Midwest Woodworker

East Wall

The East wall is the business side of my shop (i.e. the side where my wife's car is not allowed).  The predominant feature of the East wall is a huge workbench that starts in the N.E. corner and stretches 13 feet down the wall.  Under this bench is the home of my shop vac, tablesaw, storage drawers, and my jointer.  Above and built into the bench is my radial arm saw. 

 

By making the bench high enough to slide the tablesaw and jointer under, I solved the problem of what to do with a couple of space hogging machines when they are not in use.  The benchtop is made from half-lapped 2x4s, covered by a sheet of 3/4 mdf, and wrapped in solid wood trim.  It is cleated to the wall and has 4x4 posts in strategic places for added support. 

Here is a shot of the recycled kitchen cabinet that I use as drawer storage.  By building it into the bench, I not only didn't have to build a drawer cabinet from scratch, but I also freed up one more bit of floor space that this previously free-standing cabinet occupied. 

The South end of the bench was made a bit beefier with the idea that this would be my main workbench.  I can pound, saw, clamp, plane, chisel, etc. here without worry that the bench will wiggle or move. 

Past the end of the big bench I have my air compressor and my old low storage cabinet holding assorted power tools inside and my grinder, combo sander, and miter saw on top.  On the wall above this cabinet I have mounted my pegboard to hold all of my most-used hand tools. 


Turning the corner onto the South side of the shop, I park my band saw and drill press on mobile bases so they are easily accessible.

North Wall

On the East side of the North wall I have my trusty library card catalog which now holds nails, screws, hardware, and a thousand other smaller woodworking objects.  This is also where I park my surface planer and hang some of my clamps.  On the wall I have mounted a Triton lumber storage rack. 


On the West side of the North wall I have my dust collector and a high cabinet containing all of my finishes and glues. Turning the corner onto the West wall, I have hung my Bessey K-Body clamps, a roller stand, and a short ladder.  

West Wall 

Moving down the West wall, I have hung my tablesaw crosscut sled, and some other miscellaneous garage  items such as brooms, a ladder, shovels, fishing rods, etc.