How to make a carpentry table with your own hands. How to make a mechanic's workbench with your own hands. Modification of a metalwork bench for carpentry work
Surely, every man in his youth, during labor lessons, more than once had to make some object out of wood, standing for more than one hour at such a device.
And now, having become an adult, and creating beautiful and practical works from wood, you are thinking about purchasing your own carpentry workbench. My advice to you is that you shouldn’t spend money, it’s better to spend a little personal time and get a quality “workplace” in return.
So, what is a “carpentry workbench”? It is stable, solid (often made of wood), the purpose of which lies in the processing of all kinds of products using hand and mechanized tools.
If you are seriously thinking about making a workbench, you should note that there are several types:
Wood or metal?
First of all, before you start creating your own workbench, you should think about what material it will be made of. Wooden base will be appropriate if the intended working area does not take up much space.
The ideal option for the countertop would be laminated chipboard or pressed plywood.. For a stationary sample, a combination of planed wooden boards and metal is suitable.
Advice: an old unnecessary table will also work well as a base, or quality door made from solid fabric.
It is not advisable to make a workbench from metal, an acceptable compromise would be wooden cover and a frame with metal sheathing.
It is best to use not one or two vices, but as many as possible. With the help of some, you can secure long boards without much effort, while others are suitable for fastening small parts.
Dimensions and drawing
Before we start manufacturing, we need to think about its design, dimensions, and purpose. To manufacture parts and assemble the table, you will need to make a drawing. We indicate all the data on it with millimeter accuracy. Next, you will often have to use the drawing in the process of manufacturing individual elements and when assembling the product.
Advice: when drawing up a drawing, focus on the tabletop size of 1600x800 and a height of 870 mm.
Tools
What set of tools will the master need:
Of course the list may vary depending on what material you decide to choose for the base of the workbench, and what design it will be.
Reference: It is extremely important to decide on the height of the workbench at the very beginning. For an experienced master It will be possible to make a device with an adjustable height; others are advised to focus on the distance from the extreme point of the arm bent at the elbow to the floor.
How to do it?
Manufacturing
This process occurs in several stages, the first of which is the base assembly. This is followed by installation of the countertop and installation of all necessary equipment.
We prepare vertical supports and jumpers, drill a through hole in a horizontally located bar. Then screw the nut and washer onto the bolt from the groove side. We install jumpers in the middle of the tabletop (there will be drawers between them), and slats are attached to them. The workbench cover will be bolted in place.
Workbench base – wooden frame(it is recommended to use soft wood for their manufacture: linden or pine), the fastenings of which must meet all the requirements of rigidity and stability. That is why, between the legs of your desktop in horizontal view a jumper should be placed, and a drawer should be installed along the entire length. They must be secured at a safe distance from the floor (50 cm). This amount of space may come in handy in the future, and you can easily place it at the bottom of the workbench small shelves or drawers.
Then we move on to the stage tabletop constructions. This can be done using several boards, but in this case they must be carefully processed, cleared of debris and sawdust. Its dimensions must exceed the width and length of the base. This solution is necessary for your convenience. So work area can be easily cleaned. The tabletop is fixed to the boards located on the opposite side of the workbench being created. Installation of the bars is simply impossible without several grooves (slots, joints) located in the base.
We cover the working surface we have created with a vice. To do this, we construct a plywood spacer from the wrong side, mark with a pencil or pen where the future holes will be. We drill them and attach the vice with nuts.
When creating the stops, adjust their height and place them at a sufficiently large distance from the vice. Such care will ensure guaranteed reliability, and you will be sure that the workpieces will remain on the surface without falling to the floor.
We also construct, they can be mounted on the support of the subsurface space.
Let's start creating drawer guides, which will subsequently serve as storage for all tools and large items. For them we take the back part of the workbench and make recesses.
We nail a couple of transverse bars to the base of the tabletop; grooves must be left for them prematurely. We attach slats horizontally to the jumpers; they will serve for the process of sliding the drawers.
We attach the tabletop to the base with bolts. Using a chisel, we make indentations, drill the indicated places, and then there will be bolts there. It is necessary that their heads do not cause injuries, so they are securely hidden in the countertop.
Assembly
A certain number of vices will need to be attached to the structure. Openings are prepared in advance for them, under which small plywood spacers are subsequently secured.
Be careful place the vice at the same level to prevent destruction of the workbench.
We place the attachment points, after which we can start attaching the tools. Hardware is perfect for this.
Important: It is under no circumstances recommended to place the vice close to the corners of your table, otherwise there is a risk of the tool falling off.
It is easy to make supporting elements with your own hands. To do this, simply fix ready-made stops, or drill small openings of a certain size.
Attention: It is not advisable to use bolts as stops; they can damage parts, and dowels are unreliable. Create rectangles, they will serve as ideal and reliable fasteners. Secure the block to the end of the workbench.
Please also take into account the fact that quite heavy and massive things will subsequently be placed on the countertop, such as:
- wooden clamps;
- turning equipment;
- milling element;
- drill (stationary).
Therefore, it is so important to make sure that the fastenings are reliable and to think through all the options for convenience, so that you do not have to regret the location of certain devices in the future.
Finishing
The finished product can be tidied up using a grinder. After this, cover the entire surface of the desktop with drying oil as a protective and primer layer for paint. This way you will protect yourself from getting splinters and reduce the risk of injury.
Finally, you screw the corners (with bolts) at the base.
It would be more correct to install such a structure in the area natural light, that is, by the window. Take care of additional lighting of the workplace, also do not forget that there should be sockets next to the workbench; in such a situation, an extension cord can “save” you. The most comfortable time spent at a workbench will be if the table is not too high and the light falls from the left or from above.
Photo
Creating furniture is an individual process. You may well end up with something beautiful and convenient:
Useful video
The step-by-step manufacturing process is described in detail in the following video:
Conclusion
Once it appears on the farm, it will become an indispensable assistant and over time, you will see this for yourself. Firstly, a do-it-yourself workbench is a significant savings cash. Secondly, you, as a specialist, acquire practical skills. Thirdly, you will always have at hand comfortable table, on which you can create interesting and useful household items.
A garage, equipped with a bench and associated tools, turns from a place to store a car into a full-fledged workshop. Using this equipment you will be able to perform a variety of repairs and chores, repair household appliances and design furniture.
In this article we will talk about how to make a workbench with your own hands. Their varieties and design will be considered, a list will be given necessary tools and materials, as well as step-by-step instructions for performing the work.
1 What is a workbench?
A workbench is a table designed for manual or instrumental processing of parts made of wood and steel, on which electromechanical and any types of installation work. To expand the functionality, the workbench can be equipped with auxiliary devices - a vice and stops; the presence of compartments (shelves, drawers) for storing tools and accessories is also useful.
The standard height of a workbench varies between 90-100 cm (depending on the height of the master), the width is 70-80 cm, the length is from 120 to 150 cm. There are also adjustable work tables, the height of which can be changed in the range of 50-150 cm - They are more convenient, but it is quite difficult to make such a workbench with your own hands.
There are 3 types of workbenches:
- carpentry;
- carpenter;
- metalworker
A homemade workbench of a metalwork type consists of a frame (made from a profile square section) and a wooden tabletop 25-30 mm thick. A powerful tabletop is a mandatory attribute of a metalworking workbench; for additional protection, it is advisable to cover it with a sheet of galvanized metal 1-2 mm thick. In this case, the table cover can easily withstand hammer blows and other mechanical impacts.
Other types of workbenches are radically different from the design considered - the carpenter's table is long (up to 6 meters), it is equipped with special stops for fixing the workpieces being processed. The dimensions and structure of a carpenter's workbench are similar to a metalworker's, however, its tabletop is designed to handmade and does not suggest the possibility various fastenings workpieces, which limits the variability of use of power tools.
1.1 Guide to making a workbench (video)
2 Making a workbench for the garage with your own hands
Since the bench is the most versatile and compact option, for installation on a balcony or in a garage it makes sense to use it. Typical designs There are quite a lot of such tables, some diagrams are given in this article, but the dimensions and design of the table are best selected individually. When drawing up a drawing, take into account what work will be carried out on the table and what dimensions of the workbench will be optimal for their implementation.
To make a metal workbench with your own hands you will need the following materials:
- corner 50x50 (thickness 5 cm) - length 6.5 meters;
- corner 60×40 (3 mm) - 25 m;
- corner 40x40 (4 mm) - 7 m;
- metal strip 4 mm - width 45 mm, length 8 m;
- sheet for tabletop 2 mm - dimensions 220*75 cm and board of similar dimensions 40 mm thick;
- guides and plywood for drawers 15 mm thick (size depends on the number of drawers);
- self-tapping screws, screws, bolts;
- acrylic paint.
The above materials are designed for a homemade workbench 220 cm long and 70 cm wide. These dimensions allow you to optimally distribute the equipment on the tabletop - a vice and a circular saw so that they do not interfere with each other during work.
For power tools, you will need a grinder, a jigsaw, a drill, a screwdriver and a welding machine. Also prepare a level, tape measure, sandpaper, paint brushes and a metal brush.
Do-it-yourself metal workbench - step-by-step instructions:
- In accordance with the drawing, we cut the steel profile and strip into pieces of the required sizes. The corner will be used to construct a power frame, the strip will be used to install guides for fastening the side panels of the table.
- Using a welding machine, we connect the load-bearing frame, initially welding the upper rectangle of the tabletop - for this we use two pipes with a length of 220 and 70 cm. Inside the rectangle, transverse stiffeners are welded in increments of 40 cm, and a corner is fixed along the upper end in which the wooden tabletop will be placed. Next, side legs 90 cm long are welded to the upper part, which are reinforced with belts coming from the central jumpers.
- After the base part of the frame is ready, it is necessary to weld the panel for the power tool; it can be made folding, but the fixed structure is more reliable. As load-bearing elements for the panel, a corner 220 cm long and four segments of 95 cm are used. Two of them are fixed in the central part of the frame, two more - along the edges, after which a long corner is welded along their upper contour.
- All that remains is to finalize the frame - strips need to be welded to the load-bearing elements for further plywood sheathing, then the frame will need to be strengthened using jumpers in its corner parts.
- When making a workbench for the garage with your own hands, you cannot neglect the installation of drawers, since their presence will make the table more convenient to use. The boxes are made of 15 mm plywood, which is cut to size and connected with screws; guide elements are fixed on the side walls of the structure.
- Before laying the tabletop boards, the wood must be coated with an antiseptic, which will significantly extend its service life. The boards can be laid along or across the frame (depending on their length), after which the surface of the tabletop is sanded and covered steel sheet, which is fixed with self-tapping screws and painted.
- Next, we install the drawers, securing them with guide bolts screwed to the table. IN opposite side you can make several tables open shelves, they are quite practical and convenient.
A mandatory attribute of a metalworking table is a workbench vice, which is placed in one of the corners of the tabletop. The vice is attached using anchor bolts, it will be useful to place a steel plate 1-2 cm thick between the vice and the tabletop for more reliable fixation of the tool.
The functionality of such a workbench with a vice can be further expanded by installing a circular or miter saw, stationary jigsaw or a drilling machine. Like a vice, each of the tools is mounted in the corner of the workbench.
2.1 Requirements for a homemade workbench
A mechanic's workbench is a design designed to work with cutting power tool and others potentially dangerous equipment, therefore it can only be used if the following safety requirements are met:
- when making a mini-workbench for installation in a small garage or on a balcony, it is necessary to ensure maximum stability of the structure; if necessary, the table is rigidly fixed to the flooring;
- there should be no sharp edges or protrusions at the corners of the tabletop;
- when installing a vibrating tool, it is necessary to use vibration-damping rubber gaskets;
- The workplace should be regularly cleaned of chips and oil stains.
The workbench design described in the article, with correct production, can withstand loads of over 200 kg. More requirements for desktops can be found in regulatory documents GOST 20400 and GOST 22046.
If you are not confident in your skill and the instructions provided seem too complicated, the best solution There will be a purchase of a ready-made factory workbench. The world's leading manufacturer of such products is Workbench (Germany), which supplies the market with a wide range of products, which includes large-sized, compact and collapsible workbenches for plumbing, joinery and carpentry work.
The cost of Workbench desktops varies in the range of 7-20 thousand rubles, depending on the size and functionality. For domestic use, the Worckbench 110 model is best suited - it is a collapsible aluminum table with retractable elements for securing power tools and auxiliary equipment, which has proven itself well among masters all over the world.
Most home craftsmen, who comprise the bulk of subscribers and visitors to our site, have, to one degree or another, already solved the problem of organizing their workplace by arranging comfortable workbenches in their workshops and on the balcony.
But there are also those who are looking closely at home handicrafts and are trying out this universal profession, which includes many specialties and is becoming a very useful hobby for the family.
First of all, this article is for them, but perhaps it will also be useful for those who have already found themselves in the role of a DIYer and, having decided on the main types of work, can competently set about arranging a home workbench for the workshop with their own hands.
Types of workbenches for the workshop
A workbench is a table for carrying out various specialized processing work different materials. Accordingly, depending on what material you have to work with and what operations to carry out, workbenches differ from each other in size, configuration and material of manufacture. Based on the type of materials processed, workbenches are divided into:
- carpentry;
- metalwork;
- combined.
Based on the design features, the following types are added to them:
- universal;
- folding.
Folding universal workbenches are produced by different companies with different lists of functions, and their distinctive feature, first of all, is their mobility. Therefore, if you convert your experience as a home craftsman into banknotes outside your apartment or the yard of your house, you can either choose a universal factory-made folding workbench for yourself, or, after analyzing a number of design features of a particular model, make it yourself.
But for a home workshop, more massive workbenches are suitable, and here there are three options:
- carpentry workbench with the ability to perform a number of metalwork operations;
- a metalworking workbench with the ability to perform a number of carpentry operations;
- combined workbench.
Let us immediately note that the last option is not the best solution, since it does not allow for full high-quality performance of both carpentry and plumbing types of work, but is only relatively adapted for their production, therefore the first 2 options, in our opinion, are preferable. It is these options that we will consider in examples for self-production.
Making a simple DIY garage workbench
The simplest workbench for a home workshop will be a fairly powerful table with a small set of additional functions: drawers, shelves, etc. for storing tools and remanent.
It’s good if it is possible to slightly transform it to perform metal or wood work, but more on that below.
To create such a workbench we will take wooden blocks 40x80 and cut out 4 legs: 2 pcs. 700 mm long, 2 pcs. 750 mm long and 2 lower jumpers 500 mm long. For the 2 upper jumpers of the same length, we used a 40x100 block available on the farm.
It will also be used for the top trim of the base of our workbench at the front, with a length of 1400 mm at the bottom and 1600 mm at the top. And at the back we use edged board 40x150x1600, but we will need all the long pieces later.
If you have a tenoning tool, use it like we did.
If not, make them by hand or you can butt the pieces together using overhead metal fasteners.
Assemble the side posts as shown in the photo below.
After this, you can begin assembling the entire frame.
The central jumper inside the frame, made from the same 40x80 block, mounted on small wooden brackets 40x40x180, in addition to strengthening the structure, serves as a stop for two bedside tables with drawers from the old ones desks, which we decided to use in our workbench.
For work surface For the workbench, we also used our existing laminated fiberboard surface. We screwed a board to the front edge on metal plates, which will protect its edge from peeling during use. It will also serve as the basis for attaching a small bench vice with a clamp.
We attached the working surface to the bed using metal corners and got a fairly powerful workbench general purpose for our home workshop.
Manufacturing of a carpentry workbench with modifications for performing metalwork work
If you primarily work with wood, then the logical thing to do would be to build a woodworking bench and make some modifications to the design for metalworking operations.
The traditional carpentry workbench for the workshop has a design that has been proven over centuries, which has undergone virtually no significant changes until the present day. Its basis is a massive frame with tenon joints, using wedges for tightening in case of drying out, a powerful (often stacked) tabletop with a recessed tray for collecting chips and tools, and two vice-clamps for fastening workpieces.
The dimensions of such a workbench are selected depending on maximum length workpieces that will be processed on it. If you are going to make wooden doors yourself, then the length of the workbench must be at least 2.5 m and the width at least 0.8 m, otherwise your work on it will turn into hard labor. The workbench of my grandfather - the best carpenter in the area for at least 50 km in all directions - was 3000x1000 and he said that to make large frames for verandas he was missing 20 centimeters in width.
The dimensions of the school carpentry workbench are 1200 x 500 x 750. If the plan dimensions suit you and you are willing to spend about 13 thousand rubles on it, then the height can be adjusted by screwing bars of appropriate sizes to the legs. But you can also consider alternative options.
As a matter of fact, these are variations on the theme of the same carpentry workbench for a workshop with various materials for the countertop, the presence or absence of drawers, shelves and different vice mechanisms. Now in order:
1. We make the bed from dry pine lumber 40-50 x 80-100 mm, calculating the height to suit your height. If your workbench will be installed in a room where there will be no sudden changes in humidity, then the connection of its elements can be done in any way in a convenient way, albeit end-to-end using fixing metal plates and corners.
2. The tabletop can be made from ready-made glued wooden shields, sold in most construction supermarkets, or glue them together from planed bars with a thickness of at least 50 mm yourself using PVA glue, constructing a simple clamping device. It is important to remember that the top side of the future workbench should be as flat as possible. You can also use thick-layer plywood for the tabletop, but it is still advisable to paste over its ends wooden slats made of oak, beech or ash.
3. For fastening clamping mechanisms The bottom of the workbench table top is built up with bars of appropriate sizes. The most popular clamping devices are:
— carpentry lead screw with two guides made in Czech Republic Tr 24*5, 390/205 at a price of about 3 thousand rubles.
Spanish Piher carpentry vice, 150 mm, costing approx. 2 thousand rubles;
You can also make something similar yourself, using a pin with a diameter of 14 - 16 mm, which, of course, will not transfer the same forces as a vice, but will make your clamp extremely economical and repairable, due to its low cost;
Or make an even simpler clamping device from the same pins, but due to the lack of guides, put 2 of these clamps on one vice.
4. Make holes for stop pegs in two directions opposite the vice lead screw. It is also useful to make them across the entire surface of the tabletop parallel to each other for secure fastening of large products.
5. Attach the workbench tabletop to the base using strong metal corners and, if you do not plan to move it, use them to secure it to the floor.
And you have successfully completed the first task of the workbench version described in this section of the article.
Now, several options for devices for performing metalwork work on such a workbench.
- The simplest of them is to make a plate of steel 3 - 5 mm thick with a frame of steel angle, kept separately from the workbench or attached to it on hinges and lowered onto the tabletop if necessary.
- The main attribute of a metalworking workbench is a metalworking vice. In this case, we recommend using a vice with fasteners that do not require going through the workbench top.
You can, of course, adjust the holes for the stops to fit the vice fasteners, but with a thick pad you can do without it. Also interesting is the option of attaching a bench vice directly to the table top of a carpenter's workbench using an adapter bar-stand and a powerful clamp.
And the overlay should not cover the entire area of the workbench. There are a lot of options, the choice is yours.
Modification of a metalwork bench for carpentry work
Often, especially if the household has a car and a garage, the main workbench is a metalworker’s.
We will not consider the process of its manufacture in this article, but about simple ways We’ll tell you how to adapt it for carpentry work, especially since it’s not at all difficult. To fully use your bench as a carpenter's bench, you will need to dismantle the bench vice and make several simple devices.
Let's take a closer look at them.
1. From the first picture below, when modifying a bench, we will be interested primarily in the side stop (1), which is not difficult to make removable. And together with the holes for the dowels (14) along the front end of the workbench (and this can be a solid removable design) and a suitable wedge, we get a simple and reliable device attaching the board to the workbench. You can simply make it secured using recessed clamps wooden overlay, with the entire depicted set of workpiece fastenings and understand that the level of the working surface will rise by its thickness, which can be compensated for by a ladder at the workbench of the appropriate height.
There is nothing to say about the back stop; it simply performs a supporting function for long workpieces.
2. You can make an overhead planing board with a universal stop, shown in the second picture. By increasing the height of the stop (or changing it depending on the height of the bar being processed) and screwing the bar from the bottom to the right edge of the workbench, we get the simplest device that turns a metalworker's workbench into a carpenter's workbench.
3. A slightly more complex overlay with a fairly powerful option for securing the workpiece also allows you to solve this problem. The only thing we would recommend in this case is to also screw the stop on the right side and choose a thickness of at least 50-70 mm for more reliable fastening of the front pegs and sufficient depth of the lock and clamp.
The method of installing the last two planing devices on the workbench is shown in the diagram:
Dear readers, if you have any questions, please ask them using the form below. We will be glad to communicate with you;)
Repairing a car is a difficult and troublesome task. To make this job easier and create favorable conditions, you will definitely need to make a bench. The drawings and diagrams for this may be different, but the principle of how to build a convenient workbench for the garage with your own hands is the same. The device should be compact and not take up much space.
It's best to build a prefabricated workbench so it can fold up or stow away. The simple design can be made entirely of wood. This inexpensive material quite easy to find and very simple to process. But wooden products There is a drawback - it is prone to burning. To make a less dangerous and more reliable metalworking workbench, you need to make a homemade metal structure. However, due to the simplicity and ease of construction, most car enthusiasts most often choose wood.
Required materials:
- wooden blocks;
- various boards;
- hinges;
- nails;
- screws.
First, you need to decide on a place to build a metalworking table. If the area is long enough, it is better to install a workbench at the back wall opposite the gate. This will make it possible to do work while the car is in the garage. With this arrangement of the workbench, the side passages will remain empty, which will be very convenient for car repairs. When a room has more free space in width, then best option installation will be on the side. For Russian models on the left wall, and for foreign cars on the right, which will ensure safer entry and exit of the car from the garage.
Simple model
To do this you will need the following tools:
- screwdriver or screwdriver;
- regular drill or brace;
- hand saw;
- simple level;
- small tape measure;
- sharp axe;
- hammer.
Designing and installing a homemade bench in your garage is easy. But first you need to determine the location and then choose the material. For construction a simple workbench Any boards and wooden blocks will work perfectly. This is the best way, which requires fairly modest knowledge at the school level. In addition, the financial costs will not be so high, since old bars and boards can be used to build such a table. Since wood is easy and quick to process, the entire construction of a wooden workbench will take very little time.
When preparation is complete and found suitable material, then you should first start building the frame. To do this, you need to take measurements of the future table in the garage locally and use them to cut 4 bars for the frame. Of these, two long ones will be located along the wall, and short ones perpendicularly. Next you need to make the legs. The height of the workbench in the garage should be just below the waist, which will provide ideal working conditions.
After all the bars have been sawn, they are connected into a frame. This is easy to do with simple nails or screws. Next, the entire structure is turned over on its legs and placed tightly against the wall. Finally, the prepared boards and simple boards are nailed onto the nails on top wooden workbench ready to go. Often, many car enthusiasts cover the top of the table with tin or sheet steel. This not only increases strength, but also improves safety in case of fire during various welding operations.
Folding workbench
Usually, in order to save money, garage buildings are made small in volume. In a small building with limited area There is rarely enough free space to place a metalwork table. In cases where the length and width of the garage do not allow the installation of any device, a folding structure is used here. The advantage of this method is that in the normal assembled state the entire table is removed and completely frees up space, but there is a disadvantage. To work on a folding workbench, you will often have to drive the car out of the garage, which is very inconvenient when repairing cars.
The folding wooden workbench has the simplest and cheapest design. Therefore, such a construction will require a minimum of materials and time. At first must be selected best place in the garage. Then take the correct measurements with a tape measure and use them to draw a simple drawing or sketch out a diagram by hand. It will be easy to calculate the quantity and consumption of materials. Any wooden blocks and old boards are perfect for this.
First they make the countertop. The prepared bars are marked using a tape measure and cut to size with a handsaw. Next, they are folded into a quadrangle in the shape of a box and fastened together with nails. Next, boards of the same length are sawed, nailed to the bars, and the tabletop is considered completed. Two hinges are immediately attached to it with screws and screwed to the garage wall at waist level.
It will work out interesting table, which in one position will hang on the wall, and in another will rise and be installed horizontally. To secure the tabletop in working position, you need to make legs. To do this, cut off two identical bars with a hand saw, which are screwed to the free corners hinged frames. In this position, each table leg, like the entire structure of the folding workbench, will also fold easily.
Homemade metal equipment
For this you will need materials:
- metal corner;
- iron pipe scraps;
- tin or sheet steel;
- bolts, screws, nuts;
- hinges or hinges.
Every car enthusiast tries to make all the devices in his garage reliable and safe to operate. Although a metalworking table made of wood is assembled very simply and quickly, this design is not very durable. Often, additional new equipment is installed on top - this is an emery machine, a vice, a drilling machine. This requires a fairly strong and stable base. In this case, iron is used for construction, which is much stronger than wood. Metal structure The workbench will not only withstand any load perfectly, but is also not at all afraid of fire.
To build a metal bench, you need to prepare all the materials. This can be an iron corner or channel, pipe cuttings and sheet steel. During construction also you need to find a tool for working with metal:
- welding machine;
- electric grinder;
- ordinary screwdriver;
- powerful hammer;
- wrenches.
A metal workbench in the garage is installed taking into account the available space. It needs to be made in such a way that there is enough free space for car repairs. It is difficult to fit additional equipment on a narrow and too small metalworking table. Therefore, it is advisable to make it as large as possible, which will allow you to install not only a vice and emery, but also other devices. For example: a small drilling or lathe.
Build process
The construction of a workbench always begins from the top part - the tabletop. From iron corner or the channel is sawed off with a grinder into small sections to fit the size of the table. Then, on a flat floor, they are folded into a rectangle and connected by welding. Additional spacers are also installed inside between the sides, which will make the frame much stronger. The top of the tabletop is usually made from pieces of tin or sheet steel. They are laid evenly on the frame of the future table and through holes are made around the perimeter for bolts or screws using a drill.
When the tabletop is completely ready, begin building the supports. Metal pipes are usually used for durable table legs. Using a grinder, they are cut at waist level and attached by welding to the four corners of the made platform. To ensure that the supports do not diverge in different directions under heavy loads, they are fastened together with a profile corner or channel. Then the table is turned over and pushed tightly against the most convenient wall of the garage. The workbench is ready and repairs can begin. But the construction does not end there, but continues to equip additional equipment- vices, sandpaper and other devices.
How to deal with vibration and clutter
During hammer blows and machine operation, vibration occurs on the workbench. At this time, all the tools and repair parts begin to move and fall off the table. You have to spend a lot of time searching, which is especially annoying for every car enthusiast. This drawback is dealt with very simply: along the edge of the entire perimeter of the tabletop, a small edge made from a corner or metal strip is attached by welding.
To ensure that the workbench is always in order, it is necessary to equip a place where all the tools and remaining parts from the repair will be stored. The best way removing unnecessary tools means putting up a shelving unit. It should be mounted on the wall directly above the table. Usually the rack is made of a sheet of metal, and shelves are installed on it. It is also advisable to make hooks on which the tools will hang. It is very convenient when they are in front of your eyes and do not interfere with your work.
Often, drawers are made to store car repair parts and various fasteners. They can also easily accommodate large tools that take up a lot of space on the shelf. To do this, additional racks and guide rails are installed at the bottom of the table. metal corner. The boxes themselves are made of sheet iron in the form of boxes with one handle. After installing the rack and drawers It will be possible to deal with the clutter that interferes with comfortable work.
Folding option
There are times when the garage space does not allow you to make a good workbench. In this case, it is best to choose a folding option that does not require a lot of space. In the free space, you just need to weld a simple box from metal in the form of a chest, and attach the wings to it on hinges. It will always be easy to open them as needed, which will significantly increase the table area.
Before starting construction, you need to cut 12 identical corners with a grinder according to the size of the free space. Then, using boiling, assemble the frame in the form of a cube and attach an even sheet of tin or sheet steel to the top. It will work out small table, which is perfect for small repair work. To make it longer, you need to make additional metal wings. Their dimensions must coincide with one of the sides of the frame.
First, you will need to cut off 4 corners with a grinder, which will correspond to the edges of the table. Then fold them into a square shape and fasten them together using ordinary electric welding. A sheet of iron should be placed on the resulting frame, and then the edges should be trimmed evenly. Next, drill through holes along the entire perimeter, insert bolts there and tighten with nuts. To make the wing rise and fall easily, you need to attach 2 hinges.
By using welding machine this is done very simply. One edge of the hinges connects to the wing, and the other to the main frame. It is not difficult to fix the moving plane in a horizontal position. You just have to make it metal pipes two legs and attach them to the free corners of the wing on hinges.
It often happens that the increased table area is sorely lacking. In this case, it will not be difficult to make another duplicate and attach it to the opposite side of the frame. In this case, you will get a long desktop. If you attach an additional wing to the side, then this design will fit perfectly in the corner of the garage. The advantage of a folding metal workbench lies in the fact that its configuration can always be changed at the request of each car enthusiast.
U a thrifty owner a desktop is an indispensable attribute of a garage, barn or an extension to a house. Of course, you can purchase a carpentry workbench. But if this product famous brand, then it is quite expensive. In addition, it is not known whether it will fully meet all the needs of the master. Cheap tables won’t last long – that’s for sure.
The most rational decision, if you really want to have the most convenient and versatile carpentry workbench, make it yourself. Having dealt with optimal sizes, drawings, features of the selection of materials and a number of other issues, it will become clear that there is nothing difficult about this for any man.
Selecting a workbench project
This is where you need to start. Any desktop is made for specific purposes and premises. Carpentry workbench is a generalized name. One is needed only for woodworking personal plot(for example, during construction or overhaul), the other is assembled for everyday work with small parts, and from different materials. Depending on the specifics of use and installation location, its design features, dimensions, and drawing are determined.
Option A – portable (mobile) workbench. This type of desktop is most often assembled with your own hands for small rooms(extension, garage), with a complex layout, and its main purpose is to carry out minor works with small parts. The relatively light weight of the structure makes it easy to move it to another segment if necessary. As a rule, the maximum that can be equipped with such a workbench is a medium-sized vice and electric sandpaper. This will allow carpenter's table partially used for small plumbing work.
For household purposes home handyman The table according to option A is best suited. It is called mobile purely conditionally, only because of its relatively low weight. If a specific place is allocated for it in a barn or garage, nothing prevents the owner from fixing its legs to the floor (fill it with concrete, “fasten” it with large self-tapping screws, and so on). With your own hands - whatever you want.
Drawing up a drawing of a carpentry workbench
If the workbench is assembled for household use, then there are recommended linear parameters(in cm), which can be used as a guide. But this is not an axiom, so the master is free to change anything at his own discretion.
- Length – at least 180.
- Working surface width – 90±10.
- Workbench height – 80±10 (taking into account the thickness of the table top). When deciding on this parameter, you need to focus on your own growth. It is unlikely that working with wood will be effective and bring satisfaction if you have to constantly stoop or, on the contrary, rise “on tiptoe”.
What to consider:
- The number and type of compartments in the table cabinet. These can be open boxes, drawers or drawers with doors, or shelves. Another thing is whether the master needs them?
- To make it more convenient to work with samples of different lengths, it is worth drilling several “sockets” in the tabletop to install limiters.
- To secure workpieces, it is advisable to have a couple of clamping devices (clamps or screw vices) on the workbench. The optimal width of their “sponges” is 170±5 mm.
- Desk location. Depending on the level of illumination, the number of lamps mounted on the workbench (and above it) is determined. But at least a couple of pieces, on the edges of the tabletop, are necessary for “spot” lighting.
If the owner is left-handed, then this should be taken into account. All standard drawings posted on the Internet are designed for craftsmen whose “working” hand is their right. Consequently, you will have to place additional equipment on the table according to the “mirror” principle.
Example of a workbench drawing
Selection of materials
Planed timber. It will go to the frame (frame) of the workbench. The section is selected in accordance with the dimensions of the structure. For a large table - at least 100 x 100. If it is compact, for universal application, you can limit yourself to blanks 100 x 70 (50). They are also perfect for various jumpers. Board. For the tabletop minimum thickness– 50. Here you need to think about how to use the workbench more efficiently. For example, to make it truly universal, one part of it can be specially adapted to perform metalworking work, that is, with metals. In this case, it is advisable to take a more massive board (for example, “sixty”) and cover a small segment of the tabletop with sheet iron. This is just one of the ideas that you can implement with your own hands when determining the design features of the workbench.
A work desk is not installed in residential areas. And in the workshop there will definitely be changes in both temperature and humidity. That's why Wood recommended for making a workbench is hornbeam, beech, oak. The only disadvantage of this solution is the high cost of materials. You can choose a cheaper option - maple, larch. These rocks are quite hard. Although, for the tabletop of a homemade workbench, if it is not planned to carry out any “impact” work on it, sometimes slab samples (chipboard, OSV) are taken. In principle, any good owner can easily determine what suits him best.
Wood that is too porous should not be used. Even high-quality treatment with antiseptics and oils will only increase the water-repellent properties, but will not add strength to the wood.
Fasteners
- Bolts. There are no particular difficulties with them. They must be of such length that reverse side it was possible to install a washer, a groover and a nut. It is more difficult with other types of fasteners.
- Nails. How advisable it is to use them when assembling a workbench with your own hands (and such recommendations are found quite often), everyone will determine for themselves. But a number of comments are worth making.
- Firstly, a nail, especially a large one, easily splits wood, especially if it is overdried.
- Secondly, it is unlikely to be able to drive it strictly vertically, given the length of the leg and the strength of the wood from which the workbench is made.
- Thirdly, it is difficult to dismantle. For example, if it is necessary to repair a desktop with replacement of a component. It is not always possible to pull out a tightly driven “powerful” nail.
- Self-tapping screws. For a small workbench - the best choice. The most “problem” areas can be additionally reinforced with metal strips, corners, and plates. The main thing is to correctly select the length of the fastener leg. There is a rule according to which it must exceed the thickness of the part being fastened by at least 3 times. Otherwise, the strength of the connection is in question.
Instructions for assembling a carpentry workbench
In the process of making a desktop with your own hands, the master must constantly, at every stage, control the angles and levels. The slightest distortion, even in one place, and everything will have to start all over again.
Making workbench parts
- This is easy to do using the dimensions shown in the drawing.
- Each sample is carefully polished.
- Depending on the type of wood, an impregnating composition is selected and parts are treated to protect them from destruction by rot and wood-boring insects.
- Drying. This is worth emphasizing. Initiate this process It is impossible to use artificial heating, otherwise the workpieces will begin to deform - bend, twist. Moisture should evaporate only naturally - in a room with room temperature and good ventilation.
Assembling the supporting frame (workbench base)
Part of the fastening features have already been said - self-tapping screws + reinforcement elements. But still, the main method of fixation is a tongue-and-groove connection with wood glue. But the fasteners only add strength to the entire structure of the workbench. But this is practiced only for massive tables that are not planned to be disassembled in the future (stationary options).
Here you should take into account the degree of maintainability of the workbench. If it is in a room with good conditions, it is unlikely that the wood will quickly begin to rot. In such cases, adhesive joints are quite justified. For work tables that are located in cold sheds, unheated boxes, and especially under open air, “landing” on glue is undesirable. Partial repairs will not be possible, and you will have to reassemble the frame.
Additional reliability of the structure can be ensured by installing various jumpers - diagonal, horizontal. This is all thought out at the stage of drawing up the drawing, although “rework” can be done during the installation process.
Tabletop
This is the most loaded part of the workbench, and it is advisable to make it removable. In this case, it is easy (if there is significant damage) to replace 1 - 2 boards.
- The width of the tabletop is selected so that its surface extends slightly beyond the perimeter of the frame. Otherwise, working on such a workbench will be inconvenient. And it will no longer be possible to secure the removable vice.
- The sides of the boards are carefully sanded. If you do not achieve an accurate fit of the samples, you cannot avoid the appearance of cracks.
- The blanks are laid face down (on a flat base) and fastened with bars. They are placed perpendicular to the center lines of the boards, and the thickness of the latter allows them to be tightened with thick screws. As a last resort, it is easy to drill deep chamfers at individual points.
- To make the tabletop removable, it is fixed to the frame using metal corners.
- After its manufacture, additional grinding of the front part is performed. To extend the service life, it is advisable to treat the working surface with impregnating agents (wood oil, drying oil).
Workbench equipment
At what stage and what exactly needs to be done is decided depending on the modification of the desktop and the selected drawing. For example, the same vice. They can be purchased ones that are easy to attach to the edge of the workbench. People with experience in carpentry make their own clamping devices.
In principle, a man who is “friendly” with the simplest tools should not have any difficulties when assembling a carpentry workbench. The only recommendation is that before you start drawing up a drawing, you should carefully review all the photos of desktops available on the Internet.
Even if there are no sizes on them, it is not difficult to determine them. But with a high degree of probability we can say that new, interesting ideas will appear. After all, the workbench can also be folding, which is very convenient in a small box or shed. Yes, and having familiarized yourself with the table configuration, design features various models, you can come up with something of your own, original. After all, the beauty of assembling it yourself is in the absence of any canons. Only creativity + knowledge of the issue.
