Project by sIKE | posted 02-25-2008 05:34 AM | 24645 views | 41 times favorited | 34 comments | ![]() |
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I needed a place to put my benchtop tools in my small shop (16×24). This project was very challenging for me. I had to make several jigs to get it done, also I had a pannel out of square which caused much head banging as the base has a dadoed bottom shelf and things just dont go together if it isn’t square. The top was quick and easy after the layout. Note to anyone making this project, make sure you layout the holes for the grid before you cut the squares into circles!. The tools are held down with T-Nuts pulled tight from the bottom. I need to repsosition the scroll saw as it hangs out to far over the rim. The other todo is to add a small power strip for better prower managment. Other wise a very good little project.
This is the first of three projects for the left wall of my shop. It is in the front corner of the building.
Note this is from The Complete Small Shop – A ShopNotes Special Interest Magazine.
Update: One of the issues I soon discovered with this project is having to unplug/plug the tools in whenever I spun the top. After a conversation with my Father-In-law he recommended that I drill a hole in the side of the pipe that the top pivoted on, down underneath and run a wire down the pipe and out the hole, then plug it in to the wall. As luck would have it, I happened to put a plug down low on the wall right where this lives. So after a bit of drilling I was able to drop some 12 Gauge Romex down the pipe and out the hole in the side of the pipe, add a plug, on the other end mount a double gang box to the top and setup 4 outlets for all of the tools to live in. A little dusting, cleaning and wire management and you have the 4th picture above. It is working so nicely!
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
34 comments so far
GaryK
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10262 posts in 4962 days
#1 posted 02-25-2008 05:37 AM
Hey, that’s pretty cool! Excellent idea.
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
Karson
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35269 posts in 5374 days
#2 posted 02-25-2008 05:43 AM
Nice use of space. very inventive.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Appomattox Virginia [email protected] †
cajunpen
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#3 posted 02-25-2008 06:05 AM
Great use of space. Oh the joys of having a small shop, we have to be creative.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
ChrisBabayco
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67 posts in 4901 days
#4 posted 02-25-2008 11:59 AM
That is a very cool idea. Have you tried using all the tools, and if so is there something that you would do differently? Again, nice work!
MsDebbieP
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18619 posts in 5134 days
#5 posted 02-25-2008 12:21 PM
that’s brilliant! What a wonderful use of space and everything you need is right there! Very cool
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (https://www.facebook.com/DebbiePribele, Young Living Wellness )
Scott Bryan
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#6 posted 02-25-2008 12:31 PM
sIKE that is a nice tool station. It keeps these tools organized and out of the way. It makes excellent use of corner space which is usually under-utilized. While I have lazy susans in my kitchen I just haven’t considered putting them in my shop. Nice idea.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
Jiri Parkman
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953 posts in 4786 days
#7 posted 02-25-2008 01:38 PM
Perfect inspiration.
-- Jiri
clieb91
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#8 posted 02-25-2008 02:17 PM
sIKE, that looks good. I saw this in that magazine and do want to build one, thought it would be a great place for a pen turning set up once i get a mini-lathe.
Thanks for the tips.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."- PortablePastimes.com (Purveyors of Portable Fun and Fidgets)
Grant Davis
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840 posts in 4882 days
#9 posted 02-25-2008 04:01 PM
I can see one of these fitting nicely in the corner of my shop. Consider this one pilferred.
-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"
CharlieM1958
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16292 posts in 5192 days
#10 posted 02-25-2008 04:21 PM
You’ve really got me thinking about doing this. Nice job!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Kevin
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291 posts in 4932 days
#11 posted 02-25-2008 05:48 PM
That looks pretty sweet. Have you tried all the tools yet? Is the top stable enough when using a long board on the drill press?
-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas
sIKE
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1271 posts in 4727 days
#12 posted 02-25-2008 06:44 PM
I havent tried a long board yet. I want to build a small Drill Press table for it. The plan long term is to get a full sized drill press and that will deal with the long stuff and I can keep the bench top one for a second setup during my projects. If I had enough space I would get a second TS for the same purpose.
In the interm the cabinet is on the heavy side and is very stable, but I can pull it out a bit from the wall to allow me to run loger boards, that is the plan atleast. The under cabinet storage is great I have my routers, jig saw, and plate joiner all up underneth there.
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
jockmike2
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#13 posted 02-26-2008 04:32 AM
I saw this in shopnotes. I subscibe, it sure looked like a good idea to me, but it seemed to me that it would get hung up on that bottom pipe fitting. You know after turning it don’t you have start turning it back the other way. Does it ever get stuck? mike
-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -
sIKE
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1271 posts in 4727 days
#14 posted 02-26-2008 05:02 AM
Never gets stuck the pipe is just there as a pivot point, it keeps the turntable from flying off and keeps it centered. It is just like a lazy susan. OTOH the bottom shelf will make you nervous when the missing quarter is in the center back of the cabinet.
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
Jim Boehm
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40 posts in 4713 days
#15 posted 03-01-2008 04:33 AM
Excellent! I think this will be a sooner than later project for me. Nice creation.
-- "Knowledge is King! It is never too late to learn something new." - Jim
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