A Customized Workbench Constructed for Serve as and Aptitude

Embarking on a adventure to optimize storage area whilst keeping up capability, I undertook the problem of downsizing my workbench, meticulously crafting an answer adapted to my wishes. Impressed by means of Mark Petersen’s “Tremendous Bench!” design from “The Circle of relatives Handyman,” I ventured right into a realm of changes, cutting down dimensions and including personalised options to fit my workspace. Armed with an array of equipment together with a desk noticed, orbital sander, drill, and an collection of Simpson Sturdy-Tie fasteners starting from structural wooden screws to multipurpose fasteners, I launched into a venture of transformation.

Repurposing fabrics from my earlier bench, together with a prized Formica most sensible, become a cornerstone of the enterprise, making sure sustainability within the new introduction. As I journeyed during the procedure, integrating under-shelf lights, a multi-outlet energy strip and an built-in pegboard, each and every addition was once beholden to each practicality and my aesthetic imaginative and prescient. With each and every reduce and screw pushed, I sculpted no longer only a workbench, however a space-saving sanctuary infused with personalised touches, a testomony to the enjoyment of hands-on craftsmanship and the artwork of adaptation.

I up to now had a workbench that was once 96″W x 36″D x 66″H (together with the higher shelf) taking on a ton of area in my storage. I sought after to downsize my paintings house to create extra storage area, so I researched a number of workbench venture plans and made up our minds to make use of “Tremendous Bench!” created by means of Mark Petersen of “The Circle of relatives Handyman” (familyhandyman.com) as a reference. Mark’s bench is 72″W x 26″D and does no longer have an higher shelf; so I made up our minds to change his design by means of scaling it all the way down to 52″W x 26″D x 66″H (overall top). In doing so, I’m changing Mark’s design by means of lowering the dimensions and collection of drawers and including an higher shelf connected to tall rear risers.

Being spoiled by means of my earlier bench’s thick Formica bench most sensible, I made up our minds to repurpose it for my new bench. In doing so, I’ve decreased its dimension the use of my desk noticed. I’ve additionally reused the unique bench’s Formica higher shelf by means of scaling it all the way down to dimension.

I added a number of new options to the bench as neatly, together with under-shelf lights, a multi-outlet energy strip, flooring protectors for the legs, a melamine decrease shelf (no longer certain whether or not this was once a good suggestion, however I feel it seems just right!), an built-in peg board and drawer slides.

Gear Used

Desk noticed, orbital sander, band noticed (for chopping trim items, drill/motive force, router, clamps, drill bits, hammer, tape measure, framing sq., stage, 90-degree nook clamps.

Fasteners

Different Merchandise

• (3) drawer handles
• (2) higher shelf give a boost to brackets — upload an extra bracket if the use of a center give a boost to for the higher shelf
• (3) units of drawer slides — see beneath for dimension
• (8) leg-end flooring protectors
• Not obligatory small L-brackets for attaching workbench most sensible to drawer encasement
• Stain or polyurethane
• Wooden glue

Fabrics Listing

Minimize listing

Chopping Diagram

Meeting Diagram

Steps

For this venture, moderately find out about the meeting illustrations and part lists. I additionally suggest finding out Mark Petersen’s meeting directions within the Circle of relatives Handyman model of this bench. The meeting directions are equivalent (however fluctuate the place I made my aforementioned changes). I exploit various fasteners to safe more than a few connections, and since I’m the use of a heavy, Formica-laminated paintings floor and higher shelf, I’m the use of load-rated fasteners (Sturdy-Pressure SDWS Framing screws) to safe load-bearing connections within the legs, cabinets and paintings floor give a boost to constructions.

• Step 1 — Minimize Wooden Parts to Indicated Sizes, with the exception of for the drawer parts as those might want some fine-tuning after assembling the drawer encasement.
• Step 2 — Compile the Backside Shelf. Fasten the 4 (P, Q) 2×4 items to shape the oblong base of the ground shelf, the use of one 3″ Sturdy-Pressure® SDWS Framing screw in line with nook. Position backside shelf board (C) on most sensible of body and attach alongside the sides into the 2x4s the use of 1 5/8″ Deck-Pressure™ DSV Deck screws (if the use of melamine, fasten with white painted-head Trim Screws). Screw spacing will also be each and every 8″.
• Step 3 — Get ready the Drawer Encasement. Fasten the drawer encasement body again (M) to the 2 2×4 drawer encasement facets (N) the use of one 3″ Sturdy-Pressure® SDWS Framing Screws in line with nook. Place the 2 drawer dividers (E) of their respective puts by means of measuring from the interior fringe of the encasement aspect member (N):  the width of drawer slide (1/2″) + the width of drawer aspect (F) (3/4″) + the width of enormous drawer entrance/again (G) (14 3/4″) + the width of drawer aspect (F) (3/4″) + the width of (1/2″) drawer slide. Repeat the divider place measurements from the other inside of fringe of the encasement aspect member. Mark the outdoor of (M) the place the dividers (E) meet it. Fasten the drawer dividers the use of the three″ SDWS Framing screws.

  

• Step 4 — Construct the Drawers. Re-measure the drawer openings and reduce the wooden items for (G) and (H), regarding Diagram 1. Minimize the drawer bottoms (J) and (Okay) so they’re 1/4″ shorter than the drawer widths. Check match each and every of the drawer items (at the side of the drawer slider guides to make sure all drawer parts match inside the encasement. Compile the drawers in order that the drawer aspect edges shall be uncovered within the entrance. Fastening them this manner will supply extra energy and save you the drawer entrance from pulling off if the drawer later comprises heavy contents. Glue and clamp the perimeters in combination (I used 90° perspective clamps on the corners). Fasten each and every finish with 4 1 1/4″ Deck-Pressure™ DSV Wooden screws (two in line with aspect). Repeat the method for the opposite two drawers. The usage of the producer’s directions, set up the drawer information items of the drawer sliders to the outdoor of each and every of the drawers’ facets. At this level one can test-fit the drawers, however I like to recommend ready till later to insert the drawers into the encasement (after legs and bench most sensible are put in) to stay the burden of the workbench manageable throughout the meeting.
• Step 5 — Compile the Drawer Encasement. Position backside encasement board (B) on most sensible of body and attach alongside the 3 edges into the 2x4s the use of 1 5/8″ Deck-Pressure DSV Wooden screws. Screw spacing will also be each and every 8″. Fasten board (B) alongside the drawer dividers by means of the use of the marks indicating the location of the drawer dividers (E) and lengthening a line throughout (B). Fasten (B) alongside those traces using the 1 5/8— the Deck-Pressure DSV Wooden screws spaced about 8—. Turn all the encasement over. Set up the drawer guides in line with the producer’s directions. (Disassemble the drawer slide rails and set up the “cupboard” information items to the internal facets of (N) and on each and every aspect of the dividers (E). The “drawer” information items shall be put in onto the assembled drawers in later steps.) Connect the encasement board (A) repeating the stairs required to put in board (B).The usage of a framing sq. as a information, safe the shorter entrance legs (L1) to the drawer encasement the use of two 3″ SDWS Framing screws.

  

• Step 6 — Compile the Legs. Preassemble the shorter entrance legs (L1) at correct angles length-wise to one another (in order that they shape a corner-shaped leg), as proven beneath, by means of fastening 3 3″ SDWS Framing screws situated on the most sensible, center and backside of the legs. Repeat the similar process with the longer again legs the use of 5 3″ SDWS Framing screws, spaced at equivalent distances from the highest to the ground of the legs. Turn the drawer encasement the other way up and place the entrance legs so the seams are dealing with the ends of the workbench and are being connected to the open drawer aspect of the encasement.

  

• Step 7 — Connect the Legs. Attaching the again legs (L2) could also be a little bit trickier and might require two other folks. Measure the size of the shorter entrance legs and mark that size at the longer again legs (L2). This may increasingly lend a hand place the place the highest of the drawer encasement will have to meet the again legs. Relaxation the workbench in order that it’s mendacity at the size of the entrance legs (mainly, the open drawer finish is dealing with the bottom). Place the longer legs (L2) so the mark you made within the earlier step aligns with the highest fringe of the drawer encasement. The usage of a framing sq. as a information, safe the longer again legs (L2) to the drawer encasement the use of two 3″ SDWS Framing screws. However, invert the workbench venture on most sensible of 2 sawhorses so the put in legs level upwards. Then place (L2) so the mark from the former step aligns with the highest fringe of the drawer encasement (which is now dealing with the bottom). Position spacers below (L2) to lend a hand handle the right kind place relative to the drawer encasement. Then fasten. At this level, you’ll faucet within the leg-end flooring protectors (two in line with leg) to the ground of the 4 legs.
• Step 8 — Follow Trim Items. Follow 3/4″ x 1/4″ display screen mould trim items to uncovered edges. Measure and reduce the display screen mould to suit each and every of the uncovered plywood (or melamine) edges (drawer encasement most sensible and backside edges, vertical strips of the drawer dividers, backside shelf edges). Affix with wooden glue and attach the use of the 3d x 1 1/4″ brads.

  

• Step 9 — Drawer Facings. Measure and reduce the drawer facings (T) and (U). I then used a router to create a completed element at the edges. Set up the drawers into their respective positions within the drawer encasement by means of aligning the drawer guides inside the cupboard guides. Place the drawer facings on each and every in their respective drawers, clamping them in position so they’re targeted horizontally, and the 3 drawers have their most sensible edges aligned with each and every different’s. Fasten the facings to the drawer fronts from the interior of the drawer the use of the 2 1 1/4″ Deck-Pressure DSV Wooden screws in line with dealing with.

  

• Step 10 — Stain Prep. Including the shelf and workbench most sensible floor provides substantial weight to the venture; earlier than doing so — and assuming the venture will wish to be moved to any other location — it’s possible you’ll need to first stain and give protection to the wooden the use of a polyurethane or equivalent product. To make issues quite more straightforward, take away the drawers from the encasement. Give the entire uncovered portions a just right sanding. Follow the stain or polyurethane coats in line with producer’s suggestions. After the stain or polyurethane has dried, transfer the items again for your workspace.
• Step 11 — Backside Shelf. Connect the ground shelf. Resolve how some distance off the bottom you desire to the shelf to be, after which reduce 4 items of two×4 from scrap to that top. Those will function spacers offering the peak of the shelf. Position those items of reduce 2×4 below the ground shelf meeting. Assuming the meeting remains to be the other way up, elevate the workbench over the ground shelf, moderately flipping it right-side up, in order that the ground shelf meeting suits inside the 4 legs. Protected the ground shelf meeting to the workbench meeting the use of two 3″ SDWS Framing screws on each and every leg.
• Step 12 — Paintings Floor. Set up the workbench most sensible floor (D):  Measure and reduce sections out of the again corners of bench most sensible (D) so the board will match in and across the again legs or most sensible shelf risers. On this case, the nook cuts have been 3″W x 5″D. Follow an abundant quantity of glue to the highest of the drawer encasement (A). Carry (D) on most sensible of the workbench meeting sliding it again in order that the newly scale back corners match within the again helps. In case your workbench most sensible is plywood, fasten alongside the entrance, again and aspect edges the use of 1 1/4″ Deck-Pressure™ DSV Wooden screws.

  

• Step 13 — Most sensible Shelf. Set up the workbench most sensible shelf (I): Set up shelf brackets on the most sensible of each and every of the again legs or shelf risers (L2) so the horizontal arm aligns with the highest of (L2). Fasten with 1 3/4″ Sturdy-Pressure® WSV screws.  Carry the highest shelf board (I) and place it on most sensible of the again leg or the shelf helps and shelf brackets, aligning the shelf’s again edge with the again fringe of (L2). Fasten with the as it should be sized screw for the thickness of (I). E.g., if (I) is 3/4″ thick, use 1/2″ or 5/8″ screws; if (I) is 1 1/2″ thick, use 1″ or 1 1/4″ DSV Wooden screws. (Should you suspect that you are going to be storing heavy items at the most sensible shelf and are involved that the shelf will bow below the burden, connect a 2×4 that extends from the highest of the workbench floor midpoint to the similar top because the left and correct rear legs/helps. Fasten to the two×4 to the workbench by means of a steel strap or a bracket the use of 1 1/2″ screws, after which use a 3rd shelf bracket to give a boost to the higher shelf.)

  

• Step 14 — Drawer Element. Set up drawer handles in line with producer’s directions.

  

• Step 15 — Peg Board. Set up the pegboard by means of screwing the aspect edges into the rear-shelf give a boost to risers, the use of 3 1 1/4″ screws in line with aspect.

  

• Step 16 — Completing Touches. Set up different customizations in line with producers’ directions: e.g., energy strips, lights, bench vises.

Click on this hyperlink and obtain the plans to start out construction.