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Everything You Need to Know to Choose the Best Workbench: Kinds, Tops, Accessories, and Cost

Choosing the best workbench is a must if you truly understand the importance of your time, money, and energy. Are you looking for a new workbench? If you are, then this post is perfect for you. Read on as we will discuss everything you need to know about workbenches to allow you to choose the best one that fits your needs and will give certified workshop benefits. Knowing the following will allow you to intelligently use your time, money, and energy: 

  • what a workbench is 

  • kinds of workbenches 

  • things to consider when choosing a workbench

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Workbench 101

What is a workbench, in the first place? A workbench is essential in the industrial field as it is a robust table that is dedicated to manual work. They come in varied designs – from simple to elaborate and complex. They also come in different sizes. There are small workbenches for jewelers and big ones for stair manufacturers. Almost all workbenches are rectangular. Its faces, edges, and corners are usually utilized as flat sizes.

Kinds of Workbench

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There are primarily two kinds of workbenches and they are as follows:

1. Standard workbench – a standard workbench is usually used for woodworking. It allows users to do a range of activities with optimum ease.

2. Heavy-duty workbench – a heavy-duty workbench is usually made of steel and is often used for heavy-duty work. A heavy-duty workbench can withstand being exposed to harmful chemicals.


Things to Consider When Choosing a Workbench

If you don’t quite yet know which between a standard workbench and a heavy-duty workbench will work for you, do consider the following:

1. Weigh Load Capacity

You need a workbench that can withstand the loads and materials that you work with. There are three options when it comes to load capacity in workbenches:

Standard – a standard workbench will suffice if you’d be working with materials that will not go over 1,000 lbs. Light projects are done on standard workbenches.

Heavy-duty – a heavy-duty workbench can carry loads of materials that weigh up to 5,000 lbs. You need to be particular with sizing though as a 96” heavy-duty workbench will only ever be able to handle up to 4,000 lbs.

Extra heavy-duty – these workbenches are for complicated and complex projects. Extra heavy-duty workbenches can handle up to 20,000 lbs of materials and load.


2. Material and Construction

You need to take note of the following differences in materials and construction of workbenches:

Standard – standard workbenches have 2” square legs and are fully-welded 16-gauge steel. They don’t usually come with a footrest bar or a lower shelf as they don’t handle complex and intensive projects. They however have floor leveling glides for easy stability control.

Heavy-duty – heavy-duty workbenches are fully-welded 14-gauge steel with 2” square legs. They come with a horizontal bar or lower shelf to aid in their structural integrity. Some models also come with leveling footplates for better stability.  You should check out Bend-tech if you’re looking for workbenches with robust structural integrity.

Extra heavy-duty – extra-heavy duty workbenches are made of thick fully-welded 12-gauge steel with “3 square legs. Apart from a lower shelf, extra-heavy duty workbenches also come with pre-punched floor mounting plates.


3. Tops

To come up with the best choice in tops, you need to know the kind of materials that you would be working with. Once you already have full knowledge of all known and possible materials that you would be working with, you should then consider the following options in the market:

Butcher block – this top is best for basic assembly work and woodworking.

Stainless steel – this top is heat-resistant and stain-resistant. It is also resistant to corrosion and bacteria. Use this if you will deal with high-temperature materials and tools.

Phenolic resin – these tops are light and solid and are often used in laboratories.

Epoxy resin – these tops are durable and non-porous. They can also withstand extreme conditions.

ESD laminate – these tops are best for materials that are sensitive to static. You should use this top if you want additional protection for your materials.

High-pressure laminate – these tops are affordable and commonly used for basic projects with no extreme applications.


4. Accessories

To fully make your workbench optimized, you should consider the following accessories:

Footrest – allows for a more relaxed work

Utility drawers – come in different sizes

Shelves – for ease in storage

Upper cabinets – for seamless workflow

Lighting – best if you work at night

Articulating monitor arms – best if you rely on looking at a screen while you work

Utility options – ideal if you want a utility duct where air, gas, and data can run through.

Electrical power strips – for a secured power supply

Pegboards – for easy access to tools

Keyboard trays – for easy and safe access to your keyboard

ESD grounding kit – the first thing that you should look for if you have ESD requirements

CPU holder – to allow for CPU access while at work

Panels or bin rails – for additional storage


5. Cost

A standard workbench is more affordable than a heavy-duty workbench. A heavy-duty workbench can cost as much as 50% more than a standard workbench. This is because such workbenches are made of this steel and special materials that are non-porous and extremely durable.

If you’re only working on a basic project that will not require exposure to dangerous and high-temperature materials, a standard workbench will be perfect for you. Otherwise, you should spend on a heavy-duty workbench that can easily secure a safe and smooth-flowing workspace for you.

Author Profile 

Name - Daniel Lummis

Email - sales@bendtechgroup.com.au

Organization: Bend Tech Defence 

Disclaimer - This particular post belongs to Maria Dalit, Connect with her for more information.

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