dan sherman
11-16-2008, 3:04 AM
I just started making 2 "utility" benches for my shop.
My design requirements where as follows:
1. Must be open underneath for role away tool storage.
2. Must be able to break it down for moving purposes
3. Must be able to handle a substantial load (as designed, it would probably hold up a small car).
What I came up with is as follows:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9466/benchlm7.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)
Overall dimensions - W 72”, D 30”, H 40”– 44” (adjustable)
Top - 4” thick laminated hard maple. It should look pretty good when finished and provide a good base to mount my metal lathe to.
The legs & horizontal cross bracing are 2.5” x .12” square steel tubing
The rear diagonal bracing is 1-1/2” x 3/16” flat steel bar bolted to the legs. The theory is that since I have diagonals in both directions one is always under tension.
Right now I'm undecided on how to fasten the top to the base. I was thinking threaded brass inserts (3/8-16) in the top, and then drilling over sized bolt holes in the base to allow for expansion.
How much room do I need to allow for expansion?
My design requirements where as follows:
1. Must be open underneath for role away tool storage.
2. Must be able to break it down for moving purposes
3. Must be able to handle a substantial load (as designed, it would probably hold up a small car).
What I came up with is as follows:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9466/benchlm7.jpg (http://imageshack.us/)
Overall dimensions - W 72”, D 30”, H 40”– 44” (adjustable)
Top - 4” thick laminated hard maple. It should look pretty good when finished and provide a good base to mount my metal lathe to.
The legs & horizontal cross bracing are 2.5” x .12” square steel tubing
The rear diagonal bracing is 1-1/2” x 3/16” flat steel bar bolted to the legs. The theory is that since I have diagonals in both directions one is always under tension.
Right now I'm undecided on how to fasten the top to the base. I was thinking threaded brass inserts (3/8-16) in the top, and then drilling over sized bolt holes in the base to allow for expansion.
How much room do I need to allow for expansion?