My toolbag has started to overflow with tools while preparing for and moving into my new home. Pry bars, wrench sets, etc have started piling up and weighing me down. I decided it was time to invest a weekend into making a workbench for the garage. I followed instructions from Family Handyman. I made a few modifications along the way.

The whole table can be constructed with 15 2×4’s, a 4×8′ sheet of plywood, and some 3″ and 1 5/8″ drywall screws. Even though the guide mentions using nails, I had the same length screws on hand.

I decided to use 3/4″ plywood instead of the recommended 1/2″ for a more sturdy tabletop.

Pegboard cut and installed, I decided to put the board behind the bench instead of in front to increase table real estate. Soon after doing this I realized a large portion of the board wouldn’t be usable due to the support running through the middle.

I should have bought 2 boxes of 3″ screws, I ran out about 75% of the way through. I did not know what “CDX” plywood meant, or that one side of the board had a nicer finish than the other. I had to flip the board over after installing it. I used 3 2ft LED light fixtures for illumination. I immediately regretted the decision on using this particular piece. The first time I hammered on the bench 2 of the 3 light covers fell off. I will need to get those secured better. The light they give off though is excellent, it makes the table appear as if it’s sitting outside on a sunny day. Next up is sanding, polyurethane, and figuring out how to hang up all the tools!