Help me overcome my shallowness!

[tboy]

My Shallow Garage that is! It’s not very deep and I want cabinets in front of where I park. I decided to build my own in order to keep them shallow, and giving me enough space to work in front of the car.

I’ve attached pics of what I have so far. Right now they are sitting on 2x4’s and I like the working height. I originally planned to build a metal base (about 5 inches tall) under them so I could throw some dollies under there with the help of my floor jack, and move it out of the way when I need to have more room.

I don’t want to raise it up any higher, I like the 3.5 kick that the 2x4s give. Does anyone have any good ideas how I could construct the base to move it easily? I’ve considered just putting casters all on it but how do I keep it stable then?

 

[Kaizen]

Problem will be the top. Is it also in segments? When would you need to move these?


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[cderalow]

Get some of the removable casters and some leveling feet. Install leveling feet as permanent solution, put the casters on to move it as needed.

I’m planning that sort of assembly for a collapsible work table in the near future.


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[66Caprice]

Punch a hole in the wall and recess them into the wall like a garden window is done.

 

[CraigStu]

Nicely built. I think I'd put casters on permanently. Have the front w/ locks. I think you could screw a couple of blocks to the wall that overhang the bench a little. Have a vertical hole in the block that lines up w/ one in the bench top. Drop a phillps screwdriver through them and the bench is locked to the wall.

 

[matt_i]

You are one craigslist search away from acquiring a good-used pallet jack. Your 2x4 on-edge kick will be perfect for the forks and it will roll the cabinet bank out of the way easily. If you wanted you could screw a 1x4 (etc) parallel to the front as a trim piece with a couple of screws for a finished look. Then just remove it when you need to use the pallet jack.

Now you can apply this to more things (stationary tools, machines, cabinet banks). Build a wooden base and your mobile mover is never too far. The great thing is the objects all sit solid on the floor.

 

[tboy]

Problem will be the top. Is it also in segments? When would you need to move these?

I need to move these when I have a long car in there (like my dads s10, yes the garage is that shallow!)

The boards laid on the top in the pics are the sides to some of the drawer boxes. The top is planned to be plywood (probably 2 layers of 1/2”) with some sacrificial pressboard (the same stuff used as pegboard but without the holes) laid on top. I was planning on putting a 1x around the face to keep it all together.

Was planning on screwing the cabinets together, and also screwing the top down to make one assembly.

 

[tboy]

You are one craigslist search away from acquiring a good-used pallet jack. Your 2x4 on-edge kick will be perfect for the forks and it will roll the cabinet bank out of the way easily. If you wanted you could screw a 1x4 (etc) parallel to the front as a trim piece with a couple of screws for a finished look. Then just remove it when you need to use the pallet jack.

Now you can apply this to more things (stationary tools, machines, cabinet banks). Build a wooden base and your mobile mover is never too far. The great thing is the objects all sit solid on the floor.

That would only be 100$ away from one! While I think this is a great solution, I’m so limited on space I don’t know where I’d store the pallet jack when not in use.

 

[tboy]

Nicely built. I think I'd put casters on permanently. Have the front w/ locks. I think you could screw a couple of blocks to the wall that overhang the bench a little. Have a vertical hole in the block that lines up w/ one in the bench top. Drop a phillps screwdriver through them and the bench is locked to the wall.

Thanks Craig! I’m trying to be like Lilscorpian! His org thread and the cabinets he build are inspiring. This is my first go at this.

Your suggestion is a great one, the bench actually buts up to the cinder block wall, and the 2x4 wall on the blocks creates a ledge. For me this will just be wasted space, but I can incorporate your idea below the counter top surface! I will just drop a couple screw drivers though the bench top down to a ledger I screw below the counter.

I think I’m going to forgo the locking casters and just use all swivel. We will see how that goes as I have them on hand. Plus I’d love a skirt that hid them and keeps dust and dirt from getting under there.

 

[PugetDude]

Build the 2x4 base as a torsion box, build the cabinets as boxes and set them on top of it. It will be strong enough to move as a unit unless you store your anvil collection in the cabinets.

 

[Slednut]

You can buy casters that when the lever is pushed it locks the wheel and swivel.

 

[niget2002]

I wouldn't do one big bench if you want it mobile. Make it three separate rolling benches all the same height.

I have a 4x8 workbench in my shop that's on casters. Once you lock two of them, the bench doesn't go anywhere... Locking all 4 makes it even more secure. I bought the big 4" castors with the red rubber wheels from HD.

 

[dg57]

Mr. Negative here - Even if you find a way to make it work, you will tire of everything it takes to move it, deal with finding space to put it, then clean up and move it back. Based on past experience, either put the bench somewhere else or deal with the shorter space.

 

[cdestuck]

If you want simple casters you can do this to keep your cabinets in place. Cut a 4"x4” piece of 3/4” material. With a forstner bit drill a 2” diameter hole 1/2” through the piece, centered. Make several of these. When your workbench is in place, place one of these under each front caster. Bench won’t move.

 

[tboy]

I ended up going with a couple suggestions. I actually had casters in hand and a plan to make it mobile when I decided to go with mister negative and just attach it permanently to the wall. In the end it would have been more trouble than it was worth for the few times I would move it.

Thanks for all the good ideas regardless. Here is a pic of the top now on it, installed, not trimmed out though.