Work Bench for a 1 Car Garage - Suggestions, Ideas, Critiques

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South VA

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Kudos for a good use of SketchUp. The ukulele is a nice touch. :)

Just few comments:

Overall it looks really good! It’s maybe a bit overbuilt, but not excessively so. You’ve obviously thought through your storage needs, so I won’t try to second-guess you on the configuration.

However, as @Carlaisle pointed out, this design will involve a fair amount of carpentry. The good news is that it consists of all straight cuts, and you can make them using a circular saw, and with a straightedge for the sheet goods. A miter saw or radial arm saw would, of course, make it even easier.

At the risk of stating the obvious, please use ear and eye protection when you’re building it.

I’m assuming you plan on using screws and not nails for assembly. Although nails are cheaper and have more shear strength, they don’t resist tension like screws do. Nails want to pull out over time, particularly in something like this unit where the loads are changing as you use it. The other advantage screws have over nails is that making the unit modular is far easier. Maybe more importantly, when you discover, after using the unit for a while, that your configuration could be improved by a few changes (like shelf height), screws are your friend. You can change it without having to tear up wood.

My preference, for safety and convenience, is to use higher shelves for lighter objects. The top shelf in your design has the same amount of bracing as the lower shelves. You probably do with fewer 2 x 4 cross braces. Maybe use a single cross brace in the two left side bays and two on the span over the workbench. You could probably also delete the upright on the upper shelf on the right.

Speaking of the workbench, the last one I built used two sheets of ¾” medium density fiberboard (MDF) laminated together. Overkill, perhaps, but it makes for a nice, solid work surface that will accommodate most anything that you could put on it, or do to it, including a decent-sized vise. The laminate covering would definitely be something I’d consider. An alternative would be some galvanized sheet metal.

Not sure how you’d accomplish it, but having clear space under the workbench is nice if you want to sit down while you work at the bench. A rolling stool (I prefer a drafting stool) is a handy thing to have.

Again, it looks like a good approach. Nice work!
 

Keeper

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Restaurants go out of business continuously. The auctions that specialize in them are many. Lots of stainless steel counters (prep stations, dish washing stations, etc), different styles of wire/solid shelving (many on wheels already), single/double door and under counter fridges that make great sealed storage units for rust free storage (dry goods, nails, sensitive electrical tools, jointed tools, etc). And all stainless steel.

In general, I'd start with a basic feel for your space and then piece it together while you are actually using it. Form should always follow function. Hard to put actual usage on paper beforehand.

edit: one design consideration is to not block bare-floor storage under the shelves. A rear end, or any large heavy items on dollies, are a lot easier to deal with while also keeping the floor space open.
 
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fancyTBI

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@Carlaisle, @Keeper, @South VA, @Hipster - thanks for the replies. It would be difficult to reply to each topic discussed but I appreciate it. I am going to table the massive 18’ bench and work on a 7’ area for my corner spot. Hoping to start on the design tonight. I’ll make sure to incorporate your design ideas.

Thank you all so much! This forum rules!
 

OutlawDrifter

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If you're not on garagejournal.com, check out that site as well. There are some awesome builds for storage and benches.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/harbor-freight-44-bench-build.349418/

This thread incorporates the toolbox into the bench. I use my 46" Husky in a similar manner, it rolls up to what I'm working on and stores the most commonly used tools. I recently built a side caddy for the hammers and prybars that weren't stored in this box, but rather my 52" combo set.

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Skies the limit with the wood framing, all of my storage shelves are built out of 2x4s, 1x4s would probably be just as good. My configuration even after over 7 years in this shop is changing and becoming more efficient. So I 100% agree with screws over nails. I still have my old work bench made out of 2x6s/4x4s and 3/4" plywood with an 11 gauge steel top. Its a brute but has come to suffer from horizontal surface disease, and catches a lot of "I'll just set this here for now" stuff :Big Laugh:
 

PlayingWithTBI

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You want heavy duty, almost indestructible, self standing, temporary, shelves? Here's how - 2X10s on cinder block piers. JK :33:
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I have a bunch of those shelves in my shop, since I have a couple 2x10s (old scaffolding planks) laying around :roflbow:
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South VA

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You want heavy duty, almost indestructible, self standing, temporary, shelves? Here's how - 2X10s on cinder block piers. JK :33:
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I have a bunch of those shelves in my shop, since I have a couple 2x10s (old scaffolding planks) laying around :roflbow:
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Stout.
 

Sean Buick 76

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Good ideas. Here are a few pics of workbenches and storage I’ve been building in my garage… rolling workbench that doubles as storage, flip up benches along the right side take up virtually no room when not in use. Storage loft with stairs. There are lots of things we can do to improve our garages. Mines a mess at the moment but it’s pretty functional.
 

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Sean Buick 76

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Steel beams in the bottom shelf so I can put heavy items. Better pics of the flip up work benches on the side.
 

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Drunkcanuk

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Good ideas. Here are a few pics of workbenches and storage I’ve been building in my garage… rolling workbench that doubles as storage, flip up benches along the right side take up virtually no room when not in use. Storage loft with stairs. There are lots of things we can do to improve our garages. Mines a mess at the moment but it’s pretty functional.
Holy smokes.....how tall are your walls that you can have a loft in an attached garage!!! That's an awesome use of space. And if that's what you consider messy....head north and hour and I'll show you messy!!!! Lol
You seriously have some good ideas going on there, I really like the folding shelves on the wall.
 
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