Segregate grinding/metalworking mess

[Cruisinga]

I am about to build my workbench in new to me garage. In my past garage I had one large workbench with a vise and peg board on the back. The vise ends up holding a lot of material for cutting/grinding/welding and the grinding dust and sparks make a huge mess on everything.

For the next (12' long)bench built in to my garage I was trying to think of a way to segregate the part of the bench over the welder/plasma for cutting/grinding. Something like a flip down from the ceiling partition.
The garage is not big enough for separate areas or benches.

I'm hoping someone has done this before and has pictures!

 

[McLean]

I totally understand your situation! If you get some floor standing sanders, you bench will stay much cleaner But of course, sometimes a mess is inevitable.

What about building 2 separate benches and put them in 2 different areas, Then you could have a clean(ish) area and a dirty area. Or if they have to be inline, you could add a curtain between the 2. I'm not too familiar with industrial curtain materials, but I would think something like a welding curtain would hold up fairly well.

 

[rsanter]

If it was me I would build two separate benches. One stationary and the other on wheels. Make them the same height and even have a latch that can hold them together.
The mobile one will have the vise and can have the welder under it.
Roll it out to the end of the garage for grinding stuff.
For quick little things it can stay in its home position

Bob

 

[maxpower_hd]

I have a large 16.5' bench I built to fit an odd spot. I have the same problem. Not to mention that welding, cutting, grinding, etc on metal can make burn marks and start fires on wood.

I don't have much of an issue with saw dust because its easy to clean up and my woodworking projects have taken a back seat now that the addition is done. I have more grease issues now with motors apart all over the place.

I started covering my bench with cardboard so that solves the grease issue. I just change it every so often. I do most of my metal work at the vice end where it's just wood but I have been thinking of something better too. I am getting a new vice from a friend. When I install it I am going to put sheet metal over the bench with some bends for the back splash and over the front. That should protect it from heat, sparks, flame, etc.

I would be eager to see what everyone else does too.

 

[bczygan]

I would fab a 3 sided light gauge metal box (floor and 2 walls and m0ve it around on the bench.

Even better. I would cover that part of the bench (Under the vise), with a sheet metal top. Then build a 2 or 3 piece hinged sheet metal screen that I could set on the bench and articulate around whatever I was working on.