Bench Top Cabinets for the Shop

[dusty]

If I was building the shop from scratch, I might agree with you, Ed. However, I built the one work bench into the back end of the garage many, many years ago. That work bench is a major part of my shop space. It is staying.

The real question now is how to utilize the wall space above that 18 foot work bench. It (the wall) is currently covered by peg board and there are all sorts of things hanging there. Those items would have to be housed in whatever replaces the peg board.

What I am debating is whether or not I should change that peg board out for some cabinet space.

[reible]

Hi,

I think you have room for both cabinets and pegboard.

I reference you to these two posts:

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpos ... ostcount=5

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpos ... ostcount=6

Several other have posted this same sort of system.

Mine are shallow, just under 6" deep but that can be made deeper depending on what you want to store. Other dimension can also be changed as well. You do need to provide space between the cabinets if they are hinged like mine. They mount on the back of two shelving units and have a work bench below them.

You could use up some of the wall space with the expanded pegboard idea and then still have some room for "kitchen" like cabinets.

I do have some kitchen upper cabinets in the shop as well, and yes they are filled with things too. Coffee cans, boxes, and the space is used up pretty well which is good.

A couple of things I found after hanging mine, the lighting on the bench below becomes a shadow from the cabinet and from you as you stand there. This varies by light placement and how high the cabinets are above the bench height. At one location I had to add a fixture below the cabinet to light the workbench, this comes at a cost of work space above the bench.

I also went with standard height so there is storage space above the cabinet which I have managed to use up but it collects dust. If I made my own I would have gone all the way up and enclosed that storage area.

You can also have some drop down "drawers" like they do for cook books and spice racks etc. You could also do an opening for a microwave??????

Anyway a few ideas to add to your list.

Ed

[dusty]

Dusty I think some fresh photos of the area would help in making the diagnosis.

Fresh photos, ask and you shall receive. However, all these photos do is show how cluttered it gets if I do anything there.

Shop footprint has not changed in a long, long time. The walk around bench is too heavy to move and the bench along the wall is attached to the wall (built-in if you will).

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[dusty]

Thanks for the comments Ed. Yes, there is room for peg board and cabinets and I shall probably end up with both.

This sketch is intended to show where I think I am headed. I took the advise to lift the cabinets off the bench top. I will hang them with French Cleats. I left the area in the center so that I'll be able to hang the handsaws (5) and a few other tools.

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The upper shelf is actually at the height of the new cabinets (that is - it is wrong). It will be lower and will NOT span the area between the new cabinets.

There will be a face frame. Doors - maybe.

[JPG]

Thanks for the comments Ed. Yes, there is room for peg board and cabinets and I shall probably end up with both.

This sketch is intended to show where I think I am headed. I took the advise to lift the cabinets off the bench top. I will hang them with French Cleats. I left the area in the center so that I'll be able to hang the handsaws (5) and a few other tools.

[ATTACH]15519[/ATTACH]

The upper shelf is actually at the height of the new cabinets (that is - it is wrong). It will be lower and will NOT span the area between the new cabinets.

There will be a face frame. Doors - maybe.

Deep enough for double sideed peg board?