I needed a folding workbench since I only have a small garage and there is not enough room for everything. I rejected the rule ‘Folding=Weak’, so I opted for a 2.5″ laminated top (Beech) and 2 cheaper folding legs (Fir). The top is 60″L x 25.5″W x 2.5″T and the height is 36″. I used wide steel hinges (top) and brass hinges (legs). Glue used was Titebond II.
I ripped the beech boards with a hand circular saw and then on the bandsaw in order to get as many pieces as possible 65″ long. I then jointed and planed all the smaller boards. I then ripped again into 2-3/4″ strips (2 1/2″ + extra material), totaling 20 pieces. I glued 4 pieces at a time, getting 5 larger laminated boards, then jointed and planed the boards again.
I used biscuits for the final gluing of the 5 boards into a 20 piece laminated top. This helped me achieve a flat surface, which is helpful since the only way to flatten the surface after this point is hand planing. I added two border pieces on the end grain, not glued, only tongue & groove and then screwed.
Then, many, many hours of hand planing, starting from #6 to #4 and then machine sanding, hand sanding and the finish process. I drilled 3/4″ holes for brass dogs.
I added 2 crossing fir pieces under the top, where the hinges will be attached, to distribute the stress of the hinges action equally on the top. The wooden part of vices has been taken from the same beech boards.
Legs are simple pieces of fir, hinged on the wall. They would have looked better closing toward the inside, but I preferred to make them wider, and they would not fit behind the folded top, so they move to the outside when the bench is closed.
About the oil finishing, here’s the Old Italian Woodworker’s rule: “Once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year, and once a year for a lifetime.”
So, first 5 coats of Tung Oil were wiped on and then wiped off after 30 minutes. Sanding with 600 grit between every coat. Then the other 7 coats were applied with a clean rag (very thin damping coats, without extra removal). No wax, no other finishes, only Tung oil. It’s a long process, but it’s renewable at every moment.
UPDATE: If you’re interested, here is a link to my website.
Is there a sketchup plan of this? I’m looking to do this as well. Nicely done!!!
I don’t think that I could use this type of bench… Too likely that my wife would tell me clean it off by just kicking the leg out from under it :-o he he he
I have been wanting to build a bench for my shop for some time. This might make a lot of sense for me as well as I use my shop also as an auto shop. So having the ability to open up space quick when I have a vehicle to work on is important.
Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been meaning to do this for a while, seeing the success might finally motivate me fully. Great job!
Ok, I’ve learnt one more piece of slang (I won’t tell you what I thought at first, talking about Ken’s post) !
I’ve updated some pages in my website, there are some more photo of the bench, hope this can answer your questions more than my words actually do.
Follow the link on the first post in here, it should work now.
T.
I was actually thinking about setting one of these up in my 1-car garage/shop; what a great space saver!
Before I ramble. I really like the concept and execution of your bench. As with everyone else, I have to say that you have quanitified the finishing process. I think this will suite the anal retentive side of my brain. This will free the creative side for additonal projects. I have already set up a dry erase board for tick marks on my next project. K
I like how smooth the surface of the bench is. I would like something like this for my garage.
Thanks again, it’s a pleasure sharing with you!
Actually, I can’t find the bench plan, and it was more like a sketch, I did the work step by step, changing things on-the-fly. Anyway I can draw some sketches with measurements.
Hinges: they’re huge iron hinges, primarily used on heavy doors. The long strip end is a simple ring hanging on a solid pivot (3/4″ diameter). The pivot plate was originally too small, so I welded it on a bigger plate with more spaced holes for wall mounting.
Legs: I needed every inch of room (when I put my car in the garage, the external rearview mirror flies over the folded bench, skimming over the wall). Anyway, the point for internal folding legs is their width and their position. I wanted legs to be wide, and I’ve been also forced by the vices positioning, so that was my choice.
Another focal point: why single legs? Because of my garage’s floor! It’s a messy wavy floor.. I wouldn’t be able to fold legs back and forward with 2 contact points.
Hope you can understand my English! Lol
Love the bench, but I think my favorite photo was the boards in your car. I have to squeeze boards in my Prius all the time and it makes my heart warm that i’m not alone! I see I’m not alone in being a fan of the old italian woodworking rule either. Will definitely try that in the future. Thanks for sharing!
Very nice bench Tommy. I just finished an assembly table for my shop and setting up a new work bench is my next priority.
I’m really liking your folding workbench Tommy. I’m always looking for workbenches that I can put on, or against a wall across from the end my bed, so the more compact it is the better (but not too compact). One of the main issues is finding a bench that takes up as little room as possible, as well as be sturdy enough to start hand tool only woodworking (I’m in an apartment).
Your workbench looks like it would be sturdy enough to get started with hand tools as well as be compact enough to fit the space. I’ve copied your article and saved the pictures for reference if I decide that this is the one I want to build and use. As far as a finish, I don’t think I’ve seen as nice a finish as this. It adds a pride of ownership factor in my opinion.
That idea is pretty neat. Couldn’t he have added a spacer between the hinges and wall so he could fold the legs under the top?
I have been think about doing something similar since down sizing into my home garage, Looks pretty solid- good idea, i may have to build this until i can get my Roubo built.
Great looking bench. Love the finish!!!