Working area in small spaces

Here is a short pictorial as to how to get a work-space into an apartment, rental, or small area.
HF 4ft bench, Assembly required! About an hour in another room with space to get around it; then have a buddy help you move into place. A buddy is good to have help you put it together also. I did it myself then a buddy came to help me move it after his workday.
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Flooring is just one box of inexpensive click together flooring to cover the floor carpet. That makes it easier to slide a stool or clean up after bench use. Easier to locate dropped stuff too. Obviously, if you have more room, then cover more area with the flooring. A buffer is not recommended!!

A Bench pin...Google it! Mount it to a removable board to allow its clamping to the table. That will make cutting scales out with a coping/ Jewelers' saw ( blade cuts teeth pointed down.) Or, just board with a "V" slot in the front, like the one at the right side of the bench above. The notch should be about 1+ inches out from the benchtop.When screwed to the table top. Using Screw anchors to allow use of machine screws would make mounting and un-mounting faster!

I chose to add two cheap "Assembly Required" cabinets from a local store. I did not attach the bench to them! I slid the bench into place wedged with a heavier plastic foam..."sill sealer" About $6 a roll at a local hardware/ builders' supply.
Total with the cabinets, about $150

Have fun!
~Richard

I LOVE your use of a bench pin. This is my favorite version. unscrew the set screw to remove it and sit closer or replace it with something different.

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Thank you! I forgot about that one! Thank you! I have the mounting and pin from back a few years.
~Richard

Richard

That would be a luxury in a condo. My tools are in a small cabinet in the closet. My work bench is a piece of 12 inch by 18 inch pine shelving. That all the space I get to work on my razors. I can sit on the sofa, watch TV and work.

Nice setup, good use of space.
I'm lucky that I get a whole room on the main floor and 2 areas in the basement, one for a wet saw and another for lapping. I'll post pics some time if I ever get it straightened up enough to be presentable.

Richard. Have looked at those at HF a couple of times, how sturdy is the drawers on it? I don't need something for tight spaces I have plenty but it looks to be a great way t add some bench top and storage on the wall for other things like a drill press and band saw put two of them together. Tc

I like the idea of the cheap flooring. My workshop floor is concrete and I constantly worry about dropping a blade on it. That flooring would help a lot.

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Richard. Have looked at those at HF a couple of times, how sturdy is the drawers on it? I don't need something for tight spaces I have plenty but it looks to be a great way t add some bench top and storage on the wall for other things like a drill press and band saw put two of them together. Tc

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I would not hesitate to put a small drill press and bandsaw on one. The drawers are steel sided and a piece of fiberboard laid into them for a bottom. If fastened it could be plenty strong fo tools. Check out the shaky showroom models at a store for details. The final product is a LOT better.
Cheerz!
~Richard

You can accomplish quite a bit of dust control with a nice shop vac with a heap filter. The poly spun filters you can wash, so you get to avoid airborne particle cleaning them. Over time dust control has helped me keep my mess to myself.

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

I like the idea of the cheap flooring. My workshop floor is concrete and I constantly worry about dropping a blade on it. That flooring would help a lot.

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Foam jigsaw mats would be good on concrete.

On 2nd thought if you use a chair with casters ,hard rubber sheets would be better. Like the type for horse stalls.
Even so, I've lost a razor to the concrete floor. Unless the foam is wall to wall, razors have an internal targeting device for concrete.

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

I like the idea of the cheap flooring. My workshop floor is concrete and I constantly worry about dropping a blade on it. That flooring would help a lot.

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Carpet remnants work great and can easily be replaced

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Originally Posted by rolodave

Carpet remnants work great and can easily be replaced

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If I would choose carpet I would pick a pattern or lack thereof that would not hide small parts in it when you dropped them.

Speaking from experience!:rofl2:

I had to get away from carpet to have a floor that my heirs could remove to satisfy the landlord. And a high stool does not move well om carpet. Just Sayin'
~Richard
Everbodies' needs are differant.

I think that to many people worry about their heirs. Give them what you can when you and they are young. If they haven't got things figured out by the time you both are older they are either going to waste it or not need it if they have it figured out.

One day you might be working at your bench and drop over. If no one finds you for 2 days they will have to replace the carpeting anyway. Just Sayin"

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Originally Posted by 32t

I think that to many people worry about their heirs. Give them what you can when you and they are young. If they haven't got things figured out by the time you both are older they are either going to waste it or not need it if they have it figured out.
One day you might be working at your bench and drop over. If no one finds you for 2 days they will have to replace the carpeting anyway. Just Sayin"

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Yup!that also may happen!
Doin' that! But the idea is that they don't have a very large amount to settle with the landlord of my 300swqft slice of heaven when I croak or when they move me out and are lookin' for the marbles I lost.
Cheers!
~Richard

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Foam jigsaw mats would be good on concrete.

On 2nd thought if you use a chair with casters ,hard rubber sheets would be better. Like the type for horse stalls.
Even so, I've lost a razor to the concrete floor. Unless the foam is wall to wall, razors have an internal targeting device for concrete.

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You can't roll casters on these, but they provide plenty of cushion! Definitely add some style to any man cave. ;)

And I guess the more hollow the grind, the more likely it is that it will fall between the cracks and hit the hard floor edge first!
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Im NOT putting that in my Mancave. Sorry! Got to draw the line somewhere. :)

I don't know Jerry, I bet your wife would let you have that,, she did stop your clock on you
So this might be cool

:shrug::rofl2::rofl2:

Just kidding. Tc

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Originally Posted by Gasman

Im NOT putting that in my Mancave. Sorry! Got to draw the line somewhere. :)

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Well my friend-----You could have it printed into a door sized poster and have it on the outside of your entrance--

Welcome to My Man Cave!
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I absolutely agree with the idea of a rubber mat floor. It might not prevent a blade from breaking if its dropped, but it just might. You can get them at harbor freight, but these arent as stylish as the ones with happy little animals on them.

Since I live in a small 2-bedroom apartment with my wife and 2 kids I really enjoyed seeing this. I have part of our storage closest eeked out as a workspace. Nothing too fancy here, just an old table with some shelving bolted on to it and peg-board on the back. The belt sander has an exhaust port that I can attach directly to the home vacuum, plus I have an air filter, to reduce dust in there. It's not much, but gives me the freedom to tinker in peace now and again. Now I just need to figure out how to get a lathe in there...

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A nice space, for sure!
I cannot have the dust from power tools in my bedroom, I do suffer from a couple airway problems, so I am a bit stymied as to any power tools working other than a Dremel drill press older? than I am...Works though. I am setting up an Dremel router table for use at a buddy's shop when he is available.
I do have a WEN or Craftsman 3" diameter wet grinder for work on/ at my kitchen sink!
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Have fun and enjoy the shop you have!
~Richard

It's great to see the workstations you guys have! I'll be piecing it together, puzzling it into a tight space.
My back porch was just invaded by two laundry machines which is a serious breach of the deal I made with my wife! :deal: :borg:

That wet grinder would be an awesome edition!

Sad to say, I have also lost a blade to clumsy fingers and a concrete floor.
Tragic to say the least.