Shopping list — The 6'9" Workbench

The cabinets — this is the storage, and most of the budget

YUKON 46" 9-Drawer Mobile Storage Cabinet, black (Harbor Freight #56613)

Qty: 2 — one pair, butted side by side

37 1/8"H × 46 1/4"W × 18 1/4"D, 186.5 lb each, 18 drawers total. Watch for the recurring $299.99 coupon. Blue (#57440), white (#57439), and red (#57805) exist if you want a contrast base — black matches the scheme.

~$700

Plinth & end column — the wood base you build

2x10 × 8 ft pine (or 2x12 ripped to width)

Qty: 2 — plinth perimeter and internal joists

2x10 actual height is 9 1/4". Shim ~1/8" to hit 9 3/8", or accept a 47 7/8" counter. Measure your assembled cabinet first — see the reference page.

~$30

3/4" sanded plywood, 4x8 ft (birch or maple, paint-grade)

Qty: 1 sheet — plinth top deck, plinth skirt panels, end-column panels

Have the store rip it to your panel sizes at the saw desk — first cuts are free.

~$70

2x4 × 8 ft stud-grade pine

Qty: 2 — end-column frame plus the wall ledger

~$10

Top — drive to IKEA, get help loading it

IKEA worktop, 98" × 25 5/8" × 1 1/2"

Qty: 1

At this size it's the Karlby/Pinnarp line — veneer over particleboard, not solid butcher block. ~$179. To upgrade to a real chop-safe surface, swap for solid acacia/maple butcher block at the same footprint (~$250) and use figure-8 fasteners. ~110 lb either way — bring a buddy.

$179

Hardware

Threaded leg levelers, 3/8"-16 with T-nuts

Qty: set of 4 — one per plinth corner

Level the plinth on the carpet and everything above it follows. Hammer the T-nut into a 3/8" hole, thread the leveler in.

~$15

Heavy-duty L-brackets / corner braces, black

Qty: 8–10 — tie cabinets to the plinth, the top to the cabinets and end column, and the assembly to the wall ledger

~$15

#14 × 4" lag bolts + 1/4" × 1 1/2" washers

Qty: 6 of each — for anchoring the wall ledger to studs

A lag bolt is what keeps the bench from tipping. Non-negotiable for safety.

~$20

1 5/8" wood screws

Qty: 1 box — plinth assembly, skirt, end column

~$8

2 1/2" construction or pocket-hole screws

Qty: 1 box — plinth joists and end-column frame

~$10

#10 self-tapping metal screws

Qty: small pack — for bracketing into the cabinets' steel top lip

~$6

Wood glue (Titebond II or III)

Qty: 1 bottle

~$8

Finish — much less than building cabinets, since the steel is already black

Matte black self-leveling enamel

A quart usually covers the plinth, skirt, and end column. Brands: Benjamin Moore Advance, Behr Cabinet & Trim, GF Milk Paint (Lamp Black)

Test on a scrap against the cabinet — match the powder-coat sheen so the wood base doesn't read as a different black.

~$40

Stain-blocking primer, 1 quart (Zinsser BIN or Cover Stain)

Qty: 1 — blocks pine knots from bleeding through the black

~$15

Hardwax oil for the top (Rubio Monocoat, Osmo Polyx, or Odie's Oil)

Qty: 1 small can — two thin coats on the wood top

~$40

Power — for the integrated pop-up outlet

In-counter pop-up outlet (Legrand adorne or Hubbell SystemOne)

Qty: 1 — mounts in a hole drilled in the top

Pick the exact model before drilling — the hole-saw size depends on the unit (usually 2 7/8" or 3 1/8").

~$120

12-gauge extension cord, ~10 ft

Qty: 1 — wired into the pop-up, routed through the end column to the wall outlet

~$15

Tools you might already own — uncheck what you have

Appliance / stair-climbing hand truck with straps

For getting the 186 lb cabinet shells up the stairs. Rent for ~$40/day if you don't own one. The single most useful tool for this build.

rent ~$40

Stud finder

Mandatory. The wall-anchor step depends on finding studs accurately.

~$25

24" or 48" level

For leveling the plinth and checking the wall is plumb.

~$20

Speed square

Square cuts on the 2x10 plinth stock.

~$12

Sandpaper assortment (120, 180, 220 grit)

~$15

Painter's tape + drop cloths

For masking and your garage paint area.

~$10

Respirator (paint-rated, P100 or equivalent)

For spraying or rolling enamel in the garage.

~$22

Hole saw set + Forstner bits

Sized to the pop-up outlet hole (usually 2 7/8" or 3 1/8"). Check the outlet spec.

~$35

Drill bit set + 3/8" bit + 3/16" + 1/4" bits

The 3/8" bit is for the leveler T-nuts. The 3/16"/1/4" are the lag-bolt pilot and clearance holes.

~$22

Socket + ratchet (or impact)

For driving the lag bolts into the studs.

~$20

A pair of clamps + a straightedge

For clean circular-saw cuts on plywood (if the store can't do them).

~$30