I have built one in three houses using 8’ countertops. Build a 2x4 frame to set it on with shelves or opening for cabinets, get counter from discount pile in back of Lowe’s if not picky about color and mount with heavy duty adhesive.

Best part is the backsplash keeps things from getting jammed in gap at the back. Can through-bolt vise, etc. and cleans up easily.

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Originally posted by vthoky:

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Originally posted by 6guns:
I really like those two ideas above! ^^^

If you'd like, I can either sketch it out or (eek!) go clean it off and get pics.

I really appreciate the offer, vthoky, but I don't think I'd go through the trouble of installing rails, though I can see applications for them. I would think temporary clamps would be great in them. My woodworking days are mostly behind me.

If you do happen to clear it up a bit (whenever!), I'm sure many would be interested in pictures.

This is what I did for my reloading bench when I first built my shop.



I have another 20' long one of these on the other side of the shop as another work bench. Solid as can be.

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Originally posted by Gustofer:
I built this one a few years back. Roughly 4x8 on lockable castors. I made it so that I could take out the miter saw and level the whole top out.

I like the idea of a moveable island. I might tinker with the plans I have and tweak it to resemble what you have there.
What size and how many castors did you put in?

I want to say they are 3-inchers, but I'd have to go measure to be sure. They are fairly beefy so as to be able to handle the weight - It's a heavy sumbitch. I just put one on each corner and it moves around pretty well. The original plan was to put shelves and/or drawers underneath, but I never got around to it.

In a house we bought about 2 years ago, I built a 2 ft x 8 ft workbench for my garage, using 2x4 for framing and 4x4 for the foundation. I used OSB decking for the 2 levels of shelves, topped with 1/4 plywood from repurposed equipment crates from work. I also used OBB for the workbench surface, topped with some 3/4 Birch plywood. The backsplash is a 2x4 frame with pegboard, and a 1x6 shelf on top. I added 3 duplex outlets and wiring in a separate breaker in the electrical panel. All of this is held together by Torx-head deck screws. It probably weighs 400-500 pounds by itself, but it could support a vehicle. I'll try to find the sketch I made for its construction, based on a plan I saw online.

There was already a small 2-1/2 ft x 3-1/2 ft workbench in the garage corner, just a 2x4 frame topped with 3/4 plywood and having some repurposed kitchen cabinets as the backsplash.

When we moved into our current house I built a quick and dirty workbench in an afternoon with the intention of replacing it when I was able. The top is a piece of 3/4 AC plywood that I ripped in half lengthwise and glued together to make a 1.5 inch laminate. The legs and rails for the top and shelf are all 2x4, but they are doubled with glue and screws at the corners. 10 years later it's still rock solid so I've never replaced it. If you plan ahead and screw everything from the back you can have no visible fasteners, if that matters to you.

The one thing I would do differently is to make the top extend about 2 inches beyond the frame on the front, and maybe the sides too to give me a place to clamp stuff - I have about 3/4 and it's not enough.