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help with workbench, what is an ideal size??
Hi All,
I have been trying to get my head round the ideal size for a workbench and how many. Initially I was looking at a 10 x 5 ft workbench but looking at videos some people only have a 3ft. I have bought some benches, (pallet racking type.) which are 6ft x 3ft but have about 3 or 4 of them . I also have some smaller ones.
my current plans are as follows:
I am thinking if it would be a good idea to have one 6×3 table butted with a smaller table, with a guillotine (keencut javelin) just for the cutting.
then have 2 x 6ft x 3ft butted together for all the prep work weeding, applying e.t.c
then a laminator on one end and after the laminator a small table same height as the prep tables. the small table would be used just to support that laminator when laminating for boards e.t.c
All tables have a formica top.
would anybody have any suggestions if this would be ok?? or raise any tips , hints on a better lay plan??
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11 Replies
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Phil Fenton did a great step by step tutorial based on building your own work bench. the discussion caried on for 7 pages of posts with various members posting their versions of what phill initially created but they adapted. well worth the read…
Tutorial cn be seen here:
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.p … sc&start=0alternatively, phill also has this tutorial in his book, downloadable from itunes
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/create- … 4774?mt=11
personally, i wouldnt build any smaller than 8ft x 4ft
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We built Phils design 3m by 1.5m.
If I had to rebuild a table I’d make it 5m by 1.5m.
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we had 2, 2.5m x 1.2m with lockable wheels butted up which worked for most things, but, yeah if I was to do it again I’d go for the 1.5m wide by 5 or 6m long.
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I have two workbenches situated side by side. One is 10ft x 6ft (My original workbench) the other is 8ft x 6ft. They are positioned side by side with a 2 foot gap in between to allow me to walk around without having to go all the way around the outside all the time. When working on signs that need to straddle both benches I have a section that slots in between to create a single workbench of overall size 20ft x 6ft
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Ive noticed the sizes are huge for what most people have but how would you buy the worktops as one piece, or does it not matter if they are butted together??
most plys for example are sold as 8×4
10×5 are hard to find and costly
so im to assume a 16ft by 5ft table is butted together and if so does the edges of tables cause any problems when working??
also phill i do have your book which is great. Im currently also making the racks for the rolls. did you have then cnc ‘d?? or was that manually routed from ply?
thank you
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Yes the benches have joins where the panels butt together but I’ve never found this to be a problem.
The vinyl rack design is Robs which is written about here:-
http://www.uksignboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=17634
and is easily cut out using a jigsaw -
i built our sign Assembly table at 25ft by 4ft.
built very similar to Phills.
constructed the entire frame from 3" x 2" timber.
the top was in 3 sheets of 1inch thick MDF.
the thickness coupled by the frame helps stabilise the table significantly
and the butt join lines up perfectly too as a result.initially i intended sheeting the top with a sheet metal we use often.
comes in 10ft sheets but as it comes off a coil in a factory local to us i can buy it in a solid single 25ft sheet.
however, i opted to just keep the mdf once built as it was so flat and also because it was mainly for sign assembly so helped prevent scores and marks on panels being lifted onto and off while working due to the top being mdf.we do have several other metal toped tables though for weeding, prepping etc and also (i think) a 5.5 metre x 1.6metre rolls roller table which doubles up as a working platform when not in use.
Rolls rollers are topped by a single glass top, then rubber cutting mat.
so all else fails, you "can buy" a single piece rubber cutting matt from wm smiths, jag sign supplies and the like. -
thanx guys,
phil is the racking made of ply??
thanx
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Ply, MDF, metal… take your pick… but yes, wood or mdf will be easier bit.
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thanx rob 😀
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The width needs to be at least 1370mm plus a bit for that size material
The length – as long as your workshop can hold.
The height – I am "1800mm high, and I find a 1000mm height perfect for standing. This is trial and error.
Materials – I have a 10mm toughened glass top. It is clean, flat, you can cut directly on it, and you can put a light under it to show up layers.
And it doesn’t scratch an unlaminated print moving face down.And can someone please tell me what are those random yellow highlights that keep appearing in my text on this forum?!
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