Ultimate DIY workbench

DIY - $1230 (Have it done for $3230)

Skill - 3/5

Time - 5 days

 

 

This workbench has it all with built-in lighting, dust extraction ports, a bench dog system for clamping long objects, lots of drawers and slide-out shelving.

Built mostly of CD plywood with maple edging, the bench has quarter-circle supports underneath that are made of two pieces of 19mm plywood with 90 x 45mm pine spacers plus masonite faces. Fluorescent lighting with plastic diffusers, available in sheet form from plastics suppliers, is installed under the top shelf.

The modular design allows for adapting to suit your garage or workshop by removing some of the drawer and light assemblies and reducing the length of the bench.

 

It’s a straightforward project although there is a lot of cutting so allow about five days to complete it.

 

Use PVA adhesive on all timber joints with 40 x 2mm galvanised nails for the drawers and dust collection frame, and to assemble the supports. Use 25 x 1.5mm bulletheads to secure the 12 x 19mm maple edging strips.

Use 40mm x 8g timber screws to secure the benchtop to supports, pipe cleats to the top, the shelf to the back and the light assembly to the upper back panel.

Use 30mm x 8g timber screws to secure the benchtop layers and the faces to the drawers.

Use 75mm x 10g timber screws to secure the supports to the lower back panels from behind and the lower and upper back panels to wall studs.