Garage metal workbench

[Sensibleboy]

I'm looking for a workbench for my garage. Machine Mart do a few. I can't think of any other retailers that sell them.

Can anybody make any suggestions?

[peterperkins]

Metal benches are or can be slippery, sharp, noisy, conduct electricity, sometimes magnetized, damage tools, don't absorb spills etc.
I'm not a great fan.. I appreciate they do have a place in some circumstances but..... .

A good sturdy wooden bench is flexible, quieter, workable etc..
You can replace the top every few years when it's get knackered after you've drilled lots of holes into it, with some good old 40mm mdf or similar..

You can easily make one to size out of lengths of 4x2 or 2x2 and a 8x4 25-40mm mdf sheet to fit an exact space as well.
Most sheet suppliers will also accurately precut your 8x4 sheet down the middle if you want for a 16ft of 2ft width bench top.

Coach Bolt or simply screw it all together. Bolt or screw it to the wall as well through the rear legs or cross member for extra stability.
Being tall 6'4" standard benches are generally too low for me, so you can make it to suit your height, nothing beats working at the right height!!

Edited by peterperkins on Wednesday 15th May 13:53

[Old Merc]

I`ve had one of these for about 15 years,with a vice bolted on,still in good order. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-AP2030BB-Workbench...

[richard sails]

I built my own bench across the back of the garage, built with 4" square timber, all bolted to the wall and floor. I used a peice of cheap kitchen worktop for the bench top and bolted a big vice about two thirds along. The shelves above were fitted with kitchen cupboard downlights. I silicone sealed between the bench and wall so nothing can fall down the back or sides.

Its a great set up with lots of storage underneath and is very strong and of course as its custom made it fits the space perfectly.

[phillpot]

Big Dug

[Le Controleur Horizontal]

It really does depend on what work you will be doing.

Big Hammers or Little Screwdrivers ?

[Oldandslow]

I'd go with make your own. I'm no carpenter but knocked one together from fence posts and rails (some of which where left overs from a fence). It's strong, fits my space and easily modified when new tools come along.

As an aside one of the best things I did was fit a carpenters vice. Not because I do carpentry but because I clamp whatever bench top tool I want to use into it. Each of the tools has a wooden base to fit the vice and they live under the bench when not in use. Saves having pillar drill, grinder, scroll saw, chop saw, angle grinder saw competing for bench top space. This chap gave me the idea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh4-hpgtbOs but my carpentry is a bit more plywood and lots of screws. (Disclaimer - I do not subscribe to lots of his other ideas)

[Graculus]

I made mine from some pallet racking (the narrower, 2' wide type). The top is 2" chipboard. The whole thing is heavy and very stable. Easy to attach a vice to and an Ikea "anglepoise" type light was bolted on for localised lighting. Plenty of adjustable storage underneath and very quick (and cheap!) to put together. The shelving above is a unit from B&Q cut in half (height) and then the two parts strengthened and bolted together before being bolted to the bench. Wood on the back and sides prevents things falling out of reach.