THE WORKBENCH
The workbench is the centrepiece and hub of the workplace. It is used for screwing, hammering and tinkering. It should therefore be one thing above all: stable. There are hundreds of different models of varying quality on the market. The most important features are a robust work surface, for example made of solid beech, which is usually between three and five centimetres thick, and a sturdy frame made of sheet steel or wood. Drawers store tools that have no room on the wall. Of course, you can also start by using an old desk or similar as a work surface. However, if you want to do some serious screwdriving, you will soon realise that the working height is usually too low and the table legs are too wobbly. If you want a completely customised solution, simply build your own wooden workbench. You can choose the right height, the size of the work surface and the number of drawers or shelves to suit your personal requirements. Even non-professionals can build it themselves in just a few hours.
StableThe robust sheet steel construction with solid beech worktop could be used to file an elephant's nails. A professional-quality workbench lasts forever, but it comes at a price. The 1.5 metre wide model from Garant with two compartments costs around 620 euros at Werkzeug Hoffmann. www.hoffmann-group.com
MobileThe foldable Pedros workbench is not nearly as stable, but disappears into a corner after use to save space. It is therefore ideal for confined spaces or as a mobile work surface. At 82 centimetres, it is also high enough that you can work without back pain. Price: 215 euros, www.cosmicsports.de
CustomisedPressure-impregnated wood for the frame, work and storage plate, lock screws and the right drill can be bought at a DIY store for around 200 euros. Two screw clamps, an angle iron and your best mate make assembly easier. The matching instructions are available at en.wikihow.comkeyword: workbench.
Second-hand purchase: Used workbenches from company liquidations are frequently offered on the Internet. With a bit of luck, you can get hold of a real bargain here. Even if the work surfaces often look quite worn, with a little refurbishment, the little treasure is almost as good as new. Models with a solid beech top (approx. 40 millimetres thick) and sheet steel substructure are particularly durable. On portals such as www.dhd24com or www.surplex.com you can find usable examples in all conceivable designs, starting at around 70 euros. However, there are additional costs for dismantling and transporting the workbenches, which usually weigh over 100 kilos.
Customised workbench
What do you prefer to eat, frozen food or home-cooked food? Fast food never really tastes the way you want it to. It's the same with the workbench. The model with the perfect dimensions for your own four walls is hard to find in a shop. That's why we grabbed a drill and made a customised workbench ourselves. It's easier than you might think. The wood is cut to the nearest centimetre in the DIY store. Make sure you buy wood that is as dry as possible and will not warp after assembly. At home, the beams only need to be correctly aligned with the angle iron and fixed with screw clamps before drilling. Worktops from about four centimetres thick can be fixed from below. If the worktop is placed on the frame from above, the screws can be countersunk flush into the worktop using a countersunk drill. You can find the complete instructions with detailed work steps at en.wikihow.comkeyword: workbench.
Material list:
1 worktop 150 x 70 x 3 (minimum) cm (e.g. prefabricated worktop, door with solid core)
1 base plate 123 x 40 x 2.5 cm (e.g. plywood or OSB board)
4 legs 9 x 9 x 85 cm (e.g. pressure-impregnated square timber)
4 cross struts 4.5 x 9 x 61 cm
2 longitudinal struts 4.5 x 9 x 150 cm
1 110 x 250 mm wood drill bit with centre point
1 210 mm carriage bolts with washers and nuts
20 6 x 80 mm Spax for worktop and base plate
2 screw clamps
1 angle iron
THE TOOL WALL
You don't need a lot of time or money to create a customised tool wall. OSB boards or chipboard from the DIY store are best suited for the back wall. You can get these for around ten euros per square metre. However, they should be thick enough - we recommend at least 25 millimetres - so that the screws can be countersunk deep enough. You can save on expensive perforated wall systems. A panel measuring 150 x 70 centimetres is large enough to accommodate a wide range of basic equipment. The individual tools are best attached to the wall with Spax screws in 35 and 50 millimetre sizes (e.g. for thick objects such as hammers or adhesive tape). The panel can be securely fixed to the wall with four hexagon head screws 6 to 8 millimetres thick and one washer each. In slightly damp cellars, it is advisable to mount the tool board on the wall with some space between it and the wall. Otherwise mould can form on the back. In terms of cost, the DIY tool wall is unbeatable. We paid less than 30 euros.
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Stefan Frey
Editor
