Mobile/Space Saving Bench Ideas?

[Jelly]

It looks like I'm going to be moving across to wales temporarily, This means leaving my workshop behind, with all the inconvenience that entails.

I'm looking at options for having a bench with me; ideally one I can store out of the way as i'm not sure I can find accomodation with a dedicated workspace.

I've been given a workmate, which fits the bill perfectly apart from how insubstantial it is on its own... One possibility is making some brackets from steel angle and bolting it to a thick MDF base, it wont be as quick to set up, but it would add some much needed stability (especially if the base was big enough that my weight was on it too)

The other option is to go back to the trestle Idea I had when i was looking at making a knock-down assembly table (fortunately before I finalised a plan work decided to scrap one of theirs, so I saved it from being chopped up)

If anyone has other suggestions, they'd be welcome, I'm happy to build something; but I don't know how I can combine sturdy and compact well.

I suppose I could make a small "school type" bench using bridle joints and bolts so it could be knocked down into two frames, crossmembers and the top... but that would be perhaps too faffy.

 

[disco_monkey79]

You could glue&screw a piece of e.g. 50mm square batten down the middle of a sturdy piece of MDF (or any flat material), which will clamp in the jaws of your workmate, giving a larger flat surface?

Obviously, if it overhangs massively, and you put something heavy right on the edge, there's the chance it could tip over.

Or get a matching workmate, and clamp the board in both?

 

[WandrinAndy]

I'm in a similar situation... living temporarily in a touring caravan... so made a Shop-Step-Stool / Saw-Horse / Portable-Mini-Work-Bench out of MDF that is both compact and sturdy.

For me, it's a very useful portable mini work bench. I made mine from a [1220x1220] half sheet of 18mm MDF and a 2400mm length of 38x63 CLS timber. Can clamp workpieces flat or upright, and for extra flexibility I've drilled some 19mm dog-holes in the "worktop" to use dowelling bench-dogs or use a Veritas Panel-Clamp as a vice when needed. Glued and screwed together.

If you were to make two, they would make great sturdy supports for a bigger top.

Not as high as a normal bench, but may help you with ideas.

If you're interested, my plan for this is downloadable from http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ ... c5c00f7b29