Harbor freight workbench or alternative

[TinkerTailor]

20 minutes ago, billybopp said:

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

Bill

It is pretty basic, the plywood is used full size, and the store will cut the studs down to 36" lengths for you. The 12' pieces get cut into a 4 and an 8 for an end and side rail. All you need is a drill and possibly a small hand saw or a jigsaw to cut notches in the bottom shelf where the posts are. Most big box hardware stores will rent you a drill for a few dollars.

This table design is also far superior to the harbor freight one. I have held trucks up on lighter weight frames. If the table is properly built, 2x6 rails with 4x4 posts every 4 feet will likely hold up 5 or 10 thousand pounds if not more. (An unsupported fir vertical 4x4 post 4 feet tall is rated for 17500lbs vertical load and 2x6 fir is rated to hold 4200lbs on a 4' span, and you have 2.)

Granted, some don't have the skills to work with wood, however the leather projects they are going to do ON the table have more complex construction than the table itself.....

Edited November 28, 2016 by TinkerTailor

[JREESER1]

I just bought another, from Harbor Freight, for my kid. And it has 4 felt lined drawers. Just sayin'.

jr

[TinkerTailor]

10 minutes ago, JREESER1 said:

I just bought another, from Harbor Freight, for my kid. And it has 4 felt lined drawers. Just sayin'.

jr

I looked at the harbour freight site and i see a woodworkers bench and a metal bench with a pegboard backing. Both are pretty good deals as general workbenches go, however for leather:

I have used a woodworkers bench before but got annoyed with the dog holes all over the top. I frequently had issues with these holes, like pushing my knife right through the leather and cutting mat all of a sudden when I went over one, messing up the cut. The vise was nice for clamping glue ups on smaller items like wallets. It also looks nice.

The metal one with the backboard is a good deal if you replace the top right away. If it is the same one we get up here, the frame is pretty sturdy but the benchtop is particle board and will not survive any hammering. Replacing the top or even skinning it with real ply is the way to go.

[Mattsbagger]

5 minutes ago, TinkerTailor said:

I looked at the harbour freight site and i see a woodworkers bench and a metal bench with a pegboard backing. Both are pretty good deals as general workbenches go, however for leather:

I have used a woodworkers bench before but got annoyed with the dog holes all over the top. I frequently had issues with these holes, like pushing my knife right through the leather and cutting mat all of a sudden when I went over one, messing up the cut. The vise was nice for clamping glue ups on smaller items like wallets. It also looks nice.

The metal one with the backboard is a good deal if you replace the top right away. If it is the same one we get up here, the frame is pretty sturdy but the benchtop is particle board and will not survive any hammering. Replacing the top or even skinning it with real ply is the way to go.

The one with pegboard at my hb is real flimsy looking and feeling. I'm gonna get some wine corks and put in the holes of the dog holes in my woodworking bench from hb. But I do find myself putting some tools like my slicker in the holes so I don't roll off. It's my only bench and only space so far. So it gets cutting boards, cardboard, and whatever shifted on it and off as needed for the step I'm at. Just starting out it works good but someday would like a bigger space and benches. Just gotta wait for the kids to move out.lol

[Colt W Knight]

I have two HF woodworking benches

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=wood+working+bench

 

I am not a fan of HF, but those benches are actually very nice. I use them for tooling, cutting, dying, and general assembly work on leather.    

 

[BlakesBlades]

I have a HF woodworkers bench as well, I did want a larger surface so I added a solid core door to the top, Works great.

[MADMAX22]

On 11/28/2016 at 9:03 AM, TinkerTailor said:

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.

Pretty much what I have done for a few benches in my garage. I usually have lowes split the plywood in half so its 2'x8' then double them up. Gives ya a good solid 1.5" top that I line with whatever if I am using it for leather. Everything else is easy peasy to cut with a chop saw, as cheap as ya can get those things why not. 

[Doc Reaper]

I built a 2 1/2 foot by 7 foot table frame out of an old wooden swing set, used 1/2 inch plywood for the top, then covered it with 1/8 luane to protect it from due, cuts, and unwanted impactsI also acquired a one foot by four foot by 3/8 inch thick white nylon cutting board to make all my cutting on! I use an old hickory tree tree limb as my impact post to set snaps and rivets. Now I'm working on an adjustable stitching pony/horse to stand or sit while hand stitching. I made tools out of galvanized pipes, I've even picked up some 2 1/2 inch plastic rods to make mallets with, just looking for wood dowels to make handles with. You don't have to follow the rules when it comes to leather working tools, corporations want you to purchase their products, just don't waste your cash on shhtuff made in China, they won't last and it will frustrate you to no end!

Edited December 27, 2016 by Doc Reaper
Had to leave table to answer call

[trailrunner]

I've been looking at the 2x4 Basics workbench legs the past few days. Theyre heavy duty plastic legs for $50. The bench would end up being about 36" high. 

You just cut 2x4s for the length and width that you need. Looks very easy to assemble. Even has screw holes in the legs already and holes for two shelves under the top. 

 

I might splurge on a nice maple top if I go this route, that way I can just cut directly on the top and remove the top once in a while and sand it smooth again. That would also save on having to buy the cutting mats which are expensive in the large sizes. 

 

Form the reviews I've seen, I have no doubt the legs are heavy duty. I just think the plastic legs will be kind of ugly to look at. 

This setup might look silly to a woodworker, but I'm not one and id rather just spend $50 to know my table will not be wobbly. 

[KeithHideWorks]

I use the HF bench as well. With a coupon code it came out around $107.

Take your time installing it and glue all the joints with Gorilla wood glue, and it is rock solid. One of the very best things they sell for leatherworking (Other is the deablow hammers and razor knives).

I have used expensive tables before and you can't build a table this good for even twice the cost.   What I have realized is you quickly need more than 1 ,2 or even 3 benches.  Need a whole workshop