I am designing a workbench. I want to have two pullout cabinets on
casters that store tools yet fit under the bench itself. What I would
like is a way to raise the table on the pullout cabinets so that I can
use benchtop tools at my height. Any suggestions would be great.
BTW, I want to use retractable casters for the main bench as well.
Has anyone done this and what is recommended size for the caster?
Keith
[email protected] (Keith Bozek) wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I am designing a workbench. I want to have two pullout cabinets on
> casters that store tools yet fit under the bench itself. What I would
> like is a way to raise the table on the pullout cabinets so that I can
> use benchtop tools at my height. Any suggestions would be great.
>
> BTW, I want to use retractable casters for the main bench as well.
> Has anyone done this and what is recommended size for the caster?
>
> Keith
>
So this bench is going to look somewhat different than the workbench that I
built. Not that it is a beauty, or a work of art, but I get by with it. I
think it was a ShopNotes design, somewhat modified, from a couple of
summers ago. But I digress. It's a heavy rascal, intentionally, so that
it doesn't go wandering when I've got stuff clamped to it. Piling jigs,
bench hooks, and sharpening station under it also add to the mass. I don't
think I'd LIKE to have wheels under it. But that's just me. And this
isn't the 'ultimate bench', nor my last one.
My good woodworking neighbor buddy, however, had many of the same design
criteria you listed. He wanted all of his benchtop tools to have a place
be secured at working height, but have hidey holes when they are not needed
for the current project. A couple of months ago, he brought home a rack
full of square tube steel, fired up the wire welder, and built a rolling
bench, oh, about the size of your average pool table. The top features
what looks like bench dog holes, for clamping down baseplates, which he has
attached to the scroll saw, or miter saw, or small drill press, or similar
sized power tools. When not 'in dock', these reside, IIRC, in bays under
one side. Heavy duty drawers line the other. And it all rides on HUGE
locking casters.
I guess it all depends on what you do. I don't think my neighbor buddy
even OWNS a handplane. All his tools have got tails or batteries.
That's not a criticsm. Everybody does different stuff. All weekend, we
wander back and forth, and ask questions and opinions. I'm better because
we talk all the time.
Have fun with your design. It can be done.
Patriarch