Shop Bench
| I finally had the space to build a proper shop... but my workbench was woefully inadequate. There was absolutely nothing in the Want Advertiser, so I started looking around to figure out what to do. |
 |
I saw the Tool Dock System at the Woodworker's Warehouse in Acton and they had some good ideas for interchangeable top inserts and dust collection... |  |
 |
Then i check out Norm's handiwork in the New Yankee Workshop... his shop table (left) and dedicated chop saw table convinced me to build my own... |  |
| And, if i did it right, i could even incorporate some of his superior router table ideas..! |  |
 |
So i designed a workbench with a 45" x 96" top and partitioned it into 3 bays. for strength, i bolted it together out of 2 x 6..! |
| Here's the basic table. It has power strips on both sides and shelves on the 2 end bays (the middle bay will get filled up with vacuum cleaner and compressor) |  |
 |
I decided to build a workstation in each bay. One station would be set up for the chop-saw, one station for the router and the third for sanding, etc.. I decided to make each station 23" x 20". Here I am building the carcasses that go into the cutouts in the table top... |
| Once I had all the boxes built, I cut the holes in the top of the workbench and attached plywood frames to the underside of the table- these frames will support the station inserts. |  |
 |
Then the carcasses drop right into the table top, forming one continuous surface (like this)... |
| ...or you take one out and flip it over and drop in a chop saw. Now you have an 8' support for those long pieces you're cutting..! |  |
 |
 |
Next up- the router station and adding Rockler T-Track. to the bench top |