Does anyone have ideas for tables, counters (preferably sturdy fold-up) etc. furniture for a shop that doubles as a garage? We’re not talking about a lot of floor space taken up by power tools (although I might want to add some things later). It’s a two bay garage, one of which is occupied by a car, and the rest of which serves as shop, garden equipment storage, bicycle storage and repair spot, etc. Currently I have the walls on one side, and the space between the car bays, lined with steel shelving from Home Depot; most woodworking hand tools are either on pegboard or in drawers/on shelves under my bench. I’m really looking for ideas for more flexibility and more organization so that I don’t trip on the lawnmower when I am trying to lay out cuts on a board. Thanks!
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I have a number of saw horses, from ponies to tall horses. When needed, I screw a piece of plywood on them. Varying heights is handy and many times I don't need a top. The inexpensive, fold up, steel ones take little space when stored. At $10-$12 each, they are almost disposable. You can also buy fold up table legs, like your typical school tables, and make a top to suit your purpose. You might want to think about a garden shed to get rid of the rakes, etc. and lawn mower.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
"The inexpensive, fold up, steel ones take little space when stored." Amen to that. I added a 2x4 to the top of mine, a little longer than the sawhorse top, drilled a nice big hole in the end of it, enabling me to hang the horses (folded up) on the wall.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Ben: FWW issue #167 page 70 has some nice ideas for a shop with everything on rollers so it can accommodate the cars as well. KDM
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I am working on building a rolling stand (with locking wheels), Like the various miter saw stands you see plans for. This one will have folding wings and room below to store the miter saw. Now for the fun part. I am sizing it to also hold my planer so that the wings will add long length to the infeed and outfeed. I am making a shelf fram to store a number of my tools. All of these (planer, mitersaw, benchtop drill press, double set of bench grinders, scroll saw) will be mounted to 3/4" plywood bases that will slide into the shelf system and will fit onto my rolling stand and be able to be locked down for use. WHen not being used, I will be able to drop the wings and roll it out of the way. With room in lower cabinet for the miter saw, I can leave 1 of the otehr machines on the cart. For the shelf usit, I am planning on a frame with pegboard on it as a "door" to close it off, but mostly to add more space to hang up tools.
My Tablesaw is already on a mobile base.
I have a couple of folding tables and also a 2' dia. lazy susan I made to put on the sawhorses or a low table (old coffee table) to act as a finishing stand. I also bought at HARBOR FREIGHT a couple of furniture movers for moving projects around and keeping them up off the floor.
The Harbor Freight yell was for those who will not dirty their hands with the store. I will quickly add here that I agree that the majority of their stuff is junk. They do have some stuff that I have bought and that functions well. I will sometimes buy a cheap tool from them when I need the tool for 1 or 2 apllications and am not sure I will use it again and the cost to buy from them is equal to or less than what it would cost me to rent that tool. My latest example of that would be the wet tile saw I bought - needed one for a small project, and the rental cost for the time needed (travel time and use and clean up time) was $55 and I bought a cheap one for $45 (no tax here). It worked just fine, did what I wanted and I saved $10 and now have the saw. If it dies when/if I turn it on again, I am still ahead of the game, but I expect I will get a couple of more uses before it dies. And the non tool items are ok. I am NOT a huge advocate of them, but I do belive that they have their place.
Good assembly/layout tables can be made from 3/0 Luan hollow-core doors with a coat of poly or lacquer. Lay'em over your saw-horses to use. Put'em against the wall with your folding horses when finished. They're a lot lighter and more rigid than a sheet of ply. Cheap too.
ShopNotes magazine has had dozens of plans for these types of projects over the years. Check out their website to see if you can download individual plans.
Aloha,
Garages are for cars???? What will they think of next. Man, I hope my wife doesn't find out.
Benasher,
I built a platform of 3/4" ply(4x8'), 4x4's for uprights and 2x4's for aprons between the two cars. It's high enough so that I can easily get underneath(riding mower, snow blower, etc.) and accomodate bikes and the like on the top shelf.
3/4 or 1 inch electrical conduit is cheep and strong.. With a top on it you can't go wrong.. Just takes some flat head screws, a top. and some lockwashres and nuts! Be sure to but it under the top.. I have some made MANY years ago.. Still straight!
EDIT:: Be sure to but .. I was thinkin' of the ladies again EXCUSE me!
I wanted to type... Be sure to PUT!
Edited 8/6/2005 4:11 pm ET by Will George
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