Shop advice...

[Michael Dunn]

Hey Guys,

In the never ending quest for more floor space I am stricken with a dilemma. I built a corner workbench 3 years ago. It is constructed of 5/8" particle board. I am now considering removing one part of this bench to gain more floor & wall space. The half that I am considering removing is the half that I use the most. Now obviously I would move the stuff that I use to the other part that I do not use so much.

Here are some photos...

The bench... (this is what I may remove, the left side.)

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics202.jpg

Other side...

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics201.jpg

Another angle...

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics205.jpg

Obviously this would require some wall rearranging, but that can be worked out. I will eventually get an LCD TV to replace the crt.

All ideas are more than welcome...

Thanx,

shotgunn

[Bruce Seidner]

The compressor can go high on the wall above usable tippy toe space and can be switched from below. Heck, it can can be in another room. But dude, don't know how you are going to have un petite belt sander and drill press in the same space on the right. Although I have seen, and been intrigued, by these workstations that somersault. Two machines are mounted on opposite sides of a board and they flip/flop in a game of who is on top. The weight of your competing machines is not great and I have seen plans where a 12" planer flips with a spindle sander. I think it is an invitation for a hernia myself but desperate men, desperate measures.

What do you need to put on the wall and floor that would dispel the drill press and compressor?

[Michael Dunn]

It's not so much that I need to put something there, I just need the floor space. My table saw/ routing center (not shown) in the pics. As it stands I will bump into the drill press table. I will only have about 18" between these two items. That is not good.

I actually already have plans for a flip table for my planer and my scroll saw. I could store the small belt sander and the chisel mortiser. I haven't even used the mortiser yet.

This way the remaining bench space would hold the DP, CNC, and BS. I have two other benches so worksurfaces would not be compromised.

I am tryng to avoid cutting my already cramped space in half. If I do not remove that part of the bench that is what will happen.

Thanx,

shotgunn



The compressor can go high on the wall above usable tippy toe space and can be switched from below. Heck, it can can be in another room. But dude, don't know how you are going to have un petite belt sander and drill press in the same space on the right. Although I have seen, and been intrigued, by these workstations that somersault. Two machines are mounted on opposite sides of a board and they flip/flop in a game of who is on top. The weight of your competing machines is not great and I have seen plans where a 12" planer flips with a spindle sander. I think it is an invitation for a hernia myself but desperate men, desperate measures.

What do you need to put on the wall and floor that would dispel the drill press and compressor?

[Michael Dunn]

Here are some more pics. I have since moved my TS/ router into a rough position. I may rotate it 180 degrees.

I placed a yard stick for reference to show the lack of space between the TS and the DP.

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics32.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics33.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics31.jpg

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics34.jpg

And finally a pic of a workbench/outfeed table that I may have to ditch or at least severely modify. This was my outfeed table before I built the new TS center. When is use as an outfeed table it rests on levelers. When in storage the levers lift it up on casters and used to straddle the TS so that the two would not take up anymore space than one or the other. I would like to use it as an outfeed table still. It is actually a 1/2" taller than my new TS center. I may either put my new TS center on casters or cut the outfeed table down a bit. I will also have to find a way to hinge one of the legs out so I can straddle part of my new TS center when not in use...

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics35.jpg

And my 'drop down bench' for electronics and guitar repair, modification and design... The cabinet has finishing supplies, glue, and some power tools, etc...

http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt351/shotgunndunn/shoppics206.jpg

Thanx,

shotgunn

[glenn bradley]

WE all use our shops differently so my suggestion stem from my needs and may not be good for yours. With that disclaimer out of the way;

I see a lot of tools at your finger tips that I would only use occasionally. My tools fall into 3 categories; used a lot, used some and used seldom.


Items I use a lot are located for quick access in the area where I use them. This means I may have more than one 1/8" hex key, bench brush or double square; one for each "station" where I use it (the multiples are less frequent based on the cost of the item ;-)



Items I use some are in drawers or on pegboard or other fixtures on the wall. Accessible without a lot of effort but not right in front of my face; cordless drills, setup blocks, clamps, hardware, etc.



Items I use seldom get banished to the rafters, storage in other rooms or even out in the shed. These are items that I know ahead of time that I will want; power sanders, jigsaw/circ saw, specialty clamps, roller stands, special lighting, levels/straight edges, finishing supplies, special vacuum hoses and attachments, etc.

This keeps the things I need at hand . . . well, , , at hand. Items I need often within a few steps and items I need when I need them, available but not sucking up my work area.

BTW, cool bench. I'd seen that plan and thought it was really clever. Also, +1 on the flip top (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=93834&d=1217701642); one of the best things I've added to the shop. The cleat wall approach (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=107656&d=1232573981) was another great idea I stole. It really adds quick flexibility.

[Michael Dunn]

I think I am gonna go for it. I have been trying to squeeze through the small opening, so far I am not liking it. I'll have to neaten up the storage below which is fine since I needed to do that anyway.

shotgunn

[Michael Dunn]

I started the moving process yesterday. I forgot just how nice open bench space looks. I may even leave one or both belt sanders below the bench. I think this may all work out nicely for me.

Should I putthe DP all the way on the right? That's what I'm thinking.

Below the bench I'll store the two sanders, the chisel mortiser and whatever else will fit.

I will build a flip top station to house my 13" planer an 16" scroll saw.

Any tips, feel free.

Thanx,

shotgunn

[Hugh Jardon]

Not very helpful, I know, but my comments:

1. You have a 15" MacBook Pro. Forget what brand of tablesaw you have or aspire to, you have THE BEST laptop.

2. You have way too much crap around your workbench, OR do not generate enough sawdust to make it all messy! (Or potentially, spent 30 minutes with a vacuum before taking the shot :) )

Enjoy the Mac!

[Michael Dunn]

LOL!!! Actually it's a 17" MBP. Yes, far too much crap around the bench. I did actually clean much of the sawdust before the pics. Not for the pics per se, just before.




Not very helpful, I know, but my comments:

1. You have a 15" MacBook Pro. Forget what brand of tablesaw you have or aspire to, you have THE BEST laptop.

2. You have way too much crap around your workbench, OR do not generate enough sawdust to make it all messy! (Or potentially, spent 30 minutes with a vacuum before taking the shot :) )

Enjoy the Mac!

[Bernie May]

I have never understood hanging wreches, screwdrivers, hammers, small saws, etc. on pegboard. Buy an automotive toolbox with drawers, the bigger the better, and save that wall space for shelves. You can pack a lot of small things and have the drawers labeled for contents.
-bernie

[Kent A Bathurst]

I have never understood hanging wreches, screwdrivers, hammers, small saws, etc. on pegboard...

And now, an opposing viewpoint :): I have never understood putting frequently-used items anywhere BUT on an immediately accessible wall. I have a [seemingly] never-ending supply of pliers, cutters, combo wrenches, Crescent wrenches, screwdrivers, allen wrenches, ratchets + sockets, blah, blah, blah. But out of all that stuff, there are only 7 pliers/cutters/scissors and 7 screwdrivers on the wall, because I use them a lot, and they are in very condensed holders. The rest are "over there" in a tool box. Same with saws - 3 on the wall, 4 "over there" on a shelf. Elec wiring gizmos + metal files are over there. Wood rasps + files - wall. Router + lam trimmer near, all other corded tools over there.

Maybe an extreme example - I have 6 - 8 Lufkin HiVis [orange] 10' tape measures, and I simply leave them all over the place - because I use them all over the place.

Why make it less convenient to get to the frequently-used stuff? Also - nowhere was it written that all screwdrivers must always hang out together. Ditto pliers, wrenches, and the ubiquitous thing-a-ma-jigs.

Frequency of use dictates distance + accessibility. I have a "way back" area where I know to go hunt for stuff I know I must have somewhere - I put it all back there, for the rare occasions I need them. Plus - it's sometimes like an Alzheimers Christmas - I go rummage for something and find a gizmo I had completely forgotten I had :D