Should close escrow on a forclosure in a few days and need to build
out my 2 car garage shop. Besides pulling in all my machinery and
tools from all the various shops an other locations they currently
live, I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

http://woodworking.about.com/od/shop...tableTable.htm

SonomaProducts.com wrote:
....
... I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?
....

I'm not keen on the thin top that drawing shows -- my favorite shortcut
for fixing that problem is the recycled or freight salvage type places
looking for exterior solid-core slab doors. 3-0 or 3-6 standard height
are normally almost giveaway and sizable places if you happen to have on
close usually can find taller than 80" for offices or commercial. I
found a pair of 3-8 x 8-0 solid core oak veneer exteriors for $10 ea
that were unbored but had a couple gouge marks one side where bunged up
by a forklift. These are heavy, though so support will need to be
beefed up. But, they are solid enough they take hard knocks --
essentially the advantages of glued-up bench top w/o the hassle.

Sometimes you can find used/salvage/damage butcher block but usually not
so large unless happen to have used restaurant equipment dealer--often
they'll have tops that aren't suitable for kitchen use any longer at
least w/o fully resurfacing that they don't want to do but a commercial
shop w/ large sander can clean up quickly...

If you're space-limited for multiple work stations, I'd also consider
making it as adjustable in height so it can do double duty as bench and
assembly table.

$0.02, etc., ...

--

"SonomaProducts.com" wrote in message
...
Should close escrow on a forclosure in a few days and need to build
out my 2 car garage shop. Besides pulling in all my machinery and
tools from all the various shops an other locations they currently
live, I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

http://woodworking.about.com/od/shop...tableTable.htm

Questions;

Does it need to be portable, lightweight and be moved around?

Or can it be heavy?

Any power requirements at the table? I often put in a power strip under one
edge of workbenches I build.

Another suggestion is to use some kind of metal base. I mention this because
I bought up some heavy duty metal bases at an industrial outlet. They were
very strong and heavy. They all had electrical boxes built in and I wired
them up. Not sure what is available where you are, but they worked well for
me. All my old source are gone now though.

If I had to make a some workbenches in a hurry, I would still go to the
metal legs. This probably wouldn't work for an outfeed table though. I
have seen a couple benches made with the grizzly metal legs.

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2008/Main/271

And as you mentioned in another thread, hardboard top. Laminate works good
too. I would attach it in a manner that it can be easily replaced. That
way you don't need to be careful of it and the table becomes much more
useful for many functions.

If you use the table for assembly or other work, it would be nice to have
some drawers and cabinets underneat. And a rolling clamp rack nearby.

At leat have some kind of wood storage underneath.

"SonomaProducts.com" wrote:

Should close escrow on a forclosure in a few days and need to build
out my 2 car garage shop. Besides pulling in all my machinery and
tools from all the various shops an other locations they currently
live, I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

Some things to consider:

Do you want a "work table" or a "storage surface"?

Have built a couple of work tables for use as fiberglass cutting
tables (A roll of glass weighs about 250 lbs) using 2x6 frame and
legs, double 1/2 CDX top and 1x4 diagonal bracing.

Basic brick out house construction.

The were built to take a beating, but would not have been worth a hoot
if equipped /w/ casters.

Built a 4x8 runout table for table saw /w/ storage drawers underneath.

Would have req'd a fork lift to move it.

Built a table /w/ 1x4 framing and 1/4 hardboard top complete /w/
casters.

Worked well as a portable table.

Each one was unique and served the purpose for which they were
designed.

They were all tables, but that was about it.

HTH

Lew

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2008/Main/271


wow, expensive.
Check out retail stores that are going out of business, too. I picked up
some incredible industrial shelving at a local "Linens and Things." They
are going under, nationwide. I remember them having those metal-legged
display tables all over the place.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

I built one very similiar to this table from a plan I got from NYWS. I saw
Norm build one on show. I like the feature/s where U can make it movable or
immobile.

"-MIKE-" wrote in message
...

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2008/Main/271


wow, expensive.
Check out retail stores that are going out of business, too. I picked up
some incredible industrial shelving at a local "Linens and Things." They
are going under, nationwide. I remember them having those metal-legged
display tables all over the place.


I know.

I remember paying $25 for something much bigger and heavier.

I used to haunt industrial surplus places back in the day. I remember some
cast steel legs once. There were about ten of them. Each weighed almost a
hundred lbs. a piece! They were too tall for any use for me. But the were
gone when I went there a week later.

"SonomaProducts.com" wrote
Should close escrow on a forclosure in a few days and need to build
out my 2 car garage shop. Besides pulling in all my machinery and
tools from all the various shops an other locations they currently
live, I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

http://woodworking.about.com/od/shop...tableTable.htm

Been thinking about the same thing lately, but what I really need is an
"assembly table", about 6' x 3', much lower to the ground than my work
bench, say around 24" high, similar to your drawing, and on locking wheels,
so if I have a large cabinet etc, on it I'll be able to move it around to
work on it and/or just move it out of the way while I do something else.

AAMOF, in my current setup, I left room between my middle of the floor
workbench, and wall bench/cabinets to house just such a critter. I'd like to
do 4' x 8', but it would take up too much room in my current, but temporary,
"2 car garage" location.

http://www.e-woodshop.net/shop.htm

I was thinking along the lines of a torsion box for the top, with 4' x 4"
legs and 4 locking castors, as it needs to be solid and perfectly flat, for
glue-ups and such, if need be.

Big things for me are 'flat' and 'mobile' ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)

On Nov 12, 1:47*pm, "SonomaProducts.com" wrote:
Should close escrow on a *forclosure in a few days and need to build
out my 2 car garage shop. Besides pulling in all my machinery and
tools from all the various shops an other locations they currently
live, I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

http://woodworking.about.com/od/shop...s/portableTabl...

Flat and mobile as Swing suggests, but what I did, was made 3 units 2
feet wide by 4 feet long boxes open one side, which, with removable
pin barn-style hinges, can be made into a 2 x 12, 4 x 4 or 4 x 6
movable tables. The bottoms will have cabinet doors attached to them
as well.
I used casters that not only lock the wheels, but the caster itself vs
the carcass as well.
The casters were $ 7.00 apiece and each 'box' was made out of one 4x8
sheet of melamine clad 5/8" MDF which I bought for 9 bucks apiece..
(that was a drive-by gloat, btw)
I can wheel 4 sheets of solid surface around the shop on one of them
without effort... that is over 600 pounds plus whatever tools are
stored inside.

I built a 4 X 8 table workbench. I am now taking it out because it is
too big. If you are doing assembly on it, it is hard to reach
across. Similar problems on the length. My next table will be about
30" X 72" . It will also free up a fair amount of space in my garage.

Interesting point. All the pro shops I've worked in all have 4x8
tables but it makes sense to size it down for just the reasons you
state. Honestly, about half the time someone else was using part of
the table at the same time anyway so most projects can get by with a
smaller table.

On Nov 12, 1:53*pm, wrote:
I built a 4 X 8 table workbench. *I am now taking it out because it is
too big. *If you are doing assembly on it, it is hard to reach
across. *Similar problems on the length. *My next table will be about
30" X 72" . *It will also free up a fair amount of space in my garage.

That's very close to the Norm designed work table...

http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?0207

I built one and it is a VERY nice work surface...

I put laminate on mine....

SonomaProducts.com wrote:
Should close escrow on a forclosure in a few days and need to build
out my 2 car garage shop. Besides pulling in all my machinery and
tools from all the various shops an other locations they currently
live, I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

http://woodworking.about.com/od/shop...tableTable.htm

wrote in message
...
I built a 4 X 8 table workbench. I am now taking it out because it is
too big. If you are doing assembly on it, it is hard to reach
across. Similar problems on the length. My next table will be about
30" X 72" . It will also free up a fair amount of space in my garage.

Mine is 30" X 80"
Sits on casters for mobility.

Max

SonomaProducts.com wrote:
I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

It depends a lot on what you're going to be doing /on/ the shop table. I
couple of years ago I built what had been intended as a panel cart - but
since then it's been used at least as much as a sanding table and
assembly table as a cart. It's movable, and when not in use doesn't take
up much space...

http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Projects/PanelCart/

When I've wanted a solid top surface, I've thrown a 4x8 sheet of
whatever was handy on top.

It would be fairly easy to add whatever storage configuration you might
like under the side that tilts up, although I suspect that mobile
storage might be a mixed blessing.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

"Max" wrote

wrote
I built a 4 X 8 table workbench. I am now taking it out because it is
too big. If you are doing assembly on it, it is hard to reach
across. Similar problems on the length. My next table will be about
30" X 72" . It will also free up a fair amount of space in my
garage.

Mine is 30" X 80"
Sits on casters for mobility.

Max
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdinep/...7603066528456/

"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...
SonomaProducts.com wrote:
I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

It depends a lot on what you're going to be doing /on/ the shop table. I
couple of years ago I built what had been intended as a panel cart - but
since then it's been used at least as much as a sanding table and assembly
table as a cart. It's movable, and when not in use doesn't take up much
space...

http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/Projects/PanelCart/

When I've wanted a solid top surface, I've thrown a 4x8 sheet of whatever
was handy on top.

It would be fairly easy to add whatever storage configuration you might
like under the side that tilts up, although I suspect that mobile storage
might be a mixed blessing.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/


I built the one from the NYW. It is great, the mobile - not mobile feature
is a must.

I made two mistakes I had to fix later. I made it from a 4 X 8 and it was
to big for my shop. Also I made the mobile height the same height as my
saw, planer. etc. I had to tweak the table so the non mobile height was on
plane with all of my tools.

SonomaProducts.com wrote:
Should close escrow on a forclosure in a few days and need to build
out my 2 car garage shop. Besides pulling in all my machinery and
tools from all the various shops an other locations they currently
live, I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

Do you really need a continuous 4x8 surface? If not, consider this...

I have a pair of identical tables. Each is 36" high, 12" deep and 48" wide.
They are simply built, four inch tray on bottom (I keep pipe clamps in
them), 4-2x4 legs attached to inside of tray sides and ends with carriage
bolts, 4" rails on all four sides at top of legs (more carriage bolts), ply
attached to rails, laminate on ply, all on casters. The 12" top overhangs
sides and ends by about 1 1/2 inches so I have something to clamp to.

I can put them mano to mano and have either a tabletop 12" x 96" or 24" x
48". I don't often do that, normally have them side by side but separated.
Easy to lay short stuff on it/them or spread them apart a bit for whatever
span I need. Great for clamping halflap joints (among others).

I like them a lot. The only thing I'd change - and I will one day - is to
make them so they could be laid down giving me low tables to use for tall
stuff.

--

"dadiOH" wrote

I like them a lot. The only thing I'd change - and I will one day - is to
make them so they could be laid down giving me low tables to use for tall
stuff.

That is a great idea.

I build plyo boxes for weight trainers. They need to jump off boxes of
various heights. And that is exactly what I do. Instead of building three
separate boxes of different heights. I make a big box that can be turned on
its side for the three different heights.

I never thought of doing that in the shop. Probably because my shop is so
small. But it is a good idea.

Pat Barber wrote:
I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

http://woodworking.about.com/od/shop...tableTable.htm



Do you have any closer pics of the wheel assembly and how it works.
I've been "wheeling" everything in the shop, lately.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Strong and flat. Remember you might want to clamp something
down on it to flatten it or square something up.

If it must be movable - consider taking legs off.

If you don't go butcher block style, then consider multiple
MDF or ply layers attached together.

Martin

Lew Hodgett wrote:
"SonomaProducts.com" wrote:

Should close escrow on a forclosure in a few days and need to build
out my 2 car garage shop. Besides pulling in all my machinery and
tools from all the various shops an other locations they currently
live, I need to build a shop table.

I am going for a 4 x 8 flat surface. I'll build storage under it as
needed and I will make sure it is movable. I am thinking of a
derivation of this design. Anyone else have design ideas or input?

Some things to consider:

Do you want a "work table" or a "storage surface"?

Have built a couple of work tables for use as fiberglass cutting
tables (A roll of glass weighs about 250 lbs) using 2x6 frame and
legs, double 1/2 CDX top and 1x4 diagonal bracing.

Basic brick out house construction.

The were built to take a beating, but would not have been worth a hoot
if equipped /w/ casters.

Built a 4x8 runout table for table saw /w/ storage drawers underneath.

Would have req'd a fork lift to move it.

Built a table /w/ 1x4 framing and 1/4 hardboard top complete /w/
casters.

Worked well as a portable table.

Each one was unique and served the purpose for which they were
designed.

They were all tables, but that was about it.

HTH

Lew