design help needed

[diovol]

So i just posted a update in another post but this is something unrelated... i am at the point where i want to build my work bench and the area i have is only 12' wide..... but the real problem is with the doors. on the left side is a door the swings open into the house for accesss from the garage to the house and the door on the right swings in from outside to the garage... so here are som pics and maybe some of you woodworking guys will have a neat idea.... Im a motorcycle mechanic not a carpenter.... hahaha

2nd image is door to the house and last is the door to outside.....

 

[1320stang]

 

[Gary S]

The best suggestion I can make is, "do what fits you". We all have different needs, so what works for me most likely isn't right for you.

 

[Steve in Mi]

You may want to consult the electrical code to be sure but I believe you are required to keep clear access to the electrical panel 3' in front of it.

 

[Kevin54]

You might want to look at Jack Olsens garage with his drop down tables. Either have drop downs or get a couple of roll-a-rounds, put them side by side, and add a nice butcher block work surface to the top. Change the stationary casters to all swivels so you can easily park it straight back instead of trying to parallel park it. Two of the big HF boxes would fit right in there and you could move them if necessary

 

[JoeMopar]

You'll need about 3' at each door to egress, so looks like you can safely put a 5'-6" to 6' work bench in the middle of that wall. Might be able to install 12" deep shelves from bench to end wall under panel. Good luck, looking good so far.

 

[magnusk750]

Less than 20' wide bench is useless, rather try to get 25-30' if you can.

 

[TN_GARAGE]

Less than 20' wide bench is useless, rather try to get 25-30' if you can.

Gonna be a little tough since his room is only 12 feet wide.

Regarding OP: I have a huge issue with creating stuff in my head.

I have a tiny little corner available for a workbench/desk (3 cars, 4 bikes, BBQ smoker, fridge, etc.). I ended up duct taping some cardboard boxes together so I'd know how much walk space I needed to leave (glad I did because my first idea would have left things way too cramped).

 

[JeremyManning]

ditto
Quote Kevin54
You might want to look at Jack Olsens garage with his drop down tables. Either have drop downs or get a couple of roll-a-rounds, put them side by side, and add a nice butcher block work surface to the top. Change the stationary casters to all swivels so you can easily park it straight back instead of trying to parallel park it. Two of the big HF boxes would fit right in there and you could move them if necessary
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by JC23
One of the most dangerous things in the world is a property-owning gearhead with earth moving equipment...haha

 

[IH82BL8]

I think the right-hand end blocking that door (evn tempoaraily) is probably a violation of fire code and something you don't want to do. Is there any chance of putting that door on the other side of the jam so it swings the other way?

I with the architect had tought this through a little better.

 

[creativecars]

Less than 20' wide bench is useless, rather try to get 25-30' if you can.

He has got the space available to him.

I would not want to put built-ins in the way of moving stuff from the house to the back yard. I would think about a 2X12 bench (what ever fits and allow doors to open all the way) , and shelves or cabinet doors. Put some pegboard on the wall and upper cabinets on the left. Make sure you leave the breaker box area open for access.

I like the idea of folding up or down benches, but if someone tries to get through while you have the bench out it could be difficult. maybe do that on a side wall.
I see you said your not a carpenter, but a basic lumber structure isn't very difficult.

 

[IH82BL8]

Sorry, I had the use of the doors backwards. The door on the right goes to the great outdoors. If it were me, I'd close it off permanently. I don't have a walkthrough door to th outside and I really don't miss it. Having that door there also adds one more security concern.

 

[little d]

although i like stangs idea, if ya gotta go streight in with anything into the house your screwed. i think Kevin nailed it with the roll around bottom boxes, these you could roll outa the way when ya need to. you could put shelving and/or cabinets above with peg board on the walls also, this will give ya more storage then you will bealive. good luck with your project and let us see what ya end up with, D.

 

[diovol]

see the thing is im a motorcycle mechanic so i do alot of engine... my bench need to be able to support a bit of weight.... im ok with some folding benches on other walls because i dont want to be cramped when i have a bike on the lift.... but the main bench against the panel wall i would like to be permanent..... thanks for the great ideas.. keep em coming.

 

[Ocho]

It looks like you only have a foot or so from the wall to the doors. Any bench is going to block the walkway at least partially. Have you thought about making your bench an island style? This would leave the walkway clear and you could put shallow depth shelving on that wall along the walkway.

+1 on the Roller box with butcher block top if you can afford it. Sams had a really nice looking stainless one for $398 last week. It was about 70x20 IIRC.

 

[V-10 Killer]

Have you ever moved anything big (couch, tv, fridge, washer/dryer, etc...) in/out of that door there, or would you use a different door?
If you'd ever use it for moving anything big or bulky, you might want to keep the flexability of opening that area up for times like that.
I do like how you're using the space, but if you could make it mobile, maybe 2 rolling bases and a 6' butcher block top with metal legs on locking casters. You could put a 36" removable or drop-down bench section on each side so you still have the full 12' top and storage underneath, but can still move it if necessary.
You could check out Gladiator stuff, they have some decent rolling bases and workbench tops.

Just throwing ideas out there.

P.S. Keep an eye out for the door knob height compared to the bench top.

 

[V-10 Killer]

You might want to look at Jack Olsens garage with his drop down tables. Either have drop downs or get a couple of roll-a-rounds, put them side by side, and add a nice butcher block work surface to the top. Change the stationary casters to all swivels so you can easily park it straight back instead of trying to parallel park it. Two of the big HF boxes would fit right in there and you could move them if necessary

Oops lol, looks like Kevin beat me to everything I said already.
What can I say, we think alike

 

[diovol]

Have you ever moved anything big (couch, tv, fridge, washer/dryer, etc...) in/out of that door there, or would you use a different door?
If you'd ever use it for moving anything big or bulky, you might want to keep the flexability of opening that area up for times like that.
I do like how you're using the space, but if you could make it mobile, maybe 2 rolling bases and a 6' butcher block top with metal legs on locking casters. You could put a 36" removable or drop-down bench section on each side so you still have the full 12' top and storage underneath, but can still move it if necessary.
You could check out Gladiator stuff, they have some decent rolling bases and workbench tops.

Just throwing ideas out there.

P.S. Keep an eye out for the door knob height compared to the bench top.

the door going into the house will never be used to bring in big things because i have a front door on the other side of that wall plus sliding doors on the back of the house....

 

[trainwreck]

He has got the space available to him.

I think he was joking with you. 20' is 20 feet, not 20 inches. (20" would be 20 inches.) Also, you probably meant 20 inches deep, and not 20 feet wide.

But to the original point, my concern would have been moving things through the door, but as you've pointed out, not really a concern in this particular case. My other concern is about traffic flow. Traffic flow is a pretty big theme with me, so I'd opt for the fold down/up tables.

On a wholly different note, what do those side walls look like? Is there any reason that you need to have the workbench along the back wall? If anything, I would think that having a workbench parallel to the bike would make working on it easier. Easier to keep tools within arms' reach, easier to temporarily store parts, etc. You could work without moving instead of having to get up, and walk to the back wall every time you need something else.

 

[diovol]

I think he was joking with you. 20' is 20 feet, not 20 inches. (20" would be 20 inches.) Also, you probably meant 20 inches deep, and not 20 feet wide.

But to the original point, my concern would have been moving things through the door, but as you've pointed out, not really a concern in this particular case. My other concern is about traffic flow. Traffic flow is a pretty big theme with me, so I'd opt for the fold down/up tables.

On a wholly different note, what do those side walls look like? Is there any reason that you need to have the workbench along the back wall? If anything, I would think that having a workbench parallel to the bike would make working on it easier. Easier to keep tools within arms' reach, easier to temporarily store parts, etc. You could work without moving instead of having to get up, and walk to the back wall every time you need something else.

well the reason for the bench on the back is because if i put a 22 inch deep table on the side wall and the motorcycle lift is 2feet wide then tools on the opposite wall it doesnt give me much working room in between the bike and workbench

 

[diovol]

hey without looking like a dink....what kind of wood are you guys using for the 2x4's

 

[TN_GARAGE]

hey without looking like a dink....what kind of woof are you guys using for the 2x4's

woof?
you mean wood?

I'd go cheap with the workbench (scrap wood when possible). Then again, that's simply my style. Others take more pride in their carpentry and work areas.

Sounds like most are in agreement on the size of the workbench. Build it as large as sensibly possible because once you start piling on the tools and gear it shrinks.