Recent Shop Additions

[Keith Beck]

Working in a small shop (aka a two car garage that's also full of yard equipment, bikes, etc.) means storage is always at a premium and it's beneficial to have things that perform more than one function. So, having seen plans for a workbench that also serves as lumber storage, I knew that was something right up my alley (http://www.woodworkingtips.com/etips/2005/04/15/sn/) (http://www.woodworkingtips.com/etips/2005/04/15/sn/)

So, here's my rendition of the bench

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02807594x413.jpg

I did make a few modifications to the original design, like adding the hardboard and skirting to the top. I got the solid-core door for the top at a local Salvation Army type store - it's heavy! The bonus is I bought it on the day they had 50% off of everything. The pipe I got free from a remodeling job that was going at my brother's business. All together, I think this bench cost around $50 to build. I think that's money well spent! As you can see, it's also currently serving as clamp storage until I get around to building a mobile clamp cart (available wall space is short in my shop).

My brother also gave me a old metal cabinet he had put in wheels. He was using it for his miter saw, but no longer needed it after a re-do of his shop. I'm now using it as a my planer cart. Not only does it give me more storage inside, I also added a paper sorter that was a swap meet find to hold my sandpaper and built a simple clamp rack on the side. Total cost = $2 for the paper sorter.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02808459x465.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02809456x451.jpg

Well, thanks for looking at some of my budget builds. :)

Keith

[Allen Bookout]

Nice job Keith!!! And your work bench will triple as an assembly table. I need an assemble table, my wood is leaned up against a wall and the shorter pieces are in five gallon buckets and my work bench is too small. You have solved all of these problems with your great looking and functional project. Allen

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Excellent solutions to a couple of shop problems Keith!

[Steve Clardy]

Looks great.

[lou sansone]

love the sandpaper file. all of the ideas are great

thanks for sharing them
lou

[John Miliunas]

You certainly came up with a couple multi-purpose winners there, Keith!!! :) I've got wood storage but that sandpaper storage is way neat! Good job! :) :cool:

[Keith Beck]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Sandpaper storage has been a big issue for me for quite some time. I got a large amount of numerous grits off of a guy who was getting rid of his shop and up until this point, it's all been stuffed in a drawer. It was always a hassle trying to find the right grit.

BTW, on the bottom of the right column is a great storage solution for those round ROS velcro sandpaper pads.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02811640x480.jpg

Just pull out one of the pieces of plywood and you have:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j114/ldoforcno/DSC02812436x548.jpg

I can't claim it's an original idea, but they only took 5-10 minutes to slap together and they make it really easy to line up the holes in the paper with the holes in the bottom of the ROS. As an added benefit, it helped get rid of some of the scrap plywood I had taking up space. :)

Keith

[John Miliunas]

Keith, you're right; Using the dowel thing is not an original idea BUT, incorporating them into the actual storage shelf is something I've not seen before and that's way cool!!!! :D I think you've given me an idea to part of my own storage issues, those round ROS papers, being one of them! Thanks! :) :cool:

[Frank Pellow]

Keith, you're right; Using the dowel thing is not an original idea BUT, incorporating them into the actual storage shelf is something I've not seen before and that's way cool!!!! :D I think you've given me an idea to part of my own storage issues, those round ROS papers, being one of them! Thanks! :) :cool:
Well done Keith! They look like items that most of us could use in our shops.

[Jim Becker]

Very good functional use of space! Nice job on the benches...

[Vaughn McMillan]

Nice job, Keith. I will be stealing the sandpaper disk caddy idea. ;)

- Vaughn

[Michael Gibbons]

That's being a frugal Yankee!!!

[Keith Beck]

Michael,

Frugal is a lot better description than my SIL came up with for my planer cart. She said it looked ghetto! She almost hurt my feelings for a second... :D

Keith

[Jerry Olexa]

Very nice work and efficient use of space...

[Pete Harbin]

Nice Keith. I'm eyeing that table idea for sure!

Pete

[Keith Beck]

For anyone building the bench, be forewarned that the plans aren't perfect. Definitely make sure you measure the width of the solid-core door you get. The plans say to make the leg sections 36" wide. I found when I was putting the door on that my door was 35 1/2". A little creative reengineering was required to fix that problem.

Keith

[Shelley Bolster]

An innovative example of storage and organization Keith! You might have been guided by the need due to a smaller work space but those ideas can be used to increase efficiency and order in any size shop. You can't beat mobile either! Thanks for sharing your ideas!

[Tyler Howell]

Michael,

Frugal is a lot better description than my SIL came up with for my planer cart. She said it looked ghetto! She almost hurt my feelings for a second... :D

Keith
Keith.
For those of us that live in the Gratto that's pretty classy:cool:
Clearly SIL has no appreciation for dumpster diving and recycling.:D