Portable Garage Workbenches

A workbench is the focal point of the garage. A workplace where raw materials are formed cobbled, cut, and shaped into the next great invention - perhaps even a perpetual motion machine?

The most functional workbenches are built onto the garage as a permanent feature. They offer full sized workspace, are very versatile, and take a real beating. But if you are renting a home without a workbench in the garage, the landlord might not give permission for you to build one, or you might not wish to invest the effort, even if he would allow it.

That's where the portable workbench comes in.
 
A portable workbench is a term for any workbench that is not bolted to the garage structure in a permanent way. One that can be packed up and moved with more or less convenience. Portable workbenches can have a wide range of sized and utility.

There are fold-up type portable workbenches that can be stored away, hanging from the rafters of the garage or anyplace else you have a little space. These are very affordable, and use only a compact amount of space when not in use, but are limited in the scope and scale of work that can be done. On the other hand, they are so mobile that they can easily be moved to the backyard, the work site, or anywhere a workbench is needed. Black and Duker is probably a familiar name in this type of workbench.

The next size up in portable workbenches for the garage is the type that you assemble your self. Fist, you pick out a convenient location in the garage, and then assemble the workbench kit right there. It can easily be repositioned with some assistance, but for the most part, it is intended to stay where it is until you need to move it. When you do need to go portable with it - moving to a new home for example, you simply disassemble the workbench, pack it up, and you're on your way.

This type of workbench will often include some pegboard for hanging tools, shelf space and a drawer or two. Depending on the type of work you plan to do, a light duty bench vice and articulating lighting and a bench stool to sit on are valuable additions.

One final option is to build your own detached workbench - one with the utility of a permanent workbench, but not a permanent fixture of the garage. These are the least portable types. See our page on building garage workbenches for full information on doing this, or you can go straight for checking out the workbench building plans and patterns offered.

Even for the renter, there's no reason for anyone who loves to tinker, not to have his own workspace. Depending on the type of work, you have the option of a super mobile - fold up type to the assemble it yourself, to the build your own custom workbench.

Common typos: portale, portabl, protable, grage, garag, galag, grag, gargae, garge, arage, workbenchs