Work Benches Basics

Work benches provide an organized area for packing, shipping, maintenance and other important functions

As the place where many people work and perform essential functions, work benches are important. These benches tend to be made out of wood, steel or laminate, and contain space for all your tools and parts. Also called work tables, work benches usually contain drawers, a wide tabletop and an assortment of bins. This allows you to organize your workbench the way you wish.

There are many different kinds of workbenches, from chemically resistant models to traditional wooden work benches. Each has its own unique features, but things like overhead lights and an adjustable frame are common. In addition to traditional models, you can get work benches for clean room use, work benches with disposable tops and static resistant work benches.

1. If you've already purchased chairs or other accessories, make sure they'll fit the model work benches you're looking at. Not all accessories fit all models.

2. Estimate how much storage space you'll require, so you can select work benches that will hold everything you need.

3. Work benches offer varying support for expansion. If you plan to expand in the future, make sure to get a model you can add to.

 

Pick the type of surface you want for your work benches

Work benches come with wood, laminate, stainless steel, galvanized steel and other materials on top. The material you need depends on the industry you're in and what you'll use the work bench for. For food preparation, for instance, stainless steel is best because of its durability and easy clean-up. Traditionally, work benches use wood or laminate. These top materials work well for most things.
Try: Check out selection of tops available from Bench Depot, or select work bench tops from the Global Equipment Company.

Choose heavy duty work benches for industrial and manufacturing environments

Work bench distributors often offer heavy-duty work benches for shipping and receiving, assembly, maintenance areas, garages and other places where the work bench must be tough and durable. This type of work bench is often made of steel with welded joints. This construction allows it to hold more than traditional work tables, and makes it last much longer. In addition, many heavy duty work benches have thick wood, laminate or metal tops.
Try: Get a heavy duty work bench from workbench suppliers, like Dehnco, or check out the heavy duty workbenches for sale from Nationwide Industrial Supply.

Buy adjustable work benches for multiple people

If your business employs multiple people, then the work benches you choose may not be the right height for all your employees. Adjustable work benches allow you to set the table at almost any height, which is important to avoid backaches and makes sitting for long periods easier. In addition, many adjustable work benches also have adjustable shelves, so you can fit larger items on your shelves with a simple tweak. Many industrial workbenches and portable work benches are adjustable, as well as some of the more traditional models.
Try: Purchase adjustable work benches for sale from Lista, or get a model with leg extenders from IAC Industries.

 

• If your workshop is in a garage, you may want to consider moisture and corrosion resistant work benches. Garage work benches can be more exposed to weather like rain, snow and wind, so they must be rugged. The work benches basics like feet, shelving and frames should all be made out of metal.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---