Exterior Workbench

4386 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by jgrant6, Jul 1, 2017

jgrant6

Discussion Starter · Jun 25, 2017

Hey y'all, I thought I would make a contribution which is the only real woodworking project I've been able to do this year other than a few cutting boards and such. I needed an exterior workbench for my temporary makeshift work area, so I came up with this. I just thought I would post it in case anyone needed a little inspiration. Eventually this guy will come inside and I'll install a decent work surface. I would be comfortable stacking 800 lbs of material on it, it's just a little overkill. I think the final size is around 10' long and about 30" wide. It is treated, but I have since stained it to help it last a little longer out in the sun and rain.

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Semipro

· #2 · Jun 25, 2017

Jed that is definitely a heavy duty work bench.

MT Stringer

· #3 · Jun 26, 2017

3

Looks good. I have no problem with overkill. I call it built like a tank! :grin:

This worked for me for about 4 years. Built a lot of stuff on it, and now, my brother in law is using it...and he loves it.

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old55

· #4 · Jun 26, 2017

Jed you'll have that for the rest of your life.

jgrant6

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 26, 2017

@old55 - Just as long as I have friends to help me move it!
@MT Stringer - Good looking benches! I think the next one I make will be about that height. I think moving up to waist-high would save me some back fatigue.

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DaninVan

· #6 · Jun 26, 2017

Holy Hanna, Jed! You could park your pick-up on that!!

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JOAT

· #7 · Jun 26, 2017

jgrant6 said:
@MT Stringer - Good looking benches! I think the next one I make will be about that height. I think moving up to waist-high would save me some back fatigue.

Based on my back, I would say consider making it a bit taller than just waist-high. I so very little standing anymore, and that not for long at all, and the comfortable height for me would be more than just waist-high if I was standing.

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billyjim

· #8 · Jun 26, 2017

I like it. No overkill, just heavy duty and nothing wrong with that.

old coasty

· #9 · Jun 26, 2017

I built mine elbow high, works well for me. No bending over to do things.

DaninVan

· #10 · Jun 26, 2017

A woodworker could use two or more benches, at different hts. Assembling cabinets calls for a lower worktop in order to get at the inside if you have the carcass lying on its back or front.
Mine is 8' x 4' and is also my outfeed table for the contractor table-saw, so that determined the ht. NOT comfortable for cabinet assembly!

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MT Stringer

· #11 · Jun 26, 2017

6

DaninVan said:
A woodworker could use two or more benches, at different hts. Assembling cabinets calls for a lower worktop in order to get at the inside if you have the carcass lying on its back or front.
Mine is 8' x 4' and is also my outfeed table for the contractor table-saw, so that determined the ht. NOT comfortable for cabinet assembly!

I just couldn't resist your lead.

My work bench/table is also an outfeed table for my table saw. So it is about 34 ish inches tall...just slightly less than the saw. I have also used it in the past as an outfeed table/support for my drum sander. It wasn't planned that way, but that is how it worked out.

Then there is my adjustable height dual router table/assembly table. :surprise::grin:

I can lower it to about 28 inches for assembly work or raise it to about 39 inches for comfortable routing. It's newest home is under the frame I built for my CNC. Since both are on casters, I can re-position both pieces as needed.

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Roy Drake

· #12 · Jun 26, 2017

Built solid, Jed. Very practical and user friendly. I like it.

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DaninVan

· #13 · Jun 26, 2017

Mike; most excellent!!! Great functionality.
Perfect illustrations, by the way; exactly what I meant re the carcass comment.

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CharleyL

· #14 · Jun 28, 2017

My outside workbench is all metal, but when I'm working on a project outside the project is usually metal too. I can make sparks and not hurt anything, but I did start a fire in my lawn a few years ago. The garden hose was handy, so it didn't get to burn very much.

Charley

jgrant6

Discussion Starter · #15 · Jul 1, 2017

@CharleyL - That's partially what I made this for as well, I have a sheet of steel that I can lay on the table to prevent slag from setting the table on fire, I just have to be careful not to let too much heat transfer down.

If I could do it again, I would have made a recessed flatform so the surface of a miter saw would be flush with the tabletop.

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