Is this the Ultimate $50 Workbench, or a Waste of Time?
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- Is this the ultimate job site workbench? Heavily inspired by the Ron Paulk jobsite workbench and the Popular Woodworking Maker Workbench, this bench is cheap and easy to make, as well as sturdy, lightweight, and easily disassembled to be portable from the shop to the jobsite. Using just 3 sheets of 7/16 OSB, 2-3 2x4s, and some wood glue, nails, and screws, this budget build really packs a functional punch. At least, I think so.
You’re onto something. Simpler, cheaper, quicker, can be the sensible answer for many.
I guess it all depends on what your goal is- my goal is to be able to get to work as quickly as possible so I want something quick, simple, and strong with as few failure points (joinery) as possible. Sometime in the future I would love to build a beautiful traditional bench, but actual work is the priority at the moment
I've been woodworking for years.......and have never taken the time to actually make myself a dedicated workbench. I guess it's about time. I like your basic design with a few modifications which leads me to a procrastination dilemma....stuck in design parameters rather than just.do.it. Thanks
That’s one of the reasons I used osb and set a super low budget- I didn’t feel much pressure to design something amazing and was able to just build something
Awesome Work! I'm working on a Ron Paulk inspired workbench from OSB... mine won't be as simple of a build, unfortunately. I love the idea of 2x4 spacers. For those who want to hide the OSB, paint the base and drop some MDF or HDPE for a smother non-stick work surface. I think it is a great idea with alot of potential
Thanks! Nothing wrong with a true Paulk style bench- it might be a little more complicated, but there’s definitely a lot more functionality built in to that design. I’m probably going to need to look into some sort of finish/sealer to help protect the edges and legs from absorbing any moisture and falling apart- the ultimate long-term durability of raw osb leaves a little to be desired
For my workbench, I'm painting the base to seal it. I like sealing OSB with 3x coat poly sealer, as it allows you only have to do 2 coats to seal the OSB nicely. @@SpottedTongueWoodworking
@fiveduckstudio that’s good to know! How do you think dog holes will hold up in the osb?
@@SpottedTongueWoodworking i tend to used 23/32 thick OSB, so I think that thickness might hold up to dog holes. I'm topping my workbench with MDF and putting the dog holes in that and the OSB to be safe and also it will let me replace the work surface when ever it gets to damaged .
Nice bench!
🤘🤘🤘 thank you!
Definitively cool!
Thanks! I think so too. The more I work on it the more I like it- just need to find time to make those accessories I was thinking about!
i finally started building my bench this weekend. building a 36 x 72 torsion box, credit to Ron Paulk. but after much debate about construction methods, i chose to build the torsion frame out of 1x1 steel tubing. a sheet of 3/4 punched out with dog holes for top, a recessed area for the chop saw, and a sheet of 1/2 for the bottom. 2x2 steel legs w/ swivel locking casters, and the table saw hangs from one end of the bench on linear slides so it can move over and increase cut capacity. i know this sounds ridiculous, and it is. but this is the result of years of thought and planning. this is tagged the MK 5 but realistically its the 10th or so version. i like your build, definitely functional, and to build the paulk bench with the materials he calls for is about $250 + not including the parf guide. i bought the parf guide 2 years ago and threw it in the attic. i chose the size and materials for my bench to suit my work flow. i hate setting up stands for equipment and breaking that sht down at the end of the day. the new bench fits inside my trailer as is, no more stands ever again. just roll the bench out and i'm ready to chop, rip, route, and use the track saw. and honestly the materials cost isn't that much more than what a true paulk bench would cost to build. i broke up the expenses more than i thought, never thought the bench would be in the design phase for so long, but its made it financially possible to be "ridiculous" by breaking up the cost. wish i could post a pic of it here, the rendering is pretty sweet.
Now THAT sounds like a good workbench, especially if it can cut down on your setup/tear down time and keep the ball rolling for your day to day schedule. Definitely sounds like you’ve been able to engineer a lot of functionality into it specific to your workflow. I have nothing but respect for those who continually improve the quality and efficiency of their work and workflow- that keeps me motivated to keep progressing myself and keep refining my ideas and processes. I’m working on designing a V2 bench that is going to be a little more refined in design and aesthetics, and hopefully much more functional than just a work surface!
i liked that you used osb plywood. its so cheap, arguably because it sucks, but if you engineer around its downfalls than you can build great things for cheap. i experimented with a 2 tone paint job on osb ( black and silver) by spraying one color then the next followed by a light sanding to reveal the color from 1st coat, top off with flood coat of expoxy. in my opinion its so different and 3d that it works for me. im going to be building a 72" snap on style toolbox out of 1x1 steel tubing and all the case work will be osb with the 2 tone paint job. put a brushed stainless drawer pull on the sample and it looked pretty sweet. whole point is to save money, a box that size in off brand is 1500+ i can build my version for about 300 and the effort to build it. keep up the great work bro, why not try out some content with the osb, its the only material the average working man can afford these days.
@@SpottedTongueWoodworking
@christopherbowersdresser4188 I think you’re on to something. I’ve been working on the V2 bench for my home garage out of whitewood plywood and it just doesn’t look or feel the same as the osb bench, and not in a good way. I’ll have to look into trying a finishing system like you suggested to get more durability out of the osb and see where that takes me. Thank you!
I like the vid, skews heavily to function and engineering form without the designer aesthetic. Very dollar and time practical. I was able to pick up a used UJK Parf guide for $100 CAD and have been building variations on the Stanton bench with MDF I've gathered from Facebook Marketplace for dimes on the dollar. Not as pretty as Dave Stanton's but has the function suited to my workshop and jobsite needs. I used the Bora centipede for my jobsite legs but appreciate the engineering strength and cost effectiveness of your solution. You should definitely consider doing the MFT style dog holes and the same dog holes lined up and coming down the side. Its so handy to be able to clamp things to the front of your bench square to the top. Cheers, Paul.
Thanks for the feedback- I’ll definitely have to dig deeper into the Stanton style workbench and see what I can learn from it! This first iteration is admittedly UGLY- not much can make OSB look good. I’m already working on a (smaller) V2 for my home garage that will have dog holes and a slightly nicer aesthetic, which I think will really help refine the idea this idea that I have. I’ve always wanted to try out the Bora centipede legs, but haven’t seen anyone use them except on social media. I love seeing and hearing about different variations of workbenches that people come up with- there’s always something unique to each build that sets it apart and makes it specific to the user.
Yeah, I'm a big advocate of getting an idea out of my head and launched into the real world with prototyping. It breaks the analysis-paralysis trap and allows me to see things from various angles and get feedback I wouldn't if it were just in my head. It doesn't matter whether it's a woodworking build, a business idea, a marketing strategy or an online dating profile. It's best to get the idea out of your head and into the world where you can continue to refine it. I think it's good that you have shown the prototyping process in such an "ugly" way. To me, it's a bigger lesson than the build itself. It teaches the psychology of building, not just building.
Nice video, thanks.
Thank you!
Very much an interesting concept and take on the Paulk torsion box bench. Probably quicker, easier and cheaper to build and just as strong. I'd call it a diamond the rough bench :) Couldn't catch in the video how you/where you screwed the legs and top together...
Good catch- I forgot to note that my phone stopped recording while I was screwing the top on. In hindsight I should’ve gone back and redone that. “Diamond in the rough” bench- that’s exactly the way I see it. It’s definitely an ugly thing at first glance, but I think a few more iterations could make it shine. Thanks for the feedback!