Unit, with and without height lift feet

If I see it, and can combine it/improve on it/help others find it.....

I SHARE IT (Plz dont hate on me)

Is it a Workbench, Sawhorse, Seat? Maybe Step-Stool with a Tote? Whatever it is, I bet you want one.

Montessori Workbench, by Cedar Springs Elementary School

Designed for young kids and beginner teens/adults

Even more experienced people will find it a useful "sawbench"

Efficient, Low Cost.

Made of few 2x4's & 1/4 sheet of plywood

• OR even just decent thickness (5/8" ) OBS/HDF.
• Even the 2x4's could be equaled more cheaply by a few layers of glued OBS/HDF

Note: Super simple, material choices, & opting for a commercial vs DIY vices, dictate cost

• Vices are bulk of cost. You could DIY the pair a with 2x4 & scaffold screw/bracket, PAIR = $50

Features:

• Hight Adjust for Child/Adult "Mode"
• 12 x 48 Worktop (that is "huge", for "small")
• Full Apron (sweet)
• Double Tail Vices (why not a side/leg, as the 2nd vice?)
• 7x Dogs (sweeter, make it feel much more "pro")
• Optional: 10.5x 38.5 x 4 drawer "area" (not shown in any pics)

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My thoughts...

• I'd reduce its height slightly to 15", & pair it with an equal height sawhorse, as a "stacking set"
• In the method used here & here (best detailed here)
• This would allow a 48x24 combined (short) surface or 48x12 single (tall) surface or sawhorses
• Also easy use as a (short) split top saw table
• Swap 1x tail vice to a leg vice (2x tail vices? odd?)
• Channel cut some ports in (or split) the apron, both sides, so you can "clamp almost anywhere"
• Pegboard bottom of the apron to set a pencil or small hand tool under bench, to free hands/top
• Pegboard the outer leg of top (to hang select tools)
• I'd use the bottom "sawhorse" as a doored tool tote
• A handle hole cut in each top (for an adult sized 1-hand carry, both at once if strong)

Getting 2x from 1 sheet of OBS or Plywood?

Roughly the ideal size to build itself on (or a desk, etc)

• A bit shorter/deeper at 34 x 16, should be about 15.5" tall without stacking or leg lifts
• lifts should end up about 5" tall
• Apron length cut in half & "channel split" 1/4" & drill the split for 3/8" dowels (to peg/clamp on)
• Right angle stance (aproned top, stretcher box leg) to save material
• Vice cutouts make up vices own mount bracings
• Cut down legs to 14.25"each & make "4x leg lifters" to make adult height bench stacked
• "W" Notch top/bottom of leg top & bottom to stack, along with a lip on stretchers under shelf

Napkin rough out

• Bright red lines are 1st cut lines, this design is universal left/right handed & allows easy leg vice
• Dog hole the top, cut hand ports apron (lip line shelf with these cut off's),
• Cut handle hole in top, add under apron pegboard
• this is totally "eye balled"
• Strength from under top apron and box stretcher mounter shelf
• Lock with luggage clips or slide blots PLUS "W" cut, when sacked (or footed) for safety

Optional: FULL 1/8" Pegboard sides of the legs, above shelf (add storage & a tiny bit of strength), 1/8" hardboard back

Optional: 1/8" Hardboard the top (Screwed/glued as sacrificial top) & as "sliding door" to shelf

• repurpose dog hole cut outs as door pull/handle, DIY vice knob/sanding block grip & mallet handle (5")
• Combine any remaining scraps to composite construct 9x3 sanding block & light carvers mallet head (weight with washers/wingnut on bolt?). This may require a scrap/sawdust & glue/filler composite (DIY LDF/PB)

Napkin rough out

Original Pics

cuts

visual aid

That vice pair is the bulk of cost

beauty shot

vice mounting pic 1

vice mounting pic 2