Minor title edit. AeroE

Very nice post Angry-American, I'm sure this will help many.

You were wise to post this in your own thread.


eta, I set the toggle for this thread so it won't slip into the archives. That's what that symbol is next to the thread title.

If you ever want to post a link to your thread, click on My Topics and this thread will be there.

For everyone else, this thread will always be on the last couple of pages in this forum. (pages 30 to 33)

Great Job with your design and post!!!

Dane

You may want to add 1.5 to 2.0 inches of overhang on the front. I like mounting my vise and reloading presses close to the edge and this gives enough overhang for a fender washer. Also, it gives you a little more room for your feet.

I am just glad someone is finding my benches useful. I agree there needs to be a overhang, I found this out the hard way when I went to mount my reloading vice. As far as room for feet goes its high enough off of the ground that if you are sitting in a chair with wheels the wheels will fit right under the bench so you can put your feet on the first shelf if that's what you need. As far as Gussets go I really don't see the need. Once the bench is together and the bolts are tight it doesn't move at all, very solid. I have been toying with adding plywood to the back and sides with recessed doors for deep storage toward the back. The reason for the recessed drawers is I still need a place to put my feet as i am sitting in my chair in front of the bench.

Keep the ideas coming, and if you make a bench please include some pics so I can see your new ideas. That's the fun with things like these, there are always tweaks to make them better and the more brains in the project the better the results.

Im in the prosses of building a bench out of thin wall steel tubing and im putting a 2- 1/2'' x 2 -1/2'' receiver under the bench top with 3/4 winged set screws in the bottom and side of the receiver so when tightened it will take the slop out of the insert. I will have an insert with a vice and one with my press.

I will post up a build thread when finished.

It needs diagonals or a plywood panel screwed to the back. Without diagonals, all that lumber goes to waste. It needs to have something to react the shear loads.

Checkout the t-slot made by 80/20. I am finishing up a bench using MDF as the OP recommended in his post. My bench is built into my wall. I have one layer of the MDF down and will be putting a second layer down with the 80/20 track in it. I will be holding down a vise (I am not sure how well it will work for barrel installs) and a Dillon Super 1050. I will probably also make a jig to support a rifle or compnents for maintenance or small parts change out.

Mike

Great minds think alike. Overkill? Yes, but I'll never have to build another one.

T-tracks work fine but then you have this metal groove in your benchtop for crap to fall into. Threaded inserts are the way to go.


threaded inserts

In use



When not in use, I have threaded rods that use a 1/4" hex bit to install. Keeps anything from falling through the hole (and into my drawers below)

Like Covertness I put a sheet of Masonite down over the MDF. Attach it with Liquid Nails and its good for years. I have 4 benches with Masonite on them, one bench is 8 years old and as long as you don't let a rip saw blade, oils, drills bits and other things bugger it up it'll look good for a very long time. Then again its a workbench that stuff will happen.

Actually, I screw down a 1/4" sheet of hardboard on top of two layers of 3/4" plywood. That way if the top gets too dinged up or stained for my taste I can always replace it. OP's top uses a torsion box design for the top and thus two layers of 3/4" plywood are not needed.

Heres a sneak peak at my unfinished receiver mount. It could be made to lag bolt to a woodin bench.