Garage workbenches

pmshortt2
Posts
653
Joined
8/17/2016
Location
VA US
10/26/2017 9:17am Edited Date/Time 12/1/2017 6:35am
What’s up guys, I’m 21 and about to be buying my first house, which has a decent garage Smile anyways, I work 2 jobs so I’m not about building one, don’t have the time at the moment.

My budget is around $600, and I really like the Husky 8ft that Home Depot sells and the Craftsman 8ft that Sears sells, both are between $300 and $450. So if you have or had one of those before, I’d like to hear what you think of it. And if you have something better then please post it.

I pretty much just want something I can attach a vice to and have enough room to take my engines apart on and keep stuff organized. Tool storage is a plus. Anyways post some pics of your workbench setups and let me see what you got and how much it cost or how long it took to build it. Thanks guys.
|
-MAVERICK-
Posts
49945
Joined
3/26/2015
Location
Ontario CA
Fantasy
3682nd
10/26/2017 9:21am Edited Date/Time 10/26/2017 9:22am
Not sure about work benches but at 21 and buying your first house you're doing things right so just want to say keep at it.
731chopper
Posts
4077
Joined
1/2/2015
Location
DFW, TX US
Fantasy
390th
10/26/2017 9:38am
I have the 8ft Craftsman bench from Sears. I've had it for 7 years and it has been great. I love the size. I keep my tools on a set of Wall Control steel pegboards and underneath my bench in a Craftsman tool cabinet.
EastFlorida
Posts
2334
Joined
7/31/2010
Location
Merritt Island, FL US
10/26/2017 9:41am
-MAVERICK- wrote:
Not sure about work benches but at 21 and buying your first house you're doing things right so just want to say keep at it.
+1 Good for you!
pmshortt2
Posts
653
Joined
8/17/2016
Location
VA US
10/26/2017 9:43am
-MAVERICK- wrote:
Not sure about work benches but at 21 and buying your first house you're doing things right so just want to say keep at it.
Thank you sir and will do! Cool

The Shop

pmshortt2
Posts
653
Joined
8/17/2016
Location
VA US
10/26/2017 9:48am
731chopper wrote:
I have the 8ft Craftsman bench from Sears. I've had it for 7 years and it has been great. I love the size. I keep my...
I have the 8ft Craftsman bench from Sears. I've had it for 7 years and it has been great. I love the size. I keep my tools on a set of Wall Control steel pegboards and underneath my bench in a Craftsman tool cabinet.
I really like the craftsman ones so glad to hear that they are pretty nice
yz133rider
Posts
4454
Joined
8/1/2013
Location
Avondale, PA US
10/26/2017 9:51am
Harbor freight stuff is pretty good especially for the money check out what they have. Or check Craigslist honestly, stuff like that gets discounted massively.

Like a snap on tool box that's 8K new you can get for 1100 with tools in it pretty much any day
Acidreamer
Posts
1794
Joined
8/25/2015
Location
Mansfield, OH US
10/26/2017 9:59am
Ive got a wood one currently. Can say for sure i wish i had a metal work surface. Wood gets beat up after a while.
pmshortt2
Posts
653
Joined
8/17/2016
Location
VA US
10/26/2017 10:00am
Zaugg wrote:
These might be a good option as well.... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2017/10/26/221939/s1200_black_husky_mobile_workbenches_hotc6010bb2m_64_1000.jpg[/img] Bunch more here: https://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Tool-Storage-Tool-Chests-Mobile-Workbenches/N-5yc1vZcerm
These might be a good option as well....



Bunch more here: https://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Tool-Storage-Tool-Chests-Mobile-Workb…
Not sure how I didn’t see that one, but that is damn nice for the price lol
Micahdogg
Posts
1267
Joined
1/3/2011
Location
US
10/26/2017 10:03am
I would build something if I were you. You can built it exactly how you want and it shouldn't cost more than buying something prefabbed. I built this workbench for about $40 and used cedar since it smells nice. A friend gave me the stainless steel top, but I could have but a nice chunk of hardwood in there too.

It was pure coincidence that a Craftsman 42 inch box fits inside there so well...which I bought later to consolidate all my moto tools. Hand tools in the black box, auto tools in the red.






pmshortt2
Posts
653
Joined
8/17/2016
Location
VA US
10/26/2017 10:27am
Micahdogg wrote:
I would build something if I were you. You can built it exactly how you want and it shouldn't cost more than buying something prefabbed. I...
I would build something if I were you. You can built it exactly how you want and it shouldn't cost more than buying something prefabbed. I built this workbench for about $40 and used cedar since it smells nice. A friend gave me the stainless steel top, but I could have but a nice chunk of hardwood in there too.

It was pure coincidence that a Craftsman 42 inch box fits inside there so well...which I bought later to consolidate all my moto tools. Hand tools in the black box, auto tools in the red.






I love everything about your setup except how do you drink keystone light it taste like piss Laughing
newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
10/26/2017 11:28am Edited Date/Time 10/26/2017 11:30am
First off, congrats on the new home! Secondly, make sure you have flood insurance!

Now, on to the workbench. Here's a pic of when I started cleaning out my old batcave a few years back. You can see the workbench built from 4x4's and 2x4's with plywood top and shelf. 24 deep and 8 foot long. Metal brackets and screws holding it all together. Soaks up excess oil nicely for a well seasoned work surface! Solid as can be at 25 years old now and survived the recent flood too...Smile

Thread here: http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Spoke-with-my-tools,12973…

mxtech1
Posts
1954
Joined
7/21/2011
Location
Galesburg, IL US
10/26/2017 11:47am
Save your money.

Scour Craigslist and local facebook "for sale" groups for kitchen cabinets. You can get them dirt cheap (sometimes free if you offer your labor to remove them before they are out) and you get so much storage space for your $$$.

Shop your local Menard's Lowes, HD, etc., for clearance laminate counter top.I like laminate because it's cheap, pretty durable, and easy to replace 5-10 years down the road when it starts getting dinged up. Melamine sheet also works really good and you can gain about 2" of usable space by not having a backslash.

I like pegboard between the base and upper cabinets for the tools that get used on the regular.

My favorite workbenches are my ones built on top of base cabinets. It is just so handy to have those big storage compartments underneath. I threw a nice coat of paint on mine and added some SS hardware. They look sharp.

For $600, if you are thrifty, you could probably fit your whole garage with used cabinets and laminate counter tops vs maybe one nice ~36 to 60" tool chest workstation. You will always want more counter and storage space than you think you can need.

If this is your first time being a home owner, I am just worried that you are going to be surprised with all of the little financial gremlins that consistently pop up.
TXDirt
Posts
7384
Joined
7/29/2015
Location
Plano, TX US
10/26/2017 11:47am
I would be looking on craigslist. Workbenches are a dime a dozen. You can find custom made ones as well as manufactured ones. If you get lucky you will get something old with solid steel frame and will last a life time. My Dad got his one and only work bench from an old Northrup machine shop. It is a monster but has literally lasted 50 years, and still going.
mx216
Posts
725
Joined
3/21/2009
Location
Portland, OR US
10/26/2017 12:04pm


I was able to do all of this for just under 1200. If you just want the benches with lower cabinets would probably be about 600. All ikea stuff, and was actually semi impressed that it's not absolute garbage.


10/26/2017 12:44pm
Micahdogg wrote:
I would build something if I were you. You can built it exactly how you want and it shouldn't cost more than buying something prefabbed. I...
I would build something if I were you. You can built it exactly how you want and it shouldn't cost more than buying something prefabbed. I built this workbench for about $40 and used cedar since it smells nice. A friend gave me the stainless steel top, but I could have but a nice chunk of hardwood in there too.

It was pure coincidence that a Craftsman 42 inch box fits inside there so well...which I bought later to consolidate all my moto tools. Hand tools in the black box, auto tools in the red.






That fridge says kegerator all over it
BMR179
Posts
360
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
East Texas, TX US
Fantasy
1240th
10/26/2017 12:55pm
I'm with Newmann, 3/4" plywood, 2x4's and 4x4's, 8ft x2ft.


I also built a rolling cart with lockable casters


Squirtlege
Posts
134
Joined
2/23/2016
Location
Neptune Beach, FL US
10/26/2017 12:58pm
Congrats on the house OP... some good suggestions in here, building a new metal shed/garage soon myself, digging everyones input.
10/26/2017 1:03pm Edited Date/Time 10/26/2017 1:11pm
I realize you said you didnt want to build but you can assemble a quality, sturdy, inexpensive bench with a customizable size in about 2 hours using this:

https://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-90164-2x4basics-Workbench-Shelving/dp/B0…

My free time is extemely limited as well but mine came out great and was well worth the couple hours it consumed. Read the reviews; they say it all.
chaseodc
Posts
253
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Fort Myers, FL US
10/26/2017 1:15pm
I did a rolling bench 4x8 and put all my tools under it, I can push it up against the wall to save space or roll it out for bigger projects.
I also recently bought the Kobalt one from lowes to use at my work. It has a metal base and wood top, its pretty sturdy and has metal cabinet options as well.

JB 19
Posts
4199
Joined
3/8/2009
Location
Marion, OH US
10/26/2017 1:21pm
There are some good work bench videos on YouTube. It might be worth your time to build what you want or buy a used one. No way I would sink 600$ into a store bought work bench. At 21 with your first house your gonna need that money for beer.
10/26/2017 1:49pm
Another vote for used kitchen cabinets. I have less than $300 into my work bench which consists of two 8-10ft sections with overhead cabinets.
newmann
Posts
24444
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
10/26/2017 2:07pm Edited Date/Time 10/26/2017 2:47pm
6 foot x 24 inches deep from Sam's Club for $199.00 each. Painted these to match the barstools in our break room here at work.

Could easily add shelves to these and the top is damn heavy.



10/26/2017 2:15pm


Seen this little advertisement at Menards last night for floor coating. I love the workbench and cabinet setup
benyam487
Posts
14
Joined
2/14/2016
Location
Caledonia, MI US
10/26/2017 4:53pm
I also say used cabinets and counter top from reuse store. Got all this for $200


EZZA 95B
Posts
9095
Joined
11/3/2010
Location
AU
Fantasy
1062nd
10/26/2017 5:16pm
Nothing to add except that I love these threads!Cool
Jroc
Posts
198
Joined
8/30/2013
Location
CA
Fantasy
2490th
10/26/2017 6:03pm
This thread is fantastic. Just moved and have a much larger garage (that will not have any cars in it, as agreed by my wife).

Doing some electrical and putting in some good lighting this weekend. Insolation, walls and floors will be next.

Work bench, sink, compressor, hydraulic press and parts washer are all in the plan. A hobby mill and lathe would be sweet too.

BAMX
Posts
2840
Joined
1/22/2012
Location
Fallbrook, CA US
10/26/2017 6:09pm
Another vote for kitchen type cabinets. I built these from scrap years ago and they are still great. The top is 2x6 laminated together with 1/4 ply tongues and finished with some poly urethane. It gives a sturdy works surface and a good place to mount the vise.

pmshortt2
Posts
653
Joined
8/17/2016
Location
VA US
10/26/2017 6:42pm
mx216 wrote:
I was able to do all of this for just under 1200. If you just want the benches with lower cabinets would probably be about 600...


I was able to do all of this for just under 1200. If you just want the benches with lower cabinets would probably be about 600. All ikea stuff, and was actually semi impressed that it's not absolute garbage.


This is my favorite for what you get with the price. I would just need the bottom. Thanks for the post. I’m gonna have to hit up Ikea. So it’s actually decent quality?

Post a reply to: Garage workbenches

The Latest