Bench tools

[Jhoff310]

Ok guy I have a fair amount of bench top tools ( bandsaw, drill press, grinder, etc...) that are not used often enough to have a permanent spot on the bench. My workbench like any other workbench is precious real estate. How do you use yours? how do you store them when not in use?

I am thinking about mounting a 2" receiver to my bench and mounting each tool to a plate with a tube to slide into the receiver when a particular tool is needed. I have also considered mounting each tool to a 2x8 or 2x10 with a cleat that will be mounted on the bottom of said lumber, so I can tighten it in the vise when needed.

I'm looking for some ideas/ suggestions/ comments etc...

 

[Sunset_Z28]

I've considered doing this same thing for some time now and the only thing that's kept me from going the receiver hitch route is the amount of tolerance between the receiver and the insert. You definitely don't want to be cutting something on a bandsaw while it's wobbling around. I suppose it could be fixed either with some shims or by drilling and tapping a hole in the receiver with a bolt to lock down the insert.

 

[PECVD2]

This is really the only picture I have left of my old set up.
I only had an 8 x12' shed to work out of so I cut a register hole in my recycled solid core door work bench.
I attached all my bench tools to a register plate with a couple of 1/4-20 dog clamps underneath to lock the plate in place.
If you make the plate a perfect square you can rotate your bandsaw (any tool) to accomdate longer stock if needed.
Each bench tool has its own plate already mounted to the tool. When finished you pull the tool and reinstall a blank plate to cover the hole.

This picture is of my bench when moved to my larger garage and not of my cramped shed

 

[2oolhound]

I use the receiver hitch system but I'm using lighter weight unistrut (got free). I can stand on the mounts so it's plenty strong but when I build my next bench (HD with steel plate top) I will have female pockets precisely on 12" centres so bigger heavier tools like the drill press, bandsaw and even the 6" vise will get 2 tongues or male mounts on 12" centres.

You always get some movement in receiver hitch mounts so you must add lock down bolts to eliminate movement although most of the time the movement is not an issue. I drive tapered punches in the unistrut holes if it is. I think having 2 receivers on bigger heavier tools will almost eliminate this movement as these bigger tools will just want to teeter.

If you look around your shop you will spot other places to have female receiver hitches. I have 3 other workbenches with mounts as well as having them on my motor cycle lift, lathe stand, heavy T-slot table, heavy shelving units and a heavy mobile stand with 4 receivers at 90ᴼ to each other. These other mounting areas provide storage areas for your tools when not in use as well as making them ready to use where they are. I also have a storage rack behind a door set up for storing mounted tools.

I currently have these on mounts:
7 vises, (2 pipe with one including table)
8" Buffer
3 grinders
3 tables (small 12" X 24" work surfaces handy around drill presses, buffers, grinders etc)
Roller stand
bicycle work stand

I want to add these when I get the dual mount set up:
Belt grinder
small band saw
small drill press

My shop is only 8' wide in places so this system is working great. I'm very happy with it.

 

[turbowoodworker]

I like the hitch idea and it seems to work very well on metal, welding benches. But my benches are for the most part either wood or lighter weight.
I attached my occasional tools to a piece of plywood and use C clamps when needed at the edge of the bench. Simple and cheap, like me.

 

[Hagatronics]

I used to have a bench grinder mounted on a MDF plate hinged to the edge of the bench. When not in use is swung under the bench. When in use it swung up. Had some braces/strut that held it in llaace when in use. Can't remember how it was held up under the bench..

 

[scooternut]

I've considered doing this same thing for some time now and the only thing that's kept me from going the receiver hitch route is the amount of tolerance between the receiver and the insert. You definitely don't want to be cutting something on a bandsaw while it's wobbling around. I suppose it could be fixed either with some shims or by drilling and tapping a hole in the receiver with a bolt to lock down the insert.

Sorry, no pic handy, but I welded three nuts to the receiver (top and 2 sides). Three bolts snugged up against the hitch plate locks it down very sturdy.

I like the system for vises because i have a number of them that I like to use, and more importantly it allows me the freedom to walk around the work piece.

 

[jimreed2160]

I think you are going the right way. I use the same concept for mounting tools on my woodworking bench. Anything I can mount to a 2x4 clamps perfectly to the bench with my bench dogs. So far, I have mounted a gyro vise, a Stanley #77 dowel machine, and a miniature benchtop in that fashion. All work well.

Your bench is a bit different but you could adapt that concept. Here is what I would do.
1. Make the benchtop with a square or rectangular recess and make a removable plate of plywood for that recess. I think 12-14 inches is about right.
2. Make plywood bases for your tools and attach the tools to the bases.
3. When needed, remove the plate and replace with your tool. Add C-clamps to the front to hold the tool and plate in place.

I think this would work well for light duty vises, grinders, and other such tools. I am not sure about the bandsaw because there might not be enough clearance.

Good luck with your project. Clever use of space can expand your work area in a small garage. GJ is a good place to get ideas for that.

 

[crewchief888]

i gave up trying to have bench top tools on my bench..

drill press ended up on a repurposed 2 shelf SO cart,
disk/belt sander on a universal type machine stand bolted to a movers dolly, chop saw is mounted the same way, hand shear and bench grinder got their own "custom" stands.

i'm not locked down working at the bench, and i have room for the vise, and a place to work

 

[1cargarage]

A while back I was in the same situation as OP. Instead of the receiver hitch idea (which I liked, but didn't like the slop), my solution was:

1- Measure the footprint of each of your bench tools and find a uniform rectangular dimension into which each will fit (for me, they all fit inside of 20" x 30")

2- Cut as many rectangular pieces of plywood/mdf/etc to that dimension as needed

3- Mount each tool to its own piece of plywood/mdf/etc. Some small tools will look lonely on the large sheet, but you can even combine two tools that are often used together.

4- Construct a shelving system/open front cabinet whose interior width is the width of each piece (30" in my case)

5- Attach stringers/runners from front to back along the side walls of the cabinet so that each tool can easily be slid in/out via its piece of wood. Be sure to organize the tools according to weight. Keep the heavy ones low.

6- Dedicate a (perhaps several) place(s) on your bench or mobile stands where the tools can be quickly mounted when in use and dismounted when not in use. You can use toggle clamps (very fast), cam clamps, c-clamps, etc.

Worked well enough for me as long as the shelf/cabinet I store them on is unobstructed. It works well mainly because by doing this, you create a uniform footprint for all of your bench tools. Makes storage way easier and keeps stuff from getting buried in the backs of cabinets to be lost forever. I mounted my bench grinder, miter saw, pocket hole fixture, and vise each to its own piece of sealed mdf.

 

[anndel]

Ok guy I have a fair amount of bench top tools ( bandsaw, drill press, grinder, etc...) that are not used often enough to have a permanent spot on the bench. My workbench like any other workbench is precious real estate. How do you use yours? how do you store them when not in use?

I am thinking about mounting a 2" receiver to my bench and mounting each tool to a plate with a tube to slide into the receiver when a particular tool is needed. I have also considered mounting each tool to a 2x8 or 2x10 with a cleat that will be mounted on the bottom of said lumber, so I can tighten it in the vise when needed.

I'm looking for some ideas/ suggestions/ comments etc...

Sounds like an excellent idea. I don't have space on my bench or in my garage so I have a grinder on a stand that I have to move around to access the shop vac and compressor.