I'm building a workbench in my small garage- can you give me some tips & ideas?

Question

Hi! Just moved into a home w/ a smallish 1.5 car garage. I'm a tinkerer / DIYer & need a workbench. My garage has exposed studs & after viewing this YouTube clip (http://wayneofthewoods.com/workbench.html), I plan to use this design to maximize space (sticking w/ metal brackets instead of wooden ones, however). So I have the foundation for my bench, but I'm looking for other clever ideas to make it even more functional. Here's a few ideas I have so far:

- single row of cubby compartments attached directly underneath the bench for extra storage

- a row (or 2) of dog holes for bench dogs

- a depressed tool trough / tray towards the back

- long power strip built flush into the back-splash

- board running on top of the back-splash to hold tools (like this picture: http://www.stilesdesigns.com/images/woodworking9b.jpg)

Looking forward to some great tips from experienced pros to amateurs alike. Thanks! ~Slacker

Answer 1

I know Home Depot sells compartments of all sizes to place on pegboard.  You can dedicate a small or large area to them, depending on what projects you will undertake.  A tool box with wheels would be good - you can store it under your bench when you are not in the garage.  One tip - keep a rod with a magnet attatched to the end of it just in case you lose small metal parts.  If you have a light to illuminate the area under the bench, you can use it,too.  Just run the magnet around the back and sides of the bench with the light on, and you will find that lost tiny spring!!!

Answer 2

try some peg board you can hang most of you tools in a easy to reach position