Work bench help

[Makman]

Hey all. I need a little input about a workbench. I've got a dogdoor coming out of the house into garage then one leading outside. I have to cage in the lower section of the bench to keep dogs in. The height of door will require raising the middle section of bench top. Totally *****!

Question for the great minds here: what can i do with this raised section?
Maybe tv or sound system, maybe a cabinet. Or does anyone see a better way of doing things? Can't lower the door any either.

Attached a pic with crudely photoshopped 2x6s representing the heights.

 

[Henricogolfer]

How tall are you? Is it possible to have it all at the same height as the raised Portion? If it is too tall for you could you add some floor height with a raised floor in front of the bench?
Good luck,

Lee

 

[Henricogolfer]

Never mind, you would have to move the electrical.

 

[akdiesel]

If anything you could utilize the height as a rest for long wood or metal stock when cutting with a miter saw or chop saw.
Is the bottom section going to be open for access to both doors?

 

[Makman]

Never mind, you would have to move the electrical.

Yeah, the electrical is too low for that. Forgot all about the door when i put in the boxes.

 

[Makman]

If anything you could utilize the height as a rest for long wood or metal stock when cutting with a miter saw or chop saw.
Is the bottom section going to be open for access to both doors?

Yes, it will be open on the bottom for access from door to door. Even had to build them a little deck with stairs outside the garage.

Stock rest is not a bad idea, would work better if i had more room though

 

[DaleK]

Slope it down from the wall so it's level with the rest of the bench at the front, use it as a drafting/reading area on the bench where you can put your open manuals, blueprints, wild-*** guess back of napkin drawings, whatever while you're working?

 

[Makman]

Slope it down from the wall so it's level with the rest of the bench at the front, use it as a drafting/reading area on the bench where you can put your open manuals, blueprints, wild-*** guess back of napkin drawings, whatever while you're working?

Damn! Wish I had thought of that one. That just might work. I did say "great minds"

Thanks

 

[rvr6000]

Damn! Wish I had thought of that one. That just might work. I did say "great minds"

Thanks

Yea....that's not a bad idea. Maybe leave the back few inches flat for a monitor or flat-screen TV to sit on. Maybe see how a laptop computer could fit into the space.

 

[softailgarage]

You could make the raised portion into a charging station, integrate some outlets & USB ports.

 

[Makman]

Yea....that's not a bad idea. Maybe leave the back few inches flat for a monitor or flat-screen TV to sit on. Maybe see how a laptop computer could fit into the space.

Was thinking the same but with a piano hinge like the old writing desks. I can lift the top and clear the dog blockages when they try to go thru all at once

 

[Makman]

You could make the raised portion into a charging station, integrate some outlets & USB ports.

Another good one. Maybe a little higher with hinged top like a service cart. Chargers and batteries stored inside.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

"dog blockages" Heh. I like that.

"We've got another blockage in the #3 chute, Henry. Shove another poodle into the rack, okay?"

 

[Jack Olsen]

If you end up needing to make it a flat surface, then put an edge lip of some kind around it so you can spill out a bunch of fasteners/washers/small-parts/whatever and not have them roll all over the rest of the bench. Maybe put in magnifying lamp on that section, too -- higher up means closer to your eyes.

If you don't want to have an elevated lip, then use a router to cut a channel around the perimeter -- it will keep stuff from rolling off.

 

[Makman]

"dog blockages" Heh. I like that.

"We've got another blockage in the #3 chute, Henry. Shove another poodle into the rack, okay?"

With 4 small ones and 2 large, it could happen!

 

[Makman]

If you end up needing to make it a flat surface, then put an edge lip of some kind around it so you can spill out a bunch of fasteners/washers/small-parts/whatever and not have them roll all over the rest of the bench. Maybe put in magnifying lamp on that section, too -- higher up means closer to your eyes.

If you don't want to have an elevated lip, then use a router to cut a channel around the perimeter -- it will keep stuff from rolling off.

That's a good one as well. Funny how you can be a problem solver for all your customers then draw a blank when working on your own projects.

 

[Oldbear]

Yes, it will be open on the bottom for access from door to door. Even had to build them a little deck with stairs outside the garage.

Stock rest is not a bad idea, would work better if i had more room though

A doggy door on top of the bench for long stock to go through.

 

[Makman]

Started work on the "dog bench" yesterday. Went with DaleK's idea of the sloped top. I won't be doing much pounding on it, so it's not super duty. Left room for a roll away to tuck under the right side.

Need to close in the front with some welded wire panels. Looking for some 2"x4" horse panels. Have to check the co op in the am.

 

[Makman]

I'll either put a tv on the narrow flat area or pull a new outlet and mount it on the wall above.

 

[akdiesel]

Nice work.
Great thinking DaleK.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Looks great. Maybe add a stop along the bottom edge, so you can prop things there and not have them slide off?

Seeing it makes me think it would also have been cool to make it into a small drafting table, with maybe an aluminum strip on one side for a little T-square.

 

[Makman]

Nice work.
Great thinking DaleK.

Thanks. Just got to get it finished up.

 

[Makman]

Looks great. Maybe add a stop along the bottom edge, so you can prop things there and not have them slide off?

Seeing it makes me think it would also have been cool to make it into a small drafting table, with maybe an aluminum strip on one side for a little T-square.

Thanks. I've got a piece of cherry I plan to use as a stop.

Yeah, my initial plan was to use it as a drafting table, but got in a hurry and rounded the edges over. I've got a drafting board with aluminum edges somewhere that should sit against that stop pretty well.