Need some layout help...

[The Frisco Kid]

We're finally closing on our new house, and it's going to be the first house that actually has enough room to layout all of my tools in some kind of organized fashion... but I'd like some layout advice.

I only plan on parking one vehicle in the garage full time.

Here's what I have.

Single 2 car door on the bottom wall.
1 top and bottom roll cab tool box
vertical air compressor
bench grinder
miter saw
table saw
router table
TONS of camping gear in rubbermaid style totes
TONS of outdoor lawn equipment (soon to be located in the shed out back)
a few bikes, etc.

Here's an idea of what I was thinking about, but the layout seems really clunky. Maybe some big cabinets on one side of the back wall and two benches in an L configuration? Or I could put tall cabinets along the back wall and benches on either side, or out in the garage.

I want something like this lista bench, but I don't want to drop that kind of $$$$.

Maybe a pair of harbor freight rollcabs with a top spanning them. I'm not set on gladiator or metal cabinets, I had some kitchen upper cabinets in the old house and they worked great.

Perhaps another roll cab along the right wall, maybe some craigslist lateral filing cabinets painted to match... I need a ton of work space, and I would like to put some cabinets (most likely white Ikea cheapies along the wall and some floorstanding cabinets as well. Of course I'm on a budget, but I feel like I can build or rehab just about anything.


Your ideas and experiences are appreciated!

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you want a bench with the boxes underneath, you need to check out Steevo's thread on his build. I'd imagine he'll chime in with a link.

Looking at you picture, makes me wonder which side the overhead door is on. If it's on the 19' wall, that's going to be tight unless you have two really small cars.

 

[BD1]

Check craig's list for kitchen cabinets. Buddy bought a whole set, bottom base, counter top, and top cabinet for $100.00. His wife wanted them for the house they were that nice. you might be able to elevate your compressor with shelving or cabinets below. You could make a pedestal stand for grinder or use receiver tube in your bench . The table saw make a base with locking wheels and move accordingly or if not too big, bolt two wheels to motor end and lift to move. Works ok for mine.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

Only plan on parking one vehicle in the garage (wife's) mine will be in the driveway until the wider driveway is poured to the backyard.

Already have a pedestal stand for the grinder from work:

she's a beauty!

 

[akdiesel]

That alcove is a great location for your work area.
The 16' bench might be to much. If you put a bench on the back wall, (10' 8" is a nice size bench as well), then if you need to you can still park a small vehicle in that spot.
Keep an eye on liquidations for metal cabinets like lista, vidmar, etc...
How many recepticles do you have in the alcove? Something to think about before you install your bench.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

The alcove has one 30A 230V receptacle (dedicated) and two 110V receptacles. I'll probably bring those boxes out and do a surface mounted box/conduit setup all around the alcove. For now, an 8' power bar on each bench is the plan.

I'll move the benches around and see what it looks like. (I LOVE me some sketchup!)

 

[Boomer343]

When you do a kitchen layout there is a golden triangle between the major areas of the sink, stove and fridge with maximums suggested for each distance.

For me the large all in one workbench would be a waste as it deadends, I find a lot of work has to hangover, ie being cut or it isn't all flat. I prefer benches at right angles to each other even if one leg of the bench is shorter.

Also the tool box is too far out of the work zone, you must be young and frisky... but walking miles to that tool box will get old real quick.

I'd make work benches I could move and make for a specific purpose or be easily used for something else. For example having a nice solid wood top that I could then put a cover piece on to use for parts layout to rebuild an engine. And a metal topped bench to use for well whatever.

I would keep the upper cabinets to a minimum as they tend to close in on the workspace and are often poor storage areas. Do a full height storage cabinet, floor to ceiling, 36"wide with pullout drawers to the height you can still see into and shelving above and you will have excellent storage.

 

[Steevo]

I had a nearly identical tandem garage in a previous home, and if you make the front/left the daily parking spot, you can have a quite satisfactory working area in the right half.
I had a dedicated motorcycle lift/work space in the back quarter of mine, and used the right side of the main bay for in-progress works such as jack-stand jobs, etc. My wife parked in the front/left quadrant quite comfortably. Unfortunately, my truck lived outside in the elements.

 

[The Frisco Kid]

This should give you a better idea of what I am trying to do:

With an "L" shaped workbench, I could maintain a lot of work surface and add an HF red box (with no casters) for additional tool storage. Compressor outside and air piped in through the wall... but I'd like some tall cabinets (included a few in the picture for reference.

slatwall along the wall to the right, and above the bench for parts bins and additional tool storage. Or, I could do four or five tall cabinets along the wall on the right and do an 8' floor to ceiling piece of slatwall where the cabinets are in this picture.

Any more thoughts?