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Video of my build here

My workshop is in a shared garage that functions as a household storage center and place for the family car when I am not building. Because of that, my workshop space is limited and needs to be mobile.

I've had a 2×4 Basics workbench as my main bench and storage area for about 10 years now.

That bench has served me fine and will live on in a reincarnated form, but with the addition of a table saw, a joiner, planer, and oscillating spindle sander, I needed some new solutions.

The first thing I did was to install a lumber storage rack high up on the wall. These freed up some room on the floor where I was previously storing lumber.

Next I dissembled my old workbench and brought home the materials for a new workbench. I build the new workbench from kiln dried 2×4s, 4×4s for the vertical supports and 3/4 inch hardwood plywood.

I started assembling the base of the table and built up.I used the heavy duty pocket hole screws from Kreg for most of the connection points. I used traditional 3.5" Torx wood screws for the 4×4 to 2×4 connection points.

One of the main purposes for this workbench was to house an old Craftsman table saw (model 113) so that the bench top would also serve as an outfeed table for the saw. I encountered some difficulty getting an accurate measurement from the top of the table saw top to the bottom of the saw for a couple of reasons; first the shape difference of the saw top and the saw bottom did not allow for easy measurements, and 2nd the saw was attached to an old and bent metal rolling cart. Once I got the saw off the old cart and on flat ground I was able to measure more accurately and got a dimension to set the lower shelf at.

I used a piece of string drawn taught from the top of the table saw top to make sure that my outfeet table top would remain slightly below the table saw top.

Once all built I sanded the edges of everything and ran a trim bit over all the plywood edges ensuring a perfect flush fit between the plywood shelves, top and the structural supports.

I also included a spot on the bottom shelf for my air compressor and future spot for a hanging air hose reel. I thought that having on-board compressed air would come in handy in the future for assembling projects on the top. Putting all my tools away and organizing the bench, I am very happy with how this turned out and how easily accessible everything is.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and I hope this provides you with some inspiration for a future project of your own.

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Comments

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Looks like a solid alternative to the cheap flimsy stand it originally came with. I had a question about the placement of the saw. Do you find that it's too far in from the edge?
 

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Thanks! Too far in from the feed end of the table saw? No, I don't think so. The area below the table saw top is pretty open so the bench really doesn't get in the way when feeding the saw.
 

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4,567 Posts
That is a cool idea. Nicely done, too!!

cheers, Jim
 

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Nice work, very creative. Should prove to be very useful!
 

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Thanks Jim and woodbutcher! I'm having fun using it.
 

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So great looking tool/ working station.
 

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After long investigation also made workbench for my Craftsman 113 here is detailed video how I make it.
 
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