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Building a workshop from scratch

Building a workshop from scratch
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After being frustrated by not having enough room to work, not being able to find the right tools and supplies, and spending way too much time looking for things, we decided to clean out a basement utility room and build a workshop. We learned a lot of things along the way and hope our experience will be helpful to anyone who is thinking about building or adapting usable workspace.
 
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Step 1Table of Contents

Because of its length, this Instructable is broken down into 3 main categories: Planning, Construction, and Organization. This makes it easier to navigate through it.

You can find:

-Planning on steps 2-8

-Construction on steps 9-24

-Organization on steps 25-37
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79 comments
1-40 of 79next »
Jan 23, 2012. 1:53 AMNewShockerGuy says:
So for the majority of the workbench did you not use anymore bracing in the center where the top of the work bench is?

I ask because in the one picture I see that you joint the front mirrored image of the shelves/workbench to the cleats in the wall but there is only one support on the left and right.

Do you have anymore pictures or anything like that?

I love that your work bench has the center shelves, that makes for a really good way to store stuff and I love how it looks.

Thanks,
-Nigel
May 4, 2011. 9:37 PMizea97sk8ter says:
where did you get this from??????
Jun 8, 2011. 5:20 AMNyxius says:
I found some at Lowe's. Pretty generic drawers though.
May 31, 2011. 11:06 AMtinker234 says:
nice
Mar 7, 2011. 6:35 AModin7 says:
Thanks for the great idea. Sorry the clutter, in the picture.
Oct 27, 2009. 12:50 PMjackbomber says:
 great instructible. I have a simlar work bench. one very usefull tool I added was a  computer.  I wall mounted a flat panel monitor under a shelf that the computer sits on and have a wireless keyboard/mouse that sit on a shelf when not in use. It's nice to have the web at my disposal when working on projects. what better tool in a shop than having instructables.com at my disposal? it's also nice to have it feeding my stereo whatever internet streaming audio I can find or just tunes from my media server. 
Nov 10, 2010. 12:16 AMopticalfx says:
What do you do about dust entering your comp? Wood or metal working can generate alot of dust(Electronics too if you print and punch your own boards)
Feb 10, 2011. 12:24 AMpfred2 says:
You'd be surprised how much dust comes out of computers that sit in offices their whole lives. Suit lint and paper dust from printers and copiers can really build up! I keep some computers in my garage workshop and once in a while I just blow them out with compressed air. It doesn't seem to really bother them.
Sep 16, 2010. 8:37 PMdwosullivan says:
I'm not sure about the US, but in Australia in the recent past, and maybe still, asbestos was used in the centre of fire doors. While it is an excellent building material, it does unfortunately lead to serious sickness in some people.
Just throwing that out there for people to consider.

Other than that it looks like a great workspace (so envious...)
Sep 26, 2010. 6:12 PMzippydaspinhead says:
its also true that only about 2 or 3% of the asbestos used in buildings (and I'm guessing fire doors as well) is of the type that can cause problems. Also the risk is during construction as the asbestos will not be going anywhere now that the benches are completed.

That being said I would still wear a mask while drilling through the doors for that reason.
Oct 2, 2010. 1:57 AMfrankineto says:
hi ,
It was quite alarming reading what you had just posted regarding asbestos .
any asbestos big or small , and in any quantity is bad for you . Wearing a mask will not stop it getting to your lungs .
We have a huge problem of asbestos in the uk , especially in public building like schools and recently there has been several articles of teachers dying from asbestos related diseases - you figure .
if its affecting some teachers , imagine what its doing to the pupils.
Many firefighters and police that helped during September attacks , are experiencing asbestos related illnesses , see link below

http://www.9-11heroes.us/asbestos.php

so , in hindsight , please bear in mind that its will affect you no matter what you wear and could affect your health in the future .

Oct 13, 2010. 7:15 PMpfred2 says:
Aww come on lets not get all kinds of hysterical about asbestos. Sure the stuff is deadly lethal to some people, but not all people! I must be in the latter group as I've messed around with the stuff on plenty of occasions for over 25 years now and it has never adversely impacted me.

I don't think twice about grabbing my asbestos blanket to use on jobs if it means the difference between burning down a house or not. Being in a burning building is hazardous to everyone!
Nov 10, 2010. 12:12 AMopticalfx says:
Regardless of the "Type" of asbestos involved, breathing any dust or loose particles is bad for your health. If it is left untouched and sealed then there should be a decreased risk. On the other hand everything is hazardous to some degree, even Oxygen, which is needed for life, can hurt you.

pfred2 when you are using an asbestos blanket do you cut/grind/sand/shred it?
Feb 2, 2009. 6:56 AMmjdinsmore says:
Where is the leg vice? Tail vice? How are you supposed to do woodworking on this? Dog holes? How do you clamp anything? It seems like the top has polyurethane / glossy finish and much too slippery to do much on it? Seems more like a storage area than a workshop to me. Sorry.
Feb 9, 2009. 10:30 AMlue42 says:
Check out this book... it is the bible for designing a woodworking workshop.
http://www.amazon.com/Setting-Up-Shop-Practical-Designing/dp/156158360X

Oct 13, 2010. 7:22 PMpfred2 says:
I have this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Workshop-Book-Craftmans-Guide-Making/dp/1561582719/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1287022821&sr=1-1

That other one you posted a link to looks pretty interesting as well.
Feb 9, 2009. 10:29 AMlue42 says:
What part in any of this project gives you the impression that this is meant to be a "Woodworking" workshop. It is obviously electronics based. How about not complaining about the lack of functionality and recognize that it is a great instructable for a great, easy to build, and well organized workshop for his needs. I am sure that you can easily change the plans to suit your woodworking requirements. dwj300... great job... you obviously spent a log of time on making a well documented instructable. Thanks!
Jun 21, 2009. 2:36 AMpfred2 says:
What? You sit on resistors in your house? Everyone has woodworking requirements! That, and often when I do electronics I still need to hold something in a vise. Without some kind of a bench vise mjdinsmore is right, it is just shelves.
Apr 13, 2012. 7:33 AMMak5 says:
Step 36??
Apr 13, 2012. 9:09 AMpfred2 says:
Might be an addition since I posted almost 3 years ago now.
Feb 6, 2009. 4:12 AMtepse says:
true...
Sep 24, 2010. 11:28 PM11richie21 says:
nice work! on that before picture it looked like someone threw a grenade in there lol!
Aug 12, 2010. 2:46 AMcimbru says:
Very nice!
May 5, 2010. 7:14 AMplanetscape says:
Even after merely skimming, I see you have assembled a marvelous collection of mightily freakin' clever ideas here! Great job!
May 4, 2010. 3:23 PMdcrrcdx2 says:
brilliant, wish i had the space!...
Apr 30, 2010. 9:37 PMstan4 says:
Nice job.
Apr 6, 2010. 7:10 AM2ManyProjects says:

I find that over time my storage needs change, so I installed french cleats on the wall to hang my tools and shelves from. It allows me to move around tools and cabinets with ease. I used pre-primed finger jointed exterior trim board from a home improvement store. it is strait and just needs a top coat of paint.

Apr 5, 2010. 8:09 AMMig Welder says:
For the countersinking, wouldn't it of been easier to drill the pilot hole then the countersink hole so you wouldn't have to find the exact center of the countersink?
Not sure if that makes sense but I think it might've made it a little easier.
Apr 5, 2010. 8:26 AMMig Welder says:
great 'ible. thanks for taking the time to put it together :)
Feb 19, 2010. 2:28 AMhal9000 says:
Great work. This encourages me to work on my messy workshop.
Jan 25, 2010. 3:22 PMjohnpombrio says:
Nice idea about using the doors. gives a flat surface. I also found that there are instant wood tabletops at Home Depot and Lowes that are 24 by 48"  by 3/4" One bench I had two four of them and would allow me to flip them around If my surface got too beat up.  Biggest issue I have with your doors is using a sledgehammer on something on the top (comes up more than you think.) When I built my main bench, I used 2 by 6's, at first just let them site on top until they dried (couple of months.) Then I planed them flat, screwed them in and then added a layer of 1/2 MDF for a replaceable top. Last layer is just a sheet of 1/8 inch hardboard  for cutting cardboard, soldering, painting, etc. every six months flip it over and throw away after a year.
  I also do not like a fixed bench. SO much better to have it on wheels. Double up the legs to a 4 by 4 and put wheels underneath. Do not have to be locking wheels, the sucker is heavy!
  Finally the backsplash could be much higher 6 inches or so, and offset from the doors by washers (1/4 inch or so, like you did with pegboard). That lets dust and debris fall out of the crack which has a tendency to build up with crud. the higher backsplash will also allow the power strip to be above most of the mess going on with the bench. Now the back is a usable surface to hold things against.
  I went with sliding buckets as well as fixed shelves. Just take a plastic container that has lips on the top edge and put two parallel strips of wood that will let the lip slide. Tada, instant drawers!
  Good job!
  
Jan 25, 2010. 3:47 PMjohnpombrio says:

Nov 16, 2009. 8:44 PMqballcat says:
Hi, im 14 and i want to build this.  ONLY  the bench,(and pegboard and stuff)  not any of the tools, what was the cost?  i cant exceed 800$ and i am buying 450$ worth of tools, just wondering.

-kieran
Jan 24, 2010. 6:21 PMFujo says:
Why use doors unless you already have ones lying about??? cheaper to buy sheets of wood..
Nov 16, 2009. 9:17 PMqballcat says:
awesome, thanks alot :D
Nov 10, 2010. 12:15 AMopticalfx says:
Scavenge your wood qballcat! Ask around construction sites and the such. It's cheaper to give the scraps away then to haul them out.
Jan 24, 2010. 12:07 PMbrisser says:
 i love this project, a good inspiration concerning my upcoming hobby-room, thanks :-)
Dec 10, 2009. 12:02 PMhayashiox says:
That's how I hold my screwdrivers,  
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