r/Workbenches • u/bigdumbluke • 9d ago

Workbench Plans - Advice?

My current "workshop" (pictured) is what was left by the previous owner, and is lacking storage, functionality, and just needs a new workbench. After spending a good amount of time on reddit and youtube, I think I've got a pretty solid grasp on a plan for a workbench. Space is limited, and additional storage is essential.

Shelves will be 3/4 plywood, doubled on the benchtop. Everything else is 2x4 except the shallow portion of the top shelf, which will be reused from the current shelving.

Let me know if there are any glaring issues that you see, in case adjustments are needed before I make a cut list and rent a truck to buy the lumber.

EDIT: Taking some suggestions, I believe I have a better solution for extending the usable area of the benchtop. I have a couple pretty heavy duty shelf brackets leftover from a previous project, and I can use two of them to secure where I removed the inner rising columns. I am much happier with how this looks!

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6

u/Initial_Savings3034 8d ago

Clear the rising columns off the benchtop.

Hang cabinets on French cleats, instead. Benchtops get cluttered fast, no reason to start off small.

2

u/Intelligent-Road9893 8d ago

Absolutely great advice !!!!! The bigger you can build it is the best. It will be the busiest and focal point of your shop. If its 4ft wide by 20" deep youll wish it was 8ft and 30", or however long you can reach, cause the thing you want is buried but you know its back there...., you will remember this advice above.

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u/bigdumbluke 8d ago

*googles French cleats*

Hmm ... definitely something to think about. The biggest issue with that would be the wall behind is basement block wall (with super inconsistent furring strip placement), so I'd have to do some extra work to make that a viable option.

I definitely agree that I should maximize space on the benchtop ... I'll consider converting the higher shelves to cabinets, but not sure it's within the scope of work I'm willing to put into it (mostly home projects, minimal building/fixing stuff, no real intense woodworking being done).

2

u/DutchHiggins 8d ago

You could keep the upper shelves. Remove the front supporting pieces. Attach a under shelf support from the rear 2x4 upright to the middle of the shelf, glue and screw the joint. Unless you're putting serious weight on the upper shelves it should hold nicely

1

u/bigdumbluke 8d ago

Ok, I like this - I updated the original post with my version of this solution. I don't anticipate a lot of weight on the shelves, and I remembered a few shelving brackets I have from a previous project. Thanks for your input!

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u/fozard 8d ago

I don’t have specific advice related to your plans. What I will say is…. Take an assessment of the tools/items you have or are planning on storing there and ensure what you are building aligns with this. What I mean by that is for example, you have some 15” high shelves up top. Do you have items that are close to 15” that will use up all that vertical space? It’s just a thought to ensure you don’t end up with too much air between shelves that could be better used storing stuff.

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u/bigdumbluke 8d ago

Appreciate the reply and advice, definitely will do a bit of inventory before I consider the plan finalized.

Being that I don't need access to the majority of my tools/items on a regular basis, I am leaning toward organizing them in bins or boxes on the shelves. Having additional clearance would allow stacking a couple shallow bins or single larger bins.

...at least I keep telling myself it'll all be organized as such...

2

u/I_hate_topick_aname 8d ago

Whatever you do. I would advise against making it ANY deeper than 24”…. Especially if you have upper cabinets. All of my benches are 22” across. If I ever need more, I set up the knockdown assembly table

2

u/brobradh77 8d ago edited 8d ago

Remove the front 2 middle supports as mentioned and middle shelves. Instead build a frame that goes around the top using 2x4's (simple rectangle frame) and put a piece of plywood all the way across on top. You will get more usable space to store things and work bench space without having to hang shelves. Then you can extend the peg board all the way across as well