Need a source for very large work bench

[AllenGregoryIV]

We are going to be moving into a new lab next season and we are looking for a 4' x 8' work bench.

We actually have one in our current location but that one will be staying there and we need to find a new one. We have asked around to people at the school but no one seems to know where it was purchased from or where it was made. It was installed when our current building was built in early 2007. The current workbench can be seen in the attached photo.

Does anyone know of a source for something like this?

[Coach Norm]

You can check out McMaster Carr for table tops and legs.

We made work benches for our shop in a very similar fashion except we used MDF for the benchtops. We purchased legs from McMaster similar to the ones linked below.


Here is a link to table tops that might be watch you are looking for:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#workbench-components/=q2dijd

http://www.mcmaster.com/#workbench-components/=q2djxp

[AlecMataloni]

Not sure about a source, but have you guys thought about building your own? I think it'd be a cool exercise, plus you get the complete creative control to add in features like outlets, lighting, etc.

[Phyrxes]

Bizzare, I just looked at the vendors my school division uses for furniture and couldn't come up with something similar.

I agree with a previous poster, it may be a case of someone put it together and didn't buy it as a complete unit. That would explain why no one remembers the source.

[DRH2o]

We have several like that in 3 of our shops/labs. We modified them from something like some of these from Paxton Patterson. I agree it would be quicker / cheaper to build your own. http://sales.paxpat.com/furniture.html?cat=221&p=3

[ebarker]

We have three of these and love them. They are the basic 72" x 36" inch butcher block tables.

You can start shopping here and work your way down the product selector by clicking things on the left side. We select the 'Global Industrial' brand.

Personally there is no way I'd build tables if I could find the money to buy these.

If you are buying them through the school then there may be a dedicated account rep and might can give you a discount. We got three for just under 1 grand with the discount and avoided going for bids (missing the 1K number).

[loyal]

First thing to do is try Craigslist. If you have no luck build them. Purchase the legs and build the tops. If you build the tops an easy short cut is a door. Yep a door. Look for an old solid one with out a window. A class room door from a school or an office would be the ticket. Usually they are made of maple or oak. Even a small window would be ok because if you removed the glass the remaining hole would be nice to sweep stuff into a trash basket. Think along those lines that's what I would do.

[AllenGregoryIV]

Thanks for the help so far but we had already looked at most of those options. The real issue is finding one that is 48" deep. I wouldn't want to attempt to make our own butcher block table top we don't have any where near that kind of woodworking skill or equipment.

This won't be the only table in the lab it's used for bench top power tools and it works really nicely in our current setup. we will have other tables for assembly and projects.

[sanddrag]

These are a bit smaller than what you're looking for, but work well if you're on a budget but still want a nice commercially-made product. We have 5 of them. I have 4 of them bolted back to back and end to end, and probably 1000 lbs of sheet metal tools across the 4 of them. Also, standard 26" wide tool chests fit nicely underneath.

Also, this works okay if you're just looking to make you're own simple workbench.

[JB987]

If you need big 4x8 table just buy 2 24" wide tables and push them together. Allows for more flexibility to change/ move things around in future. You can buy a 3/4" thick 4x8 sheet of plywood or similar mdf sheet and mount on top of tables and not worry about damaging tabletops below (other than a few holes from screws/bolts used to attach sheet to original table top).

[AllenGregoryIV]

Originally Posted by JB987

If you need big 4x8 table just buy 2 24" wide tables and push them together. Allows for more flexibility to change/ move things around in future. You can buy a 3/4" thick 4x8 sheet of plywood or similar mdf sheet and mount on top of tables and not worry about damaging tabletops below (other than a few holes from screws/bolts used to attach sheet to original table top).

That would be alright but one of the best parts of the table we currently have is that the shelf on the bottom is also nearly 4' x 8'. It holds large bins for scrap material and long lengths of stock material. The same functions can't be had by combining tables since the legs would get in the way.

[JB987]

2 of these side by side with 4x8 sheet on top?
http://www.shelving-direct.com/asp/p...Feo9QgodKi0A0w

[Greg Needel]

I am going to echo what others have said above about your team building them. In our new shop this year we just built 8 new 4x8 tables and instead of butcher block we just have 3/4" cabinet grade plywood on the top and they work great and a plenty sturdy. We also did the shelf under for totes just like yours. Each table cost about $150 (most of that was the plywood) and they take no more than a couple hours to knock out. While you are sacrificing the look you do have the added benefit of cost savings and if you ever mess up the top you just change the plywood.

I will try and dig up some photos of our workbenches, but they are basically this http://www.hammerzone.com/archives/w...below20xl.html with a few modification such as doubled up 2x4's in the corners, changed to 4'x8' and adding some center supports.

[Gdeaver]

For the top surface we used 1/4" x 4' x 8' Masonite. It has held up very well.

[MrRoboSteve]

A good alternative to butcher block, and cheaper, is a double 3/4" plywood sheet sandwich. The top sheet would be AC, and the bottom BC. Glue and screw them together and you'll have a sturdy top.