EEVblog #679 - How To Build A Small Electronics Work Bench

[Dago]

The 45x45mm profile is "around" 20€/m (without VAT, around 7.5$/feet). Depends on the version, there are ones with different channel shapes inside (different strength? I dunno). The table will use something like 8-10m of profile depending on the bracing and stuff (probably I'll use some thinner/cheaper profile for the bracing). The accessories/fastening elements seem to be surprisingly cheap. For example the 45mm angle bracket is under 4€ each.

Ouch, that does seem pricey to me.

Thinking you might be able to find a ready-made, U-assemble steel bench with top for that, if not less. Looking for a used one locally could yield better prices as well as a nicer bench (might have drawers for example ).

For the table itself in the pics, materials and labor ($50 in welding labor, $50 for the top, $35 steel, $40 in leveling mounts, $60 in paint IIRC, and fasteners), came in at ~$240 - 250 tops, so ~200EUR when it was all said and done. Thinking that's about half what you're looking at in T slot + brackets alone (based on same profile throughout).

In my opinion the profile is really cheap, considering the flexibility it offers I haven't found any tables that suit my needs locally (used or new). All the tables seem to be either not deep enough, not wide enough or not height adjustable or all of those. Or look really really awful. Or made out of Ikea cardboard and cotton candy. And none of them have the shelf. The closest I found was one electrically adjustable one which was 200x80cm but it comes out at over 700€. So if I get work bench of my dreams that's made to fit and looks nice enough for the house decorating committee for 350€ I don't consider it a bad deal

[nanofrog]

...If I get work bench of my dreams that's made to fit and looks nice enough for the house decorating committee for 350€ I don't consider it a bad deal

Fair enough.  Keeping SWMBO happy trumps all.  

[Dave Turner]

Just make sure that you add decent bracing, unless you fix the uprights firmly to the wall. Think about the weight of equipment likely to be on the bench - a sideways push may create enough momentum to collapse the legs and the higher the bench the less force required.