basement work bench

[General Geoff]

Not in a garage, but close enough!

This workbench was built by my dad about 25 years ago. I was a lad then (about 5 years old), but was fascinated by his woodworking and the tools he used. He had a radial arm saw mounted on it, and when he and my mom moved out of the house back in '05, he took the saw and his other tools with him but left the work bench, as it was just made from scrap wood anyway.

The bench has sat, mostly unused in the basement for the past nine years (I bought the house from my folks in early '06), because I'm not much of a woodworker. But I realize now that a workbench is very useful for a lot of things besides just carpentry, plus I got a free compound miter saw that I needed to set up somewhere. So after putting up some fluorescent lighting, and cleaning off the junk that had accumulated on it, I now have a spacious, rock solid (bolted into the concrete wall) work area. I've already bolted down the saw and squared up the fence on it so it's ready to use, and sharpened a few chisels and knives with the help of clamps and a dremel. I'm trying to figure out exactly where to mount a massive vise I have sitting next to the bench, but I don't want to impede my ability to cut long dimensional lumber with the miter saw.

That little table under the bench is actually a homemade router table, which I haven't used yet because I don't have a router for it. All in due time.

 

[Cyberbear]

You may wish to fasten some furring strips to the concrete wall and cover them with plywood or sheet rock in order to maximize your future tool storage on hooks or in cabinets.
Adding a few more electrical outlets would be handy as well.

 

[General Geoff]

I have a long 12-outlet power strip I plan to mount to the wall about 4 inches above the bench surface. I don't have any future plans for super high amp tools, so the four hardwired outlets should be plenty.

I was considering putting up some extra wood for more mounting/storage options on the wall, it's a good idea.

I do already have a very large set of cabinets covering the adjacent wall (not visible), next to the little white metal cabinet in the corner. I also have another small workbench with lots of space for storage, already filled with tools, right behind the where the camera is in the photo.

Thinking of adding some more lighting to light the corners a bit better too.

 

[MScott]

. I'm trying to figure out exactly where to mount a massive vise I have sitting next to the bench, but I don't want to impede my ability to cut long dimensional lumber with the miter saw.

Why not attach a receiver tube under the table top (probably next to the right side leg,) and bolt the vise to a receiver bracket. I think you can buy these at HF. That way you can remove the vise whenever it would be in the way.

 

[General Geoff]

Why not attach a receiver tube under the table top (probably next to the right side leg,) and bolt the vise to a receiver bracket. I think you can buy these at HF. That way you can remove the vise whenever it would be in the way.

Damn, that's a great idea! My concern would be, most automotive receiver brackets don't fit perfectly snug into the receiver tube, so I might have to shim it for it to be solid.

 

[abachman]

I mounted my electrical strip outlets below, on the face of the workbench. That way I'm not having the cords in the way so often. And I shut it off when not in use.