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bschweinberg
08-03-2011, 12:45 PM
Does anyone know where this Sport Aviation article is on the EAA Worktable?

Commodore
08-03-2011, 01:18 PM
http://www.sportaviationonline.org/sportaviation/201001#pg78

My workbench is based on field surgical table (Warsaw Pact surplus) and big piece of plywood.

bschweinberg
08-03-2011, 01:40 PM
perfect...thanks!

Charlie Becker
08-03-2011, 07:34 PM
I love these workbenches but I would suggest that you amend the plans to allow a 1" to 2" overhang of the top for clamping stuff.

Mike Switzer
08-04-2011, 08:59 AM
Good point Charlie. Also, buy good quality construction lumber from a real lumber yard. The quality of the lumber at the big box home centers has been getting steadily worse, if it is not completely dry it will warp.

If you plan on using the bench to lay out a fuselage or wing ribs, you may also want to screw a sacrificial piece of OSB or particle board on top of the plywood top, so you can tack things to it easily.

Pat_Panzera
08-04-2011, 06:50 PM
Also there is no need to pot-in the nut in the bottom of the leg. A simple 3/8" - 1/2" lag screw installed into a properly counter-drilled hole will work great. I have done this multiple times over 35 years and it works great.

Mike Switzer
08-04-2011, 07:14 PM
Also there is no need to pot-in the nut in the bottom of the leg. A simple 3/8" - 1/2" lag screw installed into a properly counter-drilled hole will work great. I have done this multiple times over 35 years and it works great.

I thought about commenting on that & didn't. Your method works fine, but if I wanted steel threads, instead of embedding a regular nut like in the plans, the proper way is to use a tee nut.

If your local hardware store doesn't have them, you can get them here:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#tee-nuts/=dh9oz5

(http://www.mcmaster.com/#tee-nuts/=dh9oz5)3/8" - 16 are approx $10 for 50 pieces depending on which type you select

bschweinberg
08-06-2011, 05:46 AM
I love these workbenches but I would suggest that you amend the plans to allow a 1" to 2" overhang of the top for clamping stuff.

Hey Charlie. Yes, I agree and plan to do this. I stopped at the Homebuilders Hanger last week and was talking to you about the worktable and whether the MDF top would scratch the aluminum. Thanks again!

Scream
08-06-2011, 03:03 PM
I made the addition of retractable gear for my benches. It makes moving them very very easy. It took me about 20 minutes per bench once I had the required parts. here are the plans: http://www.eaa.org/sportaviationmag/1001/RetractableGear.pdf. Here is the EAA video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1184434145?bclid=1184431670&bctid=59403176001

bschweinberg
08-08-2011, 07:55 AM
I plan to use the t-nut method. I have done that before for workshop cabinets and they work great.

bschweinberg
08-19-2011, 02:00 PM
Ok I finished two tables. Went with a 1 inch overhang on the front and back, and 2 inches on the sides. I added adjustable leg levelers using t-nuts and bolts with a locking nut.

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bschweinberg
08-19-2011, 02:02 PM
I may add the retractable gear also. Here is a pic of the leg leveler hardware.

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FunInAviation
08-19-2011, 02:03 PM
Very nice! Looks like a new garage too. Is that a cabinet in the background you're going to install?

bschweinberg
08-19-2011, 11:12 PM
Thanks! This is my basement. The cabinet is actually an aquarium stand that I'm almost finished constructing. The long trim across the top front is still needed, and a shorter piece for the left side. Then stain and seal it. It's sized for a 120 or 150 gallon tank, the footprint of each tank is the same, the only difference being the height. The cabinet/stand is made from solid red oak, except for the inside bottom, which is red oak plywood. I don't own either size aquarium, so I'm thinking about selling the stand when it's finished. I had plans at one time to set it all up, but changed my mind.


Very nice! Looks like a new garage too. Is that a cabinet in the background you're going to install?

bschweinberg
08-19-2011, 11:45 PM
I thought I would add this pic also. It's all the 2x4's for the support structure precut to size, ready to assemble, along with the hardware. However, the shorter leg doublers were cut about an inch long, with a final measure and cut just prior to installation. Same for the longer pieces of the lower shelf frame. I was shocked at the price of 3/4 inch MDF. Over $30 a sheet at my Lowe's. Becaue I made the tops oversized (64" x 26"), I needed two sheets of MDF. Total cost for both workbenches including the hardware, about $150, with some screws, 3/4 inch MDF, and a little bit of 1/2 inch plywood leftover.

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skeeter_ca
08-23-2011, 02:05 PM
I built from those plans but enlarged it some to 4'x8'. I very happy with it. You can see my build thread below.

http://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/workshop-tips-secrets-tools/4456-my-workbench-build-sorry-long-lots-pics.html

skeeter

bschweinberg
08-24-2011, 08:33 AM
Nice table!


I built from those plans but enlarged it some to 4'x8'. I very happy with it. You can see my build thread below.

http://www.homebuiltairplanes.com/forums/workshop-tips-secrets-tools/4456-my-workbench-build-sorry-long-lots-pics.html

skeeter

bschweinberg
08-24-2011, 08:48 AM
I went ahead and added the retractable gear to my new tables. I modified the plans to use 3/4 inch plywood instead of the 2x4s. I used piano hinges and t-hinges along with the 2 inch full swivel casters. Works great! Seems to be strong enough. I had the plywood scrap already, so all I had to buy was the hardware. This brought the total cost for both tables to about $180. More than I wanted to spend, but these suckers will probably be around for 500 years!

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skeeter_ca
08-24-2011, 10:00 AM
Wow, i really like that wheel setup. Where did you get the plans for it. I'm going to be building a stand to hold my grinder, belt sander, band saw and scroll saw all in one. That's the perfect way to make it modile but stationary when you want it.

skeeter.

Charlie Becker
08-24-2011, 09:11 PM
Here is the link to the retractable gear plans: http://www.eaa.org/sportaviationmag/1001/RetractableGear.pdf
(http://www.eaa.org/sportaviationmag/1001/RetractableGear.pdf)
Here is a link to the video showing the retractable gear in action: http://eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=59403176001

Eric Page
08-24-2011, 10:25 PM
I've used plain solid-core interior doors as table tops in a couple of workbench builds. They're probably a bit more expensive than plywood or MDF, but they're very flat and straight. Their thickness both contributes to stability and eliminates the need for doubling around the edges if you leave an overhang for clamping. They're available in at least a couple of sizes.

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rgmwa
08-25-2011, 03:59 PM
Those tables with the hinged casters are nicely built, but seem unnecessarily complicated. Why not just use lockable heavy duty casters?

bschweinberg
08-27-2011, 07:41 AM
The retractable gear isn't complicated, just unique. That's one of the things I like about EAA and it's members, coming up with unique ways to solve problems. It only takes about 30 minutes to make and install them on a workbench. I could have installed lockable casters, no question about it. And they would have worked fine. I have done that before. Although I have had the problem of lockable casters not completely holding something in place. But, with the t-nuts and bolts installed as leg levelers on these workbenches, a good bump against them will certainly move the workbench. I am trying to think of something to put on the bottom of the bolts to make them hold better on the concrete floor. But if they do get bumped and move a little, no big deal.

Those tables with the hinged casters are nicely built, but seem unnecessarily complicated. Why not just use lockable heavy duty casters?

skeeter_ca
09-19-2011, 01:59 PM
The problem i have found with the lockable casters isn't how well they lock. The problem is that at least two of the wheels have to swivel to move the table around. Even when the wheels are locked, the swiveling casters will still allow the bench to move freely back and forth as the castor swivels. If you could only find a locking caster wheel that also locks the swivel at the same time it would be perfect.

skeeter

Hangar10
09-19-2011, 02:27 PM
Not sure if this one has been posted or not, but I built this workbench for my son last Christmas. It is solid and there aren't any fasteners protruding through the top. He should have it for a long time as the top is easily replacable.

Plans can be downloaded here http://images.taunton.com/downloads/GSIW_workbench.pdf

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sdilullo
09-20-2011, 07:08 AM
Not sure if this one has been posted or not, but I built this workbench for my son last Christmas. It is solid and there aren't any fasteners protruding through the top. He should have it for a long time as the top is easily replacable.

Plans can be downloaded here http://images.taunton.com/downloads/GSIW_workbench.pdf

534

Wow, great work... I've downloaded the plans and might have to build myself one once I clear out some space in the garage. Thanks!

FunInAviation
09-21-2011, 06:02 AM
Here's EAA Chapter 1000's standardized work table plans:

http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/worktabl/tablefig.htm
http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/worktabl/table1.gif

peterkrola
09-28-2011, 04:30 AM
Very nice! Looks like a new garage too.