need help: building a work bench and setting up shop

[FishMan]

We're finally moving into a house after spending the last 5 years in 4 different apartments. Now I have a nice big basement to set up a bike shop in. I will call it the "Bike Cave".

Anyway, I could use some advice on setting up a kick-butt work bench and work area. What kind of building materials, constructions styles, cool features, etc. should I include in a permanent work bench. What are some good options for storing parts and tools?

Basically what I have in mind is a 10' wide 2' deep work bench with a peg board behind it. Currently I have a small work bench bit it poorly built and way too small and rickety.

I posted over at MTBR but so far they haven't been much help. I remember a thread there about cool work areas a few years back but I can't seem to find it now.

[rockyrider]

To do a bench right with wood you need to look at kiln dried clear fir, it's straight and knot free and expensive. 2x4 framing and 4x4 legs with lap joints at the corners, bolt the assembly together with nuts and bolts so you can take it apart and move it to another place.

Having a work surface with 3/4" MDO (Medium Density Overlay) plywood makes a nice smooth and splinter free table top.

Diagonal braces at the back and sides or 1/4" plywood for stiffness and anti-wracking. The top of the bench should be about 42" for a standing height bench.

Make sure you can bolt it to the wall so it won't move when you have to put torque on things.

And then you can consider a bench mount vice at one end a bench mount bike workstand clamp at the other.

[rockhound]

Get some 1x4s, some 2x2s, a 3/4-inch sheet of plywood, and some two 2x4 sheets of particle board.

Make two 2x10 boxes out of the 1x4s. These are for your middle shelf and work top. Make one 1x10 box out of the 1x4s. This will be your upper shelf.

Make the legs out of 1x4. Angle the feet to be 1.5 inches thick. The smaller footprint makes the bench more stable.

Screw four 2x2s vertically to the wall, with one horizontal running the distance of the bench. Screw the pegboard to them.

Set the smallest shelf on top of the 2x2s, screw it to the wall and if need be, support it on the ends with more 1x4s.

I found 2x4 sheets of particle board for a dollar each, and bought a ton of it. It works fine for the shelves, but use the plywood for the top. If you can handle having a smaller bench, an 8 ft door works great for a work top.

[jerman]

Nice set up Rockhound.:cool:

[AM Radio]

Rockhound, clean up U garage. You and that Myron should hang out.

[FishMan]

To do a bench right with wood you need to look at kiln dried clear fir, it's straight and knot free and expensive. 2x4 framing and 4x4 legs with lap joints at the corners, bolt the assembly together with nuts and bolts so you can take it apart and move it to another place.

Why fir? I heard another suggestion for cedar, which seems like a smart choice since it is very rot resistant and the work bench will be in a basement.

I am no carpenter. What is a lap joint?

Make sure you can bolt it to the wall so it won't move when you have to put torque on things.

Any idea how I would anchor it into a concrete wall?

[FishMan]

Make two 2x10 boxes out of the 1x4s. These are for your middle shelf and work top. Make one 1x10 box out of the 1x4s. This will be your upper shelf.

Again, I am no carpenter, could you explain to me what you mean when you are talking about making these boxes? I think I have an idea but it would be better if you make it clear. Do these ad stability of the width of the workbench as compared to simply using plywood or 2x8s or something for the shelves?

Make the legs out of 1x4. Angle the feet to be 1.5 inches thick. The smaller footprint makes the bench more stable.

Could you explain how this leg tapering thing works? Why would it be more stable then a big 4x4 leg?

Screw four 2x2s vertically to the wall, with one horizontal running the distance of the bench. Screw the pegboard to them.


Again, any tips for securing this bench to concrete?

Seems like I am going to have a busy weekend next weekend. Any suggestions for tools I will need? Will I need a rotary saw? I hate those things.... sooooo loud.

[rockyrider]

Clear fir is strong and has long straight grain so it is not prone to warping, it's slightly harder than cedar. Cedar might be good if you have termites as it also is unpalatable to carpenter ants.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lap_joint

Some angle brackets on each side and concrete anchors would be fine.

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/h2anchorconcrete


Why fir? I heard another suggestion for cedar, which seems like a smart choice since it is very rot resistant and the work bench will be in a basement.

I am no carpenter. What is a lap joint?


Any idea how I would anchor it into a concrete wall?

[myron]

Rockhound, clean up U garage. You and that Myron should hang out.

I don't even see a beer fridge in that mess.

[AM Radio]

I don't even see a beer fridge in that mess.
Pan right Sir Miller------->
You almostmademecry

[AM Radio]

On second look, did yinz canabolize Myronseth's Hawk bike? Thanx fer makin Royboy leave. Excuse me as I go bleed crimzon.
~The boy

[myron]

Pan right Sir Miller------->
You almostmademecry

it's chalk full of last weekends leftovers,all seven of them

[myron]

On second look, did yinz canabolize Myronseth's Hawk bike? Thanx fer makin Royboy leave. Excuse me as I go bleed crimzon.
~The boy

nope,he's fine. Need compression bags for bike though.

The unit that belongs on the empty hook is currently playing lacrose in Prarie Village.