Corner Workbench Plan. What do you think?

[BenderBot]

Hey guys, I just finished remodeling my 20x20x9 garage. I ran new electrical all over, insulation, drywall, lighting, mini split AC/heat, epoxy floor, etc. Now that the paint is dry and my stuff has been moved into the garage it's time to build a permanent workbench for storing tools and working on various projects.

Currently I dabble in a few different projects in the garage. Some electronics/soldering, wood working (cutting boards, tables etc) lots of home improvement (planning some builtins) and whatever else I might need to sand, paint, disassemble, etc. Nearly zero car stuff. The tools etc need to be put away so I can use the space for larger projects and other uses, like photography.

I want to build a corner workbench for mostly tool storage and working on smaller projects. I have a cart that will be opposite the benches as the primary assembly table or for working on larger/wood projects. This means it does not need to be super robust or have vices etc.

Overhead I have two hanging metal racks with shop lights under them. The general plan is to have a countertop heigh bench so I can stand or sit on a tall stool to work. Two sheets of plywood will be hung over the drywall to hang tools on, most likely just screwed directly into the wood. I will probably paint the legs of the table and the tool wall plywood.

The general concept is to create to L shaped 2x4 frames and bolt those into the existing studs like a similar design I saw here. (3) 4x4 legs, either 4x4 posts or 2x4's screwed together, will be used as the legs on the outside edges. Plywood will then be added to form the top, possibly 2x 3/4" sheets for the top. one for the bottom shelf. Trim (possibly PVC) will be added around the top to finish off the edges.

Some questions I have for you guys.
What do you think of this design?
Is it overly complex or missing a key component?
Anyone have thoughts on painting their workbench? (looking at Valspar cabinet paint)
How are you handling the top surface of your benches? I'm working on mostly delicate items. Considering a durable finish or add thin hardboard insert on top.
Any tips/thoughts on constructing the L shape frame?
What kind of useful storage/uses can I do with the corner wall above the workbench?

Other notes,
I have 3x 20A lines run near but not in the corner. I plan on running a 4ft power strip that I will be adding just above the desktop surface. The wooden tool wall will act as a back splash when it meets the workbench surface. The existing overhead storage racks are 8x2ft and other shop carts are also 2ft deep, so I don't want to go beyond that depth. The left side of the bench will be used for electronics, the right side for everything else and is inline with drill press, miter saw etc. A small Cali Air compressor will go on the shelf under the bench.

Shop

Overall design

Frame

Frame, top, trim/wall

 

[BenderBot]

Also, chairs/stools. What would you recommend for sit/stand countertop height workbenches? I'm looking at drafting stools/wheeled chairs and can't find anything I like or thats not $200+. I want to go with two chairs/stools.

 

[Lucid Moments]

I think you need to leave the "s" out of the "https" in your image links for them to work right.

Shop

Overall design

Frame

Frame, top, trim/wall

 

[Prospecter]

I had a set up like the one you plan. Lots of ideas on here as I am sure you have discovered!

My current arrangement has wood walls, which are a huge plus. I keep mine at counter height as you are proposing, and keep everything at the same height to ease movement between surfaces. Makes the whole shop an outfeed table for my planer, jointer, and tablesaw.

My bench surface is 2x10s, on a 2x4 frame. Plywood on top of the 2x10s (so small parts don't disappear). Makes a good surface to mount a vise and to pound on. ReStore is a good source of kitchen cabinets. Different ReStores seem to get different kinds of stuff, at least in Maine, so here it is worth knowing your stores. I did well getting HF cabinets on closeout and clearance. Maybe harder now if you want matching colors. At the time, I had a choice of red. But the cabinets hold up well to heavier stuff.

In my shop's third iteration, I avoided the shelf underneath the bench. I found it hard on my back to move heavy stuff under the top. Everything under the benchtop is on wheels. HF moving dollies are a cheap way to get 4 casters and a platform. I have made and acquired wooden boxes which are easy to slide in and out.

My shop is well insulated, but I have trouble with moisture coming up through the slab, and I have snowmelt to deal with in winter. I put down 1" foam with 1/4" ply on top between the slab and cabinets to head off the moisture issues. Seems to help.

In my last iteration, I avoided a corner cabinet arrangement, because it put the back corner too far away for comfort. That's more a personal preference, because lots of folks on here do corner workbenches.

My 2 cents.

 

[Bessy]

If you're going through the trouble to anchor the bench into the structure, then it should really have a vice either mounted permanent or incorporated into a receiver tube set up with a bolt to snug it down tight and minimize movement.

It's always good to have a rock solid vise to work with. I have mine mounted on a mobile bench and it's just not nearly as useful as the big one I have mounted to the static bench.

Otherwise I think your plan is well thought out, just make sure your bottom shelves are set in far enough so as to not whack your shins when on the stool.

Just my two cents.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

[BenderBot]

I think you need to leave the "s" out of the "https" in your image links for them to work right.

Thanks! that did the trick

 

[BenderBot]

If you're going through the trouble to anchor the bench into the structure, then it should really have a vice either mounted permanent or incorporated into a receiver tube set up with a bolt to snug it down tight and minimize movement.

It's always good to have a rock solid vise to work with. I have mine mounted on a mobile bench and it's just not nearly as useful as the big one I have mounted to the static bench.

Otherwise I think your plan is well thought out, just make sure your bottom shelves are set in far enough so as to not whack your shins when on the stool.

Just my two cents.

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

Good idea. I would most likely add a vice to the right front corner as long as it doesn't interfere with the miter saw. Planning on using the 6ft surface and a small block to support pieces and cut in place.

 

[BenderBot]

I had a set up like the one you plan. Lots of ideas on here as I am sure you have discovered!

My current arrangement has wood walls, which are a huge plus. I keep mine at counter height as you are proposing, and keep everything at the same height to ease movement between surfaces. Makes the whole shop an outfeed table for my planer, jointer, and tablesaw.

My bench surface is 2x10s, on a 2x4 frame. Plywood on top of the 2x10s (so small parts don't disappear). Makes a good surface to mount a vise and to pound on. ReStore is a good source of kitchen cabinets. Different ReStores seem to get different kinds of stuff, at least in Maine, so here it is worth knowing your stores. I did well getting HF cabinets on closeout and clearance. Maybe harder now if you want matching colors. At the time, I had a choice of red. But the cabinets hold up well to heavier stuff.

In my shop's third iteration, I avoided the shelf underneath the bench. I found it hard on my back to move heavy stuff under the top. Everything under the benchtop is on wheels. HF moving dollies are a cheap way to get 4 casters and a platform. I have made and acquired wooden boxes which are easy to slide in and out.

My shop is well insulated, but I have trouble with moisture coming up through the slab, and I have snowmelt to deal with in winter. I put down 1" foam with 1/4" ply on top between the slab and cabinets to head off the moisture issues. Seems to help.

In my last iteration, I avoided a corner cabinet arrangement, because it put the back corner too far away for comfort. That's more a personal preference, because lots of folks on here do corner workbenches.

My 2 cents.

Thanks for the good suggestions. I like the idea of using less expensive 2x10's as fillers to make the bench solid with a solid top sheet.

I almost did that to my previous garage/brewery when I was in Upstate NY. I was going to put down solid foam and furring strips and a solid floor on top of that. It was going to be too expensive and hard to deal with heavy brewing equipment in the end.

I hate drawers so I figured I could store larger tool boxes and the small compressor I have under the workbench. I've been thinking about the HF dollies for a while now for the compressor. I'm either going to do a very low shelf with just some toe room or a very high knee shelf to give me room to roll things under.