Nice little workbench

[Stuartg]

I was in the market for a start workbench, and after doing some poking around, etc. I ran across a recommendation on an all wood workbench from Harbor Freight. They have it on sale for around $165, but if you do some more looking you can find an online coupon that knocks the price down to $131...I doubt you could buy the wood to build one for that price! Just thought I'd share in case anyone was looking for one to start out on, or heck, even an addition to their existing setup.

[BrushCountryAg03]

Sounds like a good deal...I was just gonna add that the WEIGHT of the table is just as important as its surface, etc...I deliberately went overboard building mine by adding extra 2X4's & 2x10's anywhere I could for extra weight and at the end came out with what I feel is barely adequate for stability. 

There's nothing like removing a breech plug while having to hold a table, that already weighs a couple hundred pounds, down.

[Mark Elliott]

You either need a very heavy bench or it must be securely attached to the floor or wall.   I had one of those little lightweight benches screwed to a 2x10 screwed into the wall studs, and it would still have been better if it were heavier.   Two of my benches are made of ladder frames constructed from 2x4s and bolted to the wall at the back.   I just finished a Nicholson type jointer's bench made of 2x6s and 2x12s.   It weighs over 400 pounds and it still moves while planing unless it is pushed up against a wall.    It did help to pile up my scrap wood on the bottom shelf.   Now,  maybe it weighs 500 pounds. 

[Stuartg]

Added weight is a good point! I may do a little reinforcement when she arrives. I've got some old weights from a weight bench that I could probably fashion to add to it. We shall see!

[mark esterly]

look harbor freights bench over real good before you spend your money.  you may decide against it.

[David R. Pennington]

I salvaged an old maple butcher block top from a commercial restaurant prep table. It had been covered with stainless steel. I was barely able to load it in my truck by myself. I had to use a block and tackle hooked in the rafters to get it up on the base I made for it. It's about 4" thick by 36" deep by 72". It doesn't move much.

[whitebear]

You either need a very heavy bench or it must be securely attached to the floor or wall.   I had one of those little lightweight benches screwed to a 2x10 screwed into the wall studs, and it would still have been better if it were heavier.   Two of my benches are made of ladder frames constructed from 2x4s and bolted to the wall at the back.   I just finished a Nicholson type jointer's bench made of 2x6s and 2x12s.   It weighs over 400 pounds and it still moves while planing unless it is pushed up against a wall.    It did help to pile up my scrap wood on the bottom shelf.   Now,  maybe it weighs 500 pounds. 

Would it be possible to slant the legs out at the bottom in a slight A frame arrangement so that there is more resistance to push against?  Also you could move the top of the legs in some so that the legs are still under the bench instead of outside to trip you.