Finally Building My Bench Tool/Shop Vac cabinet....This Weekend!

[Always_Thinkin]

Nearly a year ago I asked you all for opinions on features/ideas for building a small shop power tool storage system. The old thread is linked below. Well with some cash left over after Christmas I purchased some pre-cuts and 3/4" MDF. I am going to start with the shop vac cabinet to quiet it down, store it, use it for dust collection and create a cart to setup power tools on. I still have to order a Craftsman auto switch outlet from Sears so the vac wont be making noise when I am not using a power tool. The attached picture will be what I hope to end up with when I am finished. The rear of the cart will support a table saw and use the cart top as an outfeed table. It will incorporate a 5" tool shelf on top. This will make the overall height of the cart around 38 inches but provide a space to put tools, pencil, measure tape etc. My work bench is 42" tall so I prefer the higher work surfaces. Well I am finished with it and have used it to build my kids' workbench. I am very happy with it and have attached some photos of it.


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=193394

 

[ratdoggy]

I'm actually thinking of doing something like that cabinet. Too many small tools hogging space while they aren't being used.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Well I made a lot of progress this weekend on my shop vac cabinet/bench tool system. I got everything cut except the shelf that the vac will sit on. I discovered that a nice big table saw would have made this project much quicker. However I am pleased with how it is coming along. I assembled everything with glue and used my Kreg jig. Also this is my first big job that I have used my home built assembly table...I gotta say it's a keeper. It was very handy. I attached pictures showing my progress thus far.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Well its finished. Please see the original post for info and pictures.

 

[IlliniBone]

Are you concerned at all with the weight of the cart? Thats a good amount of 3/4" MDF and I know that stuff is HEAVY. Did you use MDF vs Ply because of price or is there another reason?

 

[Alexbn921]

Nice work. Is the carpet for sound deadening?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Nice build, but where does the vacuum exhaust exit, and how does the motor get fresh air for cooling?

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Are you concerned at all with the weight of the cart? Thats a good amount of 3/4" MDF and I know that stuff is HEAVY. Did you use MDF vs Ply because of price or is there another reason?

The weight isn't too bad. It actually helps make the cart more stable when using it. Basically it is one 4x8 sheet of 3/4 MDF and a piece of 3/4 plywood for the base that I had laying around. I used 3/4 MDF primarily for the finished look without painting and ease to work with.

The issues I have with plywood was that it tends to separate when using screws parallel to the plys, cost for the floor grade is higher (construction grade is ugly and has more defects), i didn't want to have to paint it and i did not want to have to see the ends of the plys in the finished product.

Nice work. Is the carpet for sound deadening?

Yep.

Nice build, but where does the vacuum exhaust exit, and how does the motor get fresh air for cooling?

The exhaust is out the back through the rounded slot I cut at the bottom of the cab. As far as fresh air for cooling, there is no way for air to enter unless from the rear slot and yes it would get hot running inside the cab. all of the time. I still have to purchase one of Craftsman's auto switches, see attached photo. Using the auto switch, the shop vac will only run when I use a power tool (miter saw or table saw) and that won't be constant. The shop vac shouldn't get to hot inside due to the short intermittent run times.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Ah, missed the slot the first time around. Maybe that will do it for you then.

 

[67carl]

Looks good. I like the idea of a mobile table for miter/table saws. My two questions:

1) with the table saw hanging off the back of the cabinet is it back heavy?
2) how significant is the noise reduction using your carpet technique?

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Looks good. I like the idea of a mobile table for miter/table saws. My two questions:

1) with the table saw hanging off the back of the cabinet is it back heavy?
2) how significant is the noise reduction using your carpet technique?

1). It actually isn't back heavy. Considering the relative weight of the cab. and the shop vac inside, the weight of the table saw is light. I do have a stabilizer that I made and can attach if I want to cut longer/ heavier lumber.

2). I did not try it out without the carpet but the cab. significantly reduces the noise. As a matter of fact, when I hook up the vac hose to the miter saw the narrow restriction of the gard around the saw blade makes more noticeable noise than the shop vac inside. Keep in mind my shop vac is not as loud as some.

 

[shooting4life]

1). It actually isn't back heavy. Considering the relative weight of the cab. and the shop vac inside, the weight of the table saw is light. I do have a stabilizer that I made and can attach if I want to cut longer/ heavier lumber.

2). I did not try it out without the carpet but the cab. significantly reduces the noise. As a matter of fact, when I hook up the vac hose to the miter saw the narrow restriction of the gard around the saw blade makes more noticeable noise than the shop vac inside. Keep in mind my shop vac is not as loud as some.

I ended up doing the same thing with a work cart I am building, I have the table saw hanging off of the back on a pair of strut mounts to use the table top as an out feed table. Very slick set up you have.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

shooting4life, thanks! It has turned out to be really useful, more so than I first thought. It is a good compact combo.

 

[shooting4life]

shooting4life, thanks! It has turned out to be really useful, more so than I first thought. It is a good compact combo.

Finally took a picture, Still need to finish the top and add a shelf, but you get the idea.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Shooting4life, nice setup. I like the t-slots in the top.