Work benches?

[Pumba]

Ok all, I have bought a new house (up sized garage and workshop area) and need to build some new work benches to fill the space and I was wonder what the knowledgeable folk on KB thought were must haves as far as work benches go.

I have got my vice which will need a space as well as my drill press, and toll box's (never been able to afford the bottom roller cabinet for my top and middle box's)

My old workbenches were just chipboard which I always found a bit of a pain in the arse as oil and other fluids would just be soak in, so I am thinking a metal skin of some description will be a goer this time.

So any other things I should think about?

[nadroj]

Hydralic press & bench grinder / wire brush.
If you use a steel benchtop make sure you earth it!

[Winston001]

Personally I'd find a metal bench too noisy and not kind to drills, saw blades, chisels etc. Certainly a thick top is best, even just two layers of 20mm chipboard would do. I painted my top and backboard white which makes it easy to find stuff and brush clean. Keep a hearth brush and shovel on a nail.

Second the grinder/wire brush suggestion, essential IMHO.

[LBD]

If you plan any wood work then timber, either planks or ply...generall softer wood which will bruise before the wood you are working on

If metal work then an aluminum plate 8mm minimum bench is best, 1220 wide sheet folded up to give a 150mm splash back, and folder down at the front for an apron....easy cleaned and softer than any sttel parts you may drop on it.

[Ocean1]

It's one of the few devices where reduced mass is contra-indicated.

Best one I've had was 3" x 2" RHS legs and frame with a 3/4" plate top. When you hit something on that bench it fucking stays hit. When you're undoing a 4" pipe from a socket you don't need to put your foot on the bench to keep it still.

Get the picture?

[Maha]

...a Hammer...

[Pumba]

Bench grinder/wire brush is going to be a must now that I will have room for one. Also eyeing up a second hand mig but we will see, I have been lead to believe a new washing machine dryer combo is a more important purchase, as I say we will see

So solid seems to be the general consensus. Split decision on weather a metal skin is a good idea. I do like the idea of a white top to find all those little bits that seem to go missing.

Hmm now just to sit down and figure out an efficient layout, where to put everything........

[gatch]

Depends what for.. Personally if I had the choice I'd have some heavy plate, like 20mm, as has been said work benches that move around are a right cunt. And solid legs, like 50x75x4 rhs or bigger. Steel benches are mint, if you are looking to fabricate something, you can tack members to the top and grind it flush later. Or you can dump something on top and smash away with your club hammer as you please.

If you are working on ali or wood or similar soft stuff you can always fix some ply to you bench top with some screws. I do this at work with anything that is softer than steel.

But then if I had my way I'd have a couple of lathes, a few mills (boring and vert) and a drill press. Surface grinder, bench grinders, shaper, hob, a few vices, A/C tig/arc, gas plant, compressor etc etc etc. Actually having an equipped shed is the only thing I am looking forward to about owning my own home.. Oh and a bed, bathroom and kitchenette. I'd never leave.

[Bikemad]

beer fridge............ can double as work/toolbench

[Ocean1]

Steel benches are mint, if you are looking to fabricate something, you can tack members to the top and grind it flush later.

My main welding table is 2.4M x 1.8M with a 25mm deck, it's got 12mm taped holes at 200mm spacing. With a handfull of cheap screwed rod I can clamp prety much anything where I want it.

But then if I had my way I'd have a couple of lathes, a few mills (boring and vert) and a drill press. Surface grinder, bench grinders, shaper, hob, a few vices, A/C tig/arc, gas plant, compressor etc etc etc.

I do. Except the shaper and hob, they wouldn't pay for their floorspace nowadays. In fact the vertical bandsaw's on the endangered list, I get sheet / plate stuff cut by either waterjet or laser within 48hrs to much higher tolerances.

[LBD]

beer fridge............ can double as work/toolbench

And you can pop a bearing on the freezer tray to shrink before you drop it in the housing

Beer fridge gets my vote....purely for sound mechanical reasons mind you.

[ducatilover]

I use the floor, a coffee table, a computer desk and my tool box plus various other things that can hold bike parts/dead women.
I have a bench grinder, somewhere. I think.

[Grubber]

If your planing on doing work with metal and wood, just have half metal plate top and half wooden top. That's what i did. Need a bit of room to accommodate the length.
Put a shelf under the metal one to put d clamps and all your metal work gear and a shelf under the wood to do the same. I put my bench grinder onto the metal bench as i did with the vice. I also put a wood vice on the wooden bench, as you would, for the same reason.
tons of options really, depending on room etc.

[Dodgyiti]

Personally I like stainless steel because it can be cleaned spotlessly for those surgical like operations.
I have 3 benches, one with a thich
k wooden top, one is an old house sink and large bench made of stainless and was 15 bucks on TM. I use the sink for storing the current pile of bits and soaking parts with a drum under for draining into and I cover the sink with an oven tray when not in use. The third bench is an old stainless mortuary table- the best thing about it is that all the oil and goo drains off the centre into channels along the sides and out one end.

[Hoon]

I do electrical work on my work bench too so don't like metal. I just have a 3/4" ply top. If it gets too grubby I can unscrew it, flip it over or replace it as ply is dirt cheap.

If I had the option I would go mostly ply and just metal for my messy area. For intricate stuff I also have a wheeled table which I cover with cloth (I got rolls of t-shirt material)