I'm wanting to build a workbench that, instead of having open shelves on the bottom, has enclosed drawers. Drawers seem more usable to me since they will keep things from getting dusty, and allow storage of smaller items (most big stuff I have on shelves on the wall). Does anybody have any plans or examples of workbenches like this?
Building a workbench with drawers
- Thread starter mastiff0
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csp
Well-known member
Wish those pictures were bigger to see what the trim is. I know it's been mentioned in another thread, but I still can't picture what was used.
UncleJoe
Well-known member
Iused some craftsman cabinets. I have $507 in craftsman roller cabinets in this picture. Just don't install the wheels and build a frame around it.
The trim is just 1x1 aluminum angle from lowes. I also cut masonite to cover any exposed wood to clean it up then painted it. Looks more like metal and matches the box great.
I like the idea of the roll around tool boxes without the wheels I think it looks clean. I would like to do a build in with my tool box with no wheels in the middle and the drawers on both side and have one long stainless bench top
I like the idea of the roll around tool boxes without the wheels I think it looks clean. I would like to do a build in with my tool box with no wheels in the middle and the drawers on both side and have one long stainless bench top
This bench is an open frame with that cabinet sitting in it. The wood was all salvaged from crates, etc. The handles came from a bureau that was curbside. That Mahogany looking wood came from a place that brought in doors from Indonesia.......those were the crates. On the LH end there are old jack wheels, the RH end has a crossmember to raise with a hyd. jack and move the bench around. Drawers are better!
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Some day........I'll get around to making another cabinet for the other side of that bench. This time, it will have only be five drawers high as I use baby food jars in some drawers to store things and they rub on the drawer above. Only needed about a 1/2" more to prevent that. Did not think of it at the time.
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Some day........I'll get around to making another cabinet for the other side of that bench. This time, it will have only be five drawers high as I use baby food jars in some drawers to store things and they rub on the drawer above. Only needed about a 1/2" more to prevent that. Did not think of it at the time.
regguy1
Well-known member
I've posted this in other threads. I built his bench out of 1/2" plywood and 6
2" x 4" upright legs. Everything is dado cut and glued together. It is very strong. It takes some thought and planning, but once you have the sizes figured out you can set up your saw and cut and dado everything fairly easily. In fact I built 2 of them at the same time.
I used this / those benches for over 30 years in a commercial setting, I did a cleanup and repaint on this one and it's now in the garage at home. More effort to build but well worth it. A bench with drawers / cabinet doors allows you to have a neater look in your shop.
You also might look at this storage idea:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65557
2" x 4" upright legs. Everything is dado cut and glued together. It is very strong. It takes some thought and planning, but once you have the sizes figured out you can set up your saw and cut and dado everything fairly easily. In fact I built 2 of them at the same time.
I used this / those benches for over 30 years in a commercial setting, I did a cleanup and repaint on this one and it's now in the garage at home. More effort to build but well worth it. A bench with drawers / cabinet doors allows you to have a neater look in your shop.
You also might look at this storage idea:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65557
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May Pop
Well-known member
How about using file cabinet drawers. The glides are removeable.
Nice! How about some pics of the rest of the shop? bikes?
MeentSS02
Well-known member
It's tall, but so am I:
On Edge
Well-known member
It's tall, but so am I:
Now that is one sweet setup you got there! I'm going with the same color combo that you have. Looks like you aren't too far from me either. I'm over by Kings Island. Nice workbench!
Just about finished with mine. I'm with the others, take the casters off the tool box and build it into the work bench. I used the mounting rails from my gladiator cabinets to make the shelves. I was low on plywood, so I made one shelf slide back and forth, I slide it back to store larger items, then pull it out when I need something off the shelf. I'll probably fix this when I get another sheet of plywood.
Shelf pulled out
Shelf pushed back
larger items being stored
Shelf pulled out
Shelf pushed back
larger items being stored
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
When I built my first workbench, I incorporated some old drawers that I'd torn out of a closet. Not being a skilled carpenter, I worked out a pretty hacky way of an understructure for them -- but it worked.
For the second version of the bench, I just bought a cheap toolbox that had 13 drawers.
For the second version of the bench, I just bought a cheap toolbox that had 13 drawers.
stafford
Well-known member
mdbeck1
Well-known member
While not as pretty as a shiny new tool box it wasn't as expensive either.
This one is all wood (except the drawer slides and rollers) and rolls out from under the cabinet so that I can use to as a roll around cabinet. I already had most of the materials.
The basic idea came from a copy of Shopnotes (woodworking magazine).
This one is all wood (except the drawer slides and rollers) and rolls out from under the cabinet so that I can use to as a roll around cabinet. I already had most of the materials.
The basic idea came from a copy of Shopnotes (woodworking magazine).
regguy1
Well-known member
I always figured if a cheap workbench was needed you could get a couple of used steel office desks from the Salvation Army store,raise to the height that suited you by setting the legs in wooden blocks, and fill the knee space with a small roller chest. The existing drawers could be used for bulky tools like impact guns and drills.
KEH
KEH
John in OH
Well-known member
I'm all in favor of drawers under the workbench ... however you choose to make them. But I'd suggest that you also consider leaving a knee pocket somewhere along the bench with a nice footrest built in. It sure is more comfortable to sit at a work bench when doing detail work and have someplace to put your knees!! I've sat a benches with no knee hole and had to sit either sideways or spread eagle 'cause there's no place for the knees ... not comfortable for a long duration!
KCarGuy
Well-known member
Heres what I did under my Workbench...
I took 2 of my Old Craftsman Toolboxes (which I still need to re-Paint)...And mounted Heavy Duty Slides to them.
They can both be pushed in and flush with the Front of the bench...
I can pull open any one of the draws to access tools...
I can pull out the entire Toolbox and access whats in the top, by opening the lid.
And push it right back
It slides nicely, No more taking up Benchtop space, and I get good use out of them.
I took 2 of my Old Craftsman Toolboxes (which I still need to re-Paint)...And mounted Heavy Duty Slides to them.
They can both be pushed in and flush with the Front of the bench...
I can pull open any one of the draws to access tools...
I can pull out the entire Toolbox and access whats in the top, by opening the lid.
And push it right back
It slides nicely, No more taking up Benchtop space, and I get good use out of them.
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John in OH
Well-known member
KCarGuy -- That's a nice idea! I've never liked this type of toolbox for the very reason you mention ... they take up too much bench space. But you've found a good solution!
Zengineer
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KCarGuy
Well-known member
I thought about making a shelf that slides out for each one, but because of the weight of each toll box full, The shelf would need to be pretty beefy...making them bulky.
This way, i only need 1/4" between the top one and the bottom one.
Great Idea though...Thanks!
This way, i only need 1/4" between the top one and the bottom one.
Great Idea though...Thanks!
rocketmac
Active member
It's tall, but so am I:
Do you know who makes the lower cabinets ??.
csp
Well-known member
Those are Lista lowers.
I like the idea of using lower tool cabinets with the rollers taken off, but it does seem like that forces you to have a taller than usual workbench. I know the HF 13 drawer cabinets are 32-33" without rollers, and adding top support structure for the workbench and a workbench top will bring the height to 34-36". I like my benches a little taller than normal, but that's getting up there.
Concrete B
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- Dec 6, 2007
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Most of my benches have been 40-45. I like using old kitchen cabinets for bases. Also, when using tool chests as bottoms, why not leave the wheels on and cover them? I think one of Jack's is this way. This allows the chests to be moved if needed, but still looks built in.
I think people remove the rollers because that would add an additional 5+" to the height of their workbench. I think kitchen countertops are usually 36" tall, which is the height you would get if you did not keep the rollers. It all depends on how you plan to use a workbench (detail work/assembly vs pounding and grinding on stuff). I have taller 40" workbenches that I use for detail work, but would rather something in the 34-36" range to mount my vises and place my large tabletop drill press.
Linda@Lista
Well-known member
It's tall, but so am I:
I'm happy to see you're loving your Lista set up!
Linda@Lista
MeentSS02
Well-known member
csp answered before I even saw the question, and he is right on the money:
...as are the upper cabinets.
I'm very happy with how everything turned out...it met my needs perfectly.
Lynnhowlyn
Well-known member
great ideas and visuals.
Subscribing for future reference ....
Subscribing for future reference ....
This...
My bench with the casters removed, 4"x4" cross beam 3/8" above the width of the box, 3/4" plywood and 1/8" tempered hard board for the top surface and stands at 39" tall. With the casters would have been 46" tall. 46" tall would have been fine for just straight detail work sitting on a bar stool. But I needed my bench for all around work, detail as well as beating things up and everything in between. So the 39" height is working out just fine.
bad_idea
Well-known member
My bench is 38" at one end and the other end is 42" (the floor slopes that much). I built a Harbor Freight 13 drawer 41" chest into mine. The floor is so sloped in my garage that the tool box rocked when on it's wheels.
Jack, sorry if you've answered this before, why so many grinders?