Our work benches..

[fatfranky]

-some catches to stop the struts from lifting the leaf when in its lowered position (held closed by sash clamp at the moment)

Hi Tiggy

It may help the closing of the drop leaf if you rearrange the pivot points on the gas struts, in the picture, when the leaf is lowered, the strut is still pointing forwards at the top, I.e if you drew a line through the centre of the strut it would pass in front of the hinge pivot, if you move one or both pivot points by adding brackets to move the bottom one forward and/or the top one backward, then once closed the force of the strut would push the flap closed, this is how they work on cars etc. but watch the brackets don't foul against the flap stopping it closing

 

[Rig Pig]

View attachment 45202 My workbench is made of free stuff as well old dexion racking box section and some second hand kitchen worktop, it's a hell of a mess at the moment, I'm emptying my old workshop out and sorting through everything trying to find new homes for all the bits!

 

[brightspark]

View attachment 45203 View attachment 45202 My workbench is made of free stuff as well old dexion racking box section and some second hand kitchen worktop, it's a hell of a mess at the moment, I'm emptying my old workshop out and sorting through everything trying to find new homes for all the bits!

yea it looks a bit upside down

 

[CRB]

I usually take pieces out one by one rather than turn the workshop upside down and shake.

Clever spanners though.

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Hi Tiggy

It may help the closing of the drop leaf if you rearrange the pivot points on the gas struts, in the picture, when the leaf is lowered, the strut is still pointing forwards at the top, I.e if you drew a line through the centre of the strut it would pass in front of the hinge pivot, if you move one or both pivot points by adding brackets to move the bottom one forward and/or the top one backward, then once closed the force of the strut would push the flap closed, this is how they work on cars etc. but watch the brackets don't foul against the flap stopping it closing

Something along these lines? What would the effect be using the alternative setup shown below, to how it is now?

 

[Rig Pig]

You should have seen it a week ago....

 

[CRB]

Something along these lines? What would the effect be using the alternative setup shown below, to how it is now?

View attachment 45214

FatFranky was right regarding the new positions of the pivots.

The new setup would actively close the flap onto the vertical frame member, but the lower point on the frame needs to be moved to the right in your sketch......sketch being done. Please wait.

 

[God mode restorations]

I would expect the weakest points would be the castors and the three main hinges (although the hinges are fairly heavy duty). Any Horizontal movement would be down the the ability of the castor brakes. Vertical movement would be down to the the ability of the bolts holding the hinges in place. Any movement there would be down to the size of the clearance holes that the bolts go through.

A lot of bashing may put downward pressure on the castors, so good heavy duty castors are recommended. The ones on there at the moment are a bit weedy for my liking.
there is a hell of a lot of weight in the leaf, hence the feeling to widen the wheelbase.

great looking little bench there...a good use of space too.....

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

FatFranky was right regarding the new positions of the pivots.

The new setup would actively close the flap onto the vertical frame member, but the lower point on the frame needs to be moved to the right in your sketch......sketch being done. Please wait.


View attachment 45226

Ahh, it all becomes clear. Perfect scetch, thanks fellas

Any new updates to the bench, I will post in a new thread to avoid hijacking this one too much.
Cheers.

 

[God mode restorations]

nice to see all these work benches....today i had to do some welding for me old man...and took the opportunity to take a pic of his work bench...how he manages to do owt in there is beyond me....but hear it is....

 

[Maker]

I think the system you are referring to with the pivots is called an ''over centre mechanism'' like this:

I would upload the sketch-up drawings themselves, but I can't figure out how.

 

[CRB]

Ahh, it all becomes clear. Perfect scetch, thanks fellas

Any new updates to the bench, I will post in a new thread to avoid hijacking this one too much.
Cheers.

My pleasure, I am sure.

 

[fatfranky]

Hi Tiggy

Sorry I was out in the garage pottering!!

I think CRB and Maker have answered the point very well! If you think about it this is how car tailgates work, when you release the catch they don't pop up until you lift them slightly past the point of no return (over centre)

I also agree your design is a clever use of space, it's like a steel version of 'nannas dining table'

Regards

 

[mfletch]

I have two fold down benches in my garage (workshop) it's a good idea as when folded down they take very little room so can still use the garage.

 

[The Devils Reject]

My bench is a lot less impressive. A couple of old kitchen units with a lump of 3/4" ply on top. Vice mounted in the middle(ish)

I do keep forgetting that wood is a bit flammable though

 

[anto]

Here is my effort. Id like to have made it from box section (moreso for the welding of it) but the dexion shelving was free and it serves its purpose.


Im still debating whether to add some sheet steel to the top for welding purposes.

 

[God mode restorations]

great selection of benches of all sizes.......

 

[deVries]

I've got a 2000mm x 1000mm, 10mm thick slab of steel as a workbench. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[Maker]

I've got a 2000mm x 1000mm, 10mm thick slab of steel as a workbench. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

Not even an 11mm thick slab. Can we have a picture?

 

[deVries]

Not even an 11mm thick slab. Can we have a picture?

Sadly steel doesn't go to 11.
Could weld that extra mill on though.