If you like to work with your hands, then the workbench will be very useful. From metal, such a design can be made independently. It will consist of a tabletop, which is fixed on a metal frame.
Product design features
Metal workbench can be carpentry or metalwork. The first variety is quite simple to manufacture, but on the surface of the tabletop it will be possible to work exclusively with wooden parts. This version of the product assumes the presence of a cover made of wood or treated with linoleum. If you try to work with metal workpiece on a carpentry workbench, the coating will absorb oils, and metal chips will damage the surface. Carpenter's workbenches are made of wood, so they are not as stable as metal ones.
Locksmith structures are most often used in the garage. With the help of such equipment, you can work with metal blanks. Such a piece of furniture in the workshop is universal. It is important to determine before starting work whether the countertop will be single or multiple.
Recommendations for work
A metal workbench will include a bench, a lid, and a table. The penultimate element should be endowed with three-layer sides. Metal structures are made using MDF or a thick plywood sheet, which is additionally covered with a metal sheet. It is important to exclude the presence of sharp corners that may be at the countertop, which will prevent injury. It is important to provide the table with drawers that will be needed to store inventory. It is necessary to equip these components with guides that will prevent accidental falls. If there is a need to protect the wall near which the table will be installed, you can install a special screen on it.
The legs should have a large surface area and also have excellent strength. They are additionally reinforced with each other at the bottom. It is recommended to place a shelf for varnishes, large tools, and accessories at the interface points. Most often, steel workbenches are equipped with two discs that have stoppers. The clamping screw is important.
Preparation before starting work
Workbenchmetal can have completely different dimensions, however, as the most optimal, you can use a width of 60 cm. While the length can be equivalent to 1.5 meters. The frame is recommended to be made of a profile pipe or metal corners. Sockets and light sources should be located near the table. For cutting metal, it is best to use a grinder. Prepare metal corners, the thickness of which is 3 cm. Their size should be 40 x 40 mm. Steel profiles with a cross section of 30 x 50 millimeters are also suitable. You will need a metal strip to secure the desktop to the frame.
When a metal workbench is made in the garage with your own hands, the tabletop is usually made of dry boards, the thickness of which is 50 millimeters, while the width of this element can vary from 100 to 150 millimeters. In the process of work, you will need galvanized metal with a thickness of 2 millimeters. Strips of the same material will be needed to form the sides, which will protect against sparks. The length of one such strip should be equivalent to the length of the working surface.
Workbench making
If you decide to make a metal workbench with your own hands, it is recommended to prepare the drawings in advance. Parts are cut to size, and you need to connect them together by welding. If there is no need to install additional shelves, then the structure must be reinforced with stiffeners,that need to be done from the same corner. They should be installed 10 cm from the floor surface. The same distance steps down from the edge of the countertop. The same manipulation is carried out with the central part of the table. Square steel plates are welded onto the legs to ensure higher stability of the structure.
Features of assembly
The drawing of a metal workbench, which is presented in the article (see photo above), will allow you to carry out the work correctly. After the main structure is assembled, you can start working on the frame. Using square steel corners with a side of 50 millimeters, you need to form a frame. Its length should be 20 cm longer than the dimensions of the structure. This is required to secure the vise. Then, in the place where the desktop will be strengthened on the main structure, steel strips should be welded, while the structure from the corners is installed on them. Among other things, protective screens will need to be strengthened.
If you decide to make a metal workbench with your own hands, in the corner that is used for rigidity, as well as in the countertop, you should drill holes to which the boards will be fixed. Most often, self-tapping screws with countersunk washers are used for this. At the next stage, the countertop can be covered with sheet metal, which is reinforced with self-tapping screws into pre-drilled holes. Shelves can be painted or treated with a fire retardant. To ensure more comfortable work, the part can be rigidly fixed. For this, a vice is used, which includes parallel jaws. All processed items can be fixed.
In closing
As you know, a metal workbench is very afraid of moisture and corrosion. In order to extend the life of the product, it is possible to process it with a special paint intended for working on metal. This will make the design even more attractive in appearance.
