need ideas for multi-purpose workbench build...

[bimmerZ5]

i have a spot in my garage that is about 48" wide and 20" deep that I want to build a custom work bench to have a sink for cleaning parts (my water supply comes in near there), and the other half to be "modular" so that I can easily mount and swap between a bench grinder, belt/disc sander, and drill press. When the bench grinder/sander/drill press are not in use, I want to store them under the bench.

i don't have specifics yet, but i was thinking about cutting a square hole with a movable block that can be pressed with a long screw so that the block can clamp down on a square block that fits in the square hole; sort of like the jaws of a vise. I would then make several square blocks that fit in the hole that I would use to mount the various tools with cabinet handles so I can pull them out of the hole easily and swap tools. not sure if the description makes sense...

anyway, just wanted to get some inspiration from folks here... i know there are a lot of creative folks here. please share your thoughts, link me to previous discussion threads that might be helpful to me, or anything else...

thanks in advance...

 

[Hankoh]

bimmerZ5- Not sure if this helps, but what you describe reminds me of a plan by Danny Proulx in his book Building Workshop Workstations. He designed a "multifunction power tool cabinet" with replaceable tops, each with a tool mounted. You can install whichever tool you needed on the top of the cabinet and store one or two others below. The tops fastened to the cabinet top with a couple of screw-down blocks. Proulx's cabinet is on casters, but I have thought about doing something similar on a section of a workbench. I looked around online briefly and found references to the book; some of those have photo of the piece I am describing.

 

[derosa]

I've seen work stations for cramped areas where the top was a flip top, could do the same for the grinder and sander and mount the band saw permanently next to it

 

[Ainsley]

I did my ridgid oscillating spindle/belt sander and dewalt planer on a flip top stand and I hate it! I'd much rather have everything setup with the appropriate dust collection connected.
Kinda hard to pick out but the yellow planer is on the top in this one:

Side view with the OSS on top:

 

[bimmerZ5]

I did my ridgid oscillating spindle/belt sander and dewalt planer on a flip top stand and I hate it! I'd much rather have everything setup with the appropriate dust collection connected.

i'm not sure i understand why you hate it? can you explain?

 

[Ainsley]

It's cumbersome to flip, it's a definite finger pincher. Takes say 5-10 min to switch tools and get them setup.
Might work better on a smaller scale. Say a 12" deep board with a grinder on one side and nothing on the other.

 

[1950mercury]

I've seen people mount a hitch and use receivers with grinders,vises etc mounted on them. That or I have a friend that made plates out of angle iron for his grinder,sander to mount in his vise

 

[Ozwelder]

Something that may be successful for multiple power tools such as your bench grinder, belt/disc sander, and drill press, could be a horizontal dovetail system.
They are easily cut with a table saw, circular saw or even a jig saw. A cam lock device can keep them in position when in use.
If necessary the bench cleats could be unscrew for more bench top room when required.

 

[bimmerZ5]

Something that may be successful for multiple power tools such as your bench grinder, belt/disc sander, and drill press, could be a horizontal dovetail system.
They are easily cut with a table saw, circular saw or even a jig saw. A cam lock device can keep them in position when in use.
If necessary the bench cleats could be unscrew for more bench top room when required.

can you show me a picture of what you're talking about?

 

[rick carpenter]

At first I thought about the same that Ozwelder did, but the thought about keeping the area clean when swapping tools and the care needed to keep the dovetail edges crisp bothered me. Then I thought about putting the stands on rails running front to back. Think more of >thick< tongue-and-groove turned vertical. If the tongues (rails) were say 2"+ wide you could glue in some vertical barrel nuts and bolt to them through the tool bases. Running the tongues front to back will make for easier initial base placement, then sliding them into place. The tongues and grooves, since under the bases, will stay clean. An additional plain base would allow you a contiguous work surface.