Workbench suggestions?

[cliffrod]

These are awesome ideas.  Thank you all so much. 
A couple responses to comments- my workbenches always turn into horizontal storage areas. too.  I have promised myself that this one will actually be used as a workbench.  And that's your guffaw of the day.

My beer fridge is in the garage next to the workshop.  :)

LesP and Chuck-- awesome benches.

Love the swivel lamps, moto.i

HarryH- Freaking wow!  Why torsion box workbenches.  Other than it looks awesome.  I definitely don't have the skill to make something like that.

Groover_  I was just thinking I'd get one of those mats.



I didn't work on it today-- it's one of those miserable muggy days here in Pennsylvania and I hate working with sweat dripping down my nose.  I think I will keep the middle of the bench wood, with a softer section on one end and a harder metal surface on the other end. 

Brilliant advice here to be prepared to change it as needed.  If I have to change it, I will.  I did cross brace it substantially and have some 2" by 10" supports in the middle of the long span.  This one is tied into the structure but the next project will be a bench on wheels for the garage.

Please keep the suggestions coming and I'm sorry I couldn't respond to everyone.

I've got one of those big mats as a desk protector in the office and use it regularly for old fashion cut & paste.  They're $$ new but work great. Another option for metal top is to use a commercial kitchen full size aluminum sheet pan.  Use it or stow it as needed.  They're dirt cheap used and not expensive new.  A similar automotive floor drip pan works well too.  They're just bigger but they're usually steel & magnetic.. 

[Lumpy Idle]

oh, here's another one. jason over at fireball tool recently posted a review and recommendation for welding tables:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJVZjhRTEfs

[grebmrof]

Could the bench use a center support leg or two (4X4) to minimize flex in that long of a span? 

[Lumpy Idle]

this addition is a bit late in  coming but i believe it is worthwhile. i haven't done so but i really like jimmy diresta's metal framed work bench.  the aussie scott turner has his flavor of metal framed bench too.  he does a great job on all of his projects - he is a true craftsman - and this workbench is worth checking out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L01LWGeYAYA

[john fish]

Wow!  What is it with Ozzies and metalwork?  Some amazing stuff.

grebmrof-  Yeah, I put some big honking support legs in the middle of that span.  Works good.

I've got most of it done.  Pondering a few things- I haven't put a top on about 3 feet of the right side of the bench.  I might just put in shelves there.  I'm worried that a giant bench will just attract a giant load of crap.  Maybe some built in shelves will give more space for the junk.

[Lumpy Idle]

I've got most of it done.

pics when done plz.

 Pondering a few things-...  I'm worried that a giant bench will just attract a giant load of crap. ...

there is a great cosmic law of forces at work here. all constructed horizontal surfaces will accumulate detritus by attrition. it is written - it is so. whether the crap be actual crap - like the dread pigeon shit or whether it is your latest project that has run afoul of shipping vagaries or just general inertia on your part the surfaces will accrue the deposition of flotsam (or would it be jetsam?) no manner of chanting to marie kondo will abate the process completely. i am delaying this somewhat with the now religious decoration of the work space with lidded plastic bins labelled with a sharpie. i have come to this practice rather late in life  and have to wonder - as i cast a glance backward in time - how much more productive i might have been had i discovered the chanting and the plastic bins much earlier.

[Chuck in Indiana]

no manner of chanting to marie kondo will abate the process completely.

This is a major truism. It has to be a total mind set. "No, I will *not* lay this here.. just for a while." Stop that tendency. Just stop it. This is a WORK bench. You cannot WORK when it is cluttered up with crap. Trust me on this. It took me several    years to learn.

[john fish]

True.  In my shop this will be known as Lumpism #1.
 All constructed horizontal surfaces will accumulate detritus by attrition.

This has begat the Indiana rule of shop conduct #1
 This is a WORK bench. You cannot WORK when it is cluttered up with crap.

[Darren Williams]

This is a major truism. It has to be a total mind set. "No, I will *not* lay this here.. just for a while." Stop that tendency. Just stop it. This is a WORK bench. You cannot WORK when it is cluttered up with crap. Trust me on this. It took me several    years to learn.

Wisdom to well be heeded!   

I read a book quite a few years ago on the subject of lean manufacturing, and the author had a follow up book on lean living. Wish I could remember the title of author, but ….  The concept is if you don't have a proper storage place for it or can't make a space for it, get rid of it. Having an uncluttered life and existence is a reward in freedom few are blessed with. I remember that line very well.