Bench ideas

[Mauser06]

So with the new house comes the chance to setup a more proper work area than I had before.

I have plans for a stocking bench.


I am looking for plans, pics, ideas etc for more of a general workbench.   A place for a vice to work on the barrel and such.



I know bigger is probably better. But I don't wanna go crazy...and I'd like something free standing and able to be moved..moved around the floor and moved out of the house. I wouldn't say "portable" but I may design it somewhat portable. I do have a detached shop..I might move out there in the summer. Figure I can probably design something that I can move in pieces.   


Appreciate any ideas!

Most of you guys have been doing this a long while. I have a special situation where I can set myself up to have a functional work area. 

[WKevinD]

I've posted pictures of this walk around bench before. It's cheep (except for the vise), easy to put together, and stable.

This is my wall mounted bench.

Kevin

[rich pierce]

Walking along the Missouri River I found 8 timbers bolted together washed up on shore. 12” square hardwood. Wish I could get them apart and out of there. About 10 feet long. Would be great for a walk around workbench or rifling bench or whatever.

[ddoyle]

Rich,

Can you anchor them and wait for high water? Tow em to a boat launch?

[SingleMalt]

My bench is two feet wide and seven feet long, "L" shaped.  Vise, etc in the middle of the long side and grinder on the end of the short side.  It's got a double layer top and 2 X 4 frame screwed to wall studs and the legs are bolted to the concrete floor.  I should add that my shop is 7' X 14'.

[B.Habermehl]

I'd build one of my gun stockers horses. Plus a normal size bench for a bench vise etc. Since I built my stockmakers horse my benches have fell into disuse for gun stocking. They have become places to lay tools instead. BJH

[rich pierce]

Rich,

Can you anchor them and wait for high water? Tow em to a boat launch?

Genius

[dogcatcher]

I have been helping a neighbor design a checkering cradle.  We started with Google and looking at images.  I have had my cradle and gun cleaning cradle for decades.  After spending a couple of evenings looking at checkering cradles and gun cleaning stations, I have some new projects, the incorporation of ideas we "mined" from a few hundred pictures on Google. 

In short, I recommend you Google "gunstock bench", "Checkering Cradle", "Gunstock vise" and other combinations and look at the images on Google.  What you want today, will be different after you study the pics, and read the descriptions.

[Mauser06]

Thanx all!   

BJH, I have the plans for your stocking bench. I plan to build one...but still need a space for at least a vice for cutting dovetails, working on metal etc.

Single malt, what did you use for a top surface?   The surface and rigidity are big factors. It has to be sturdy and has to support the vice and such.

[snapper]

I have built over 60 feet of work bench in my shop, basement and pole shed using 2 layers of 3/4" MDF board topped by 1/4" tempered hardboard.  Each are simply countersunk screwed to the one below and  if you bugger up the top after years of use, you can simply but on a new piece of tempered hardboard.  I also but a sealer on the tempered hardboard.  For the work bench in my shop I put a 1" face of walnut along the front edge.  I used 2x4 for frame work, with a 2x4 screwed to the wall to ad to stability.

If you make your bench 2 foot wide and 8 feet long, you only need one 4x8 sheet of both.  If you dont have a table saw the big box stores will rip it for you.

I have used this style of work bench for several years now and for me it works great.  Easy to build, very sturdy, and not expensive.

Fleener