bryanhu2 Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Hi all, I have been granted a man cave, but am looking for some good ideas for a work bench, first for DIY and second to start stick making and general shooting jobs, hope you can all help photos would be great to see what your all working on. Regards to you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnphilip Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 On the stick making side i get most of my stuff from a place called highlandhorn. They do some amazing stick blanks. benches what ever you can get your hands on timber wise. Use some 3x3 for uprights, make it a nice working hight plenty of shevles under it to store stuff. Cut your sticks string them up and hang the up somewere for a year. One lad asked me a while ago how long would i need to leave them. i said as a rule an inch a year, he nearly wet himself, said what these things are 4 foot long. ?... Em i said dia not lengtht :-):-):-):-):-):-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Geordie Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Hi all, I have been granted a man cave, but am looking for some good ideas for a work bench, first for DIY and second to start stick making and general shooting jobs, hope you can all help photos would be great to see what your all working on. Regards to you all My plan was for old kitchen units bolted together and a bench top onto it! Cheap as loads of people throw em away! Stable enough if secured to the wall and great for under bench storage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 I was looking for plans for the very simple but robust workbench I made from 4"x2" CLS timber... This is probably the clearest one: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Timber-Work-Bench-2400-x-600-x-900-/201412914598 VERY cheap to make (and simple!) And really easy to make the size to fit the space you have. I made mine 6' x 3'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redditch Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 (edited) I just used a couple of the Argos metal "work benches" (no k together, and a few bolts to add stability), then added an extra sheet of 18mm MDF to the top plate, and glued and bolted that in place. Do my 22-250 and my mates 270 reloading on it no problem, and room enough for upto four reloading presses and lots of other kit Edited August 29, 2015 by Redditch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 if your going to make sticks you will need a good vice 6inch heavy duty ,so the bench will need a thick piece of wood to fix it to, a piece of scaffold board running along the front would do at a push and you need to bolt the vice over a leg so it takes the weight of the stuff your working on. good luck with the sticks and if want any help p.m. me ,Iv'e got loads of rams horns and deers feet that i'll let go at sensible prices . ATB DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'd decide on your vice (or vices) first then decide on your bench. Get the height right for you Make it as heavy as you possibly can Then decide on your construction but I'd plan for mortice and through-tenons glued and wedged to make it as strong as possible. don't forget diagonal bracing at the back. Benches nearly always get more abuse than you plan for!!! A rickety one is of little value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonwolf444 Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Solid bench, big thick legs 3x3" minimum, diagonal bracing on the back and sides, i like a good heavy top, inch or inch and a half thick top any wood will do though mdf sounds like a bad shout, i also like an upright at the back of the bench say 3 inch high to stop crud and tools falling down the back of the bench. Currently my bench tops are 1 1/2 inch thick with a sacrificial top of shuttering ply that's 12mm, so its near enough two inch thick. The sacrificial top might sound poncy i can guarantee you when you first take a cuppa, or a tin of oil or something else messy near your bench it will spontaneously fall over causing a right mess so when your bench top is past it i like to just take out four screws and put another sacrificial top on the bench. This is also why i don't like the sound of MDF for a bench top as its not very hard wearing. Height is key, a low bench will make standing up work awkward and makes using certain tools difficult and gives you a bad back, a bench too high will make sitting down work a nightmare. 4 inches in height can be the difference of aching arms and backs when your working sat from my experience. Design your bench for what your going to do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 I make mine up from steel. My big one is 2500x 1500 80x80 shs legs 10mm plate top Small one 1500x 800 40x40x4 shs legs and 3mm top A good bench is cheaper to make well from steel the price of timber being as is if you have the Know how and tools Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Steel frame fixed to wall, tops all sealed against wall with beading to stop things falling/bidding in cracks, very very slight slope back towards wall. 1 1/2" mdf top for power tool benches, kitchen to top for clean benches with carpet tops for finishing work soaks up spills and easily replaced to ensure it doesn't scratch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 1000mm Kitchen carcass £65 with 18 mm solid back, off cut of worktop £10 , mdf doors on front £10 You can hide all your junk away then. This is what I'd do but I do own a kitchen company Cls is £2:50 a length to. Steel benches are banned in a lot of work shops on health and safety grounds due to electric passing through them so we supply a lot of benches in timber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryanhu2 Posted September 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2015 Thanks for all the replays, I will be getting to it at the weekend I think. Regard 👍😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted September 13, 2015 Report Share Posted September 13, 2015 This is a good solid bench idea and Paul sellers is a good teacher full build is hear http://youtu.be/ru2ZiNs_Wek?list=PLD39949332C7FB168 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyredmist Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Try this http://m.instructables.com/id/Woodworking-Workbench-Sturdy-Inexpensive-and-Quick/?ALLSTEPS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubble Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Try this http://m.instructables.com/id/Woodworking-Workbench-Sturdy-Inexpensive-and-Quick/?ALLSTEPS yep thats what I would do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 https://www.shotgunsportsmagazine.com/downloads/bench_plans.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokersmith Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 I've just had a 7 ft 6 one made from a chap on ebay ... mc-timber-products ... Built to my spec, with a proper worktop ... delivered within a few days and really sturdy. Comparing it to buying the bits and fannying around myself, the 180 delivered seemed cheap enough to me .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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