plans for bench etc.

[donwatson]

Does anyone have a recommended goto for plans to stock a workshop.
We are presently trying to establish a Mens Shed and would like to make our own woodworking benches, scroll saw benches, drill benches etc. Is there any sites we could get plans (preferably free). We will need sleds for the saws as well I reckon.
Anyone any recommendations ??

take care
Don W (hammer)

 

[Cordy]

Hi, I built This which is absolutely rock solid
For the top I used 3 x 2 Redwood joined with Dominoes


Rest is just like plan; except only 2 dog-holes drilled so far

edit
Underside battens have 4 screws each side; 16 screws in total
Decided to use Pocket hole screws 2.5 inch; seems to hold quite firmly, a total of 16 screws - no glue

 

[beech1948]

I have built a couple of these benches for friends who were beginners. A no nonsense, unfancy get it done style of bench

http://picnicpark.org/keith/woodworking/workbench/BobAndDavesGoodFastAndCheapBench-ne.pdf

This 20 page PDF file provides measurements, how to pictures and shows a 13yr old building it.

Pretty good

Al

 

[nev]

One from plywood here
http://www.startwoodworking.com/plans/r ... wood-bench

 

[donwatson]

Thanks for these ideas chaps. Just the sort of of thing we will need to start with.

take care
Don W

 

[beech1948]

Don W,

So having askd the question and got some answers how are you going to proceed.....enquiring minds want to know

 

[Jonzjob]

I haven't had time to look at all the links, but I have 3 benches in my workshop here. 2 hard by a wall and one in the middle as an island. All the tops are damaged kitchen worktops. Cheap as chips and solid as a rock. The frames are 4 X 2 bolted together and they have a shelf under them for storage. There were moved from the U.K. to hear because they are that good and have been in service for about 20 years.

No need for owt fancy and they are so very easy to keep clean, when that is I can see them for the stuff on them

The wall ones are a single top depth and the 'island on is 2 deep. Big enough for the biggest jobs I do and one of those was building a 5 foot radius, quater circle, fibre glass set of stepd for our swimming pool.

If you go to a good wood supplier who deals with kitchen work tops they will probably have them?

 

[Freddyjersey2016]

Donwatson - I agree with Jonzjob - no need for complex workbenches for some of what you describe, a simple top frame made from bolted or screwed together 3x2 or 4x2, then either kitchen worktop, or firedoor blanks or 6" x 1.5" PAR planks for the top - then frame forming a shelf about 6" off the floor to help keep the legs apart -- I have had a bench like that for nearly 30 years. I am unconvinced that workbench tops need to be 3" thick - may be they need to be if you are working on heavy metal parts, but not for woodwork - no-one can hit a chisel hard enough to deflect a properly supported 1.5" plank any appreciable amount. Pile a few toolboxes on the shelf under the workbench and nothing will move the bench.

PS I am a member of Amersham Men's Shed, and we too are hoping to move to a new workshop soon and will need some more workbenches