Corners in the shop... How to utilize them

[UncleJoe]

I am in the process of redoing the shop. I have created a 3D model of the shop in Sketchup and that sure makes it easy to move workbenches and machines around but I have a corner on the end of a wall where I would like my workbench. I am looking for good ideas on how to best use a corner.

What are you guys storing there? I can't imagine a machine that would work well in a corner. I am think maybe using it for some form of storage but nothing comes to mind.

Anyways I would like to see how you guys are using this piece of valuable garage real estate.

 

[Streetbu]

I use them for storing large cardboard boxes that i have sorted stuff into. House electrical, plumbing, car parts, spray paint, etc. Makes it easy to reach back and pull a whole box out where you can actually go thru it, then slide it back into the corner shelf...

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Dust and dirt use my corners...

Tommy

 

[gnpenning]

Drill press

 

[gahrajmahal]

Left front 55 gal upright compressor. Inside left, floor drill press and too many loose lumber pieces too good to throw away until I throw them away, then need them next week. Right front, weed wacker and electric leaf eater. (rarely use these). Right front, all lawn tools, shovels, brooms, sledge hammer,axe etc. stacked 4 deep on pipe racks.

There are other threads on this exact subject. Do advanced search, titles only.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Last shop had a 12 inch bench grinder. All the sledge hammers, shovels, long bars, cheaterbars, bolt cutters, etc were neatly dumped behind it. Another had microfiche, reference books, etc. Bathroom was in a corner. A cabinet that I am pretty sure wasnt opened in ten years was in the last.

Shop before that one had stands with extra vises and six inch bench grinders, tool carts, extra dollies, cutting torch cart, etc. in one corner. Another corner had a 55 gal barrel partially filled with oily sand. Shovels, hoes,, etc were cleaned and stored there. Other corners had dusty **** piled up.

 

[kTHREE]

Computer goes in my corner in a quasi desk setup. Other corner is wood storage on end.

 

[ItsNemo]

Extend the bench into the corner...the extra bit of space gives you a spot to push stuff on the bench when you need more clear space.

 

[rsanter]

Milling machine
Air compressor

 

[langss]

Working with what I have, a wall plug located around 5' off the floor. I installed a gun safe in line with the wall plug and that left approx 3' to the corner. I put a Craftsman Toolbox I had at work running along the back wall into the corner. There is just enough room to pull the drawers all the way out and not pinch fingers against the safe. Otherwise the space was wasted. When I had a shelving unit in place of the toolbox what ever went into the corner seemed to be forgotten. It worked out nicely.

 

[Steveodle]

South west corner has entry door and my EXCLO vertical. Mill. Next corner north my Clausing horizontal mill and 7" Logan shaper.. Northwest corner my 15" Sheldon shaper. Over to the NE corner my casting foundry and last the SEE corner has my welding equipment.

 

[CoogarXR]

Two of the corners in my garage tend to be ****-catchers. The other two corners hold my air compressor, and my fold-up cherry picker.

 

[kbs2244]

Are you talking about an "L" shaped workbench?
I do not have that problem, but my son does.
He has the motor/pump part of his compressor under there,
(The tank is in the rafters.)
It is a good use of '"waste space" and helps quiet it down.

.

 

[turbowoodworker]

I like to grow spiders in mine.

 

[James-W]

Maybe you could find a nice corner cabinet to fit in there. A corner cabinet could hold all sorts of hand tools and even small power tools.

 

[Boilerhouse]

60 gal upright air compressor
tailstock end of a wood lathe

 

[Jawn]

tailstock end of a wood lathe

Or of a metal lathe. As long as you can reach the tailstock for adjustments. In my case I have a shallow cabinet (approx 12-15 inches deep) on the adjacent wall so I can get myself close enough into the corner to operate it.

 

[PelicanPines]

My garage has no specific corners... it's one big Tetris field... adding a new tool is an adventure.

 

[Pwaley]

Extend a bench as someone above me mentioned. Drill press not ideal as you may need to use extra side-to-side clearance.

 

[jetnow1]

I have to store the better half's Miata in the Winter. put in along back wall against left rear corner, cabinets and shelves above it. The dollys that make this possible are stored
on basic racks against the front two corners. Last corner has an L shaper stair going to loft, with the compressor under it next to the Miata. There is some dead space next to the compressor, I put a wide 2 drawer file cabinet there. Where the L sticks out I put the two grinders on a couple of old cabinets with a shop made top, and hung cabinets above them. As the garage is only 24 by 30 I try to keep the walls and floor as clear as I can, and put all shelves or cabinets at least 6 feet off floor. Most shelves and cabinets were made 16 inches deep as I found shallower did not hold enough and deeper was too easy to bury stuff. Garage that is used is always a work in progress, so always subject to change.

 

[NC Rick]

I have an 80gal air compressor in one corner, test equipment in an other. The small bench in one of my corners is by the welding stuff and tends to fill up with stuff.

I would not want my lathe in a corner because of access and running long rods or other parts. The drill press or grinders like having access for long pieces also. I haven’t tried it but a knee mill in the corner may be good, it would have to be pulled out some to allow for offsetting the head.

That’s my opinion, anyhow. This is my first real post here so don’t take me too seriously.

Rick

 

[txvwnut]

In mine one corner has the knee mill another has the toolbox then the O/A rig is strapped to the wall in one and the last corner is for the spiders and the man door since its tight to that wall.