Im going to be building a new bench soon. I have an idea for a design that may be good. Criteria for this bench is I want to be able to work at it from all 3 sides. 1 shelf and leveling feet. Size is to be 3' wide 8' long and 28" or so high.
What Im thinking now is a butcher block style top from 2x4s and 2"x 8"s meshed in to form clamps from for the legs. This will be glued and doweled together to form the top working surface. 3/4" dowels for the cross dowels. Top will be roughly 3 1/2" thick 3' wide and 8' long. At each corner will be a half clamp to lock legs in place. Legs will be 2" or 3" sch 80 black iron pipe 25" long. These will slide into clamps and 4 1/2 12 bolts with nuts and washers to lock in place. The shelf will be 1"x 8" glued and pined together 3' x 8' with s"x8" x* half clamps glued and pinned 2 1/2 13 bolts to lock each. A plate will be welded on ends of legs with 3/4" hole and adjusting feet made. This will allow some height adjustment and leveling.
This is to be a work bench not a reloading bench. I want to be able to work at it from any side setting it in the middle of the shops floor.