Mobile workbenches: types, characteristics and selection rules

The mobile workbench is a convenient solution for your home workshop or garage. The compact design can even be installed on a balcony if there is not enough free space in the apartment. Until recently, such equipment was mainly made by hand. Today, mobile workbench carts on wheels and folding metal transformer models are produced by many well-known brands, and their technical equipment is being improved, adapting ready-made solutions to the needs of a particular consumer.

The mobile workbench is a mobile transforming module that easily turns into a full-fledged workstation for the foreman. It can have internal drawers and shelves, sliding or folding elements. Most models have 2 or 4 wheels, making it easy to move the entire structure around the garage or workshop premises.

Compact foldable or mobile workbenches can be designed for different types of work: carpentry, locksmith, assembly. Some models can accept circular saws or machine tools, but most of the popular options are still designed for lower loads. The wheelbase of the mobile workbench necessarily has a stopper that allows you to securely fix the entire structure in the desired position.

For the manufacture of countertops (main platform used) use solid wood, plywood, MDF, covered with sheet metal. Frame four-wheeled models must be made of steel, capable of withstanding heavy loads - up to 500 kg. Trolley-like and foldable versions most often have a lighter aluminum base. It is worth paying attention to the fact that their carrying capacity rarely exceeds 100 kg.

All existing varieties of mobile workbenches can be divided into categories according to their type of construction. Some models are made only to order or to individual sizes. This is the case with massive industrial desktops: for car services, enterprises.

Their mobility is Available in wheels and foldable or convertible parts to make storage more compact. Household models produce a variety of brands, from market giants like BOSCH and Wolcraft to lesser-known Chinese companies.

The most common variety. Such models considered universal, easy to prepare for work, do not take up much space during storage... Often, the design has a middle shelf and additional crossbars to fix the necessary tools. The tops of these workbenches are made of durable bamboo plywood or magnetized MDF. The package usually includes clamping blocks of a universal type for fixing parts when working with them.

Tabletops can be interchangeable, allowing, if necessary, to increase the area of ​​the working area. The folding workbench is convenient and versatile. Suitable for use in the home and garage.

A mobile solution reminiscent of a luggage trolley. When folded, such a structure can be transported over any rough terrain.The design includes a lockable folding table top, shelves and drawers. Often such models can be completed with additional accessories of the owner's choice. In a stationary position, the entire structure is fixed on a base that provides the necessary stability.

For such an element in the workshop, the presence of wheels becomes the optimal solution. The desktop with all the content is easy to move around. Sometimes its appearance provides for the presence of a perforated stand, and the structure itself is transformed into a storage system with a full bottom row of cabinets and drawers. Such models in the version for garages are even equipped with tire mounts and other necessary elements. For home use, the design is bulky, but will fit in a spacious garage.

The ideal choice for joinery and field assembly work. Transformers have compact dimensions: a folding base or a pair of wheels and a handle for transportation. The table top is sliding or has hinged panels that increase the usable area of ​​the workplace. These structures are mainly intended for their intended use.

When choosing a mobile workbench, it is very important to pay attention to a number of points that affect the convenience of its use. In addition, to buy it is better to choose products from manufacturers with a name that guarantee the quality of the goods.

Among the important selection criteria are the following.

• Mobility. If you want a model that fits in the trunk of your car, don't go for bulky desk options. The best solution would be a trolley workbench or a folding version with sliding legs.
• Materials (edit)... Most often, industrially made workbenches have a metal frame and work surfaces made of wood or slabs. If the base is aluminum, you should make sure that it is thick and strong enough that it does not bend from one touch of the hand. The thickness of the table top should be at least 16 mm; for a full-fledged workplace, the presence of a sheet steel coating is also important.

• Weight and dimensions... The lightest models of mobile workbenches weigh no more than 12 kg with dimensions of 834 × 680 mm. The mass of full-size industrial tables on wheels reaches 65 kg and more, dimensions - 1000 × 700 m. The height is adjustable in several positions: usually from 800 to 1000 mm.
• The presence of a storage system. Additional stands, racks, drawers and built-in shelves ensure safety and ease of use, transportation of tools. At home, a properly organized workspace will allow you to place everything you need on an area of ​​1-1.5 m2.
• Carrying capacity... For mobile models, it varies in the range of 200-300 kg. Full-size ones withstand a load of 500-700 kg.
• Convenience and ease of use... The mobile workbench should be able to quickly deploy the workplace, even in the field. Collapsible structures should be chosen among models that do not require additional use of tools when dismantling.
• Wheel diameter. For trolley models, a wheel diameter of 20 cm is considered the norm; pneumatic tires or a molded rubber version can be found. To move on a hard, even floor, rollers with a diameter of 10 cm are used.

Considering these points, you can find a suitable mobile workbench for performing repair work at home, in the garage, on the road.

For an overview of the universal folding workbench for the KREG workshop, see the following video.