| Project by fred | posted 632 days ago | 1710 views | 1 time favorited | 17 comments |  |
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When I first started to build my Shop (it’s not a garage, it’s a Shop) the only bench I had was a 3’x6’ folding table. It worked great for a couple of years. After looking through woodworking magazines for a couple of years, I decided to build a workbench. For me, simple is best. I also wanted to use it as an assembly table and an extension for the table saw.
I used 1”x 4” pine for the legs, feet and top cross-pieces. I glued them together to form a 4” x 4”. Well, really 3” x 4”. They are really strong. Made mortise and tenon joints so everything could fit together. Actually, at glue up I left spaces on the legs, feet and top cross-pieces so I could just slip them together. I glued and screwed a piece of MDF to the top cross-pieces. I put a piece of ¼” birch plywood on top of the MDF. Using a prefab maple butcher block top I placed that on top leaving about 6 “ from one side to make a tray. I bought the prefab maple butcher block top since the cost of stock maple was more than the prefab top. Then I used maple to edge the entire bench. One nice little tip: cut some ply for the ends of the tray and install them at a 45 degree angle. That way you don’t have a 90 degree corner that makes it difficult to pick up parts or keep clean. You can just slide any screws or parts up the ramp from the tray. I added one more tray under the bench which is used to house boxes of screws or nails.
There are two stretchers one for each leg. On top of the stretchers is a shelf. I could have bolted everything together to make it portable, but I glued and screwed it together.
Its one strong bench and it won’t go anywhere.
-- Fred Childs, Pasadena, CA - - - Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
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17 comments so far
Don
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2586 posts in 717 days
posted 632 days ago
Nice, Fred. I’m guessing that, since you call this a “work table”, it’s not your bench. Seeing no vise, or bench dogs, what is the primary purpose of the table? You mention assembly and TS extension – what else?
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
Max
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6631 posts in 813 days
posted 632 days ago
Fred,
That looks really good and sturdy!!!! I like the idea of the 45 degree angle in the tray..
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
dennis mitchell
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3057 posts in 855 days
posted 632 days ago
Come to think of it I don’t have a vice or bench dogs on my on my work bench. Good looking table.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
Bwillie
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103 posts in 646 days
posted 632 days ago
I like all tables, benches and the like, because ….......I don’t have any. Maybe the Princess will have pity on me and give up her car space. Not likely.
fred, I like your work table and bench. I hope that I’ll get there some day.
-- ICN, Bill, (http://www.beavercreekfitness.com)
monkman1
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7 posts in 639 days
posted 632 days ago
I like the design. What are the dimensions?
-- Barry, Pennsylvania,
WayneC
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5684 posts in 637 days
posted 632 days ago
I like it. For grins you could drill a few dog holes and add some wonder pups.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
MsDebbieP
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12284 posts in 701 days
posted 632 days ago
sounds like it serves your purpose – perfectly!! Great design
Bill.. take a look at Obi’s table—you could suspend your table from the ceiling!!
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Quentin
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34 posts in 686 days
posted 632 days ago
Very nice! I love the simple design and implementation. Makes me want to make one for myself.
Bill
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2524 posts in 702 days
posted 632 days ago
A nice bench indeed. I need to make one for myself too.
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
fred
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257 posts in 638 days
posted 631 days ago
I have since added an undermount vice in the top right side of the “table”. I haven’t found the need to add bench dogs yet. I assemble all projects on the table and I can access all sides of the project. I put a drop cloth over the table and put on some “T” stands and do my painting and finishing work.
The “T” stands are made of 3/4 plywood. I also use the “T” stands (6”x36”) for glue up of the projects. That way it is easier to clamp the bottom of a project and from all sides.
The dimensions are 62” x 33” and it is 34” high.
-- Fred Childs, Pasadena, CA - - - Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
oscorner
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4573 posts in 851 days
posted 629 days ago
Nice work table and thanks for the tip!
-- Jesus is Lord!
Bill
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2524 posts in 702 days
posted 628 days ago
Good idea Fred, double duty for the workbench!
-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com
Bwillie
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103 posts in 646 days
posted 628 days ago
debbie…then she could see up my nickers :-)
-- ICN, Bill, (http://www.beavercreekfitness.com)
tracker
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15 posts in 673 days
posted 611 days ago
Really like the tray—good design. Really debated putting a tray on mine.
Scott
-- Scott - Dallas, Texas
Karson
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14327 posts in 941 days
posted 611 days ago
Nice bench, work table, paint stand, Good job Fred.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
handyman
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26 posts in 313 days
posted 311 days ago
Fred
Nice work bench. I built a very similar bench myself. Same type of frame and top. Used it many years.
-- Dan
rikkor
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8644 posts in 415 days
posted 311 days ago
Great work table!
-- Maplewood, MN