Folding workbench

[Wedg1e]

I know, I know, Mr Black and Herr Decker have beaten me to it in a way, but after working with a guy who had a 'proper' folding bench in his van I decided I 'needed' one myself... so I cobbled this together from bits I had lying around (or could 'reallocate' from work ) ...

Still a few bits to sort; the stays need quick-release 6mm pins of some sort (on wires so they don't get lost)... trim the bottoms of the legs... clips to keep the legs in the closed position... rubber feet... washers and Nylocs on the M10s...maybe a coat of varnish on the wood...

Worktop is 1010 x 615mm and it stands about hip height. Closed it's 95mm thick and weight is 19Kg. Built mostly from 25mm square x 1mm tube with an 18mm plywood top, routed (or routered) to allow the 50 x 50 x 5 aluminium angle to sit flush. The spare holes in the angle are from its previous installation as edging on an x-ray cabinet, alas the holes were too close to the edge of the box section to use.

Yes, that is weld splatter on the underside; I built the frame to the size of the board

Takes my 13 stone without collapsing, which is a start

 

[strube1369]

I like it. Ya built it to your specs, not some Black & Decker R&D guys...

 

[SC_BK]

Looks good

I once built a folding workbench out of wood mainly, but I ended up over-egineering it, and it was too heavy to move

 

[wobs]

Nice work. If I could make something as good as that, I'd be very happy.

Modern B&D Workmate benches are of course a poorly built these days. I've just buoght a replacement for mine which is only 2 or 3 years old, and worn out. The new one is actually my third one, and I found it in an indepenednt tool shop at a much reduced price, but the thing that made me buy it was that it is a previous version, which means it s a bit more rebust. Its the same standard as my first one which I had for about 10 years.

Of course this all pales into insignificance when I look at my Dad's Workmate which he got in about 1980, and still has.

Yours should last much longer than my recent purchase of course.

 

[pedrobedro]

I have 2 dual height Workmates, a black one I bought in the 70s which is getting ready for new tops and a blue one I spotted on a flea market last year with home made tops which work quite well. I asked how much and when the stall holder replied £5 I nearly snatched his hand off. Yours looks sturdy and a good size for a lot of different uses and a clamp on vice would be a good add on for it. Cotter pins with R clips would do for one end of the stays to make them quicker release.

 

[W4yne]

Nice work Wedgie, you've now got me thinking now? attach to the garage wall so able to fold flat against it, and made so a steel plate can be attached to the table top to double up as a small welding table.

 

[tomsutton529]

Good work there mate...

On a side note the ikea metal shelves with some solid oak bolted to it can be used to free the Hub from a Driveshaft and even take beating a bearing from said hub.... set up in said way will provide some lovely storage and a solid work surface..