Everybody needs a work table for potting plants and storing tools – and just because your garage is chock-a-block when the car’s in there, doesn’t mean you have to give up on the dream. This solid bench gives you plenty of space for all of your DIY or gardening tasks, then, when the work day is done, simply fold it up out of the way and drive your car right on in.
Gather your supplies
Legs, rails and wall plate 90 x 45mm x 3m laminated pine (7)
Bench 2250 x 600 x 30mm BC plywood (1)
Backboard 2400 x 1200 x 9mm plywood (1)
Shelf 2400 x 285 x 19mm dressed pine (1)
You’ll also need
Drill; countersink bit; long 4mm drill bit; 100 and 85mm batten screws; Sikabond PVA glue; 200mm strap hinges (3); 300mm tee hinges (2); spirit level; 5, 7, 10mm drill bits; 5, 7, 8mm masonry drill bits; 8 x 80mm nylon anchors (4); fine sandpaper; water-based clear finish; painting gear; blackboard paint; concrete nails; shelf bracket (4); green wall plugs; 30 and 65mm screws; spring-loaded gate latch
Here’s how
STEP 1 Referring to rail layout plan on page 2, sit face rail, side rails, centre rails and back rails on edge on underside of bench. Countersink holes in edges of all rails then predrill through these using a long 4mm drill bit. Attach rails to bench using 100mm batten screws.
STEP 2 Countersink then drill pilot holes in front rail for screws to go into side rails and the 2 centre rails on either side of the leg housing in middle of bench. Screw together using 100mm batten screws. Also screw through back rails into centre rails adjacent to leg housings.
STEP 3 To construct leg, spread PVA glue on face of long leg block and sit on leg flush with one end. Predrill and join using 85mm batten screws. Repeat to attach short leg block flush with other end of leg. This creates a 90mm gap between the blocks.
STEP 4 Position strap hinge on long leg block so knuckle of hinge is flush with end of block. Attach using supplied screws.
STEP 5 Repeat Steps 3 and 4 to make another 2 legs.
STEP 6 Position one leg in housing so strap hinge is sitting on the bench. Make gap between leg and front rail 4mm. Attach strap hinge to bench using supplied screws. Repeat to attach other 2 legs to bench.
STEP 7 Place leg brace in gaps between blocks on the legs. Screw together with 85mm batten screws.
STEP 8 Place tee hinges in leg housings at either end of bench. Screw through hinge into bench using supplied screws.
STEP 9 With a helper, butt the bench into the wall so it is horizontal. Make level and mark where bench meets wall. Draw a second set of marks 30mm below these, which will be top edge of wall plate.
STEP 10 Place wall plate against wall so it meets lower marks made in Step 9. Mark wall plate for position of screws to go into wall. Allow for 4 screws along length of plate. Remove plate and drill through it at each marked point with a 5mm drill bit.
STEP 11 Reposition wall plate against wall. Using a drill with a 5mm masonry drill bit, drill through holes made in Step 10 to mark bricks. Remove plate again, switch to an 8mm masonry bit in your drill, and drill holes in bricks at marked points.
STEP 12 Insert nylon frame anchors into holes in bricks. Reposition wall plate and drill through holes in plate into anchors using 100mm batten screws.
STEP 13 Sit rear edge of the bench on the wall plate so bench is vertical. Screw through the butt leaf of tee hinges into wall plate using the supplied screws.
STEP 14 Sand bench top and edges with fine sandpaper. Remove dust, apply 2 coats of a water-based clear finish. Allow to dry between coats.
STEP 15 Determine position of shelf above bench. Ensure you leave enough room to operate the latch holding it up. Cut backboard to size so it runs from top of wall plate to underside of shelf. Apply 2 coats of blackboard paint to the backboard, letting it dry between coats.
STEP 16 Sit backboard on wall plate. Drive concrete nails through the backboard and into mortar joints between bricks.
STEP 17 Place shelf brackets against backboard so the top is flush with the top edge. Mark position of screw holes on backboard. Drill holes through backboard into bricks using a 7mm masonry drill bit and insert green wall plugs. Reposition brackets on wall and screw through bracket into wall plugs.
STEP 18 Place shelf on top of pine brackets. Screw up through bracket into shelf using 30mm screws.
STEP 19 Place latch block on back board 3mm above where front edge of bench meets board when folded up. Drill 7mm holes though block and mark backboard. Switch to a 7mm masonry bit to drill through backboard and into wall. Insert green wall plugs into holes and screw latch block to wall using 65mm screws. Screw gate latch to latch block using supplied screws.
STEP 20 Gently tap bolt of latch to mark where it meets front rail. Lower bench then drill a 10mm hole in the front rail to accept the gate latch.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PROJECT SHEET HERE
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