Feedback on a bench I designed.

Hazza

A work mate of mine asked me if I could design a fold up work bench for his single car garage. The design brief was that he wanted a bench at the end of his garage he could fold up and place his motorbike in the space. This is what I came up with:

The 2 end sections are designed to be bolted to the wall, that's why there is no cross bracing between them.
The length of the bench is nominal and will be adjusted to suit the width of his garage.
The back section will be pegboard where he will hang his tools.
It has a cross piece that fits into a recess at the front that can be moved to the back when the top is folded up.
The size of the timber is also nominal, he will probably use 4x2.
To lock it down and lock it up it will have those .... ahhhhh..... bolt thingys with a spring... had brain fart.... can't think of it's proper name right now.

He thinks it is great but I would like to hear from you guys, does anyone have any suggestions on improvement?

rfritz

Overall it's a good design that makes good use of available space. My only though is that the fold-up work surface is not strong enough. You should frame the top (I'm assuming you'll use 3/4" plywood) underneath with 2x4s and then add a couple of cross member 2x4 to add more strength. I don't know what your friend is going to use the work bench for but I don't believe it will be sturdy enough for anything heavy or any heavy pounding.

Charlie__V

Hazza,
You mention motorbike....I assumed something large and based my thoughts on that assumption.

Getting the motorbike in the workbench space & somewhat tight to the wall would possibly require at least one leg/support of the workbench to swing away......maybe not?

Anywho...there is me 2pennies worth

Best,
C

Bench W_bike

Thumb

Hazza

@unknownuser said:

.....would possibly require at least one leg/support of the workbench to swing away......maybe not?

The end sections are attached / bolted right up against and into the wall..... makes it a bit hard to swing the end like that, even if it swings inward it would only provide and extra 2 inches of room, not worth the extra engineering.

Charlie__V

Hazza,
"makes it a bit hard to swing the end like that"
No need to get "funny"

"The 2 end sections are designed to be bolted to the wall, that's why there is no cross bracing between them."

Indicting end walls& or drawing some reference in the .SKP would help.

Best,
C

Hazza

@unknownuser said:

"makes it a bit hard to swing the end like that"
No need to get "funny"

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend, I knew you were trying to help.