It recently became obvious that I require a flat surface in the garage as a place for repair jobs, tool storage, part storage etc. A new workbench with shelves seems to be the best choice. I’ve never been a fan of pre-built wood or metal benches, I would much rather build my own. I also find most benches and counter tops too low for me, building it myself allows customization (particularly height).
I wanted a way to visualize the plan. This allows me to adjust as I go but more importantly to try out different ideas and make sure the end product is something I want.
I was reminded at this point of Google SketchUp; a 3D modeling software. Every time I use this software I’m reminded of how powerful it is. However, I don’t use it enough and have to relearn it each time.
This time I concentrated on labeling each major part of the bench as a component. By providing each component a name and a description I can create a parts list. The built in measurement tools also provide a great way to determine the dimensions of the finished product.
The developer community has created several Plugins for SketchUp, I found one this time called “Cut List”. This plug in reviews the finished model and outputs a list of what wood to purchase and provides a cut plan. I highly recommend this plug in.
Here is a screen shot of the “finished” model (I think I have some more tweaking to do yet). Looking forward to building this in the spring when the weather warms enough.
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Measure your workspace first before starting on your workbench designs and plans. It is significant to measure your workspace to be able to determine how much wood you are actually going to need. Bring the measurements with you when you are going to the hardware store. Next step on completing your workbench designs is to determine the kind of lumber that you should use. Usually, most workbench designs have written down the kinds of screws and wood to purchase. Hence, if you are looking forward to building a withstanding bench that you may use on a daily basis, you should use beech wood. Beech wood is the common type of wood used for a durable day-to-day bench. For those who wants a lighter and portable bench, you may create a workbench out of birch wood. Birch wood may not be as thick as beech but it is durable and can create a sturdy workbench.
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