Good afternoon everyone, I'm just now coming back to model building....and plan on spending alot of time (as my free time allows for) building kits,dios, and figures.

Everyone needs thier own workbench or desk to build at......and I've been hitting a few stores like Lowes,Home Depot, and Sears checking out the options for desks and workbenches.

I've been comparing the features,sizes, and of course price(which for me right now is a major factor)....trying to make the best descision.

I don't have alot of room to work with...as my hobby room is kinda small compared to others.....but it's cozy....and I believe this workbench will suit me fine:

http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=47106-56096-WB4820&lpage=none

My wife and I checked out the local Lowe's Store on Friday evening and they had one of these workbenches on display.....and I really like it. It's not too bulky in size....yet it provides enough room for me to comfortably work on a kit. A similiar item from Sears would run in the $225-$250 range or a little more.....so the price is definately nice.

Anyhow, I just wanted to post about workbenches...and to kinda find out what you guys use.

Have a great afternoon, Brian

I have a £30 flatpack desk from a local DIY store that was intended for computers. It has homemade shelves for paints along the back, and plenty of storage space below and on more shelves above. Its only about a metre wide, but it works great if you've got limited space or don't want to spend much money. Don't know if it would be any good to someone more seriously into the hobby, but it works perfectly for me.

I just set up a work bench with items I purchased from Home Depot. I have about $250 invested in it. Maybe a little more. I am at the in-laws right now but I will take a picture and post it here after I get back home tonight and I will share some additional thoughts.

I too have pretty much returned to modelling. This is the best modelling site on the internet. Welcome to Armorama and look forward to discussing this some more.

Enjoy what you have and get what you think you would like to maximize your space.. even if it isn't that much..

Me I'm set up in a 4 foot by 3 foot closet with a workbench I made out of a sauder shelf unit.... its small but its all I got in my apartment for "hobby space"

so I thought I'd throw in a pic to cheer you up on your space.

Ola Brian

I don`t know if you have those second hand shops in the US but here in Holland we have plenty of them. And you will always be able to score a good table for not much money.
I bought a new table recently for only 20 Euro And it was bigger then my 25 Euro office desk I was using before that. Often you`ll find some good Office desk lamps to go with it for also a small amount of money. Well that are about step one and 2 for your new Hobby corner and you`ll be up and ready for under 100 Dollar.
I`m happy to have a part of our Attic for my hobby so I have plenty of space. But you probably know the measurements you have that you need and just go with those dimensions to a local second hand shop and buy a cheap table of which it is not a problem that some paint spatters or cutmarks and glue come onto the desktop.
Just my thoughts. Even if I had more then enough money to buy such a table as you are suggesting I would think twice knowing how it would look after only a year of modeling. Just a shame of the money that could be invested in other more usefull stuff like Models or tools.
My grandfather makes wooden ships and the only thing he has is a woodenplank which he puts on top of two wooden standards (don`t know the exact English word for that.) but he does his magic on only that.

Robert I think you might be referring to wooden "sawhorses"......

Thanks to you and everyone else for thier suggestions and shared info. I did attend one huge flea market this past Saturday.....and saw a desk that I think might have worked......but the problem was actually geting the desk into the room.......as my hallway and doorway into the room are kinda narrow......that's yet another reason I'd like to go with this workbench that I can assemble in the room.....

THANKS guys, Brian

Here is the work area I have just set up in my garage. It consists of several components of the "USTORE" brand items available at Home Depot. The total area occupied by this set up is 89 1/4 inches wide by 89 1/2 inches tall at the tallest point. Here is a list of the components shown:

1x 60" work top
2x 15" base cabinets
2x 15" wall cabinets
1x pantry cabinet
1x 30" wall cabinet
1x 30" shelf kit

Total cost was somewhere in the $270.00 to $285.00 range. It hurt the bank account but will be worth every penny.

These cabinets do not have backs on them. I took measurements for the back of each cabinet to Lowe's and had them cut masonite board to match the measurements and then nailed it to the back of the cabinets.

The 4 lights are individual halogen lights that you plug in to an outlet (powerstrip in my case). I got them on clearance for $5.00 each. I mounted a power strip on the wall below the work top. I have the four lights and the magnifying glass/light plugged in there and have additional outlets for other items. When I am done modelling, I flip the switch on the powerstrip to turn the lights off.

I am going to put pegboard on the back wall which will hide the power cords for the lights and give me additional organizational ability.

The compressor in the left base cabinet is a Campbell Hausfeld from Wal-Mart. I left the back of the left base cabinet open because the compressor sticks out a little in the back.

Here are some photos:















Here is a picture of my model stash that keeps growing



Hope this helps inspire you Brian. Feel free to ask me questions. It is great to see you here on Armorama. This place is addictive.

I have a table and legs from Ikea that cost me about $75, and that's Canadian!!!!! It gives me enough room to have a couple of models on the go at the same time.
I have a couple of hooks under it to hold my airbrush hose and rotary tool. All I need now is a set of shelves that I can put my spare parts and binders on. The bookcase I have right now isn't exactly the best thing for it.

Mine is cheap, but gets the job done. 2x4s, some scrap plywood, total cost, my labor in carting it off and some gas.

It's about 6 feet long and I've added some formica on the side I paint on. (scrap also)





See, recycling can be fun!

THANKS for sharing your ideas and pics guys

One other reason I kinda wanted to go with that freestanding workbench idea is because I'm out of available wall space........and this bench will be stood in front of two windows (which I'll probably put tinting on to reflect sunlight and add privacy. I live waaaay out in the country.....on an acre of land.....and my neighbor has 6 acres......and he chose to build right next to his property line...adjacent to my house so those windows in my room don't really matter much.

Brent, I must say that your area in your garage is really nice. I'm very familiar with cabinetry, and those kind of cabinet units from Lowe's and Home Depot......as I worked in the residential construction field for probably 15 years or so.....I've hung many a cabinet :-)

I could just build my own bench from lumber (I did build my custom shelving which goes from floor to ceiling all stained and finnished off) but I was just looking to save a bit of time.....

Heres mine, check it out.

I would suggest you try out your bench in the store. Get a chair and see if the hight and leg room is OK.


SB

Yep, good idea..... The top is 36 inches tall...... (as tall as your standard kitchen cabinets)......with the 4 drawers below.....I'm thinking I'll only add two of the drawers (removing both lower drawers) to give me a bit more leg room if needed.

Modelman, impressive setup.......looks pretty organized.

Brent, that model kit stash of yours is nice as well........so many kits....so little time.... :-)

Brent, are those track links I see in the bottom of one of the pics? If so, what are they for? "Q"

Yes Matthew, those are real tracks. They are from the following:

BMP-1 This vehicle was found abandoned by my unit
at Baghdad International Airport. I couldn't
resist taking the spare track off of the left rear
access door.

MTLB This vehicle was also found abandoned at
Baghdad International Airport. It was the
personnel carrier version with a 14.5MM
machine gun in a turret on the right side.

M2/3 Bradley I picked up this piece of track when I
was in Al-Kut supporting the 2nd
Armored Cavalary Regiment (who were
all in armored Hummers).

Very nice. I had a lot of stuff that I grabbed when I first got in theater. After carting it around for several months I dumped just about all of it. I wanted nothing to do that place any more. I kept a couple of small items though for memorabilia sakes. Nothing like having the 1:1 stuff for referrence :-) Good grab. "Q"

Brian, sense you have been to Lowell's then you should of seen the same table I got, it is 6' x 2' 3" or 4 " it has a steel frame that folds, and it is a lot stronger then it appears.

My sister was the one who told me about it, she said her husband even put an engine block on it, so that is how strong it is, but it is light weight you can pick it up with one hand.

Now it has a vinyl cover for a top, not completely smooth, kind of like a leather grain feel to the top, but the best part is, it is under $50.00 it cost me like $ 46 dollars and at this price you don't haft to worry about paint ruining it, or glue, or anything else that we use.

Now I would be pretty upset if I spilled something on a 200 dollar table and couldn't get it up, but another thing this has plenty of room with the 6' x 2' 4" top and plenty of room under it to put boxes to store things, or you can buy them drawers to fit under it.

Like I said with the strength it has, you don't haft to worry about it collapsing on you, it can hold your body weight and more, so you can stack things on top if you want, it is your choice, and all for under 50 bucks, this is something to think about if I was you and got this much room.

Kerry

Kerry, thanks for the advice.....I'll have to check out that table you mentioned the next time I'm in Lowe's