Harbor freight workbench or alternative

[Chrism]

As with all starting I need a bigger space for cutting, tooling etc. Harbor freight has their bench on sale 119.99. question for you guys that have one and don't have. If you have one how well do you like it? There's a clamp already made into the wood. Also what cutting what surface do you use? The green cutting mats (hobby lobby for instance) can get pricey! notice some use pine to cut on. Would home depot, lowes etc have this? If I can get a nice sturdy table built for 100.00 I'd be doing good. It can be 5' long give or take. Been browsing the forums forever on this and on the Web. Can't seem to get my mind made up quite yet. 

Thanks,

Chris 

[JLSleather]

Bigger is better.  The tables I use now are getting a bit soft, so I'll be replacing them once I move.  Depends on the size work you'll be doing, of course, and the room you have available.  My buddy has a 30'x60' shop with 14' ceilings.. which is a bit much for me

Still, I like a cutting table 8' x 4' ... which allows me to lay out an entire side of leather to view / cut.  2x4 frame covered with 3/4" plywood (you could likely get by with 5/8" plywood).  Screwed down to teh frame, and the whole thing held up with 4x4 posts (5 of em - one in the corners plus one half way down one side).  Then another "shelf" about 10-12" off the floor - this can be a framework as above covered with heavy cardboard, or better yet light plywood covered with heavy cardboard.

Cover teh top with 1/8 masonite (comes in 4'x8').  Drive a finish nail in opposite corners to retain it.  This will let you cut leather for a LONG time before it's scarred up... at which time you just pull the two nails, put on a new sheet (cost about $5) and go back to your business.  The bottom shelf holds more sides of leather - off teh floor, off the ground, and out of direct sunlight.

Now, you can't do this for $119, so HF starts to look quick n easy, but I think you'll want bigger soon.

Note my cutting table looks a bit like this, but i have 3 other tables plus a "rack" for hanging chrome leathers .... 

[Chrism]

That's overkill considering space limited. hence why I mentioned the harbor freight model and I can set it up fairly quickly. But I like cutting with the Dewalt compound saw with a built in light that shines on the blade so you know exactly where it's going to cut ;). I built my own keezer (freezer converted into a kegerator). That was fun to build. Built a frame around the freezer, cut out oak trim and finished it with a cherry stain and sealer. The temp controller was home made. Perlic stainless taps. So I had 4 different beers (home brew). 

[JREESER1]

I bought that Harbor Freight bench almost 2 years ago and found it is exactly right for me. I bought  two 24"x 18" cutting mats from JoAnns and laid them end to end with double sided tape to hold them down. It rigidly supports ponding on my marble stamping slab and anvil for setting rivets and snaps. I use the end vise/clamp to hold a stitching pony and to clamp long pieces of glued leather before sewing. I have a 28" stool that puts me at the right working height.The only issue I had to deal with was to glue and clamp the bottom shelf into the dado groves. It wanted to spread the rails and not support the weight, I wanted to put on it. I would definitely buy another, especially on sale, at $120. I think I paid $160. 

jr

[Mattsbagger]

I have the bench too. Works great. If you don't cover the surface with cutting mats plug the holes in top or stuff falls in the drawers. And you HAVE TO put the top drawer in before bottom drawer or it won't fit.I am gonna take the clamp apart and put leather on it like a stitching pony.

[OLDNSLOW]

I don't recalling my two table costing much more than about 110. each one is a 4x8 the other is a 2 x 8. both use a 4 x 8 x3/4 plywood for the top the 2 x 8 x 1 1/2 is the one sheet cut in half and 4 x 4 legs, if you have the saw you can cut most of the stuff yourself the 2 x 8 lowes cut the plywood in half for me at no cost,  the 4 x 8 table I did spend a little more on as I put it on big casters so that if I need to roll it around in the garage and make more room I can.  I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I built to my specs and still didn't go over the cost of what I would have paid for a ready to bolt together table but each to his own.

[Chrism]

The workbench I use atm I think I'll just use Masonite. I don't have a lot of room. Xmas coming around the corner. stalking stuffers I'll be doing small items like Keychains etc. thanks for the info 

[TonyRV2]

Normally I just build my own work benches, but a few months ago decided to buy this workbench from Sam's Club: http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ultra-heavy-duty-workbench/prod1490086.ip

Its very well made from square tubular steel and rated for 1000 pounds.  I'm happy with the purchase although it is a bit smallish compared to my other benches... 25" X 72" but its perfect for what I wanted to do with it which was mostly stamping and drawing.  Price was $200

...Tony

[TinkerTailor]

On 11/24/2016 at 9:20 AM, JLSleather said:

Now, you can't do this for $119, so HF starts to look quick n easy, but I think you'll want bigger soon.

I bet i could do it.

 

1. sheet of 3/4 ply for top - $40
2. sheet of 3/8 for shelf - $18
3. 2 x 12' 2x6 studs for top rails - $19
4. 2 x 12' 2x4 studs for bottom shelf rails - $13
5. 4 x 8' 2x3 studs for shelf and top cross braced $10
6. option a:)  2 x10' x 4x4 posts, 3 36" table legs out of each - $40
7. option b:)  4 x 10' 2x4 studs doubled up for posts - $24 dollars.

Those are current canadian prices. While i am in an area with cheaper wood, our dollar is worth $0.75us right now.

It works out to $118 if you make the frame out of just 2x4 with 2x3 cross braces under table and shelf.

If you beef up the top rails to 2x6, and use doubled 2x4 posts it will cost $124

If you use 4x4 posts and 2x6 rails top and bottom with 2x4 support rails it is only $152.

$152 CAD= $114 american. Just enough left for a box of screws.

Edited November 28, 2016 by TinkerTailor

[billybopp]

... Good point Tinker .. That also assumes that one has the woodworking tools and skills to do the job, which not everybody has.

Bill