Customer Reviews

2x4basics 90164 Workbench and Shelving Storage System

5 star:		(101)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Last year I purchased the 2x4 basics model 14429 Workbench from Amazon. After obtaining the necessary wood and putting it together, I liked it so much I bought another workbench. I then posted my detailed review for the model 14429.

Recently I decided to buy yet another 2x4 Basics workbench. The 14429 was no longer available from Amazon. Instead, this 'new model' 90164 was offered by Amazon. I purchased it.

I have no idea what the difference is. It is the exact same workbench as the earlier model.

As I noted in my other review you are purchasing the hardware (the four legs, which are a very heavy grade plastic, wood screws, hooks and clamps). You must obtain your own wood (to make my 6 foot by 2 foot workbench I bought seven 96-inch long 2 x 4s, plus three 6-foot by 2-foot boards that serve as the bottom, middle and top counters). Simply cut your 2 x 4s to the proper length (for a workbench that is six feet long and two feet wide, you will need six 2/4s that are 72 inches long, six 2 x 4s that are 21 inches long, and one 2x4 that is 71 7/8ths inches long). If you go to the page for the older model and go through the pictures supplied by reviewers you will find a scan of the size wood you will need for various size workbenches you may wish to build.

The instructions are very simple and consist of pictures (no words). The pictures simply show the sequence for putting the workbench together. You will need your power screwdrive with a Phillips tip. I put the first two workbenches together by myself, while my wife helped with the third one (having an extra person is very helpful although not essential).

The result is a very, very sturdy workbench. Place your various machines (meter saw, band saw, what have you) on top with confidence. This workbench also comes with 8 plastic things that you use to build upper shelves, but I had yet to use them. I like my workbenches to be clean on top. I also do not use the supplied hooks and clamps (for my first workbench I installed a clamp: it is a joke. You may be able to clamp a work-piece that is half-an-inch thick, but no thicker).

I got this workbench to put my miter saw on. It came quickly (within 2 business days after ordering with super saver shipping) and arrived in good shape.

I had sawn the lumber to size the day before using the chart on the manufacturers website for the size I wanted (2x4 feet) and when the package arrived all I had to do was assemble it with the screws provided. No problems there, I could do it by myself, screws held the pieces of lumber with no problems. I read some reviews that the provided screws were crummy but I didn't experience this. I didn't even predrill the holes and the screws grabbed and tightened with no problem. If you're on your own I recommend positioning and holding the pieces of lumber to the legs with clamps while you are power driving the screws so that you're sure it is reasonably straight and level. It took me no more than an hour to put the whole thing together.

Stands like a rock. I didn't use the shelf brackets yet as I am going to move this to another location soon. Can't go wrong for $65 plus lumber (I used three 8 ft 2x4's and 2 sheets of 2x4 ft 1/2 inch plywood, grandtotal under $40 for the lumber. Will buy another kit to assemble a workbench after we move. Might also use this for a cutting table for my sewing room after we move. Is exactly the correct hight for that.

Whole heartedly recommend this product.

This quality product makes creating your own custom bench a snap. Total build time, by myself, was about 30 minutes with pre-cut lumber. Sure it costs a little more than making your own legs but I don't have wood working clamps so the price difference was a wash for me. Plus with the shelves built in to hold the 2x4's it was much easier. It is also much cheaper than buying a bench from a brick and mortar store.
I use this bench mainly for a reloading press but I also have a vice mounted and I haven't had any issues with either. The best part is that if you want to change the size of your bench at a later date it's a quick tear down and rebuild. Because of which, if you are undecided on bench size, cut your lumber for the larger size and see if it works. Modifying for the smaller size is easy if it's too big.
Overall I'm very impressed with this product. It comes with some hangers and clamps that I haven't used but I'm sure would work. Not that fancy but they aren't meant to be.

The parts of this kit are fairly well made (see my updated note at the end though!) and with sturdy, heavy-duty plastic legs. It was also pretty easy to assemble (although I definitely recommend 2 people minimum!). No pre-drilling is required (except for installing the clamp on the side). I built a relatively smaller sized one (5'X2' table top) but it's plenty big for what I need.

While the instructions only tell you how to make the normal 3 shelf workbench, this kit does allow you to customize it somewhat. I customized the middle shelf a little by making it stop about 2/3rds the way to the end to leave room for storage of larger items on the bottom shelf. I then put an extra 2X4 leg down the front of the bench to attach the middle shelf to for support.

The final product looks great and is really sturdy, and was pretty easy to build. I would highly recommend 2+ people, however, and if you have your own table saw etc. (instead of having to make 7 trips to local hardware store to cut it for you) it would also help speed things up. Amazon's also got a better price by about $30 than any other place I found this kit. If you don't mind doing it yourself, this kit is pretty nice!

Make sure to check out the price of lumber at your hardware store first so you know how much the total assembled bench will cost you. I spent slightly more just on lumber than the actual cost of the kit, but that can vary of course depending on what material you use for the table top, how large of a work bench you want, etc.

Originally I had rated this kit a solid 5 stars but have to lower it substantially now due to the fact that only three months after assembling it there is a crack on the corner of the plastic leg! The 2X4's on that particular leg didn't quite line up flush, and perhaps I slightly over-tightened the wood screws a tiny bit???, but it still should not have developed a surface crack in just a few months. The crack does not seem to have an effect on the sturdiness of it, and it has not cracked all the way through or anything like that. But given the doubts I have now about the long term reliability of it, I can't give it higher than 3 stars. Granted, those three months were during the peak of an Arizona summer in my garage, but still it's only been three months! So overall, this is a great concept, and it is great to customize it to your needs and space requirements, AND with some TLC it makes a very sturdy work bench, but make sure the lumber cuts are fairly precise and that you do not over-tighten screws in an attempt to compensate for variations in 2X4 lengths! Even with my new concerns, I'd still give this kit 3 stars.

This work bench gives way more storage space then it looks. I though the shelf spacing looked too small, but it really works well. Very heavy Duty. I made mine 8' x 40" deep. This is better then any work bench you could otherwise buy for more money. I have very little (almost no)carpentry skills. This was a great project to do with my boys (3 and 13 y/o. We feel pretty proud of it even though the kit makes it so easy. Unless you are a real good carpenter this is definitely the way to go. Lumber did run higher then I had thought and others had posted. (about $130.00 for me). Total cost of this project was around $200.00. I cant say enough good stuff about this kit. Makes working in the garage pleasurable. I dont usually post reviews but I am just really happy with this purchase.

Well.. Wasn't sure at first if it would fit my needs. But, the more I read about it.. The better it seemed. This 2 x 4 workbench is a snap to put together and modify to your size and needs! I did use 2 x 4's for all of the main supports and added additional cross memebers to give it more strength - the one diagonal cross member shown in the design didn't seem to me to give enough support for either the shelves nor the bench top - So I notched the main supports and added cross rails and that did the trick without really adding much weight. Also did that to the lower and middle shelves ... notched the end members so I could recess the shelves to sit with a stool and be up close to the bench top.

In the instructions.. IT (to me IMHO) wasn't very clear on which screws to use to attach the legs.. DO use the longer (Black) wood screws they are about 2" long not the (silver) shorter ones they are for the upper shelf attachments.

The design is simple and the cost is great too.. I made mine @ 3' x 5' so I bought (5)2 x 4 x 10's and cut 3 in half and the other 2 in thirds for the outer frame - then bought some 2 x 4 x 8's for cross members as needed and plywood for the bench top and shelves. To finish it off I added a 1 x 6 board between the leg supports as a back splash for the bench top - It just keeps stuff from rolling off the back side.

Simple and inexpensive.. Just add wood and your time.. You now have a work bench!!

First, this is a great bench kit because it allows you to do all kinds of customization. More than that, it is easy to create with very little effort and a saw (preferably a compound miter saw). That being said... it is really hard to get the thing started. I got the pieces cut out for the base and all... but even with my wife holding parts, I couldn't get the darned pieces to stay where I wanted. I even tried pre-drilling holes. Finally I noticed some really long clamps I have for woodworking. USE CLAMPS. Otherwise, your boards will push away as you try to screw in the screws.

My bench is great. I use it for reloading ammunition. It doesn't move. It doesn't even think about moving. A lot of my friends are surprised by how well it came out. All I have left to do is varnish the surface.

This is an excellent value. You cannot buy a bench that is this strong for the cost you will have in this one.
Easy to build. Includes necessary hardware. I made a half shelf out of the middle shelf which works out great.
Plenty of flexibility. Made it a project with my son. Took us an hour to put together after buying top grade lumber pre-cut to the size I needed.
Strongly recommend.

We bought this unit to use in our workroom as a cutting table for our linen business. It is amazing, went together in less than an hour, only took about 100.00 in Lumber and is Very Very sturdy.
We couldn't be happier with the product, fast shipping, arrived in perfect condition.

Thank you,

T. Eitzinger Couture Linens & Tabletop
[...]

This is my second bench built from this kit. I am a woodworker but don't like to spend all my time building things to build things. I did rip an inch or so off of the middle braces to drop the second shelf down a bit and I plan on adding some full extension drawers and perhaps a pull-out tool tray below the top. I built the bench 6'X 2' and with the trim it's 26" deep. I purchased 6- 8' 2X4's and one sheet each of 3/4" MDF and 3/4" plywood at the big orange store. I used the MDF for the top giving me a very solid 1 1/2" thick top. That's probably overkill for most people. I also purchased a sheet of 1/4" tempered hardboard (masonite) to put on top of the MDF. This is easily replaced if I need a new surface. I had the pieces cut at the store because even though I have a complete shop it's no fun wrestling MDF around. It's very heavy. I was going to put shelves above the bench but decided on the white peg-board instead. I trimmed out the raw edges with some maple strips I already had in the shop. The shelf supports (I now own 12 of them) were just too ugly on top of the bench but I think they would work well. This shop is in a second location for me and I plan on doing some Lutherie work with it.
I would recommend this highly to anyone wanting a quick (basic build in about 2 hours) and sturdy bench. I did post a couple of photos, one showing my Ebay Zyliss vise.
Best
Jim