Multi-functional Workbench

[yogi667]

This is my first post here... I am not great at explaining things but will try my best.

I had a 8 x 3 ft workbench which I built about 3 years ago. It was my first bench but was very solidly built. Loved that bench but recently purchased a Scheppach TS2010 table saw, Kity 635 Planner Thicknesser and Dust extractor and I ran out of floor space.

So, I decided to make a new workbench 8x4 ft with following features

• integrate the table saw
• mount my Triton TRA001 using INCRA table insert
• Fence to use the whole width of the bench
• integrate enough power supply with NVR switch and an Ammeter
• put the bench on wheels on demand to push it out of the way
• replaceable workbench top without too much trouble
• Dust extraction

So far, I have constructed the bench with

• two 1" hardwood plywood as worktop with no visible screws.
• Applied Teak Oil on each and every piece of timber and plywood used. Then painted the plywood with a single coat of oil based Yacht varnish but changed my mind to apply a few coats of polyeurethene varnish once all other jobs are done. For now the surface is protected while I use it to make the other bits for the bench.
• Fitted the wheels coucherment - had to work with metal for this which is a first time for me as well
• cut the conduits for power supply to size (reusing it from my old office) for both narrow sides of the bench
• 2" mohagony beading to protect the plywood edges (used the old door frames that was recovered from our old house in London). For this I used the tablesaw and planner thicknesser for the first time as well.
• cut the hole to fit the tablesaw (that was scary)

I must say that I made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot from it. For example, in below image you can see 2 layers of 4x2 frames. I thought I was being very clever in making the bottom shelf part. I later realised, it will have to be completely different size compared to the top frame



I enthusiastically made some cuts on the legs (some recovered from my old bench) and made a ****oo... Can you spot the mistake in below image?


Legs upright, ready to receive the worktop


First sheet of plywood is on (the top frame is attached to the plywood)


Made sure the legs does not touch the plywood so the entire load is on the frame itself


Attached the sides with MDF to make it solid. Now the second sheet of plywood is added and varnished. The bottom is boarded up.


The wheels are attached. Just the locking mechanism pending.


Working wheel mechanism

hole cut to fit the tablesaw, the beading slats and power supply conduit


I needed some Profile / Template cutter for my router for tidying up the slot for the tablesaw and for the router insert plate. Just received them today. Looking forward to the weekend to get that done.

I also need to make an adjustable platform to sit the tablesaw.

I will update this post with more photos as I progress.

Looking forward to hear your thoughts.

PS: My lovely wife got me that Bosch PBD 40 Bench Drill for Christmas. Its a brilliant piece of kit. Will be building a station for that soon.

 

[bp122]

Looks like a great effort. It looks the Bizniz!

Are you going to do any dog holes or matchfit grooves to use it as an assembly table?

P.S: you can measure your workshop in feet, I can only do in mm

 

[yogi667]

Looks like a great effort. It looks the Bizniz!

Are you going to do any dog holes or matchfit grooves to use it as an assembly table?

P.S: you can measure your workshop in feet, I can only do in mm

Thanks bp122

I might do some in line with the vice.

Hehehe it's a decent size workshop but the previous owner left a lot of crap and I have a pool table in it as well so it feels quite crammed at the moment. Will tidy it all up and get organised eventually.

 

[Cabinetman]

There’s a lot of work gone into that yogi, I hope you enjoy using it for many years.
Particularly like the wheel arrangement, I have just bought the same wheels for my new bench but it will have a different mechanism hidden under the base boards.
Good first post btw.

 

[yogi667]

There’s a lot of work gone into that yogi, I hope you enjoy using it for many years.
Particularly like the wheel arrangement, I have just bought the same wheels for my new bench but it will have a different mechanism hidden under the base boards.
Good first post btw.

Thanks cabinetman. Appreciate your kind words.