Optimal Workbench Location

[VA5326]

Hi guys,

I'm in the preliminary stages of overhauling my new/old garage and will more than likely be asking a ton off questions now and in the future. What is everyone's opinion on where the location of the workbench should be. I'd like to hear some reasoning behind it as well. I have a 20'x20' garage. Thanks

 

[Steevo]

Without knowing the location of any door(s) and whether there will be cars parked in the garage, storage shelving, etc., and what kind of work you plan to do in the garage and on the bench, it would be hard to suggest a "best" location for a workbench.

I prefer a back corner bench, opposite the main vehicle door(s). But I also like to have a floating bench that is on wheels or can be slid around to make it an island when desired.

 

[vartz04]

What size cars are you parking in their.

I have mine on the front left corner. That way my pickup fits on the right.and I can walk all the way around it

 

[VA5326]

I am parking one car in it. I have a clean slate to work with here so sorry if the questions are a little vague. The door to the house is on the opposite side of the garage door. There is one external access door to the side yard/garbage cans.There are two beams on the left side of the garage I'm in the process of tearing down all the scrap-wood, crappy shelves and make shift work bench that were built by the previous owner.

 

[my58]

This is an impossible question to answer. The correct answer depends on many factors such as what you will be doing and how you work.

I have found that for me, I am best having a solid rolling workbench that "floats" where it is needed as I do different tasks. I found that when I had a fixed workbench against a wall it became a catch all and a place for things to accumulate.

I also find that the best method for me to utilize MY space is to have my equipment around the perimeter grouped by type and have my workbench be positioned under my lift in the middle or closer to the activity I am working on at the moment (woodworking, metal, etc..) of my shop when I need a lot of space but be capable of moving it out of the way when the lift is down.

I have also been known to roll my table outside to weld large items or just take advantage of working outside on a sunny day.

Hope you find the answer that works best for you. Keep us all posted.

 

[TerryH]

As the others have said, lots of factors apply. I actually have both a bench in the center of the shop with access on all sides and one against the wall. Ther one in the center is my main bench. For most everything I do I usually prefer the one in the center simply because of the all sides access. I use the one against the wall for longer terms projects so I can just leave them in whatever state and not clog the main bench.

 

[Falcon67]

Put your big items in there and then stand around. See where it is you might stand or work from most of the time, put the bench there. Get a piece of OSB and a couple of 2x4s. Rip the OSB to 2'x6', put some 36" 2x4 legs on the corners and move it around.

Alternately - get a big handful of stuff - pencils, some car magazines, valve springs, misc nuts and bolts, some odd tools, something not working, several rags and at least one or two spray paint cans. Throw all this up in the air and where ever the bulk of it lands, there's where the bench goes.

 

[kursplat]

...What is everyone's opinion on where the location of the workbench should be...

the workbench? how do you get by with just one?



really, just be willing to work with whatever you have for a few months and see if you like it. your garage, you can always rearrange it again

 

[VA5326]

How is it impossible? Let's say you have a clean slate, what would you have done differently in your garage if you could do it all over again? (i.e. you have a fixed position workbench in one place but after awhile you realized you should've made/got one that had casters or put the fixed bench in a different position) This is my first garage and yes..I'm a little excited (but composed). Where to start….I will be working on a car that I am preparing to buy. I tinker, I refurbish furniture, I clean guns, all types of household work, I wood work form time to time, I'm planning on getting into welding and such, this list goes on. I'm a typical guy who does a lot of different things. I want the garage to be a "multi-purposed" garage for a lack of better terms. I have no desire to install a lift as I have one down the road I can use anytime. I hope this helps. Thanks again gents.

VA

 

[VA5326]

Alternately - get a big handful of stuff - pencils, some car magazines, valve springs, misc nuts and bolts, some odd tools, something not working, several rags and at least one or two spray paint cans. Throw all this up in the air and where ever the bulk of it lands, there's where the bench goes.

Haha! Wow, you sound like a tarot card reading medicine man I met once. Too funny.

 

[TerryH]

I'm a little excited (but composed).
VA

I can't seem to get both of those things working at the same time. I am very good at either but not so good at both.

I built my shop 19 years ago. It has been a work in progress ever since. Just try what seems right to you because as you go along you will probably want to move something anyway. I'm rearranging a section this weekend so I can have better access to my welding table. Just dive in somewhere. It'll be fine.

 

[VA5326]

Just dive in somewhere. It'll be fine.

I'm already doing that. Just not trying to get in over my head.

 

[rogsmart]

I personally like having my fixed bench at the "back" of the garage away from the garage doors. If you are working on furniture you'll probably want a movable assembly/finish table that you can put out of the way when not working on a project. A gent named Ron Paulk came up with an interesting design that I like.

His design is 4x8 but one could easily do a 4x4 version or some other variation. Good luck on your garage.

PS I also like Falcon67's ideas. He's gently yanking your chain a little but the core idea is sound. You actually need to be in and work in the space for awhile in order to decide what is going to work for you.

 

[Steevo]

When I was first designing my shop on paper (on computer, actually), I moved the major components like the workbench(es) many many times. Even after the building was done and I hadn't yet wired it, I was still moving stuff "on paper".
After two years of virtual re-design, I settled on where the bench would go and was able to finish wiring, lighting, etc.
Then I started designing the bench.

 

[Outlander]

I like a bench near the garage door. Many times I chose to work outside or just inside the door. Stevo's idea of a moving bench fits this too.

 

[csp]

I'm already doing that. Just not trying to get in over my head.

You can't get in over your head. It's not like you're dismantling a bomb and risk clipping the wrong wire.

I've moved my workbenches/cabinets/stationary tools several times and every time there's something I don't like about how it's arranged.

 

[vartz04]

I plan to get/build a second bench that's mobile and about 6' long. After working in my garage I've realized I need this. Mostly because I like to cut wood outside and leave my sawdust outside. I have a 8' fixed location bench which is great for gun cleaning and working on stuff where I sit at a stool. I need something I can get at from all sides.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

As mentioned above, it depends on a number things. Also as SteevO pointed out, after careful planning things still end up being moved once you start working on projects in your garage. The best thing I could recommend in your position is build an 8' workbench for a main bench then build atleast one more 3'-4' bench. However incorporate fold-away casters on each bench so you can quickly and easily rearrange things.

 

[VA5326]

Great ideas and keep them coming, thanks. I realize he was yanking my chain a little. I just yanked his back a little. All in good fun...

 

[kursplat]

both of mine are at the back of the garage, but when i need more space or working outside, i have saw horses, plywood, old B&D workmate. there's always a way to expand the work surface area

 

[John in OH]

Tough question to answer. First of all, a 20x20 garage is not very big so the size of vehicle/s you have will have a significant impact on bench and equipment location. (Builders that build "2 car" garages less than 24x24 should be shot.)

For instance, one of my farms has a 20' deep x 22' wide garage and I have an F150 extended cab pickup. That truck will JUST fit in the 20' deep garage ... another coat of paint on the bumper and it won't fit! So, if you have a full size pickup, the bench isn't going to fit at the end of the garage. Where is the mandoor? Got a water heater in the garage? Etc., etc.

Based on your locations ... S. California and VA ... may make a difference. In CA you may want the bench near the O/H door as the weather is nice and you may like working outside, but in VA, if you are in the western part, you may want the bench away from the O/H door where it is warmer in the winter. If you keep all of your tools in a large tool box/chest you'll want to arrange things so the tools are readily accessible from the bench as well as the engine compartment. I personally like my main bench near the back of the garage.

Best approach is to draw scale models of the garage floor plan, your proposed bench, and any other equipment you hope to add. Then start moving things around on your drawing to see what works out best. Think about how you work and how you will be moving around in your garage ... similar to how one would design a kitchen layout where a "work triangle" (sink - stove - frig) is critical.

 

[my58]

I'm planning on getting into welding and such,

With your above statement I would suggest that you build your workbench out of metal and get the thickest top you can afford.

The money spent on a decent bench is a great investment. I wish I would have just spent the money for a 1/2 inch thick or even thicker steel top originaly, instead I went cheap and as the years have past I keep upgrading it. It now has cost me a lot more then if I would have done it right in the first place.

If you search here for welding tables you will see tons of options for every price range. Some of the talent on this site is un-real and you will learn a ton. Just do the best you can in building your table, enjoy it and remember as others have said, you can always change your mind later.

 

[VA5326]

Thanks for all the responses gents. Really great ideas.

 

[Kevin54]

If you have the room and do a lot of wrenching on your car, the front is ideal because that's where the majority of the wrenching goes on. Other than that, to the side towards the front.

 

[LutzTD]

I like to have a bench close to the big door for light and fresh air, I hate having it buried in the back, but thats just me. I will have a work bench in front for sit down small projects, a rolling bench for spot jobs and a small all steel welding bench to get close to the work at a comfortable height, the welder is too heavy to be mobile so that is where the weld bench will have to live. your preferences may differ

 

[ket-tek]

I previously had a garage that was 20'x20' and I would defiantly recommend the bench down the side since 20' deep is barley long enough for anything other than 2 door hondas, vws, or miatas to park and be able to have good room to work on the engine or use a jack/jack handle on the front or rear with the door closed.

A 20'x20' is supposed to be a two-car garage according to spec/tract home builders, but that's only for tightly parking two compact cars, not actually working on one with another parked inside, or have any good space left to build in cabinets and benches plus have some other equipment in there.

But a 20'x20' does make a fantastic 1 car garage with plenty of room to work if you build it out and treat as a 1 car space.

 

[Airborne Ed]

My garage is 28' by 32 'deep so it's a lot easier to work with . I have the permanent bench centered under a window in the back . It's nice to look outside instead of looking at a wall all day and a rolling tool bench / that I can slide under my chain hoist if I have something heavy to work on . In your case it might be trial and error.

 

[pmiranda]

The only useful comment I can think of is to make sure you leave clear space on either end so you can clamp on 3 sides and feed stuff on and off from either end. It's also nice to put it where you have an electrical outlet and overhead light, or even better some natural light.
In my garage it's in the only available space between the garbage bins and some corner shelves so the top of the garbage bin is my outfeed or wheel out of the way quickly and the shelves are always in the way, but handy for setting stuff down on.

 

[justanengineer]

My $0.02, locate your work area where you have the most room to work and hopefully also have access to a door/window/escape route. Do not box yourself in, think safety first and foremost. I also personally prefer my work area to be in a warm part of the garage bc I live where we have this white powdery stuff called snow.....so nowhere near the big door. I also personally dont like having benches anywhere near vehicles that will be pulled in/out....doors tend to open and knock things over.

I will also put on my flame suit for this one and give myself an entire paragraph to it, but I would build a modestly small workbench to start. I have two 3'x4' benches, but really only use one and that is plenty. Keeping them small makes keeping them clean easier and prevents **** from building up on them. It also gives you more room for storage, machines, and movement which you will really want/need in your lil garage. Also, I would avoid casters. I prefer a bench with a built in skid that I can move around with the pallet jack, which can be made to store underneath when not in use. It allows easy/quick movement but gives a really solid base for BEATING on.

 

[Keep]

I have a 19x22 garage. With parking two cars in the garage (corvette and a t-bucket) everything all the benches/tooling is on one side of the garage. Bench and all the storage is 2 foot deep. Leaving 17 for cars, granted they are not pulled out of the garage everyday so its not so bad.

It is tight, but it works for me.

I am trying to find some better pics but not having any luck. This is the right side, looking inside. Door to the right.

 

[strnge]

Where ever you need it to be.