MoLorgFraming
Grumbler in Training
Sorry about that. Here it is again:
So I've been thinking a lot about workbench setups lately and I wanted to throw this out to the group because I suspect I'm not the only one who's wrestled with it.
The ideal framing workbench is pretty well understood at this point. Good working height, solid surface, storage underneath for supplies and maybe flat files, wheels so you can move it around when you need to. But getting there without either paying someone to build you a custom unit or having the skills and tools to do it yourself is harder than it sounds.
I've been looking at a couple of routes.
One option is something like the Duramax rolling workbenches. They do a 72" x 24" model with three drawers, lockable casters, wood top. Not framing-specific obviously, but two of those end to end gives you a 12-foot run with six drawers and wheels on both ends. The depth is only 24", which is a little narrow for some tasks, but manageable.
www.duramaxbp.com
The cheaper hack I've been turning over in my head is two small kitchen islands from somewhere like Wayfair as the bases, something with drawers, cabinet storage, and locking wheels, and then dropping a long piece of plywood across both of them as your actual work surface. You'd want to think about height (most kitchen islands sit around 36"), surface material, and how you'd keep the top from sliding. But the underlying storage could actually be pretty decent. Doors, drawers, maybe room for flat file storage if you picked islands with deep lower cabinets. https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/p...locking-wheels-w111323584.html?piid=707145003
Things I keep coming back to as must-haves:
Wheels. The ability to reconfigure is worth more than you'd think.
Drawer storage for tools, hardware, and supplies. Not shelves, drawers.
Some kind of underbench storage for artwork or mats in flat horizontal stacks.
Decent working height. 36" is standard kitchen counter height and it works for framing, though some people go a bit taller.
Curious what people here have actually done when they couldn't go the full custom route. Are there other furniture categories out there, utility carts, restaurant equipment, library flat files with a top thrown on them, that have worked well as a base? Anyone gone the Ikea or restaurant supply route? Would love to hear what's actually working in your shop.
So I've been thinking a lot about workbench setups lately and I wanted to throw this out to the group because I suspect I'm not the only one who's wrestled with it.
The ideal framing workbench is pretty well understood at this point. Good working height, solid surface, storage underneath for supplies and maybe flat files, wheels so you can move it around when you need to. But getting there without either paying someone to build you a custom unit or having the skills and tools to do it yourself is harder than it sounds.
I've been looking at a couple of routes.
One option is something like the Duramax rolling workbenches. They do a 72" x 24" model with three drawers, lockable casters, wood top. Not framing-specific obviously, but two of those end to end gives you a 12-foot run with six drawers and wheels on both ends. The depth is only 24", which is a little narrow for some tasks, but manageable.
Rolling Workbenches – Duramax
www.duramaxbp.com
The cheaper hack I've been turning over in my head is two small kitchen islands from somewhere like Wayfair as the bases, something with drawers, cabinet storage, and locking wheels, and then dropping a long piece of plywood across both of them as your actual work surface. You'd want to think about height (most kitchen islands sit around 36"), surface material, and how you'd keep the top from sliding. But the underlying storage could actually be pretty decent. Doors, drawers, maybe room for flat file storage if you picked islands with deep lower cabinets. https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/p...locking-wheels-w111323584.html?piid=707145003
Things I keep coming back to as must-haves:
Wheels. The ability to reconfigure is worth more than you'd think.
Drawer storage for tools, hardware, and supplies. Not shelves, drawers.
Some kind of underbench storage for artwork or mats in flat horizontal stacks.
Decent working height. 36" is standard kitchen counter height and it works for framing, though some people go a bit taller.
Curious what people here have actually done when they couldn't go the full custom route. Are there other furniture categories out there, utility carts, restaurant equipment, library flat files with a top thrown on them, that have worked well as a base? Anyone gone the Ikea or restaurant supply route? Would love to hear what's actually working in your shop.
Keep it simple. There’s no point trying to compete with Elon Musk in this market segment 
