Custom work bench help

[polarmystery]

I do have a hammer too, and friends with garages with tools. If my friends were available, I'd have them help me pre-cut the wood of course. It's hard to discern the best idea to take.

Any ideas for what type of wood to use for the main piece (The table part)? I was considering this, but I'm open to other options.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_59298-99899-59298_4294815995_4294937087_?productId=3658430&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

 

[rudeguy]

I do have a hammer too, and friends with garages with tools. If my friends were available, I'd have them help me pre-cut the wood of course. It's hard to discern the best idea to take.

Any ideas for what type of wood to use for the main piece (The table part)? I was considering this, but I'm open to other options.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_59298-99899-59298_4294815995_4294937087_?productId=3658430&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

MDF would be my choice.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_74794-99899...0&Ntt=mdf&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=mdf&facetInfo=

 

[Nashemon]

That is clean. My other 2 benches are all kinds of cluttered:

Are these custom? Do want.

 

[rudeguy]

Are these custom? Do want.

Yep. Got them from formaspace.com

They weren't cheap but they were worth it. I highly recommend them to anyone who is looking for quality.

 

[inachu]

I'm trying to build a home lab bench for my electronic equipment but I'll be honest in saying I know nothing about what type of material I need besides the wood and some screws. All of the mounting hardware, and what to consider when joining the pieces are a little bit of a mystery to me.

Here is a crude drawing of what I want to create. I already have an ESD mat (hence the square on the table), and the dimensions of the table. I was planning on going down to Lowe's and having them pre-cut the wood so I can assemble it in my apartment. It's not going to be a very large desk, but it will do the job. I only have a drill and a hammer as far as tools go, as my apartment isn't that huge and I can't exactly do my own woodwork inside.

Do you guys have any recommendations as to what types of wood, durability, loading, screws to use (or bolts?), or other considerations? Note that the drawing is missing a few dimensions, but that is okay because it should be fairly square.

I put the wood sizes that I thought would work and the plank sizes that I need from the store on the right side.

The scopes and the power supplies that will go on it are fairly light, but it still needs to hold up to I'd say 100-150 lbs or so.

(Typo: ESD mat is 2.5' x 4', not 2.5' x 6' as shown in the picture)

Wow that looks just like my bench! The normal lab bench tables by BENCH MASTERS are usually rated to hold 1 ton of weight and are already wired up

 

[herm0016]

use 3/4 birch or pine plywood with 1/4 hardboard for a surface on top of it. no need to use oak ply that is more expensive. use standard 2x4s and 1x4 #2 for your other parts. some 1.5 inch deck screws would be good for attaching the 1x wood and the plywood top. 3 in. would be great for the rest. if you want it stronger, use lag bolts to attach the legs to the cross members. you will find that a 5 foot span of plywood is too far and will sag in the middle. run your cross members the long way as well as the short way to make it much stronger, and to avoid sag in the plywood.
beware of stores making cuts for you, they are often very inaccurate and this will make for a very sloppy job.

my last project was building these cabinets from scratch and some blind fastened shelving with black pipe supports: