I built some similar to this: http://www.instructables.com/id/Work-Bench-on-the-Cheap/
This is one of the ones I built. Can’t remember the exact sizes, but I do know the left over piece from the top fit in for the bottom shelf
I used carriage bolts to hold the legs into the upper frame… That was key for stability… as is bolting it to the wall… HUGE difference… and if you do lag it to the wall the angled braces need to both go from the outside top to the inside bottom…
Don’t use plywood for the top though… Definitely use 2X8+… plywood won’t really provide a lot of resistance to hammering…
Also, overhang the top on all edges to allow you to easily clamp things to it.
good info
Doing this now … I’ll be taking pictures of the progress thus far in a bit. total cost so far is under 100 surface area is going to be 32" X 8’ and 3.5ft tall surface area. The surface area is this high for a few reasons. The most important is being able to work on the bench standing up and, the second is I got the old waiting room chair from hybrid, so it works perfect.
Supplies I had around:
2- 2"X4" X92
in supplies so far i bought:
4- 2"X8" X8’
6- 2"X4" X92"
2- 4"X4" X8’
1- 3/8" 4’X8’ sheet of plywood (this is for the bottom storage shelf)
and a box of 3" lag screws
total cost thus far is 90.00 after a 15% off military discount
Free cabinets off craigslist with 3/4" plywood on top works for me. I also have a ~2x4’ table with galvanized pipe for the base with a top made from 2x8"s with hardboard over that.
When I built mine I used two 2x4s screwed together because I wasn’t wild about the idea of using pressure treated 4x4s which were the only 4x4s I could find. Its just fine. I have 3 sets of legs and it is probably 8’ long. MDF top. When it gets crapped out, I’ll just replace it.
I still recommend using carriage bolts to hold the legs to the frame…
To bad I just noticed this thread, I might be bumping my old bench real soon, it’s 3’ x 8’ and about 40" tall.
You can kinda see it here
X…
I used lag bolts instead of carriage bolts with washers, 4 around the top table frame and 4 around the bottom frame … let me upload the pictures now.
Yeah, the 2x8’s would make it better for hammering on. The one I built was for the basement and will be seeing mostly electrical work, and boxing up shipping stuff. When I make the next one for the garage, it’ll probably be a 2x8 top, or a metal top.
Looked for a camera and all I could find was my Ipod touch, so deal with it.
Here is the beginning after building the top table frame and lightly had the legs attached.
This is after adding the bottom frame to box it in and keep stored items off the ground. This will also be a great base for the drawers I plan on adding in the future.
The finished product for now. Still need to add the metal top to the right side. Also as I said before I plan on adding drawers to the right side.
If you look you can see where I put all the lag bolts. all four in front and then four in the back side. Between the lag bolts and the screws I used this this is burly as fuck. I still need to secure it to the wall but, it’s really not necessary.
Looked for a camera and all I could find was my Ipod touch, so deal with it.
Here is the beginning after building the top table frame and lightly had the legs attached.
This is after adding the bottom frame to box it in and keep stored items off the ground. This will also be a great base for the drawers I plan on adding in the future.
The finished product for now. Still need to add the metal top to the right side. Also as I said before I plan on adding drawers to the right side.
If you look you can see where I put all the lag bolts. all four in front and then four in the back side. Between the lag bolts and the screws I used this this is burly as fuck. I still need to secure it to the wall but, it’s really not necessary.
I would recommend using stainless for your topper so it doesn’t rust. It’s pricey but worth it and cleans up much nicer than my benchs
Pricey as in how much for a 3’ x 4’ aprox.?
X…
Good job Mike! 
Awesome job :tup: