side by side when we were building the house before I got all the shelves and garbage in there. I'm still able to park three cars in the front section of the garage and can even back my truck into that left side with the trailer on and the tire comes just to the edge of that gray mat on the floor so I still have room to work on the bench. You can see how I built it by the pics and the various stages. I basically got my height and anchored 2x4's to the studs in the wall. I then built out from those and created a frame and base with the legs. I then cut/laid the work surface (they're literally laying on top so if I jack them up bad enough I can replace them in about 15min at the cost of less than $20) and then framed the surface in 2x4's as you can see in the pics. The lower shelves are in there a little bit differently and replacing them would take a little bit more time but save for something leaking that is stored down there it's likely I will never have to worry about replacing those.

As for having a mobile bench you will want something rigid and solidly mounted for reloading. You want something as solid as can be when you're pressing bullets. Personally, I wouldn't want something mobile for that purpose.




Thanks for the reply, I might end up copying your design roughly but having my workbench be a standalone design. I am really keen on the idea of having the ability to move it easily, so I might rig up some sort of adjustable wheels where I can raise them off the ground to have sturdy legs, or lower the wheels and roll the bench out into more open space or even to our backyard for larger woodworking projects. That would allow me the flexibility of having a fixed/sturdy bench and the ease of moving it. Kind of the same way that the huge ladders at home depot or lowes work, there is that bar that you step on to lift the wheels off the ground and give it a stable base.

I plan on putting my workbench in a little nook in our sunroom. There is basically a pocket in the wall, left side is the wall by the door to our dining room, flat back side and then right side is the wall of the chimney. It is about 3ft deep, maybe 5ft wide and would be the perfect spot for a bench. Only problem is that because it is confined, I may or may not be able to work on something large enough if I needed to clamp it to the table. I might end up building the workbench first and then seeing if I need the ability to move the workbench at a later time. I will definitely be hanging a fluorescent light fixture above the bench, and possibly even adding cabinets to the wall above the bench in addition to the lower shelf on the work bench.

[JohnnyEgo]

I've knocked a fair number of these together for friends:
http://www.johnnyego.com/wood/projects6/ricobench2.jpg

It's about $40 worth of 2x4s, a 4x4 sheet of pine, and a 4x4 sheet of MDF.

Pine under the MDF gives something for fixtures/bolts/screws to take a bite into.
MDF gives you a dead-flat top surface and is easily replaceable.
It weighs enough to help keep things steady as well.

I use a scaled-up version in my own garage:
http://www.johnnyego.com/dump/gunclean2.jpg
1/4" Melamine panel as a sacrificial top.

[Dalendenver]

I built this one only I used birch plywood and stained polyurethane then I also edge banded it. It came out very nice but I had to assemble it in my basement. I haven't assembled the cabinet yet but all the pieces are cut, I am waiting for warmer weather so I can finish them in my garage. The bench is very heavy and absolutely stable. If I can get a good picture and figure out how to attach a pic I will share it.http://www.somerssportsmen.com/bench.pdf

[hunterhawk]

Nice! I have found a couple I may go buy this weekend.. Almost leaning towards one for my basement and one for the garage! Don't want to store my powders and primers in the garage really because its not heated.. Gets pretty cold in there.. Now thinking about heating the garage also.. One thing leads to the next haha. Thanks for the ideas and keep the bench pictures coming!

[Great-Kazoo]

Nice! I have found a couple I may go buy this weekend.. Almost leaning towards one for my basement and one for the garage! Don't want to store my powders and primers in the garage really because its not heated.. Gets pretty cold in there.. Now thinking about heating the garage also.. One thing leads to the next haha. Thanks for the ideas and keep the bench pictures coming!

I keep my components in a non-heated area. It stays above freezing because of insulation. You realize ammo is subject to all forms of temp extremes w/out issue. Keep the primers away from contaminants and powder separate you should be gtg.
Choose your heating wisely . If the garage is attached it should not be an issue, a stand alone garage do the logistics before committing. I use propane tanks with a 28K unit, 2- 750/1500 radiant heaters and 1 Big Buddy to heat. I have different areas of the shop i am in and do not see a need to heat the whole place at once. Considered switching to a large gas unit but i see no need to keep it heated 24/7.

[Inconel710]

Nice! I have found a couple I may go buy this weekend.. Almost leaning towards one for my basement and one for the garage! Don't want to store my powders and primers in the garage really because its not heated.. Gets pretty cold in there.. Now thinking about heating the garage also.. One thing leads to the next haha. Thanks for the ideas and keep the bench pictures coming!

Cold is not nearly as much of a problem for components as heat and humidity. I keep mine in an unheated garage attached to the house and haven't had any issues. Of course, I'm not letting it sit out there for years at a time either!

[newracer]

I built this one only I used birch plywood and stained polyurethane then I also edge banded it. It came out very nice but I had to assemble it in my basement. I haven't assembled the cabinet yet but all the pieces are cut, I am waiting for warmer weather so I can finish them in my garage. The bench is very heavy and absolutely stable. If I can get a good picture and figure out how to attach a pic I will share it.http://www.somerssportsmen.com/bench.pdf

What did it cost you?

[hunterhawk]

Ok cool.. Thanks for the heads up guys!