Do-it-yourself carpentry workbench on the balcony

04/29/2018 Anastasia Prozheva

Almost every apartment owner wants to set up a small workshop in their home. If there is no garage or other utility building, then installing a workbench on the balcony will be the best solution to this issue.

A workbench is a universal table equipped with various metalworking, carpentry equipment and tools. How to organize a small workshop on your own glazed balcony? We will talk about this in a popular form in this article.

Basic requirements and legality of redevelopment

Before using the loggia room for the needs of a workshop, you should make sure that future repair work is legal and safe. Failure to comply with the redevelopment rules is a fine, and you will also have to return the loggia to its original appearance.

Therefore, before starting work, you should contact the competent authorities for information if the workshop involves the presence of heavy, dangerous equipment.

The general rules of this stage include the load on the balcony slab, no more than 200 kg per 1 m2 for a new slab. This figure for a worn-out structure will be even lower. To assess the condition of the balcony slab and the entire structure, it is also worth contacting specialists.

It must be remembered that the balcony space of an apartment building is not only future usable space, it is also subject to fire safety rules. If something is supposed to be done using open fire or other dangerous, flammable substances, then the balcony must be equipped in accordance with all safety rules, with the notification and permission of the fire service.

But this applies only to light work; installing a blast furnace or lighting a large fire is prohibited on any type of loggia in an apartment building. This applies to industrial activities and cannot be carried out in residential premises.

Another important point is compliance with the noise regime. The balcony is part of the apartment, therefore it is subject to the same standards as the living space. During the daytime, noise levels up to 40-55 dB are allowed, at night it is 30-40 dB.

These are measures prescribed by law; neighbors remain another important factor; it is worth making sure that the workshop brings only benefits, without inconvenience to third parties.

How to equip a balcony as a workshop for a man: stages of construction work

There are several general steps in arranging a work space on a balcony:

• Strengthening the concrete slab and frame . This stage is necessary for hanging balconies, damaged or structures that are more than 15 years old. To do this, they use reinforced structures, screeds, additional strengthening techniques, and fixing the balcony slab. Read more in the article “Repairing a balcony slab.”

• Glazing . The workshop assumes the presence of tools and materials on the loggia that are used for needlework or other activities, therefore it is better to hide the loggia and all its contents from precipitation, wind, and low temperatures. You can glaze a balcony either cold or warm. With cold glazing of the balcony, the air temperature will differ from the street temperature by 5-6 degrees. With warm glazing, the temperature of the mini workshop will be as close as possible to room temperature. To do this, you can use double-glazed windows with two or more chambers. When installing windows, you need to remember the location of the desktop. This is necessary for comfortable work, which is only possible with sufficient lighting. Therefore, it is worth mentally arranging the work area before installing double-glazed windows. Read more in the article “Glazing a balcony with your own hands.”
• Insulation of the loggia . If you plan to work in the workshop all year round, then for this it is worth insulating the floor, walls and ceiling on the loggia. This can be done using polystyrene foam, hydro- and vapor barrier.
• Soundproofing the loggia . This is necessary if the tools in the workshop will make loud sounds. It is worth gluing sound insulation around the perimeter of the balcony if a noisy machine, a professional sewing machine will be constantly working in the mini-workshop, or long-term work will be carried out on a workbench.
• Interior decoration of the loggia . This stage completely depends on the type of activity and comfort. At this point you can implement various design ideas. Combine the workshop with a relaxation area or storage space.

Stage 1. Glazing and interior decoration of the balcony

Despite the fact that the balconies of most typical apartments are not large in size, this area will be quite enough to place a small workbench on it and equip a compact tool storage system.

The only problem is that all the balconies and loggias in apartment buildings are actually located on the street, while it is important for us to provide comfortable working conditions in the home workshop at any time of the year, regardless of weather conditions. For this reason, the main and priority task will be full glazing, insulation and interior decoration of the loggia or balcony.

1. First of all, the balcony needs to be completely glazed on all sides. As a budget option, you can install ordinary wooden frames with single glasses, but such glazing is only suitable for regions with very warm climates. When the air temperature outside is below +10°C, working on such a balcony will no longer be comfortable, and even turning on the electric heater will not bring any tangible benefit;

Scheme of insulation and interior finishing of the balcony.

1. In order to equip a fully heated room on the balcony, I recommend installing classic metal-plastic windows with double-glazed windows . To be able to properly ventilate the workshop, the two central windows must be equipped with hinged or sliding opening sashes;
2. After installing the glazing, you need to insulate the front parapet and side walls of the balcony . To do this, you need to fasten to the wall a supporting frame of the lathing made of galvanized metal profile for plasterboard , or from a wooden beam with a section of 60x60 mm;
3. The gaps between the vertical and horizontal guides of the supporting frame should be tightly filled with heat-insulating material, and the existing cracks and joints between the plates should be blown out with foam;
4. I recommend using mineral or basalt wool as insulation , but if desired, it can be replaced with sheet foam or extruded polystyrene foam 50 mm thick;

Installation of a wooden frame.

1. A vapor-permeable waterproofing membrane must be laid on top of the insulation , and then sheets of finished internal cladding must be secured to the supporting frame.
2. For these purposes, you can use moisture-resistant drywall, moisture-resistant plywood, OSB, GVL, plastic decorative panels or other sheet materials that can withstand significant temperature fluctuations and are not destroyed by moisture;
3. As you know, warm air rushes upward, therefore, in order to reduce heat losses, insulation and ceiling cladding should be done in exactly the same way;
4. After this, you need to putty all the cracks and joints between the sheets of internal cladding, paying special attention to vertical corners and joints between the ceiling and walls;
5. For finishing walls and ceilings, it is best to use water-soluble acrylic or latex paint for exterior use . When choosing a paint color, I recommend giving preference to desaturated light shades, such as white, beige, light green or light blue.

Insulation with foam boards.

If the apartment has a separate balcony and a separate loggia, then I recommend allocating space for a workshop on the loggia. Firstly, loggias usually have a slightly larger width than balconies, and secondly, it will be easier and cheaper to insulate a loggia, and less electricity will be consumed to heat it.

Stage 2. Arranging the flooring

Standard balcony floor slabs are thin, so when installing the flooring, you should also pay attention to its high-quality insulation. For this, you can use the same technology as for walls and ceilings, however, given the higher static and dynamic load on the floor, it has some distinctive features.

To make it clear to the reader, this section will provide detailed instructions for insulating a balcony floor:

Source: obustroeno.com

Workshop on the balcony of a city apartment

The artist's work area will differ significantly from the work area of ​​a seamstress or woodworker. Therefore, it is worth analyzing the nuances of the design of some desktop options, the placement of tools, and materials separately.

Carpentry on the balcony

The main workplace in this room is the workbench. This table can be purchased at a hardware store, or you can build it with your own hands to suit the size of the balcony and your own needs.

Carpentry, like many other jobs, requires many different tools. You can place them in different ways. The simplest solution is to cover one of the walls with wooden panels, drive nails into them and hang tools.

If the master prefers greater organization of his workplace, then it is worth choosing drawers and shelves for storing tools and materials. You can also use one of the walls for this. Do not glaze it, but make it solid, with a niche for a rack or shelves (read more in the article “DIY rack for a balcony”). If various heavy machines are needed for work, then it is better to store them on iron, well-reinforced shelves.

The workbench must also be securely fastened to the floor. Therefore, it is worth choosing a place for this desktop in advance. Sunlight should fall on it for as long as possible, and you also need to install an additional artificial light source - these are safety issues, you must not forget about this.

For a carpentry work area on the balcony, you will need good sound insulation of the walls and floor. It is better to choose a floor covering that is soft and durable so that it is not damaged by sawdust and falling iron tools. The walls must also be able to withstand pieces of work materials that bounce off and tools that jump out of your hands.

Loggia for the artist

For an artist, not only the comfort of the walls is important, but also the atmosphere in the room. On the loggia you can place either an ordinary desk, large enough for large format paper or whatman paper, or an easel.

It must be remembered that some paints, even canvases, have their own storage methods. This must be taken into account when planning repairs to the loggia. Be sure to use waterproofing for the loggia to prevent it from getting too wet.

Lighting also plays a big role, because paints can change tones in natural and artificial light. Also, direct sunlight can damage the work of the master. To prevent such situations, you need to install blinds or one of the types of curtains on the windows.

The nuance of the art zone is paints; they spill on the floor and can stain walls and textiles. Therefore, building materials for the final finishing should be chosen that are easy to clean and have cleanable surfaces. These are plastic, laminate, treated wooden surfaces. It is easy to remove paint from such materials with a damp sponge or rag.

Handicraft corner on the balcony

This is the most fertile field for the embodiment of bold ideas, both in the design of the desktop, places for storing materials, and in the interior. All these points depend on the type of needlework.

For knitting, it is enough to equip shelves for yarn, select a box with compartments for knitting needles and hooks, place a comfortable chair under good lighting, add individual comfort with the help of your favorite wall colors and a soft carpet on the floor.

For needlewomen doing work that requires a large amount of materials and tools, the room should be thought out more carefully. On a long balcony you can even place two versions of a table for needlework.

One part should be equipped with a table, accompanying shelves and cabinets for quilling and making postcards, and the opposite part of the balcony should be set aside as a table for beads and jewelry work. For both ideas, a table with a glass top, under which you can place sectional shelves, would be useful.

Sewing corner on the balcony

A workspace for a seamstress differs from a craft table in that you need to place not only threads, needles, scissors, fabric, but also allocate space under the table for a sewing machine, cutting table, and overlocker.

A sewing machine can be either part of a common structure with a table, or a separate machine that can be hidden when not needed. This is the main place of work, therefore it should be comfortable, all related materials should be at arm's length so as not to interrupt the sewing process. To do this, you can arrange the walls of the loggia around the desktop. Place fasteners for threads that are used frequently; the rest can be put away in a shelf with sections. Scissors, spare spools, and needles can be placed on the wall in front of the sewing machine.

Machines and equipment

The workshop on the balcony provides various modes of creativity and various areas of business. Narrowly focused workshops are equipped in accordance with their specifics. The design will also be subordinated to the type of activity of the home craftsman. The universal workshop is subordinated to the idea of ​​“a master with golden hands.” The most common types of home-based businesses include home plumbing, carpentry, wood carving and sculpture making. “Jack of all trades” is also a kind of business, the neighbors will always be grateful. We do not consider such specific activities as working with glass, repairing computers and TVs, wicker weaving and macrame.

Basic recommendations for equipping a workshop on a loggia usually sound like this:

• avoid overly large and heavy machines and tools; professional equipment has no place on the balcony, if only because it is impossible to work effectively on it, and energy costs will be prohibitive,
• noise and vibration can not only disturb neighbors, but also lead to loss of strength of the balcony itself,
• the mini-workshop specifically involves the use of compact removable equipment, which achieves versatility and ease of use,
• Avoid fire hazardous work and work with chemicals; in case of such work, it is imperative to have all the necessary means of protection and elimination of negative consequences.

A sauna on the balcony is not as difficult as it seems. Read about arranging a sauna in our publication.

Is it possible to equip a kitchen on the balcony and what restrictions are there? Read this article.

When visiting Do-It-Yourself, Home Goods, or My Home stores, the home craftsman’s heart skips a beat when he sees the variety of equipment that has gone on sale not so long ago. The choice ranges from basic sharpening machines to mini lathes for wood and metal. They are low in energy consumption, do not create dangerous vibrations and take up very little space. At the same time, modern manual equipment often has the function of stationary installation and addition of various devices.

Source: balkonyi.ru

DIY workshop on the balcony

You can create a workplace on the balcony for professional activities or for your favorite hobby on your own. To do this, you need to know exactly in what conditions it will be comfortable to work, calculate the materials, forces, time and get to work.

Strengthening the frame and repairing the balcony slab can be too difficult; it is better to use people with certain skills and knowledge for these construction works. Insulating the balcony, laying all types of insulation, sheathing the walls, ceiling, laying the floor - this can be done yourself. Read more in the article “Do-it-yourself balcony repair.”

It is important to remember that insulation is especially important if needlework does not involve active movements.

The placement of a work desk, cabinets for tools and work materials is all a matter of ideas of the owner of the room, based on personal comfort. You can even build a workbench yourself if you have a high level of carpentry knowledge.

Design solutions are not a problem at all if the balcony is designed by a needlewoman or an artist - this is a wide field for the implementation of ideas and options for demonstrating one’s own capabilities.

It is worth remembering that in the pursuit of ideas you should not neglect simplicity and comfort. So, it is better to put linoleum on the floor in a construction workshop (read more in the article “linoleum on the balcony”) than a high carpet; this will make cleaning easier.

The workshop on the loggia is not just a work area. This is the embodiment of fantasy, talent and bold ideas through creative work. And the workshop, which is equipped on a well-insulated balcony, will become a place for good year-round earnings.

Organization of space

Typically, the area of ​​a balcony or loggia ranges from 3 m2 to 5 m2. For a workshop project on a balcony and even for starting a business, this is quite enough if you organize the space correctly. There should be one vertical rack or cabinet for tools and materials. It has to be installed by blocking one of the windows. To the detriment of design, but vertical structures cannot be avoided in order to save usable space.

It is necessary to choose the side with the least amount of sun during the day. It is better not to block the eastern part, but this depends on many factors.

Lighting is one of the main conditions for comfortable work. Electric lighting is provided by a duty lamp above the exit to the balcony and a lamp on a flexible tripod above the workbench.

Installing a workbench or desktop along the longest wall is tempting, but not rational. Working with any material requires maximum maneuverability in the workshop. If the workspace on the balcony is not a creative workshop for a writer or webmaster, then you need a workbench, not a desk. You need to find a workbench on sale with a width that fits the width of the loggia, or make it yourself. And the processing of long parts can be done on a folding workbench, several models of which are always on sale. They are very convenient and functional, and when assembled they do not take up much space. This way you can free up as much space as possible.

Making a workshop on the balcony of a city apartment

Creating a functional room on a balcony or loggia is a fashion trend in recent years, which is popular not only in European countries, but also here. As a rule, balconies and loggias of a city apartment are converted into extensions of the kitchen, playrooms, bedrooms, home offices, etc.

At the same time, a workshop on the balcony, which does not have the same high requirements as, for example, a playroom or bedroom, seems to be an excellent solution.

All work on converting the balcony of a city apartment into a workshop can be done independently, without the involvement of specialists.

But you need to take into account that you should not neglect some stages of the work, so as not to encounter serious problems during the operation of the premises in the future. For example, very often people underestimate the importance of high-quality insulation of a balcony that is being converted into a functional room.

Desk dimensions

Workbench design

To understand what size the workbench should be, take measurements of the balcony. Based on the data obtained, we begin to design technical furniture.

The main size is the width of the table. Usually the workbench is placed on one of the sides of the balcony or loggia. The distance between the front wall of the house and the front fencing of the balcony or loggia will be the width of the table. The height of the table depends on the individual physical characteristics of the owner. The standard height of this type of furniture is 750 mm. The depth of the tabletop can be any convenient for the user.

An opening for the worker’s feet at the table is required. In the absence of one, the workbench will be very inconvenient, especially if a person stays at it for a long time.

How to prepare a balcony for renovation?

First of all, attention should be paid to the glazing of the balcony. Most likely, it already exists, so in this case it is necessary to carefully evaluate its status, and also analyze whether this solution is suitable for future tasks.

If the workshop is not planned to be used during the cold season, then there is no particular need to install expensive multi-layer glazing, because traditional inexpensive plastic or wooden windows that protect the equipment and the owner from bad weather are quite sufficient.

If the workshop on the balcony will have a workbench or work table and year-round operation is planned, then you definitely need to think about high-quality glazing. A good solution would be to install two-chamber or three-chamber double-glazed windows, which provide excellent thermal insulation and sound insulation characteristics.

After installing double-glazed windows, you need to make sure that between the individual elements of the new windows there are no cracks, holes or other defects through which cold air or moisture can leak.

How to make insulation on a balcony

Insulating a balcony is a significant moment for equipping a workshop on the balcony of a city apartment with your own hands. Without it, you should forget about year-round work and operation of additional premises. And if you decide to insulate a balcony or loggia, then do it like this:

Video instructions for insulating and finishing a loggia

1. Eliminate any cracks found on the floor, ceiling, or along the perimeter of the walls.
2. Conduct electricity using wiring with a cross-section of 2.5 square meters. mm.
3. Insulate your workshop in a convenient way:
   Construct niches by constructing lumber or metal profiles around the perimeter of the balcony room. Fill them with thermal insulation such as mineral wool or polystyrene foam. Lay moisture-resistant material on top of the insulation, and cover the frame with plasterboard. Another option like chipboard or OSB will also work.
4. Use polystyrene foam to cover the surfaces of the walls. The benefit of such material lies in the use of a small amount of it, thereby saving the workshop area. This material is glued with glue, and the joints are filled with polyurethane foam.
5. Finish the surface of the walls with wooden lining, plastic, tiles, wallpaper or other material.

The ceiling and floor are insulated in a similar way, but for the second option it is often advantageous to use a heated floor system. It is also worth adding that it is important to properly level the floor and, if necessary, install a radiator in the room to heat it in the cold season.

Is it necessary to insulate the balcony?

Here again everything will depend on the operating mode of the workshop. If the workshop on the balcony will be used only on warm days, when the window can be opened, then it is not worth insulating the floor and walls, since this will simply be a waste of money. But the installation of a high-quality and effective thermal insulation layer will be necessary if you plan to spend a lot of time in the workshop, including in winter.

There is no point in heating a balcony if its floor and walls are not properly insulated - all the warm air will easily seep through any cracks.

To insulate the walls of a balcony, traditional thermal insulation materials can be used: mineral wool, polystyrene foam, slab insulation. The principle of carrying out work on insulating a balcony will largely depend on the selected thermal insulation material.

Particular attention should be paid to the insulation of the floor, on which you need to apply a layer of cement screed, lay roll insulation on it, then install wooden logs and place the main thermal insulation material (again, mineral wool or something similar) in the free space between them.

For insulation, it is quite possible to use modern thermal insulation materials, such as polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene foam, etc. But in practice, they are rarely used for insulation of balconies, because inviting qualified specialists with professional equipment to process several square meters of surface becomes too costly. In addition, not everywhere in our country such services are offered and not everywhere there are specialists with the appropriate qualifications.

How to equip a loggia or balcony for a workshop

Thus, when equipping a workshop on the balcony of a city apartment with your own hands, it is important to follow a certain sequence of actions. Namely:

1. Determine the type and purpose of the future room. Option -

   
   sewing workshop, art or carpentry, metalworking.

2. Prepare the balcony room by emptying it and carrying out preparatory work.
3. Take care of glazing with lighting and electricity.
4. Organize the space as conveniently as possible.
5. Select suitable equipment and furniture.

Creating comfortable conditions

As for comfort, this issue is resolved simply. This is insulation of the loggia, especially the floor, if there are no other rooms under the structure. As well as competent finishing and organization of the premises with a choice of equipment.

Carpentry workbench on an open balcony

So, for carpenters and carpenters it is more profitable to use linoleum or tiles so that there is less litter and the room is easier to clean. For home craftswomen, it is more profitable to arrange a room for creativity to your liking, so that you can enjoy your favorite activity.

Organization of space

Organizing a room in a workshop is not an easy task, since the work of a master often requires perseverance and mobility. Therefore, saving valuable square meters means remaining at an advantage. For practicality, the tabletop should be installed not along the long wall of the loggia, but across it. Near the side wall. If you need to work with large material that does not fit into these dimensions, then install a folding workbench. As a last resort, use a metalworking table installed along a warm wall (under a room window), on which, if possible, place all the necessary tools.

Small workshop on the loggia

Do not store items in boxes and on many shelves, but install one spacious rack. It can also be placed across the balcony room or, if the situation requires it, then along the window. Just not the entire wall, but part of its length. Moreover, you need to block off the least sunny side, after conducting a preliminary analysis.

Carpentry workshop on the loggia

The lighting will be provided by a standard lamp above the front door and a table lamp near the workshop table. Please note that to preserve vision, the light rays must fall from the left side and from above.

Machines and equipment

Regardless of the specifics of the skill, standard recommendations when choosing equipment for a workshop on the balcony of a city apartment are as follows:

• Large and heavy machines with tools are not what is required for a balcony master, since it is difficult to work with professional equipment in such conditions, and the energy costs are exorbitant.
• It will be replaced by compact removable equipment, through which it is easy to achieve versatility in the craftsmanship and save an already small area.

  
  Examples of workshop equipment on the balcony

• Work with chemical or fire hazardous substances on the loggia should be reduced to a minimum, taking care of the protective equipment and devices required for this.
• Excess vibration and noise will also lead to adverse consequences. The neighbors will not like them, violating the strength of the balcony structure.

Example of arranging a carpentry workshop

Thus, in order to equip a workshop on a loggia with your own hands, it is enough to evaluate the space, eliminate the existing flaws in the external room and equip it as necessary. The main thing is to follow some of the recommendations from this article.

Heating issues

When using a workshop regularly, it is very important to choose an efficient method of heating the room. In the case of a workshop, the most optimal solution will be those heating devices that will not take up much space and work with maximum efficiency. Therefore, you will have to choose from a “warm floor” system, ceiling and wall heating units.

Floor heating option.

A combination of several heat sources, for example, underfloor heating and an infrared heater, is also quite possible.

Ceiling infrared panel.

It is not recommended to install a separate radiator on the balcony connected by pipes to the central heating system, since in this case, before starting work, you will need to coordinate everything with utility services, which very rarely give permission to install radiators in non-residential premises of city apartments.

For independent expansion of the heating network in an apartment, current legislation provides for a fine, as well as work to dismantle an illegally installed radiator.

In addition, when placing the radiator and pipes, it will be difficult to install a workbench and other equipment for the workshop, since the heating system will hide the free space.

Arrangement of the premises

The workshop on the balcony needs special finishing. Increased attention should be paid to the floor covering - it must be resistant to serious mechanical loads, pressure, and falling metal objects. The use of parquet, laminate and linoleum is somewhat questionable, because... they can hardly even withstand a workbench.

A workbench, especially a metalworking one, can be quite heavy, but you can make it yourself or buy a folding one, as in the video below.

If you also put a tool cabinet on the balcony, then you need to provide a reliable base that will bear the resulting loads.

Cabinet for tools and workpieces.

Instead of a heavy cabinet, you can consider a stationary or retractable stand for hand tools. Video below.

In the workshop, you can consider installing a floor made of monolithic concrete, special ceramic tiles, engineered wood, porcelain stoneware; all these coatings can easily withstand a workbench. At the same time, you need to take into account that the load-bearing slab of the balcony will receive a significant load (finishing materials, tools, a workbench and much more - everything will create serious loads).

Tiles on the balcony floor.

That is why, before carrying out finishing work, you need to check the condition of the load-bearing slab, assess how much weight it can withstand and how safe it is to operate under high loads. Utility service specialists can provide similar information. In some cases, without additional strengthening or major repairs of the load-bearing slab, specialists may impose a ban on placing heavy materials and equipment on the balcony.

Home workshop on the balcony - 6 stages of work on arranging the workspace

Home workshop concept on the balcony.

Surely, any home owner would like to have his own home workshop at hand with an equipped workplace and a minimum set of necessary tools. For most owners of private houses, this problem does not exist, since they can allocate space for a workshop in their own garage, insulated shed or block of outbuildings. Residents of multi-storey buildings with the availability of suitable free space are a little less fortunate, however, even in this case, I can suggest a simple and inexpensive solution to this issue. For example, a small home workshop on the balcony of a city apartment can be equipped with your own hands in a short time, without significant financial costs.

Is it legal to set up a workshop on the balcony?

Of course, no one can prohibit using the balcony the way its owners want.

Relations with neighbors are a completely individual and separate story.

Do not forget, it is strictly prohibited from the point of view of law to exceed the permissible load on the load-bearing slab. Therefore, if you are planning to install a workbench and other heavy equipment, then you need to consult with specialists before doing so.

Otherwise, the supporting slab may become deformed, and the balcony will become unsuitable for further use. Are you planning to place a heavy workbench in your workshop on the balcony? Be sure to reinforce the base plate.

Preparatory work

Before you equip a workshop on the loggia with your own hands, it is important to draw up a plan. Both the actions and the premises itself. It is worth noting here that the basic point that requires close attention is the purpose of the area being equipped, which directly affects the choice of finishing materials and furniture. It is more profitable for carpenters to use coarse, washable materials, and for craftswomen it is more pleasant to work indoors. The second option involves finishing the balcony with materials similar to those used in the living room.

Things on the balcony

The next stage is clearing the loggia from clutter like skis, bicycles, boxes or furniture, dismantling the old finishing, if necessary, and measuring the room. It is important to carry it out with special care and precision in order to prevent a shortage or excess of purchased materials for arranging a workshop on the balcony with your own hands. So, if you make a mistake in the calculations, then the carpentry table or sofa will not fit into the corresponding dimensions or will turn out to be too small than required.

To operate a workshop on a balcony or loggia for four seasons, it is worth taking additional care of warm glazing and organizing heating in their absence. Otherwise, replace the low-quality heating with glazing with a new one that meets the requirements.

DIY balcony workbench part 1

While it's cold outside. The Christmas trees have been taken down everywhere and the festive mood no longer smells. I decided to assemble a simple workbench table on my balcony.

For the league of laziness, the photo below is a ready-made option.

And from now on, I will ask all people with an allergy to punctuation at the level of a 4th grade student to leave.

Because itching in the ass is guaranteed.

Due to the curvature of the arms and a broken sight according to the markings, I assembled the simplest version of cross-cutting equipment for sawing.

I chose the board that was as smooth as possible in the store, but at home after just a night, it started to sink (Nowadays it’s crap, not wood.

I will drill the holes with a hand drill. hehe)))) why manual? my 9 year old brother can lift this machine with his left hand)

In order not to use long self-tapping screws, I decided to recess them by drilling out the holes with an 8 mm drill. (This is approximately the diameter of the head for the figured bit of the self-tapping screw.

Next, I sawed the legs of the table to the required dimensions and the lintels that strengthened the structure.

For those who are especially curious, there is a furniture board behind the “sticks”. it will serve as a countertop.

Next, I drilled all the necessary holes for self-tapping screws, and holes for embedding them.

Next I assembled the entire structure. (without shield)

Next, I screwed the tabletop (by screwing in the screws from below), and the table was ready!

Next is the most trashy, strange, but probably interesting!

The tools of the heavy arsenal of the carpentry workshop were used.

Next, I screw on the guide for the router sole in the most barbaric way to make an even groove for the pin. (At the same time, I apply a square so that there is at least some imitation of the seriousness of what is happening)

I choose a cutter, but a fatter one. I can’t wait to break the router) (last one at the top)

In 2 passes I mill a depth of 2.3 cm (according to the height of the nut for the stud)

Having made sure that the nuts are the same height, I mill a little more so that the nut sits in its place.

At this moment, the picaboo does not allow me to upload more images (for this reason I will call the post “part 1”, and I will publish the 2nd part in 10 minutes)

The neighbors are lucky, such a handy guy lives nearby!

A fat plus for straight arms. But. wooden structures, especially those assembled with self-tapping screws, tend to become loose. Wouldn't it be easier to make a metal frame?

If I had added glue to the screws, then nothing would have gotten loose, but it’s most likely already loose.

You get five for this.

Did I understand correctly that there are no diagonals in the legs? he'll be staggering like who knows?

“I chose the board that was as even as possible in the store, but at home after just a night, it was ruined (Nowadays it’s crap, not wood.” Are you really a carpenter? =) It’s not the wood that’s crap, but the humidity/temperature at home is different from the store. Or you bought raw sawn wood. At home in the cold (the balcony is not insulated, as I understand it) it dried out a little and it curled up.

No. I'm not a carpenter. My workshop, my hobby. I am not well versed in wood cutting technology.

What is the price of a furniture panel in what rubles?

My balcony is already twice as big

The neighbors will probably be happy! )))

No matter how it turns out.

Hello shavings on the carpets)

Hm. I also have a welder on this balcony. I wonder if I’ll have time to cook it before they take it away?))

Passion for a carpenter's workbench, or - a shoemaker without boots

Time flies - it's scary! For a long time I have been gnashing my teeth about the new, spacious workshop, which will definitely have two departments: wood and iron. I’m really very sick of this matter, but, as usual, life itself dots the i’s and says, to hell with you, Dima, the workshop is so quick: first, pay off the debt for the Dagestan stone, then build a summer kitchen, tomorrow, build something else... something, well, we’ll see, maybe you’ll have a workshop. So, in between times, on the quiet, sometimes I’ll grab an old machine, so that I can acquire a tool, and, between household chores, get carried away with the hobby of restoration. In short!

A couple of years ago I saw a video of an interesting friend, here it is:

And do you know what happens at such moments? I just fell in love with this workbench! Yes yes - at first sight! Perhaps it is not the most advanced, I admit that it is not the most convenient, but damn - it has beauty, grace and brevity, which for me is just like sour cream for a cat: what is needed.

I think: we need drawings so that it will be available when it comes. I opened the author’s website - and he asks for money for the drawings: the amount seems small, and supporting a good maker is never a sin, but - there is always a “but!” Firstly, it was winter, and there was almost nothing to do during the long evenings. And, secondly - purely sporting interest - can I do it? Am I crazy? Mongolia? Oh, I remembered - magnolia! In the sense of whether I can give birth to this wonderful flower, especially considering the fact that my acquaintance with Solid Works at that time could be called superficial. And even now, strictly speaking, I’m on good terms. In short, the challenge was accepted.

I don’t see much point in describing the entire development process here; I’ll give a link to the topic in the comments if anyone is interested. Link to models/drawings - here you go, no complaints, as is: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bzb96ijbjcmkQzQ4Zi16VEtzQU.

What's all this for? Two years have passed since the opening of that topic, I am still moving towards a new workshop (the foundation has already been poured, two-thirds of the blocks have been purchased), and today I found out that one good person began to make this workbench using my models. This is what he came up with:

So, I thought, it’s not in vain. Perhaps it will be useful for someone on a pickup truck. And I will be very happy if by the time I get around to making a workbench, I will already be the tenth of those who will bring the drawings to life.

In fact, the idea, of course, is not mine, I provided a link to the author’s video. All I did was, based on the video, I tried to recreate the general appearance. At the same time, the dimensions, the appearance of individual parts, the relative position of some parts are definitely different, because all I could start from were estimates regarding a spherical horse in a vacuum, i.e. everything according to the original video, on the wormy eye squinting to the left.

Recommend a workbench for working on the balcony

Good afternoon. The task is like this. There is a glazed loggia. Available space length 1600mm. Width from wall to window sill 1000mm. Height to window sill 900 I want to make a workbench there.

I don’t plan to do welding work, because I don’t know how, and I don’t have the equipment. The loggia is lined with clapboard. There are hand tools (hammer, screwdrivers). Drill, electric jigsaw. There is a sharpener. And a drill stand. There is also a Chinese 2-axis table and drill. There are small Chinese vices bought in Murlen. The clamp is on the bottom. The clamping jaw has wild play. When clamping on one side, the other bends. Yesterday I sawed a 6mm bolt. The lips at the other end were touching. I'll probably have to buy others. Mostly I do minor repairs there, soldering, and assembling models. I'm repairing my wife's scooter. I'm cleaning my PC.

Now there is a chest of drawers (chipboard) with a folding changing table. Height 900 and 800 when unfolded. Width 400mm. I used it as a workbench. There is also a table for camping. For soldering and modeling.

Here the other day I got a vertical drilling machine. 2A109 Its weight is 80 kg. Width 400mm. Depth 630mm. The engine mount is homemade. When installing a frame with a column on a chest of drawers, the chest of drawers already bends. This is without motor and spindle head.

I had to think about the workbench. Because welding is not possible. I was thinking about a bolted connection. In particular, about crab systems (https://fly-cat.ru/catalog/krabsistema/). I'm thinking of using a profile of 20x20x2 mm. And I’m already tired of moving the drill stand and sharpener.

But that's the problem. You need to stand while drilling and filing. And soldering and assembling models is done while sitting. Those. there needs to be different heights. And or make a workbench of the same height. And a soldering stool. I'm also thinking about boxes. I plan to divide the workbench into 4 parts. Make a shelf in the first one. Place it there: down - the stand for the drill. It is 400mm high and has a coordinate table. It has a length of 320mm. Up the sharpener. In the second part, make tool boxes. But combine the bottom drawer with the same one from section 4. For my wife, for the handlebars and spare parts for children's bicycles. Section 3: Also for tools, except for the lower one. Now in the chest of drawers in a wide drawer there are: a saddle and a handlebar (length 600mm) section 4. leave blank. I like a soldering iron and modeling. There is a mat for this, A2 format.

I want to cover the side walls and the back with plywood 10-15mm thick. Place 20mm plywood on top in 2 layers.

The question is this: 1. Will this profile withstand such weight? 2. How reliable are the crab systems for this? 3. Is an M6 screw suitable for this, or is M8 better? I don’t plan to use a sledgehammer 4. Do I need to attach it to the wall or to the floor? 5. How to fix the plates under the legs? 6. Do I need to buy a miter saw for drawers?

Installation of a workbench on a balcony and loggia

A workbench on a balcony or loggia is an excellent solution for those who live in apartment buildings and want to have their own workshop. This way you can save precious living space.

With such a device on the balcony, you will no longer have to spend a long time searching for the necessary tools, since they will be stored neatly folded in one place. This solution is especially useful if the balcony is constantly empty.

Types of workbenches

Before you start setting up a mini-workshop on the balcony, you need to decide what types of work the work furniture is intended for. The work table can be metalworking, carpentry or combined.

locksmith table

A metalworking bench must withstand the stress of heavy metal processing work. Therefore, the table frame is made of a metal profile and sheet.

The support posts are made of metal profiles. Strong racks can be made from angles with a shelf width of 35 mm, welded into box-shaped supports.

Horizontal links, guides for drawers, are made from 20 corners or other suitable profile.

The tabletop is cut from a metal sheet with a thickness of 8 mm to 10 mm. You can use a metal sheet of greater thickness. As practice shows, using a sheet more than 10 mm thick will not give anything other than a significant increase in the weight of the table. And this is important for the load-bearing capacity of the balcony slab, especially under shock loads from plumbing work. To learn how to make a workshop with your own hands, watch this video:

Treat tabletop boards with an antiseptic and fire-resistant agent

To soften shock loads, a wooden base is formed under the metal sheet of the tabletop. To do this, wooden boards 20 mm thick are laid in a welded frame from a 22nd angle. A metal sheet is welded to the frame on top.

Dry boards must be treated with an antiseptic and a fire-resistant preparation.

A “wooden pad” under a metal tabletop will soften hammer blows and muffle other harsh sounds when processing metal parts.

Device Features

Workbench design
For plumbing work, a vice is needed. To secure them to a workbench, you need a tabletop overhang of a certain width. When placing a work table at the end of a balcony or loggia between the side walls of the balcony, the vice can only be secured to the front overhang of the table. This position of the vice can cause inconvenience for performing plumbing work.

Alternative

If the balcony area allows, you should think about making an L-shaped workbench in plan, where one part of the table will be at the end of the room, and the second part of the workbench will be under the balcony window.

Carrying out welding work on a balcony, and especially in a residential area, is extremely unwise and dangerous. Therefore, the workbench is made in specialized workshops that have permission to carry out welding work.

You need to know that delivery and installation of an all-welded structure on a balcony can create certain difficulties. An L-shaped all-welded workbench can be made from two sections connected by bolts.

There are options for prefabricated workbenches. The table parts are assembled entirely using bolted connections. Such structures are mobile and do not cause difficulties during their transportation. The disadvantage of such structures is the constant weakening of bolted connections under the influence of variable operating loads. Therefore, fastenings must be constantly checked and tightened.

Carpenter's table

Carpenter's table
A carpenter's workbench can be made from an old desk. If you have experience working with carpentry tools, you can make a work table yourself from wooden materials. There are a lot of drawings on the Internet for making carpentry furniture.

Combined workbench

The combined design is based on a tabletop made from one half of wood and the other half covered with a metal sheet. Thanks to this structure, the workbench on the balcony allows you to do both metalwork and woodworking.

Why do you need a workbench?

Its design consists of a work table and compartments for various tools and workpieces. The table for it can be made of either wood or metal (depending on the tasks performed on it). Its remaining elements (such as drawers, bedside tables, pendants, etc.) are made from any materials and are arranged at the user’s discretion. The workbench design can even be made collapsible and portable.

According to their purpose they are:

For auto mechanics and mechanics, a metal workbench is perfect. His tasks include working with metal and other durable materials. It should have a metal work surface, a vice for securely holding workpieces, a couple of lighting fixtures and a place to store tools. It is advisable to make a table for a metal workbench with the ability to adjust the height, since it is more comfortable to work on it while standing.

A carpentry workbench will be useful for carpenters and wood carvers. With its help you will be great at making different tables and stools, repairing broken furniture or making a variety of decorative crafts. Its design consists of a wooden work surface (large enough to comfortably saw anything), a small vice and drawers for tools. If you like to saw with a jigsaw, then for greater convenience you can make a semicircular cutout in the center of the table. The area underneath should be covered with cardboard to easily and quickly collect scattered shavings.

The carpenter's workbench is not suitable for a balcony because it is too bulky - 1 m wide and 6 m long. It is mainly used for making furniture and processing large parts.

Also, a good workbench should have the following characteristics:

• the working surface is large enough and free;
• the workbench design is stable and motionless;
• enough space to store all the necessary tools;
• There is a place to securely secure the workpiece.

MOBILE WORKBENCH WITH YOUR HANDS - VIDEO

Mobile workbench, do it yourself.

An interesting workbench-cart transformer. Universal desktop

© Author: Evgeny NIKONOV. Saint Petersburg

TOOLS FOR CRAFTSMAN AND CRAFTSMAN, AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS VERY CHEAP. FREE SHIPPING. THERE ARE REVIEWS.

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Site preparation and installation

Before you start making and installing a workbench on the balcony, you need to prepare a place for it. First you need to install electricity. You can simply make a hole in the wall between the balcony and the room. And as a battery, you can use a carrier of the length you need, connecting it to the nearest outlet in the next room. Then you need to insulate the balcony (so as not to shiver from the cold in winter) or simply equip it with sheets of plywood in the place where the workbench will be located.

Now let's proceed directly to manufacturing. For a standard single workbench, the dimensions used are 80x80x150 cm (regardless of its type and purpose). If your balcony is wider, then you can expand the central area of ​​the workbench. Be sure to eliminate all possible cracks and extra holes.

At the base of the workbench there is a tabletop, which is attached to the bench. Its width should be such that all tools that are suspended at the opposite end are at arm's length. The wooden tabletop must be made of hardwood (oak or beech) and its thickness must be at least 60 mm. For a metal tabletop, dense aluminum with a thickness of about 6-10 mm is quite suitable, and the underbench can be placed on steel or cast iron legs. It is advisable to securely fix a wooden tabletop, and weld a metal one to ensure maximum strength!

The surface of the workbench should be protected with an additional wall on three sides. This is necessary so that waste cannot fly out of the workplace during work. One of the walls will serve as a good place for attaching tools. On the other wall you can nail hooks or shelves for quick access to necessary things. In addition to this, you can build small drawers and niches under the tabletop or even put a bedside table if free space allows. In terms of organizing useful space above the workbench, it is advisable to limit yourself to shelves and lighting so as not to overly clutter the workplace. Finally, a wooden workbench must be treated with an antiseptic, and a metal workbench must be coated with a primer.

Equipping the workbench with the necessary equipment

After all the preparatory and installation work is completed, it’s time to equip the workbench on the balcony with everything necessary for work. The first and most important tool is a vice. They replace an extra pair of hands. In a vice, you can securely secure the part and carry out any manipulations with it.

There are two types of vices:

1. Chair blades are useful for heavy, rough work with a hammer or hacksaw. They are instrumental, have free movement of one jaw, rotary and non-rotary. These vices must be screwed to the surface of the workbench due to their bulky design and heavy weight.
2. Universal - light and small in size. They can be placed in any desired place, which allows you to secure the part in the most convenient position. But these vices are inferior to chair vices in terms of reliability of fixation. They are attached to the surface of the workbench with bolts.

The set of the most necessary tools for a workbench includes:

• a hammer (preferably several copies and different sizes) and a nail puller;
• a set of screwdrivers, wrenches and adjustable wrenches;
• pliers, wire cutters;
• hacksaw, saw, jigsaw;
• measuring stationery (ruler, tape measure, level);
• plane, chisel.

Also, do not forget about power tools, such as a drill, hammer drill, jigsaw, circular saw, grinder, etc. They are more convenient and practical to use compared to their manual counterparts.

It is advisable to store all tools in such a way that dust does not fall on them. This is especially true for electrical appliances. If the design has many drawers, then this will not be a big problem. For those instruments that are attached to the wall, you can make curtains made of wood that fold in the shape of an accordion.

Some recommendations and tips

If you are ready to equip the entire balcony as a workshop, then you should install a carpentry workbench on one side, and a metalworking one on the other. Or, on the opposite side of the balcony you can put a large cabinet for power tools.

Nowadays the so-called “transformer” workbench is gaining popularity. It has a folding design that can be hidden in a special cabinet. Thanks to this solution, you can use the balcony not only as a workshop, but also for some other tasks. Its design consists of a retractable tabletop (or folding inwards), legs hidden under it and a small door to hide the entire structure. This mechanism works using clamps and brackets.

Under each shelf and drawer you can make an inscription corresponding to what is stored there. It is advisable to place sharp instruments separately and in plain sight to avoid injury when removing them from the drawer. For waste that will be useful in another matter, you can select a separate box. Another excellent solution would be to glue lids from jars or containers under the shelf installed above the workbench, and put small objects in them (nails, screws, nuts, etc.) and label everything with the appropriate inscriptions.

Building your own workbench on your balcony is not particularly difficult. But the benefits of such a home workshop are simply colossal. This will allow you to independently repair furniture and solve various household technical problems, as well as make something to your taste. The main thing is to properly prepare the place, correctly install and securely secure the workbench on the balcony.

Finished products and accessories

In construction hypermarkets you can choose a ready-made desktop of the required size to match the dimensions of your balcony or loggia. This will free you from the problems of finding materials and making work furniture. To learn how to make a workbench for a balcony, watch this video:

Along with the workbench, you need to purchase table lighting devices, vertical wall fixtures for placing frequently used tools on them: screwdrivers, chisels, pliers, etc.

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