Building my shop- workbench question

[BigD]

Unfortunately for me, it seems that there is an immutable law that states all work material expands to occupy the available space + 10%...I built two EAA type tables 30" x 6' and have two fixed workbenches against the walls that hold drill press, grinder, bandsaw, and stuff. Then there's the small 2 x 2 ish table that holds the DRDT 2. I'm only part way into the tail kit, but I think a 4 ft wide table would be a little wide to get to both sides of your work, esp if you need to reach one arm inside the structure to hold a bucking bar, etc. Because the 2 x 2 table can be used to extend the existing tables (DRDT removed) I sometimes think one table would suffice, and when it gets to the wings, they'll be in a cradle, and the fuse may be up on sawhorses, but people further along can comment on that better than I can. To answer your question a fixed bench is useful, but the mobile table or one you can get all the way around is even more useful. Whatever you decide you can change your mind later - don't spend too much time obsessing over the shop.

Dave
RV-10 tailkit
finishing HS and starting elevator

[bruceh]

I didn't spend any time building new workbenches. My garage shop has a long work surface with cabinets along one wall (totally filled with junk, tools, bandsaw, grinder, etc.). It is not suitable as a clean work surface. I have 2 small desks that my kids outgrew. The drawers got stuffed with all of the little bags of hardware and other parts. These have been moved all over the garage as necessary to build the plane. Right now, the flat surface I built for assembling the flaps is stradled across them giving me a nice work surface. Nice to have mobility with your work benches! Sometimes you need to be on the other side of something in order to rivet, so access around all sides is essential. I also have one of those folding tables, rectangular type, that gets used frequently.

[sbal0906]

I did what John did with the DRDT-2. I can pull it out when not needed and push the tables together to form one long table. And I can pull them away from the wall when I need to access the work from all sides. I didn't have a decent place to lay out a drawing from the build plan so I built another table which I don't use for any heavy work and I put a clear acrylic sheet on top under which I can put the build plan drawing that I'm currently working from. This table is starting to be a sort of tool, books, and notes caddy.

Originally Posted by jtrollin

I would go with 2 smaller but movable workbenches. I built mine so I could slide the DRDT2 between the two tables. I has be really nice to have two, but I could also squeeze them together for one long table if needed.

More flexibility is always better.

[Echo Tango]

i built a really nice, really flat, strong table against one wall of my shop thinking it would be all i would need, and then decided to build a smaller table on wheels since i had some leftover wood (thinking i would put my tools on that one).

took about 5 hours before i ended up exclusively using the table on wheels and the "nice, ultra-flat strong table affixed to the wall" became my junk table

so, like everyone else said, wheels are the most important part. i would also recommend stapling some cheap marine carpeting to the top of at least one of your tables. works really well for preventing scratches on your parts (think little bits of aluminum between your skins and the table).

[Bob Axsom]

We built our RV-6A using one fixed 4'x8' bench against the wall with a back stop on the rear edge of the bench. Was perfect.

Bob Axsom

[rockwoodrv9]

I have both against the wall and one on wheels. I just built a 12'x2' table to work on the wings. I also have a rolling work table-storage unit I got at Sams club. It has drawers and a butcherblock type top. It is about 6'x20". I use all of the spaces! One thing to consider in table height -s how tall the sander, drill press, and band saw are. I had to lower one of the benches so they were at the right height. If you have a space question, I would ask Vlad!

[Rupester]

I had a 18' (x 24") workbench along two walls, and a 3 1/2' x 7 1/2' work table on locking casters (with a shelf underneath) that I could move around. I'd guess I did 80% of my assembly - and much of the fabrication - on the work table. Being able to access all sides was WUNderful. The bench against the wall ended up being the "tool storage place", while the table was truly the WORKtable. FWIW...

[Huck]

I built my -8 tail kit on a folding 3x6 table, with lengths of pipe on the legs to increase the height. I covered the top with three layers of cardboard.