Workbench Layout Input

M

madupree

Joined
Nov 25, 2014
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Looking for some input on the best possible layout of stationary tools of where they will be mounted on the workbench i have, the etching machine & the granite surface plate (although it weighing 75lbs, i am not going to want to pull it out repeatedly daily)would probably not have to be stationary. I will most likely build an additional 5' long workbench also. I'm right handed btw if that affects anything.
 
4'10" for a workbench? I have a 12' long workbench and I still run out of space.
 
I have 3 six foot workbenches with no power tools mounted just a dremel and several vices and I run out of room.

One for design/leather (no metal shavings or dust), one for finish sanding and one general purpose for messing with crap like epoxy and such.
 
I currently have 10' of work bench and I have nowhere near enough space and I dont even have a 2x72 yet down there. Just my filing jig, benchtop drill press, 18"x24" granite surface plate, and my glue up and assembly area. I could double it and that would be great until I get a few more things. Your going to have quite a time filingl your 50 knife order in that space. I do 1-2 knives at a time and feel confined.

Jay
 
Antlerhog said:
I currently have 10' of work bench and I have nowhere near enough space and I dont even have a 2x72 yet down there. Just my filing jig, benchtop drill press, 18"x24" granite surface plate, and my glue up and assembly area. I could double it and that would be great until I get a few more things. Your going to have quite a time filingl your 50 knife order in that space. I do 1-2 knives at a time and feel confined.

Jay
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Augus7us said:
I have 3 six foot workbenches with no power tools mounted just a dremel and several vices and I run out of room.

One for design/leather (no metal shavings or dust), one for finish sanding and one general purpose for messing with crap like epoxy and such.
Click to expand...

i4Marc said:
4'10" for a workbench? I have a 12' long workbench and I still run out of space.
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i'm simply asking what i can put on that ONE workbench, not saying that i am going to put everything on that single one.
 
Hard to answer that one for you. I have one through six on your list and limited space so only one and two stay out but your granite is much bigger than mine. Best guess though would be the KMG on the left side of the bench and the drill press in the alcove.

Mark
 
Varga Knives said:
Hard to answer that one for you. I have one through six on your list and limited space so only one and two stay out but your granite is much bigger than mine. Best guess though would be the KMG on the left side of the bench and the drill press in the alcove.

Mark
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Yea my main concern was where to mount the grinder and then i was going to go from there......
 
Can you pull that bench out a little or make it deeper? Being flush with the wall limits access to tool you put on the left or right corners of the bench.

Where is the vise going?
 
Leave the bench open. Mount a vise on the left hand corner. Mine extends out from the bench so that I can have it in front of me and the bench is to the right. Peg board and shelves over the bench are nice for storing hand tools and misc consumables. I would keep things like etching machine and granite plate under the bench and bring them up as needed. I work out of my garage, so my grinder is on a rolling stand so that I can go outside to grind when it's nice. Helps keep the dust down and my tired old eyes really like the sunlight versus shop lighting when grinding. The alcove looks like a good space for the drill press.
 
zhyla said:
Can you pull that bench out a little or make it deeper? Being flush with the wall limits access to tool you put on the left or right corners of the bench.

Where is the vise going?
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yes i can pull it out some; how much you think i need 'minimum' to pull it out to mount tools on the corners? 6"? 12"?
 
NC Biker said:
Leave the bench open. Mount a vise on the left hand corner. Mine extends out from the bench so that I can have it in front of me and the bench is to the right. Peg board and shelves over the bench are nice for storing hand tools and misc consumables. I would keep things like etching machine and granite plate under the bench and bring them up as needed. I work out of my garage, so my grinder is on a rolling stand so that I can go outside to grind when it's nice. Helps keep the dust down and my tired old eyes really like the sunlight versus shop lighting when grinding. The alcove looks like a good space for the drill press.
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I like the thought of putting the grinder on wheels to bring outside as my shop setup is my garage as well and BTW that alcove, is home to my water heater......my thoughts were leaning to what you said about the etching machine and granite plate
 
You are gonna REALLY, regret (at some point) not getting a grinder that you can tilt to horizontal, which will, of course, require more room to that side on the bench. They're out there why not do it right to start with?

Corey
 
Here is how my vise is located on the bench. It's on a 2x12 that is screwed to the bench top. It's very functional as I can be facing the end of the knife and I have right handed access to all my tools and such that are on or above the bench. I've also found this set up to be great in those instances where you have something large in the vise that extends down. The item won't hit your bench.

vise.png
 
NC Biker said:
Here is how my vise is located on the bench. It's on a 2x12 that is screwed to the bench top. It's very functional as I can be facing the end of the knife and I have right handed access to all my tools and such that are on or above the bench. I've also found this set up to be great in those instances where you have something large in the vise that extends down. The item won't hit your bench.

vise.png
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That's a good idea for a bench press!! I could use some of the 1-3/4" thick engineered wood beams i got laying around that would be plenty stout enough for something like that!!
 
madupree said:
yes i can pull it out some; how much you think i need 'minimum' to pull it out to mount tools on the corners? 6"? 12"?
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Depends a lot on what you're mounting where and how you work 12" sounds like a big improvement.

I have a small drill press mounted behind my vise. It's a compact arrangement and works ok.

I clamp things down till I'm sure where I want them. Also T-nuts are nice for making it easy to install and remove something.
 
Wherever you mount your grinder you'll want storage racks for the extra tool arms and legs or some kind of hanger for your belts. Don't forget about ductwork, etc for your dust containment system, especially if that water heater is gas.

Beyond that a good rule of thumb is 3 feet minimum of bench space for each stationary tool.

You'll also want a "clean" room or area for finish work and constructing sheaths so you don't get your grinding dust and grit contaminating your finish abrasives, buffer wheels, and so on.
 
A local wood worker I know doesn't have a shop, just a two car garage he parks both cars in. All of his wood shop machines, benches, everything, are on lockable casters and they're configured so that every last stitch of his stuff can be packed into a 2' wide space along the left wall of his garage. When he wants to build something he backs both cars out of the garage, rolls all of his machines and benches out away from the wall to the spots where he uses them, locks the casters and goes to work. At the end of the day he unlocks the casters, rolls all his stuff back over against the wall where they're packed together like Sardines and puts the cars back in the garage. It's positively ingenious and works just fine for him. Put your brain to it and you should be able to do something similar.
 
I have a 16 foot work bench and often can't see any plywood. :D
 
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