Finally have a dedicated workbench!

[rendermandan]

Hey everyone, as most of you know, I've taken the last year to concentrate on finishing my basement. After almost 6 years, its basically done. All that is left is carpet. During this time, I never really had a permanent work bench. I simply used an old table in the middle of the room with a chair and tool table.

I had an image of my old workspace, but I can't find it right now. If I find it later, I'll add it here.

Now that space is finished, I need a dedicated work bench somewhere.

I chose to use some space in our basement storage room rather than my garage. It gets pretty cold here in the winters and to be honest, there really isn't enough room. I have a small workbench in my garage already where the larger power tools that dont' get used all the time will be located. Tools such as the scroll saw, Disk sander, Grinder, etc.

Here is a shot of the storage space I cleaned out.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8676.jpg

this is a shot of the utility tub I installed a few years ago. It will be nice to have this close to my work area.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8677.jpg

I went to my local hardware store and picked up some industrial steel storage rack system called Gorilla storage racks. Should be strong enough!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8679.jpg

I started the assembly of the base. The base is 6' long and 30" deep and 36" tall.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8681.jpg

I also picked up some 17" deep rack ends.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8682.jpg

I drilled some holes and bolted the 17 ends to the tops of the 30" ends. These will be for the back of the bench.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8683.jpg

here is one assembled.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8684.jpg

and the entire steel assembly.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8685.jpg

I took some measurements and headed back to my local hardware store to have them cut the top, back and shelf for me. I used 3/4" white Melamine for the bench top and shelf. and White pegboard for the back and side.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8687.jpg

Here is the side. I only had enough material left over to cut one side though. I wasn't going to buy another full 4x8 sheet for the other side, so it will ahve to do for now.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8690.jpg

Every work bench should have good light. So I installed a 4' fluorescent tube light on the bottom of the top shelf.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8689.jpg

Well, thats basically it. the frame work is done.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8691.jpg

Ok, time to start adding stuff. Like a power strip. You can never have enough outlets, so I found this 12 outlet strip.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8693.jpg

Nicely installed along the back. with the light cord tucked away through a hole in the back.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8698.jpg

For my birthday, my parents bought this stool for me!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8696.jpg

Yesterday I got a new lab station in the mail. It is basically a full function digital multimeter, variable voltage, regulated power supply and a variable temperature soldering iron all in one!!!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8717.jpg

Here are some more shots.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8722.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8725.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8733.jpg

I also ordered some extra tips. those should last me quite a while.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8718.jpg

I had to drill a small hole in the back board to hide the power cord.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8738.jpg

it sits nicely in perfect reach for whenever I need it!
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8739.jpg

Lastly, I filled the back board and side with some of my hobby tools.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h205/rendermandan/Workbench/100_8737.jpg


So basically, that's where I'm at right now. I still want to buy a drill press. I will probably build a shelf that hangs off the left side for it to sit on. I'm not sure which one I will get, so I don't know how high the shelf needs to be. but I"m sure it will get done sometime.


Ok, Now that I have a workbench, I need to start building!!!!

[Luke122]

Awesome! Congrats on the man-cave upgrade!

[Liquid_Scope_99]

Very nice man clean looking as well good job

[OvRiDe]

Wow.. that should work quite nicely!!

Great job!

[Zephik]

That's much improved!

[blueonblack]

Outstanding! Wish MY workbench was inside the house! And the running water would be a huge plus also. Love the lab station.

+rep

(I fully expected it to include cabinets that utilized non-Euclidian space to make themselved larger inside than outside...)

[x88x]

Very nice. I especially like the wall of tools. :D ...much better than the pile of tools that my workbench all too often turns into...

[billygoat333]

that lab station is awesomeness. good work on the new bench, looks quite sturdy! :)

[Mach]

Congrats on the workbench! Looks great! You won't regret the power strip.

[Xpirate]

Excellent work.

[mDust]

I like that last pic. I was thinking up a custom workbench the other day in preparation for the day I move out of this damn apartment. About how much did that frame run you? It looks very 'industrial'...like the shelves at Home Depot or something. lol

[rendermandan]

I like that last pic. I was thinking up a custom workbench the other day in preparation for the day I move out of this damn apartment. About how much did that frame run you? It looks very 'industrial'...like the shelves at Home Depot or something. lol

Thanks,

The rack system is Gorrilla brand. and yes, its very sturdy. I got it a local hardware store called Menards. Not sure if they are located anywhere else.
They sell it by the piece and have all kinds of different sizes of pieces, that way you can make it any size you like.
In total, the steel ran about $150. not the cheapest, but it should last forever!

[mDust]

Oh yeah, there's a Menards 3 miles from here. I've been all around it but never inside. I'll have to check that out. I was going to build stuff out of wood, but if I can get a pre-assembled steel frame for a decent price I'll do it. I suppose I'll check Home Depot and Lowes while I'm at it...although I've never seen anything like that at either of those stores.

Keep us updated on this if you further upgrade it. Especially concerning a drillpress. :)

[msmrx57]

Oh yeah, there's a Menards 3 miles from here. I've been all around it but never inside. I'll have to check that out. I was going to build stuff out of wood, but if I can get a pre-assembled steel frame for a decent price I'll do it. I suppose I'll check Home Depot and Lowes while I'm at it...although I've never seen anything like that at either of those stores.

A modder who lives near Menards and hasn't been in?!?!?!?

But seriously I can't speak for Lowes, because there isn't one near me, but Menards is almost always cheaper than Home Depot. Heck most of my house comes from there as we remodel bit by bit. The biggest difference that I've seen is Menards doesn't always have as much selection on everything (light and pluming fixtures, flooring). But overall great store.

[mDust]

A modder who lives near Menards and hasn't been in?!?!?!?

But seriously I can't speak for Lowes, because there isn't one near me, but Menards is almost always cheaper than Home Depot. Heck most of my house comes from there as we remodel bit by bit. The biggest difference that I've seen is Menards doesn't always have as much selection on everything (light and pluming fixtures, flooring). But overall great store.lol, thanks for that. No worries, I'll check them out soon.

[msmrx57]

Just had to give you a hard time ;). It is a great store though.