Work bench for shed

BullBauld

Anyone any tips on making a work bench for a shed. Something with a bit of storage.

Doesn't have to be anything too fancy.

Cheers

Sleepy

Old chest of drawers?

wexie

making it out of wood? steel?

There are loads and loads of free plans available online depending on skill level, intended use, budget etc. etc.

https://www.google.ie/search?q=work+bench+plans&rlz=1C1CHBF_enIE787IE787&oq=work+bench+plans&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3278j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

AdrianLM

What do you intend using it for i.e. woodwork, metal work, engine maintenance, all of the above?

BullBauld

Thanks for the replies.

Would go for a wooden bench. Wouldn't be used for any major work, odd bit of diy and a place to store/hang tools etc.

But the least complicated design the better!

I'll have a look at the designs thanks.

CJhaughey

I found Hammerzone pretty good for cheap designs that work well.
edit: no link
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/index.htm#shop_equipment

listermint

Simple bench can be made out of lengths of 4x2 and some Bolts and screws.

Do it in less than an hour if your handy.

wexie

BullBauld wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

Would go for a wooden bench. Wouldn't be used for any major work, odd bit of diy and a place to store/hang tools etc.

But the least complicated design the better!

I'll have a look at the designs thanks.

If it helps one of the benches I have is this one :

http://www.clarkedistributors.ie/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2241&search=bench&sort=p.price&order=ASC

Don't think it will stand up to any serious abuse but it's not too bad for 75 quid

Roen

CJhaughey wrote: »

I found Hammerzone pretty good for cheap designs that work well.
edit: no link
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/index.htm#shop_equipment

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20xl.html

That lad? Made one recently. First ever woodwork project, if you can call a circular saw and drill woodworking. Been great so far though, delighted with it.

CJhaughey

Roen wrote: »

http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/bench/below20xl.html

That lad? Made one recently. First ever woodwork project, if you can call a circular saw and drill woodworking. Been great so far though, delighted with it.

Thats the one, I made a wall mounted shelves and a bench that I upgraded but made too tall, I need to drop it down a touch but its not a small job.
this one:
http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/workshop/storage/finished_wall/surface_mount.htm

dar_cool

I got an old kitchen off adverts for 50 quid. Has grand solid worktop and I have vice bolted to it. Plenty of storage with the cabinets aswell

looksee

Can I offer the suggestion that you don't think in terms of 'not fancy' and expecting to put it together the easiest way. Take a bit of time to plan it, make it sturdy, make a good job of it - you don't have to cut joints etc (though its easier than you'd think), drill holes and bolt it together - and you will be astonished at how worth while it is!

jack of all

I made this one a few years ago from a mix of salvaged construction timber (3x2" wall studs, 3/4" shuttering ply, 3x3" posts and some pallet wood (4x2"), only cost was the coach screws, washers, glue and some varnish/ blo to finish the top. Not difficult to make, hardest part is cutting 8 mortise and tenons. Strong and heavy, it could probably be made for under €80 if you had to buy all the materials and you'd have a bench for life.

chillyspoon

I made this one a couple of weeks ago with pallet wood and a partial sheet of 18mm ply.

It's very easy to make a half size version, which I also did to make a potting bench / cat house.

Full size pallet workbench: https://www.chillyspoon.com/2018/09/pallet-bench.html

Half size potting bench / cat house (before filling out the cat bed part): https://photos.app.goo.gl/THEJbej7rxenSTh7A

BullBauld

looksee wrote: »

Can I offer the suggestion that you don't think in terms of 'not fancy' and expecting to put it together the easiest way. Take a bit of time to plan it, make it sturdy, make a good job of it - you don't have to cut joints etc (though its easier than you'd think), drill holes and bolt it together - and you will be astonished at how worth while it is!

Yes fair enough point. I'll do a bit of planning and put some thought into it.

chillyspoon

You can't go wrong with one of Steve Ramsay's workbench plans / instruction videos by the way - a simple solid bench which you'll knock together in no time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFrWBdb0OjU

BullBauld

jack of all wrote: »

I made this one a few years ago from a mix of salvaged construction timber (3x2" wall studs, 3/4" shuttering ply, 3x3" posts and some pallet wood (4x2"), only cost was the coach screws, washers, glue and some varnish/ blo to finish the top. Not difficult to make, hardest part is cutting 8 mortise and tenons. Strong and heavy, it could probably be made for under €80 if you had to buy all the materials and you'd have a bench for life.

Nice job, cheers.

BullBauld

chillyspoon wrote: »

I made this one a couple of weeks ago with pallet wood and a partial sheet of 18mm ply.

It's very easy to make a half size version, which I also did to make a potting bench / cat house.

Full size pallet workbench: https://www.chillyspoon.com/2018/09/pallet-bench.html

Half size potting bench / cat house (before filling out the cat bed part): https://photos.app.goo.gl/THEJbej7rxenSTh7A

Excellent work. Thanks for posting.

TimHorton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfZthn-odQk

BullBauld

So I made a stab at my workbench based on the bench that's on Hammerzone....thanks CJhaughey. I just adapted it and made it longer.

I had pretty much all the wood required, all I had to buy was the OSB for the bottom shelf.

It's not quite finished. I'm using a worktop for the top I took out of my kitchen earlier on in the year. I had it left out back all summer and it warped slightly in the extreme heat. It's a man-made stone worktop and I'm struggling to take the kink out of it.

Anyways for a first attempt at anything like this I'm quite pleased and it has brought on an interest to do more.

Let me know what you think.

CJhaughey

BullBauld wrote: »

So I made a stab at my workbench based on the bench that's on Hammerzone....thanks CJhaughey. I just adapted it and made it longer.

I had pretty much all the wood required, all I had to buy was the OSB for the bottom shelf.

It's not quite finished. I'm using a worktop for the top I took out of my kitchen earlier on in the year. I had it left out back all summer and it warped slightly in the extreme heat. It's a man-made stone worktop and I'm struggling to take the kink out of it.

Anyways for a first attempt at anything like this I'm quite pleased and it has brought on an interest to do more.

Let me know what you think.

It looks sturdy and more importantly you made it so you can alter it if needed.
The bowing in the worktop can be taken out by putting a heavy weight on it and letting it settle back down, an old car battery or two or some free weights distributed where the bow is would work.
You could always use small L brackets underneath to hold it down once its sitting flat.

Lex Luthor

looks great BB

randombar

Getting going with this myself, similar situation, have an old solid pine door as the top, thinking a shelf underneath for storage.

Was thinking of putting the whole thing on casters so it could be moved about, what're people's opinions?

Also as an aside I was going to put a sheet or two of ply on the wall above it for hanging tools, any advice? Wondering how big and what to do about the un-hangable items, stanley knives etc.

Oink

Have a look at instructables.com, in the woodwork / tools sections. It’s brilliant to get ideas.

listermint

GaryCocs wrote: »

Getting going with this myself, similar situation, have an old solid pine door as the top, thinking a shelf underneath for storage.

Was thinking of putting the whole thing on casters so it could be moved about, what're people's opinions?

Also as an aside I was going to put a sheet or two of ply on the wall above it for hanging tools, any advice? Wondering how big and what to do about the un-hangable items, stanley knives etc.

Wheels yes if you will be moving it alot. And by alot I mean more than once a week. If not they are a waste of time and actually more hastle than having them

Calahonda52

BullBauld wrote: »

Yes fair enough point. I'll do a bit of planning and put some thought into it.

depending on what you are going to be doing, maybe think about have the top piece easily replaceable if need be

DublinDilbert

Made something similar, bought 8ft lengths of 3 x 2 (or split 16ft lengths in half). I try make the bench 1m high, with shelf at 50cm, allows the lawnmower slide under the bottom shelf. I also brought the back legs up the back, means you can attach brackets for storing longer items.

Up Donegal

listermint wrote: »

Simple bench can be made out of lengths of 4x2 and some Bolts and screws.

Do it in less than an hour if your handy.

That sixe of board is fine if the bench isn't too long (2 metres max. imo)
For something longer, go up to 9X3. It can take a fair bit of hammering.

randombar

Any recommendations for a wall hung tool board? Would one sheet of 12mm ply do?

Stigura

Peg Board. Ye can buy proper hooks that slot into it.

randombar

Stigura wrote: »

Peg Board. Ye can buy proper hooks that slot into it.

Any recommendations on where to pick that up? Not much on done deal and hard to tell on Amazon.

Stigura

Gary; It's not a thing I'd think of getting off Amazon. 8' x 4' sheet, as I remember? How big is your letter slot?!

No. Wandered down to the nearest builders merchants, myself. I'm sure yours can get it for ye. Being hardboard, it's cheap as chips.

The pegs I got off ebay

s7ryf3925pivug

I got one for 16 quid in aldi yesterday. Still in the box.

Stigura

Wondered what the hell was going on there, for a second. Forgot this thread was actually about work benches!

As we're still on that subject then? Here's one I made earlier. I cocked up and didn't buy Two sixteen foot planks! :rolleyes: Need another one now. To finish the top counter.

It's to be a place to bolt down and work off my power tools 5' 3" long. 18" deep. 3' high. 100% Culchie! :pac:

listermint

Up Donegal wrote: »

That sixe of board is fine if the bench isn't too long (2 metres max. imo)
For something longer, go up to 9X3. It can take a fair bit of hammering.

Its a shed, a 2 meter bench is grand. There is no need for 9x3 for this purpose.

s7ryf3925pivug

better to make a portable one so you can use it outside. Inhaling sawdust is less than ideal.