Worktable upgrade

[TerryMason]

I finally got tired of the wobbly kitchen countertop I was using as a workbench, so I replaced it with a larger one that's anchored to the wall. I'm now debating covering the top with sheet metal or diamond plate.

I also made room for a beer fridge, arguably the most important workshop tool.

So, lets see those workbenches


Before:



After:

 

[greg92jeepxj]

I finally got tired of the wobbly kitchen countertop I was using as a workbench, so I replaced it with a larger one that's anchored to the wall. I'm now debating covering the top with sheet metal or diamond plate.

I also made room for a beer fridge, arguably the most important workshop tool.

So, lets see those workbenches


Before:
View attachment 17069


After:
View attachment 17071

View attachment 17072

hey , that's better than my work bench , sometimes I actually use the kitchen counter ( the woman is going to get me yet !) . LOL

 

[greg92jeepxj]

hey , that's better than my work bench , sometimes I actually use the kitchen counter ( the woman is going to get me yet !) . LOL

The General of the society of automotive engineers has determined the use of alcohlic beverages while performing maintainence on a vehicle can be extremely hazardous. You might spill your beer ! LOL .

 

[southtj]

Looks good. Is that a separate work shop or is that in the garage? I couldn't tell. We just moved into a new house this past weekend and I've gone from having a one car garage with a workbench squeezed in to a two car garage with a separate attached work shop space. Still a bit tight but completely workable and I don't have to move my jeep out to get to the work bench. I'll post pictures later. I might have to make room for a fridge though.

 

[TLCJ5]

Looks good....how do you keep it so clear???? I can't get a picture of mine until I spend some time cleaning up the debris from the multitude of ongoing projects.
As far as your sheet metal/diamond plate debate. I like a smooth surface. My workbench has a formica counter top...light color makes it eisier to see small parts(springs,screws,etc)

 

[TerryMason]

Looks good. Is that a separate work shop or is that in the garage?

I've got a really tight garage (all one room). I had to mount a pad on the wall, and I pull my Jeep in until I make contact with the far wall, then when I shut the garage there is about 6 inches between the spare tire and the garage door. It's the width of about 1.5 normal garages, but it still makes me pretty careful about what stuff I store / buy.

As far as your sheet metal/diamond plate debate. I like a smooth surface.

I've been looking for ideas, and some guys have said that a nice smooth sheet metal top makes cleanup easy - the flip side is that some items will either slide around, or roll right off the table.

 

[Gennybro]

Just a thought, If you used sheet metal, what about peening the sheet metal with a small ballpeen hammer. And leave part of it flat.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Parts will still slide pretty good on diamond plate. I'd recommend half sheet metal for easy clean up and half a thick rubber pad to keep large parts from sliding while wrenching on them.

 

[southtj]

Two houses ago I built my own work bench that worked great. I'm 6'6" so I wanted one I didn't have to bend over when working on something. I bought a few 2x8 and attached them together to make a top then used two 2x4s screwed together to make the three front legs and attached the back to the wall. Worked great until we moved across the country and I couldn't take it with me. So I bought a store bought one from Costco along with some metal shelving units. At the time we only had my Jeep and my wife was driving a small 4dr sedan so we had to rent the Lowe's truck to go pick them up. We bought an SUV soon after. :lol:

Moved again and squeezed my 8ft table in this little room. It's not organized or even unpacked yet but soon.