Workbench design request

[RangerWalker]

:wave: Does anyone have a reference for a good workbench design? With retirement years on the horizon, I'm currently finishing our basement, beginning on the most important aspect of it - my shop! :flame:

I'm looking for a good workbench design for building R/C - Scratch & Kits.

Any references will be appreciated. Walker - jpwalk@cvalley.net

[CalmAir]

Hi RangerWalker,

Not sure that I can tell you the best design, but I will try to give you some tips. No matter how you build your workbench you will need to have the work surface flat and at a level that will be comfortable when sitting or standing. You will be sitting to cut pieces but standing when performing other things, such as installing a bunch of wing ribs. My table is a little higher than normal for standing, but I use a chair or stool that can be raised, so the sitting position is not awkward.

Make your workbench at least 8 feet long. Even though you may only be building a model with a 30 inch wingspan, you will be surpised at how much space you will use up with tools and plans. I also recommend having your worksurface away from a wall so you can walk around it. I have a room in my basement for my ham radio shack. Since all of the walls are filled with equipment I had to come up with a different alternative for building planes. I took a card table and put it in the center of the room. I then layed a door on top of that for a work surface. The door is very flat and provides a lot of workspace. I can walk around all sides, which I have found to be very useful for building planes. On top of the door I lay a 2 foot by 4 foot ceiling tile in the center which will lay flat on the surface and makes pinning balsa and other materials down very easy. On one end I place a cutting mat and on the other end I have a tote tray will all of my tools and adhesives. I recommend the cutting mat as it will make your cuts very clean without carving up your workbench. You can get them at any store that sells sewing material such as Hobby Lobby or Joanns Crafts. They are a little pricey, but they are self healing and go forever. Not only do I use mine for airplanes, but my wife uses it for cutting fabric for quilts. They even have ruler markings.

I am sure you will get more ideas from folks. I hope this little bit helps. My best advise would be to make it larger than you think so everything is close and make it flat.

Dale

[pplace]

Hey I thought I could post a few pictures of my work bench. It's 4' wide by 8' long and about 40" tall. Under the main surface of the bench I built in two addidtional sliding work surfaces. Slide them in they are gone, or you can push them out either side of the bench to work on. Below the slide outs are the "legs" which I built as storage cabinets (with leveling legs on the sides) and a door that opens on each side of the leg so you have access from each side. And most importantly is the top surface which is a 4' by 8' sheet of insulating styro-foam (thickness doesn't really matter) but that lets you tape your plans on (then I cover with wax paper to protect) then push your pins right into the foam!!

Here are a few pictures....If you'd like more info or specs let me know. In the pics I am working on a boat project, but trust me MANY of planes have been built on this table.

[CalmAir]

Hi Pplace,

That is nice. I like the pull outs where you can perform other duties like sanding and what not. Cabinets close by to store stuff and a power strip nice and close.

Dale

[RangerWalker]

Thanks pplace. The more replies I get like this, the better off I am.

I'm with CalmAir: I like the slides and access from both sides.

Provided I get more responses like this, I'll pull the great design features and meld them into a top notch bench.

When I pull this off, I'll put together some plans for my end result and share it with the forum. Looks like this is something we could use?

Thanks for taking the time to photograph your bench. That's going the extra mile.

Keep 'em coming guys...

[NitroDad]

I like it, simple but very usable.

[Avalanche2]

very nice. Now Im on the hunt for an old desk to semi-copy yours. I really like your boat stand. Self built? Do you make them for your planes too? Any pics? Again, very nice and thanks for the tips..

[NitroDad]

How about this pplace? I did it with Google Sketch up.

[pplace]

NitroDad: Looks like a good sketch. (I also enjoy working with google sketch up) But I would consider adding adjustable legs for leveling like I have on mine. Unless you are considering a screw type foot. i.e. like on a washing machine or such!! Other than that I fell you'd be very happy with that plan. I like the shelves inside the cabinets also. I should add them to mine, but sometimes need the room for taller things. You could have them removable if need be.


Avalanche2: Thanks for the compliments. The boat stand was self built. I haven't used similar stands for planes...but I think the theory would work just as good.

[JoeMacD]

I dont knopw what had happened to the pics and my previous post i had but here are the pics to the work bench that i want to build.

[JoeMacD]

heres one more

[Gerryy]

I've built off of glass a few times! works great! and is laser straight!
GY

[Grant Tokumi]

Can you pound a hammer on a glass workbench like that? Or put a large force on it, like say ...... take a bent piece of steel peg and clamp it flat onto the glass to help straighten it?

[Gerryy]

LOL! no, glass is a very specific surface for gluing things to. A glass bench doesn't take the place of a hardwood bench. My glass bench is made out of 3/8 inch tempered door glass about 30x60 inches. Actually I store the glass upright against the wall when not in use. I place it on my bench ,level it and use it to glue large structures to when assembling. When the structure is complete I break off the temperary supports and "pop" the structure off the glass. I clean the surface with a razor blade
GY

[Grant Tokumi]

Got it. Thanks for clearing that up.

[JoeMacD]

The glass bench is great, but Grant you still need a small bench with a hopefully with a vise you can bang on and abuse. right now i work off a solid core wooden door thats positioned on a rolling frame.But i still take care not to bang or damage as thats were i want to build not bang. I made other area's for that in my shop.