Thread: Cheap bench build?

If you want something non-exotic and from Bunnings:

1 x sheet of 3600x900x19mm yellow tongue as benchtop ($42)

10 (ish) x 2400x70x35mm non-structural pine as legs and rails (typically at about $3 per 2.4m length, $30)

Box of 100 75mm bugle head batten screws ($27.50)

That'll give you materials for a bench up to 3.6 meters long, with a top that won't go to wheatbix as soon as it gets wet, for just on $100.

G'Day "doncra"...
All I have used is 2 secondhand solid core doors...[recycle building yard supplied for $40 for the 2]....
One [1] for the top with a sheet of 12mm CD ply to top it, the other for a main shelf...
The frame was just 3x2 pine from the rabbit hutch, bolted together with the 4 legs doubled up for stability.
Simple, strong and cheap..worked well for me for the past 6-8 years..
Cheers crowie.

Here's my bench build from a couple of years ago. Almost to MasterSplinter's recipe!

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...t=bench+tongue

Edit: A couple more photos

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

If you want something non-exotic and from Bunnings:

1 x sheet of 3600x900x19mm yellow tongue as benchtop ($42)

10 (ish) x 2400x70x35mm non-structural pine as legs and rails (typically at about $3 per 2.4m length, $30)

Box of 100 75mm bugle head batten screws ($27.50)

That'll give you materials for a bench up to 3.6 meters long, with a top that won't go to wheatbix as soon as it gets wet, for just on $100.

From what you described of your bench needs, Master Splinter has given you the most cost effective option

The reason you see so many American woodworking projects using ply is because it costs a lot less over there.
Master Splinter had done some costings on the big shed materials or have a look at some of the demolition yards selling recycled wood.
Regards
John

Thanks for the advice I think I will follow the master splinter route


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If you want to spend just a bit more, you can have a hardwood top.

Go & look at the sheet material at Bunnies, they have hardwood bench tops for $99.

Hello, doncra.
If you plan the sturdy bench, maybe you need to use some special form of it?
I hope this idea will be useful for you.
Of course not in this size.)


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Whenever I have built a quick workbench, or one with scrap material, it has been mostly a disaster.
We keep these things longer than we intend, and sometimes load them up with heavy stuff.

Can I suggest you look at the drawings and get some ideas.

http://www.bunnings.com.au/resources..._Workbench.pdf

or TABMA
http://www.timber.net.au/index.php/diy-projects/

My idea for an economy bench, slightly improved over the above and previous forum posts is to use the TABMA basic model, but use two 1.8m lengths of 125x37 hardwood for the top back and front, with a 1.8m piece (or two) of 600mm wide manufactured sheet as the bench top surface, sunk to your requirements, and supported by middle cross pieces somehow.
They can be easily converted with sheeting to be enclosed and have front doors.
I have two benches made similarly to this.

Two other points.
Use three diagonal braces of say 100mm flooring type board instead of sheet, for back and ends, with the end braces angled the same way, for rigidity. These can be screw attached.
Use bolts, eg carriage bolts, for assembly of top edge boards, legs and cross arms etc, screws for braces and sheet. Counterbore the top edge boards for the boltheads.