Do-it-yourself carpentry workbench - manufacturing instructions

If the main tools of a blacksmith are a hammer and an anvil, then for a carpenter there is nothing “more familiar” than his workbench. For people who work with wood, it can at the same time be a cutting platform and an assembly table, a stop and stand, a device for storing tools and even, if you want, a small carpentry machine, and sometimes a means of earning money. This article tells you how to make woodworking tables with your own hands. The instructions, photographs and drawings presented in it will help even a beginner to install this structure.

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First of all, after building a workshop, you need to make yourself a table. A table like a workbench, essentially. This is a table for work - fitting, assembling small things made of wood (stools, shelves, etc.). I'll call it an assembly table.

In fact, the second name for a workbench is an “assembly table.” But, as you already understand, its purpose goes far beyond assembly operations. Therefore, the design of a multifunctional workbench in a carpentry can be quite intricate (see drawing below), and its development (in the absence of experience) can be spent as much time as it takes to design the carpentry workshop itself.

What is a carpentry workbench

A carpenter's workbench or table is a simple, but at the same time convenient design. This is a high, long table designed for heavy objects and complex work on it. As a rule, the tabletop has large holes so that waste from production falls and does not interfere with work. There are also shelves for support and tool boxes.

For simple carpentry work, everyone can make the simplest work table, or you can think through all your needs and create an ideal workplace.

The workbench is used for several types of work:

• Cutting wood and other hard materials.
• Cutting materials.
• Wood processing: planing and sanding.
• Assemblies of various parts and objects.

The most convenient way is to make a universal carpentry table with your own hands. This is absolutely not difficult, and the owner will be able to gain additional experience in carpentry.

By approaching the work with full responsibility and armed with drawings, you will receive a convenient and functional workbench.

A table of your own production will save money, and besides, it can be quickly assembled from scrap materials. If the device is needed only for a while, it will be easy to disassemble after use.

Important! When making a table with your own hands, the craftsman will be able to take into account individual dimensions, requirements and make the necessary shelves, supports and other elements important for work.

How to calculate the dimensions of a workbench for a garage: recommended dimensions

The dimensions of the structure are selected individually depending on the preferences of the owner, as well as taking into account the expected types of work. The width of typical structures is in the range of 0.7-1.2 m, and the length is from 1.5 to 2 m. Workbenches are single and double. The differences between these designs are the length and number of nightstands with drawers. If the desktop is single, in this case the optimal dimensions of the tabletop will be 0.8 x 0.8 x 1.5 m. In double designs, the length is increased to 2.8 m.

Drawing of a simple carpentry workbench with dimensions for a garage.

The height of the carpentry workbench is selected taking into account the height of the craftsman who will work at it. Typically this figure varies from 85 to 95 cm. It is quite easy to check the correctness of the calculations. If, standing at the table, the master can freely rest his palms on its lid, then the height is chosen correctly. It is very important not to make a mistake with this indicator, since frequent stretching and bending is harmful to a person’s back and can lead to rapid fatigue.

The same applies to metal structures, which can also be used for plumbing work. In any case, the desktop must be stable and very durable. The minimum thickness of the lid is 5 cm. Textolite or linoleum is used as upholstery, which will protect the tabletop from damage. In metalworking workbenches, the wooden surface of the workplace is covered with a steel lid. The minimum thickness of this coating is 5 mm.

Main types of workbenches

There are several types of workbenches, which differ in their functional purpose. Complex devices combine several types at once. Simpler ones have limited functions.

• Carpenter's table. It is an ordinary high table with a flat, even tabletop. It is designed for processing and sawing small parts. But it is difficult to process large boards on it.
• Long workbench. It is a long structure with a vice for securing boards and logs. Its main purpose is to process these types of parts. However, it is impossible to collect small items here.
• Universal table. It has a flat, wide table top, nearby holes for dumping debris and a long mount with a vice. The most advanced models are reinforced on individual sides with metal sheets or tape, which makes it possible to process metal and stone products on it.

There is also a gradation of workbenches by type of assembly. There may be the following options:

• Mobile workbench. It is small in size and weight. Designed for carrying from place to place and processing small products.
• Stationary table. These structures are heavy and, as a rule, securely attached to the floor. They process heavy logs, boards, and large parts. Typically, such options are used in private homes, where the owner quite often does carpentry or other work. Most often, these workbenches are universal with a large number of accessories.
• Folding table. This is an intermediate option between a mobile device and a large stationary table. Prefabricated workbenches are also quite large in size, but can be removed fairly quickly. They are suitable for garages or small private houses.

According to its design characteristics, a carpentry workbench is a table on which shelves for tools, drawers and additional equipment are located.

Construction of a carpentry workbench

Despite its simple appearance, the carpenter's table has a very complex structure, since any inconspicuous detail here carries a number of important functions.

Traditionally, woodworkers worked with hand tools, so to work with electric tools, the worktop must be modified to suit your needs.

Main elements of the workbench:

• Base or bed. This element is also called the underbench. This is a support made of thick timber or metal. As a rule, it is a frame that has additional drawers or crossbars. It must support a heavy structure with a tabletop, tools and wood for processing. The drawers and frame elements are connected to each other with wedges and glue.

  
  The construction of a carpentry workbench is simple, but requires careful design, calculation of dimensions and the correct choice of material.

• Tabletop. It is also called a workbench board. It is made from thick boards. As a rule, the thickness of the board is 6-7 cm. This is necessary to withstand the weight of tools, workers and heavy blows to them. The table top has the necessary grooves, holes, holes or clamps. Each master places them at his own discretion.

  
  For a home workshop, it is most convenient to make a stationary wooden carpenter's workbench with a base made of metal or wood.

• Vices, clamps. The workbench should have at least two clamps on both sides. The clamps are made of wood, since it will not deform the material of the products. The maximum number of clamps is not limited. If you plan to work with parts of different sizes - for example, small items and large boards, then there should definitely be several clamps. At the same time, they should be located on opposite sides of the tabletop so as not to interfere with each other.

  
  All types of work tables known to us originated from the carpenter's workbench.

• Shelves for tools and additional stops. They are located under the tabletop. It is important to place shelves for tools so that they can be easily reached with one hand without leaving the table. That is why it is convenient to place them below, and not in the closet nearby.

Materials for production

Making a workbench begins with choosing the material. In this case, it is worth taking into account the design features and type of working surface.

Mobile machines can be combined in terms of the material used. Many people make a wooden tabletop, which is then covered with stainless steel.

To make the frame, a board with parameters of 4x8 cm or a beam of 5x10 cm is usually used. The tabletop is formed from tongue-and-groove boards of hardwood. The top is covered with sheets of plywood.

Metal is sometimes used for the lid. This is stainless steel to cover the tabletop, iron pipes or a profile to form the main frame. The remaining parts can be made from plywood and wood.

How to make a carpentry table with your own hands

Creating a carpentry table with your own hands, despite all its features, is quite simple. To do this you need:

1. Calculate exact dimensions.
2. Create a preliminary drawing.
3. Select the necessary boards and other materials.
4. Refine the drawing.
5. Assemble the table itself.

A modern work surface is also additionally equipped, for example, with space for a milling machine.

Size calculation

The basic size requirements are simple: the table must fit in the room so that it is convenient to walk around it with a tool. To do this, a distance of 80-100 cm should remain between it and the wall or other objects.

The size of the table is determined by factors such as the area of ​​the room and your individual characteristics.

The size of the tabletop should be such that it is convenient to place everything you need on it. If you plan to work with small objects, then a length of 100–150 cm and a width of 80 cm will be sufficient. If you plan to process large objects, then it is better to choose a length of 200–250 cm and a width of 80–100 cm.

Ideally, the height should be such that it is comfortable to work behind it while standing or sitting on a chair. To do this, it must be 70 cm. A height of 80 cm will allow you to work only while standing.

Working at a workbench that is not the right height will lead to serious back problems.

Drawing

Once the basic dimensions have been determined, you can begin creating the drawing. You need to pay close attention to this, since the details will then be cut out from it.

Drawings of the future structure, as well as its dimensions, are selected taking into account all conditions.

The drawing is performed in two versions:

• Table top drawing.
  Here the width of the boards is calculated and how they will be connected to each other. The necessary clamps and vices are also indicated here. Important! It is worth trying on the location of important elements in real size, trying from which points it is convenient to reach them with your hands and checking whether they interfere with work.
• Basic drawing. Here it is important to calculate the load on the legs and how the frames will be strengthened.

Drawings of tables that can be found on the Internet are presented in a huge variety.
After this, it is worth checking the drawing again and its compliance with the materials: whether there are boards of the required width or the required number. Are the necessary support bars available?

Selection of tools and materials

Before assembling the table, you need to prepare all materials and tools.

Necessary materials:

• Wooden boards are 15-30 cm wide and 6-7 cm thick. Their length should be no less than the length of the table top. The cheapest regular pine board is suitable for this.
• Wooden blocks for the frame, legs and drawers. The width of the bars should be 10-15 cm.
• Square metal pipes for making metal supports.
• Metal furniture corners for connecting wooden parts.
• Self-tapping screws and bolts.
• Wood glue.

It’s great if you can find lumber made from beech, ash, maple or hornbeam, but if not, then make a table from a pine board.
Tools needed for assembly:

• Hammer.
• Jigsaw.
• Hand saw.
• Grinder saw.
• Screwdriver.
• Ruler.
• Roulette.
• Pencil.

For convenience, tools and small parts should be placed on one side, and large boards should be placed on the other.

Other tools may be required, but this will depend on the design of your workbench.

Advice. Small parts and screws should be laid out on a light cloth or paper. This way you can immediately find the item you need.

Table creation process

Assembling a workbench involves several steps:

1. Frame assembly. She's going first. The supports are fastened together using drawers and crossbars. For the most reliable fastening, they are connected using wedges or puzzles, which must be prepared in advance. A simpler connection is also possible using metal brackets and furniture corners. The metal base is assembled using welding or screws.
2. Creating a tabletop. First, boards of the required size are cut.
3. Fastening the table top to the frame. To do this, furniture corners are attached to the boards, then they are installed on the frame and attached to it. If a folding tabletop is intended, then you first need to make its parts and then connect them to the frame using furniture hinges.
4. Creation of additional elements: clips, puzzles and others. After the tabletop is installed and secured to it, it is convenient to attach additional elements: clamps, vices. Here you can also cut out the necessary holes with a jigsaw.

The tabletop is treated with a surface planer and a sander to achieve a smooth surface.
Advice. When assembling the table, do not use nails. This will subsequently cause the table to become loose. Self-tapping screws can always be re-tightened. Puzzles and wedges are firmly connected with glue.

After assembly, all that remains is to prepare the table for work and you can begin the creative process.

The base is impregnated with an antiseptic, which will not allow fungus or mold to grow in the wood.

Final stage

Finally, it is necessary to check the strength of all connections and modify those that may become loose.

It is also important to check the comfort of all parts on the countertop. Most likely, something will seem superfluous, and something will be missing. To be more confident, you should try working on a large object on a workbench. In this case, nuances will certainly appear that can be quickly corrected before installing additional equipment and securing the table.

You can make a shelf on the bottom frame, or one or two cabinets. Careful craftsmen make a cabinet and a shelf on which various equipment is stored.

The very last step in creating a woodworking table will be attaching it to the floor. The table is usually screwed to the floor using furniture corners. This ensures its stability and ease of support during operation.

Mobile devices intended for small items do not need to be screwed to the floor. But in this case there will still be a risk of knocking it over.

Real kitchen

The kitchen was in approximately this state:

Since I wanted to move into my own apartment quickly, the decision was made to make a kitchen with my own hands on a minimal budget.

Necessary materials:

• Plywood 10 mm
• Bruschi
• Fasteners
• Furniture hinges
• Wood varnish
• Self-adhesive film

So, 10 sheets of plywood were purchased, the bars were found in the village bins, in addition to them, polycarbonate was found - this is already an option.

An old sink was also found, for the installation of which the bottom was glued with rubber - only there the sink was securely fixed and did not rattle.

Commercially available plywood is divided into 5 grades, but in the simplest case it can be divided by type/purpose as follows:

• The best is for facades.
• Medium – for the countertop.
• The rest is shelves and back walls.

After this, we move on to decisive action :

• We carefully measure all kitchen dimensions
• Thinking through the headset plan
• We cut plywood and timber
• We purchase fasteners (screws, metal corners, nails, furniture hinges)
• We install the kitchen

In fact, you can use a homemade kitchen made of plywood already at this stage, but let’s not overdo it by decorating it and making a safety margin. Let's move on to the tabletop - it will bear the main "impact":

• Skinning
• Apply several layers of varnish
• We glue the film

With this sequence of work, the tabletop will withstand all tests for 2-3 years, the main thing is to cut nothing on it.

DIY plywood set

This is what a plywood kitchen looks like halfway to its completion.

At the same time, the installation of filters and the dishwasher is carried out.

After everything is assembled and installed, you can begin decorating our budget plywood set. We will need:

• Pens
• Paint/self-adhesive
• Rails and LED strip optional

In our case, the plywood kitchen was painted in the same way with our own hands in several layers. It is advisable to pre-treat the surface and edges with sandpaper.

Kitchen made of plywood painted blue

The final touch is to install a decorative panel around the dishwasher. This is also painted plywood.

Installation of additional equipment

After the table is ready, additional equipment is installed on it:

• Board clamps. Usually mounted from two bars. Clamps are installed at both ends of the tabletop. For convenience, it is worth installing several clamps of different thicknesses: 5 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm and 20 cm. The clamps are installed exactly opposite each other.
• Vise for parts. Ideally, there should be several vices: 2 or 3 pieces. They are designed for small and large parts.
• Stops for cutting parts. This is optional equipment. Stops are usually small blocks on the countertop.
• Lower shelves for tools. They will create comfort during work and significantly save time. It is better to place heavy, large tools on the bottom shelf. Place boxes with small items a little higher. It is better to make drawers for small things retractable.
• Additional lighting. Without it, work will be uncomfortable. Typically, a long LED office lamp is mounted on the desk. To prevent shadows from your hands from interfering with your work, you should attach two lamps on different sides.

Don't forget about the lighting. We suggest considering fluorescent lamps or LED strip as an additional lighting source.

Selecting a place to install the table

The choice of the main location for installing the workbench should be thought out in advance. Usually this is a workshop, a place on the site next to the technical unit or in the garage.

In addition to the placement location, you need to think through a few more technical nuances:

• From which side will the approach to the workbench be? To work with small objects, an approach from one edge is sufficient; such a device can be installed against a wall. For large-scale work, a free approach from all sides is required.
• Which side will the items be placed on the table? It is important to think through this point so as not to touch other furniture with long boards.
• Do not place the workbench next to a door or window. Usually such work takes a lot of time. There are always drafts near a window or door; if you stay here for a long time, you can catch a cold.

When setting up a workbench, think carefully about where the power tool will be connected.
Working through these points will make work in the future comfortable and safe.

Operating rules

In order for the carpenter's table to last a long time and to work at it safely, it is important to follow the basic operating rules:

1. All table parts must be firmly secured. If they start to wobble, they need to be tightened or secured. Any unsteady position can result in serious injury. It will not be very pleasant if the saw or jigsaw comes off the part at the most inopportune moment.
2. All items for work should also be held well on the table. This will make the work more accurate.
3. The device must be protected from moisture. Wooden boards will warp and crack with sudden changes in humidity. If there is high humidity, mold may grow here.
4. When working with heavy objects, you need to evenly distribute the load on the tabletop.

Making a carpentry workbench yourself is not a quick task, but it is exciting, because you need to take into account not only your needs, but also the ergonomics of the entire workspace.
Proper assembly of this device and its correct operation will bring joy from carpentry work, which will give inspiration for creativity.

Advantages

Coasters of any type are one of the most popular homemade products in a modern home. They are needed everywhere: in the kitchen, in the workshop, at the desk and even in the bedroom. Stands help organize your workspace, provide convenience and comfort, and also protect furniture from accidental damage.

Any material can be used to make stands, but often home craftsmen use wood. The advantages of structures directly follow from the properties of the material:

• ease of processing of workpieces;
• low cost;
• beautiful appearance of the product;
• durability when properly processed;
• functionality.

It is impossible not to mention the abundance of design solutions for products. You can find drawings of wooden coasters to suit every taste on the Internet, and if you use your imagination, it’s easy to create something truly unique.