Workbench Mod

[Bopher]

Here's one for you guys. I finally have a place to work away from people so I don't bother my wife in the computer room. I have a little corner in the basement to work in now. I looked around at Home Depot, Wal-Mart, and Lowe's for a workbench but couldn't find anything that I liked and that was cheap, seems I still need some $$ to mod with. Well after a few hours at my desktop with Sketchup I came up with my Workbench.

Here's about what the finished bench should look like:
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/1818/workshopbenchcompleteip7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The plan is to have a monitor or LCD installed in the top, connected to a file server inside the bottom of the bench. A plexi door will cover over the keyboard to give me just that little bit more room to work on.

So here is the start of everything:
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/461/69247521tn9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After I cut down the 2X4's to the lengths I needed I sanded the ends and made sure they were ready to be put together to make a support skeleton f sorts:
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/6206/72339561md4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here's most of the cut 2X4's roughed together to give you guys an idea of what it should look like. If you look you can see a scrap piece of 2X4 on its side to give you a reference of where the top will be:
http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/2003/57293206kh3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here's a shot of what the 2X4's will look like all together:
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/1254/workshopbenchframesg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I have the frame mostly together now but I need to get out and buy more angle brackets to finish putting everything up.

[xRyokenx]

Looks cool. It would be good for saving space if doing woodwork and all too, if I ever set up a woodshop in the future, that would be a good table for having the plans for stuff just on the web or whatever and pull them up there.

[FrooP]

ya its awsm you could use wooden kitchen table, i got em from hardware store, because they have scratches no one wants it, but workspace is never clean ;)

[Eclecticos]

I remember working at a desk that had the monitor sunk behind glass.
I think It might be easier to access your keyboard with a drawer on the front rather than down through the top.

[xRyokenx]

That or a slot like where a drawer goes in a dresser, but only big enough for the keyboard plus a few inches for a mouse or something and put the window over the top, just for easy access, lol. You're bound to figure out what works for you though.

[tybrenis]

Looks pretty good to me. I have a friend that used a 2x4 workbench for weekend woodworking type projects and it is actually very sturdy. Consider putting a bottom shelf in w/ extra 2 x 4's and plywood. For the top, 3/4 MDF covered in 1/8" hardboard is a good choice. Wax the hardboard w/ paste wax, and it will last for a long, long time - it won't absorb glue, etc, and when you've ruined it, you can always replace the hardboard or even the MDF, it's cheap.

Are you sure you want an enclosed design? An open shelf is always a nice feature on a workbench... I'm building one out of solid maple for woodworking purposes that weighs about 400 pounds... it looks like the traditional workbench, like such:
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/plansnow/dn3005-close1.jpg

[alexanderH]

Looks awesome! I wish I had soemthing like that to work with, but as it is about the size of my bedroom that would be difficult. Working in a Condo/Apartment is the suck!

but very nice design, and i Hope it kicks ass for you!

[scar~face]

sketchups look sweet, i really hope this turns out. you should totally mount a couple of speakers and a woofer on it for your tunes.

oh, and what are you planning to use for the extirior panals? sanded wood? painted? hell if you got the dough, diamond plate would look friggin amazing

best of luck man!

[Bopher]

Thats an idea. i was just gonna go with some 1/2" plywood cut to size and screwed into place. Maybe I'll have to scrap some extra cash (i.e. grovel to the wife) and put a couple of those on. only thing is each panel is approx 39" high and 58" wide i think, I would have to check my numbers but thanks for the idea.

[Luke122]

It looks like you have a connection plate on the top also, very good idea! Integrate a kvm in there too, and you can have your fileserver in the bench, and hook up a second (and 3rd, 4th, etc) pc through the connection plate on the top.

All you would need are a couple of short patch cables to run to the plate from the pc's, and you are set. :D

*EDIT* Here's a VGA plate for you (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1274296&CatId=745)

[Bopher]

Ahh you noticed that. I forgot to put that in the description. Its gonna be there to 1) work on the file server and 2) so when someone hands me a mouse, keyboard, etc I can plug in and test it without having to pull everything out of a desk.

[Bopher]

Ok so I finally went out and got more angle brackets on finished putting the frame together. Here's the finished frame.

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9813/picture001ww5.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture001ww5.jpg)

Now some groveling to the wife and maybe I can keep going.

[Bopher]

Here's some more of the workbench. I picked up a couple more brackets and a piece of 7/16" particle board just to give myself something to work on till I can make a proper top for it with everything cut out and spiffy.

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/439/toponso0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Of course it was only about 30 seconds before I needed to start working again.

[Blebbz]

The most unique mod ever haha! Cool

[alexanderH]

great progress so far! can't wait to see the end result.