2x4 Basics AnySize Workbench Kit, Model# 90158MI

I have put a few together some I put the center shelf in and some I did not and no problems

Marginally, yes, but in reality not an issue. We use our benches hard 7 days a week and they've held up great with just the lower shelf in place and we don't even screw the lower shelf board in place. The middle shelf is kind of useless because it doesn't allow very high storage on it or the lower shelf. Maybe hand tools or power tools in plastics cases or thin sheet material storage (acrylic, glass, etc.). Otherwise, not too useful. Have the bottom only gives lots of space and we're considering enclosing one bench with side/back panels and two hinged doors on the front for some secure storage.

No. I built my workbench 2'X8' with 3/4" builder grade plywood for the top and bottom shelf. I wanted the room on the bottom shelf to store larger items like my pancake compressor etc that would have made the second shelf in the way, so I left it out. It made no difference, this bench is so sturdy I can build a tank on it without it sagging. I will say, my bench is narrow and long so I cannot attest to the need for the second shelf if the bench is built different, but with the cross braces in I would still build it without the second shelf.

I made mine with just top and bottom shelf, as adding the middle one cuts down on storage space height. Nice and strong + lighter. I used perpendicular support bracing under each shelf every 24" instead of there diagonal one in the instructions.

It is not necessary to use the middle shelf. There is a part in the instruction showing how put together with out the middle shelf and still have support.

No. I have no center shelf and the benches are solid

You do not need to add the center shelf, however it does contribute to the strength of the finished product. If I were going to assemble it without the center shelf, I would at least install the framing for said shelf, it will make your bench sturdier. Also, you can frame up three sides (left, right, and rear), and leave the front open, up to the individual, depends on what you will be using it for.

I didn't use the middle shelf and I made mine a full 4' X 8' and it is very sturdy. I used 3/4" plywood for both top and bottom shelves.

You can build the workbench to suit your need. if 2 shelves is all you need it would be fine.
You would run cross braces under the shelving to sturdy the shelves.

That's up to you to add if needed. You only get the 4 black molded plastic legs in the kit...all the lumber is up to you.

Yes. The bench can be built with horizontal brace under each shelf. I built mine 2' X 8' with 3/4" contractor grade plywood for the top and bottom shelf, no middle shelf, and did not use a horizontal brace under either shelf. The bench is so sturdy I can build a tank on it.

no, only the top

There are no horizontal braces for the shelves, only the top.

The recommendation is on the top shelf. I did not bother as the plywood I used was strong enough and I have not seen any weekness in the bench without it.

No, there is only a mounting surface for the top shelf to have a diagnol cross brace.

No, there are no additional cross braces for the lower shelves. I cannot see why these would be necessary unless the bench was very deep, or you had very very heavy materials on the shelves.

This Blitz work bench kit does not include any lumber, you can design the work bench to have cross braces on all three shelves, with the lumber you purchase from a lumber yard.

You can I did the top because you work on it.

"Screw the plywood to the 2" X 4"s using wood screws! Drill holes & Countersink first!" Build your square or rectangular 2" X 4" structures and drill down the plywood tops, making them all the exact same size 'First', before attaching them to the plastic posts! This will ensure a nice even bench and keep all your posts square and tight!!"

Since plywood tends to warp, at least the lower grade stuff I used, I don't think 1/2" plywood will lay flat enough to suit. I used 1 1/4" sheetrock screws, 2 across each end, 4 down the sides ( for an 8 foot span)' that worked perfectly.

For best strength, screw or glue, but when the 2x4's are installed they leave a small lip (1/4-3/8") that the top recessed into, so you could let it sit free. The advantage is that you can flip the top over once is gets banged/glued/stained/damaged/etc. We generally have screwed our tops from below (we use while melamine coated panels) and just lay the bottom shelf panel in place (we only use the lowermost shelf position and it's B-C plywood).

I screwed my plywood down. It would be possible to just lay the plywood in place, but screwing it down makes the bench a lot stronger.

I used construction adhesive and a few screws - it worked well

You would want to screw down the shelves to stabilize them.

I used 3/4 " plywood

I used 3/4 MDF board with no problems.

The plywood top on this product would be 3/4" thick.

3/4 inch

Thickness of the bench top is up to you, no limit. I used 3/4" for both of my workbenches and find that it offers sufficient strength for my needs. (auto repair and woodworking).

The top shelf is unlimited

As thick as you like - there is nothing to restrict its height. I built mine with a 3/4 top.

Yes, there are grooves in the legs for the top, middle and bottom shelves

Yes. All 2x4s attach to the legs (there are shelves that hold the 2x4s in place- they are additionally secured with screws) and plywood rests on top of the 2x4s

Yes there are shelf brackets in corners to rest the diagonal support for all three shelves. However diagonal bracing is not my choice. I used perpendicular bracing every two feet instead. Just seems a sturdier way to frame.

Yes

Yes. I strongly recommend using screws when assembling the table.

The horizontal piece sits on a ledge on each corner of the leg kit. then the horizontal is screwed to the top and the top is screwed to the 2x4 railing to make it sturdy.

Yes. The legs would be nailed into the plywood on all three shelves.

2X4 Basics kit has the middle shelf location fixed, but it can be modified to a small degree. I used a ripped 2X4 1.75X2 for the shelf rails and just drilled four new holes.

Middle shelf height is fixed...

It is fixed, based on the angled, pre-drilled holes in the legs.

It is fixed

two fixed locations only, as shown in the photo. We only use the bottom location and we've used over 10 of these kits in our workshop. You could make up some 2x4 spacers if you really need a different shelf height, but it might be better to start from scratch if the standard shelf locations don't work for you.

The middle shelf location is fixed. The manufacturer recommends that you place your shelf in this location.

Bottom shelf not required

No, but the less side and back supports you use the less less weight the upper table would be able to bear. I would triangulate braces in the corners to compensate if additional strength is desired.

You don't need the shelf, but the 4 2x4 boards that make up the lower shelf framework add a lot of strength and stiffness. You might get away with removing one long 2x if you add side 2x's. Otherwise you're relying only on three wood screws at the top to take all the racking loads...not a great idea for long term stability.

The bottom shelve can be left out, but that would reduce stability. I would not recommend leaving the bottom shelve out.

yeah, I think you could do that. The shelves act as a structural member.

You can customize the bench to suit your need. There would only be brackets in the back to hold the 2x4 in the rear of the bench. You will need to make sure the legs are stabilized.

"All you get are the four plastic legs! You have to supply your own lumber! It explains that if you read the description of the product! The legs are made of very thick strong plastic, they will hold up and last for years! I am going to add four pieces of 2' x 4's or 4" x 4"s (depending on how I go about it) on the bottom of each 'lowest shelf'-'inside'-'corner leg' and screw some 3" or 4" casters to mine so I can move them around if I want to! 3" casters will probably do fine as I don't want to go to high because the legs make the table sit up to a height of 36" already as it is, so with 3" casters I would be up to a height of about 38"s! So now that I am thinking about it I might make it so my casters only raise the height up about 1" higher and that won't be all to hard do if I just recess my 'inner wood' that I screw the casters to, up about 3"! Yeah, that's it...Yeah!"

You only get the four posts and all the all the necessary screws. No other material is furnished, since everybody will probably build them in different lengths and widths.

Your only purchasing the four corner legs (posts). You will need to purchase the plywood and 2x4's separately. The amount of material you will need is dependent on the size of the bench your going to make.

You get the 4, black legs shown in the photo in one box. You buy the 2x4 materials and cut to the length you need...so you can make a long, narrow bench, square, whatever. Also good for mounting various woodworking tools...drill press, bandsaw, etc.

The kit is only the legs and screws that are used to attach the lumber purchased separately.

The 2x4 Basics Workbench Kits includes only the 4 corner posts. The 2x4's and plywood would need to be purchased separately. You can create a bench 36 inches tall and any length or width up to 8ft x 4ft.

Yes !

I used 2x4 s for the center runner.

"I will gladly trade your 1" X 4"s in oak, Today... for some 2" X 4"s in pine, on Tuesday? I personally would not use 1 bye's... no! Not for this type of material / project! Use pine 2" X 4"s and save your oak for something else! Something nice!"

The 2x4 Basics Workbench Kit is designed to use standard 2x4 lumber but 1x4 lumber could be used as a substitute.

I used mine at the 36" height, seemed ok for me. Not sure how you can make adjustments for a taller bench.

"You could add 4" X 4" posts to the bottom to raise it up a bit! You'll want to keep it stable, so you don't want to go too high! These are made to save you the time of having to use 4" X 4" posts though, so unless you only are raising it just a bit, you're more or less defeating the purpose of buying these to begin with!"

No, not unless you stack it on top of lumber.

This workbench kit is not designed to exceed 36" in height.