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G0UPL Workbench

The G0UPL workbench is built entirely from materials from UK DIY store Homebase. The workbench area is 8 x 3 feet, with two shelves 8 feet x 9 inches, constructed from 15mm thickness melamine (white coated MDF). A total of 216 screws were used in the construction. The following photographs show stages of construction. Click for larger versions!

Raw materials:
8-foot melamine planks, 6-foot spruce planks, six steel table legs, two steel tubes (clothes rails), assorted screws and fittings.

Simple t ools:
Hacksaw
Poundland screwdrivers
Poundland tape measure
PSU
Miniature drill

Worktop construction:
First step in the construction: to screw three 8 x 1 foot Melamine planks together using 30-inch spruce planks. The six steel table legs are screwed to the spruce planks.

Table leg:
Close-up showing one of the Homebase table legs screwed to the worktop.

Workbench top:
Now it starts to look like a real table, after carefully turning over.

Shelves:
The shelves are constructed from 8 foot x 9 inch Melamine, supported using 25cm steel tubes cut from clothes rail and fixed to the shelves using clothes rail end fittings.

Corner support:
The shelves are made strong and rigid by screwing on further pieces of melamine to the ends.

Electrical sockets:
Another view of the shelves, and an opportune moment to mention the 16 mains sockets (Poundland 4-way extensions).

Wiring:
The electrical sockets are switched in banks of 4-4-8 using a triple switch mounted in the centre of the bench, wired on the underside to connection boxes.

More support:
Further support to the melamine planks using 15-inch spruce planks screwed under the worktop. Those are my knees bottom right as I'm on my back to take the photo.

Finished!
Workbench moved into its final position, with equipment and components loaded onto the shelves.

Equipment
Closer view of workbench: test equipment, tools and components on the left; radio station on the right (RX, TX, ATU, PSU).

Raw materials: 8-foot melamine planks, 6-foot spruce planks, six steel table legs, two steel tubes (clothes rails), assorted screws and fittings.	Simple t ools: Hacksaw Poundland screwdrivers Poundland tape measure PSU Miniature drill
Worktop construction: First step in the construction: to screw three 8 x 1 foot Melamine planks together using 30-inch spruce planks. The six steel table legs are screwed to the spruce planks.	Table leg: Close-up showing one of the Homebase table legs screwed to the worktop.
Workbench top: Now it starts to look like a real table, after carefully turning over.	Shelves: The shelves are constructed from 8 foot x 9 inch Melamine, supported using 25cm steel tubes cut from clothes rail and fixed to the shelves using clothes rail end fittings.
Corner support: The shelves are made strong and rigid by screwing on further pieces of melamine to the ends.	Electrical sockets: Another view of the shelves, and an opportune moment to mention the 16 mains sockets (Poundland 4-way extensions).
Wiring: The electrical sockets are switched in banks of 4-4-8 using a triple switch mounted in the centre of the bench, wired on the underside to connection boxes.	More support: Further support to the melamine planks using 15-inch spruce planks screwed under the worktop. Those are my knees bottom right as I'm on my back to take the photo.
Finished! Workbench moved into its final position, with equipment and components loaded onto the shelves.	Equipment Closer view of workbench: test equipment, tools and components on the left; radio station on the right (RX, TX, ATU, PSU).