Topic: shop bench: wood versus metal

[jeremyillingworth]

I hope this is an okay place to post this, I didn't see any sub forum for shop related questions.

I'm giving up on having a family and turning my basement space into shop space with much of it dedicated to bikes. I don't have any sort of bench and would like one and would love to hear opinions.

I was originally looking at getting a metal bench like this.

https://www.kmstools.com/bynford-pro-54-5-drawer-steel-work-bench-4429

It's a bit more tempting now that it's on sale but it's not the highest quality. It will also probably not be on sale by the time I'm ready to act. I like it being metal so it will wipe down easily. I don't need the storage but it won't hurt to have.

The other option is to make a wooden bench. It would almost certainly be cheaper than the metal bench at full price but without the storage. It would likely but much sturdier but the wood top would be prone to adsorb oils and whatnot, even with a finish on it.

What do you guys think?

jeremy

[eigenvector]

My workbench is an old interior door that I bolted legs onto, then mounted to the wall of the shop on hinges so that I can swing it up out of the way.

It really doesn't need to be elaborate - just functional, and if the door absorbs too much oil/gas/grease and needs to be replaced - I have plenty of interior doors that can be repurposed.

My tools are stored in something far more permanent.

[jeffg]

will you have a bench vise?
what will you mount it to?
Will it be a big strong vise?
What else will you mount on your bench?
if your giving up having a family I would have both, and more. Why do you want to give up on having a family?
sorry if you consider that private, May I ask?

[jeremyillingworth]

I'm sure I will have a vice, I've got a few kicking around the basement. What else should I have on it?

The other part of the basement will be a woodworking shop, where I will make the bench in question should I go that route.

I also want a bike lift but currently I consider the bench more important, although either one is likely months away.

It can't be too private, I mentioned it. I'm just getting old and have been single for many years, didn't seem like it's in the cards for me.

[oldhatt45]

jeremy,

If I were going to make a choice between a Wooden bench or a Metal product, I would go with the Wooden Bench.
You can always build a shelf below the Top to store things, and since you have a wood shop, I would assume you could also make under counter drawers, which is what I would do.  As far as the top goes, there are several options.  First is plain wood painted  a light color so it's easy to find that screw that rolled away.  Second is you can get Bar Top epoxy and just mix, spread and it will self level and be smooth and easy to clean.  Third, you can get a piece of Formica and glue it down.  Fourth you can get a piece of sheet metal and put that down (glue or screw it to the top).  I would also put a lip on the front so stuff doesn't roll off into the nether regions of the floor.  LOL
And thanks for reminding me that this winter I need to fix the top of my bench.  LOL 

My preference would be either a white/off white Formica or the Bar Top Epoxy. 

With the Wood you can bolt a vise down, a bench grinder/buffer, etc.  and have a strong platform.

Just my $0.02

Charlie

[Stev-o]

Mine is wood, no need for steel unless you are doing a lot of welding.

Def put a lift on the list, the cheap HF lift was the best thing I did for my garage this year.

[Powderman]

I also use the solid slab exterior door on hinges. When you're through working on "that" bike and everything is put away the door hinges against the wall freeing up the floor space. I have 2 separate benches, both wood, one has a 1/4" steel plate for doing "hard" work on.

[przjohn]

Wood, the problem with the metal one you posted about for me anyway is that there is no room for your legs under the bench if you wish to have a stool and work on parts.

[DH]

Could anyone post pics of the hinged set ups? I have limited space, and been considering something like that
against a pegboard wall where I hang everything.

[Powderman]

Could anyone post pics of the hinged set ups? I have limited space, and been considering something like that
against a pegboard wall where I hang everything.

Don't have a pic but build a 2x4 rectangular frame to put under the front of the bench and use door hinges on the backside of them attached to the underside of the door. The door is then leveled against the wall and secured from the top to studs in the wall. You pick the front of the door up and fold it against the wall, the leg framework folds down as the door goes up so it all ends up sandwiched against the wall with something to secure it in that position.

[eigenvector]

That pretty much sums mine up too.

I have the pegboard on the side walls, but I only store items on it that shouldn't be stuffed in a drawer - head gaskets, electrical connectors on a hanging bin organizer, pop rivets, that sort of stuff.  The door is just suspended from the studs along the short wall of the workshop.

I don't want to scare you with a photo, haven't had a chance to clean up the workshop since putting the 750 back together.

[Phinn]

I was into woodworking before cars and bikes, so I've always built my own wood benches. I can't see the benefit of using a metal one. One of the main things about wrenching bikes and cars is dealing with the relative hardness of metals. A wood bench is so soft that it's guaranteed not to mar or scratch your workpiece.

The sturdiest wood surface is laminated -- a series of planks glued together on their faces, with the working edges planed smooth. The easiest is just particleboard, screwed down onto another layer of plywood, or whatever. It's easy to build, and replaceable if it gets oily or damaged. You can bang it together with 2x4s from Home Depot in a couple of hours.

[Don R]

I bought 2- 8" steel tables, hooked them together with a common leg and they were the best money I ever spent in the shop.

[jeremyillingworth]

Thanks for the great replies. It looks like it's going to be a wood bench. I'm not likely to include any built in drawers; if I need more storage I'll get a tool box for the lower shelf.

The main bike shop area is ten feet long and eight wide. I'm hoping to get a bike lift off center and have my bench and tool chest along one wall.

I don't have a garage but once it's clean I'm hoping to get three bikes in there. Not that I have three bikes... yet.

[mrbreeze]

I have a friend in Wyoming that built a few really nice benches out of wood and then had a buddy of his put stainless sheetmetal on the top of 2 of them. The best of both worlds!!

[Redline it]

Build the frame with redwood 4x4's and 2x4s, use closet doors laid sideways for access under the bench. For the top, use simple redwood headers 2x6 for a total of 24" across, and 96" long to add 1/8" plate steel on top.  Build it off the ground by 6", and a height of what's comfortable to you. Run power to an outlet on both side or one in the center. For what you have in the picture for couple hundred bucks is pretty cheesy and you can build a nice bench for that cost. The Steel is like 100. The redwood will outlast your kids. But if it's not that big of a deal go with cheap framing lumber. If anything says Made in china Or Thailand, Taiwan it's the quality of trash painted. 

[jeffg]

recently I saw a nice bench top.
the guy did:
double layer, 2 layers of 2x6's for the top, stager all seems, lineal, & cross < solid.

you might not be to old for family. I am 57, I married a nice young girl, that I met in China in 2005 and brought her to America. We have a baby boy now, he is almost 4 years old. I don't have a garage full of toys anymore, but I DO NOT regret it.

[Steve_K]

I like wood benches, too.  I used 4x4's for legs and 2x12's for the top.  Makes it stable and a good place for my vise.  I sometimes put a sheet metal top on it.  It's not fastened so I can take it off when I want to.  I bolted my benches together as I have moved them several times and it easier for me.
Be sure that you make it tall enough.  Kitchen table height is not tall enough.  Counter top height is better.  As some noted design so you can get close with a shop stool.  Good for working on small parts and drinking while bench racing.
Steve

[evanphi]

Build it out of wood, paint it white so small parts are easier to find.

[70CB750]

I used 2x6"  to build mine back in the rental townhouse in MD, still use it as the dirty bench.

On the other side I have 4x8' what I call the assembly table, much higher and more comfortable to work on.  Often cluttered with stuff just dumped on it, but due to the height it gets used a lot.

The old table is quite narrow, but it works for me or I am used to it:





The tall, assembly table:

[jeremyillingworth]

I've got a bunch of old fir beams that came out during renovations and would likely use them. They might be a bit soft but they're free.

[madmtnmotors]

It's good to have wood...   

[goldarrow]

I have restaurant stainless table, it's great. 

[rocs]

I am in the same boat. I want something very strong that I can attach a vice to as well as power a bench grinder to. I actually signed up for pinterest just to find such a table. This is the best thing I have come across so far and I think it costs about $80 to make.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/365847169708111218/

[70CB750]

You want more than one table, there is never enough space in a shop