I have a workbench that I'm happy with. It's solid, functional, and mobile. I've noticed that, while I'm working on projects, it's also half covered with tools and materials, and I don't use it as well as I should. For extra work surfaces, I also have two cafeteria tables that I drag out of the storage room adjacent to the garage, which functions as my shop when I move the cars out of it.
The cafeteria tables work okay for me. In addition to providing work surfaces, I often use them for routing, sanding, assembly, and finishing. They're just kind of heavy and awkward to move (and one is behind a bunch of plywood pieces, so I drag it out only if I really need it), and each is a different height, meaning I can't put them side-by-side to form a larger surface.
I ran across an old Woodsmith folding worktable design that looks pretty interesting. Elsewhere, I saw that the tabletop is about 60" x 22", which is a bit smaller than I'd want, but the weight is only 15 lbs. Even if I enlarge it a bit, it should remain lightweight. I could make two of these tables and hang them on the wall in the garage when I'm not working.
I'm hoping there are some longstanding Woodsmith readers here who have made or are otherwise familiar with these tables and can offer some opinions.
Alternately, does anyone know of any similar designs for lightweight tables that might be as good or better? Again, I don't need benches, just tables. Having folding legs so each table is self-contained is important to me too.
I’m not certain I’m going to build these tables, but I’ve started model them (which will let me determine their cost) and thinking about modifications. I’m picturing them more like 72” x 28”, maybe with the legs pushed toward the center so I can butt two tables to make one long one, and maybe with some cross-bracing for the “girders” if necessary.
I built folding sawhorses. They’re adjustable in height using a rope, fixed at one end. When I need more temporary flat surface, I put a piece of plywood on top.
Gary, I thought about doing something similar. I like the idea of tables with folding legs because each is just one piece to store and set up. Plus, loose plywood panels have a tendency to make their way into shop projects.
