A long time ago, I had a workbench in the garage where I used to do some puttering around. I'd like to do some puttering around again.
I've been looking at $100 workbenches. I know they are low-build quality, but I am a poor teacher. Any recommendations? Any one that gives a decent base but might need changes or adjustments? Would it be better to build my own?
Re: The $100 Workbench
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2025 10:07 am
by JohnH
Best bet is yard sales / estate auctions etc where old ones go for sale. Or I guess you could build your own.
I have not seen a new (even poor quality) workbench for sale of any usable size for under $100 in a while. Harbor Freight's cheapest seems to be $119+tax. Lowe's has a plastic folding one for $89, but it's really just a plastic folding table.
I have a bunch of my tools etc on a plastic folding table that church was getting rid of because the legs on it weren't reliable, so it was not very helpful when it needed to be set up and torn down every time we used it. Now it sits in the corner of our basement and doesn't need to be moved or folded up.
Re: The $100 Workbench
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2025 10:26 am
by Wesleyb
Szdfan wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 10:00 am
A long time ago, I had a workbench in the garage where I used to do some puttering around. I'd like to do some puttering around again.
I've been looking at $100 workbenches. I know they are low-build quality, but I am a poor teacher. Any recommendations? Any one that gives a decent base but might need changes or adjustments? Would it be better to build my own?
I built my own. My friend gave me some 2" rough-sawed oak planks. I planed them down and glued them, then build a support structure of 2x4's. The back side was fastened to the studs of the garage wall and the front side was supported by 1-1/2" iron pipes screwed into flanges fastened to the concrete floor. It was extremely solid and I think it would have been under $100 even if I had to pay for the oak.
Re: The $100 Workbench
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:00 am
by barnhart
Construction lumber makes a fine bench. Look up Rex Krueger's YT channel for plans and ideas.
Re: The $100 Workbench
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:27 am
by Ken
barnhart wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:00 am
Construction lumber makes a fine bench. Look up Rex Krueger's YT channel for plans and ideas.
YouTube is your friend. For $100 I'd build something like this. But you will at least need a circular saw to cut up the plywood and 2x4s.
The plywood itself will be at least $60 but dimensional lumber is still pretty cheap so you should come in around $100 on a project like this:
Otherwise watch for coupons and deals at Harbor Freight. Although tariffs are probably going to put a dent into their pricing.
barnhart wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 11:00 am
Construction lumber makes a fine bench. Look up Rex Krueger's YT channel for plans and ideas.
YouTube is your friend. For $100 I'd build something like this. But you will at least need a circular saw to cut up the plywood and 2x4s.
The plywood itself will be at least $60 but dimensional lumber is still pretty cheap so you should come in around $100 on a project like this:
Otherwise watch for coupons and deals at Harbor Freight. Although tariffs are probably going to put a dent into their pricing.
I do have a circular saw, but no sawhorses, which makes cutting a challenge. So I guess I need a build a couple of them too.
Re: The $100 Workbench
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2025 1:07 pm
by Neto
I usually work right on the floor (or on the ground - I guess it's my "native side"), so I don't have saw horses - I just use a piece of scrap (like 2x4) to get the board up high enough to cut with the circular saw.
Cost will obviously depend on how long you need the work bench to be, but I would suggest getting 2x12 yellow pine for the top, then use 2x4 material to build the framework. If you can permanently attach it to the wall in some way, it will make it a lot sturdier, and reduce the amount of lumber needed. I recently bought two 2x10 yellow pine 12 footers for 16.80 each. You might also want to put a shelf underneath as well, and again depending on the length or span, 1x12s should work for that. (If it's to be free-standing, then you should plan on some cross bracing, like maybe 1x4 material.) Yellow Pine is of course more expensive, but it's worth the difference in my opinion.)
Re: The $100 Workbench
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2025 3:12 pm
by Ken
Neto wrote: ↑Wed Sep 03, 2025 1:07 pm
I usually work right on the floor (or on the ground - I guess it's my "native side"), so I don't have saw horses - I just use a piece of scrap (like 2x4) to get the board up high enough to cut with the circular saw.
Cost will obviously depend on how long you need the work bench to be, but I would suggest getting 2x12 yellow pine for the top, then use 2x4 material to build the framework. If you can permanently attach it to the wall in some way, it will make it a lot sturdier, and reduce the amount of lumber needed. I recently bought two 2x10 yellow pine 12 footers for 16.80 each. You might also want to put a shelf underneath as well, and again depending on the length or span, 1x12s should work for that. (If it's to be free-standing, then you should plan on some cross bracing, like maybe 1x4 material.) Yellow Pine is of course more expensive, but it's worth the difference in my opinion.)
Yes this.
I have a table saw and a compound miter saw but I still cut big sheets of plywood on the garage floor using a circular saw and 2x4s to sit them on.
Buy an aluminum straight edge and some clamps and you can make perfect plywood cuts with a circular saw. Especially if you take off the combo blade and put on a smaller tooth plywood blade.
And you are good to go for cutting up plywood on your garage floor. You can also use any random 1/4 type board as a cutting guide if you have one that is nice and straight.
Re: The $100 Workbench
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2025 1:24 am
by Ken
Another good way to cut up sheets of plywood is to get a 4x8 sheet of foam board insulation (those pink 4x8 sheets of hard foam).
Just lay your plywood on top of the foam on your garage floor, set your circular saw blade to about 1/4" deeper than the plywood, and cut away. You can reuse the foam for hundreds of cuts until it gets too chewed up.