So I need a garage workbench.....

[Fool Injected]

but it has to be foldable. I have a double garage and the gals car lives on one side and my 4-wheeler and Jeep live on the other. I have a small elevated area about 3 ft deep in the front most part of the garage whiich is where my air compressor, tool box, shelving, etc. is situated. there is no room for a workbench there, and in the future I will build cabinets there.

So what I was thinking is trying to build a heavy duty steel decked workbench that can fold up when I need it and be folded down when the Jeep is in the garage. It could go on the wall beside the Jeep and take up 5-6 inches off that wall when folded down.

The back legs could be L shaped and protrude out as far as needed into the garage space, the Jeep can simply drive over them. For the front legs I was thinking of some steel tubing that could fold out and be locked into position.

Anyone have anything similiar to what I am trying to describe? Show me what works for you in a suburbia garage.

[Maude]

I built a table using 1 inch angle for the frame and diamond plate for the top to use as a portable welding table for similar reasons. I too have to work out of a double garage until I get my shop built (started the dirt work before the rain last week end). I will try to get a picture of it and post it.

[Travis Waldher]

If you are doing that, I would just hinge it on the wall and have legs that fold down or out.

Oh, and unless you don't like your back, i would think twice about making it real heavy.

[oldjeep]

A heavier version of this?
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/h...workbench.html

[ESPEED]

Make it fold up to use it not down.

If putting it into the usable position involves reaching down and lifting it up it will never fall on your car (or head).

Use a bunch of hatch back gas struts to help lift and hold it in place while you put the legs into position. Or old 70's style hood hinges with the springs.

[fj40guy]

Originally Posted by ESPEED

Make it fold up to use it not down.

Learned the hard way, didn't you.

Ditto on folding UP to use. With folding down, you could also use room
between studs for storing little things (all those cans of chemical, spray gasket, spray paints, etc).

On "back saving"... simple steel rope, pulley (teflon block), and counterweights. So rather than lifting 100# item, two 40# counter weights means lifting 20# of weight.

Biggest problem... tables collect junk. So keep is as small as possible, and shelves next to it for "place to put things when folding it away".

Tom

[DSW]

Define heavy duty steel toped workbench. Are you looking to have the top out of 1/4 or 3/8" plate? A quick look at my steel book shows 10.2 lb / sq ft for 1/4", 15.32lb / sq ft. for 3/8". for a 2' x 5' table you wold be looking at a around 102 to 153 lb for the top not including any frame work. If you want a table this heavy to pound on the frame and legs will have to be heavy too so it won't bend.

You might consider building the frame from light angle or 2X material then deck with 3/4" plywood. Cover this with a sheet of 15 gauge, aprox 1/16" sheet metal, at 2.8 lb. / sq ft. You'll keep the weight down and probably save money.

I would also suggest hinging it to the wall and lifting it up. You might also consider building just a top from angle, plywood and covered with sheet metal. Then get yourself some nice steel non adjustable saw horses with the folding legs. Now your workbench is portable, so you can move out in the driveway if needed. I have a nice 30" x 72" piece of 3/4" high density overlay form plywood with a 2x4 frame that I use as a portable work bench on job sites. Its drilled to hold all 3 of my saws and my vise. A couple of carage bolts and some hand knobs mount the tools and secure it to the sawhorses. Also make a great short scaffold if you need one.