rrinker I've got 2 of those in the garage. Same legs and all. One was there when I bought the palce, and one was at work and they were going to get rid of it so I took it apart and hauled it home. Can never have too many workbenches.
I also used those same legs under my workbench in the garage, and they will be used on my layout. I have them all ready to go.
My garage workbench is ancient. It dates back to at least the 1950s, and the hardwood surface is beautifully worn. Unfortunately the only picture I have of it has a protective coating over the surface, and it is burind in the garage now.
I love Edsal industrial steel products. They are truly heavy duty, and will last lifetimes in residential usage.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Random,
See "Build a Modular Workshop Cabinet" in the April 2002 issue of Model Railroader.
Tom
I modified a glasstop computer desk by gluing some old small drawers to the sliding keyboard tray for tool storage. I have a file cabinet mounted on sliders under my layout for storage. And a few bins.
Joe Staten Island West
Engi1487 (it would help if you used your name),
Living in an apartment or condo, I have moved seven times over the past 30 years, so a long time ago I designed a "workshop" in a cabinet similar to an amoire, allowing me to close the doors and hide everything. It was made from different sizes of hollow-core doors, some plywood, and cheap plastic parts cabinets and held together with bolts and screws so it could be disassembled for moving. It housed my workbench, a Unimat lathe, micro drill press, Minicraft table saw and disc sander, small bench grinder, and even a fold-away spray booth. Photos and plans are in the April 2002 Model Railroader. (Photo below)
One important part of the workshop was/is a portable work tray, allowing me to take projects to other parts of the house. [Groups.io link removed]
We have since moved to Hawaii where I am building a new layout which I have elevated to allow placing a workbench under the layout. It was built using two knock-down rolling drawer units from Amazon, bridged by a plywood workbench shelf sized to accomdate my portable work tray and backed by a pegboard panel. Below the plywood workbench in the kneehole is a shlf on drawer guides where my disc sander, table saw, and cut-off saw reside. The entire unit can be rolled out from under the layout. See Nov-Dec 2020 N Scale Magazine (Photo below)
Oops - seems I cannot insert photos in this posting. See the above references.
Tom K. MMR#101
My recommendation is that you have a very small work bench, because from my observation and experience, the bigger a model railroaders work bench, the Bigger the Mess!! Cheers, the Bear.
I have about 35 linear feet of work bench, since the bottom of the benchwork of my around the room layout is 51 inches from the floor. It gets messy, but I clean it up regularly. Usually VERY clean.
Perhaps something to keep in mind, building this way if possible gives you as much work area as layout area.
The work benches consist of two desks, one of which is metal; an old rectangular table, 3 different doors (one heavy) supported by short cabinets similar to filing cabinets. I see similar items to all the above on craigslist free all the time. Lotsa drawers for materials storage, plenty of bench space for tool chests, stereo underneath, power tools, etc. And a hot air corn popper!
Dan
I'm using an old kitchen table.
Just anything with a nice solid flat surface.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
I use a folding plastic table about 5' wide about 24" deep. I have a couple cardboard boxes for tools of different types and one of those plastic multi-drawer organizers on top that I'd had since I was in high school to put things like wheels, couplers, spare parts, detail parts, etc. I have a couple cutting matts on the table too, one about 18" by 18".
Regardless of the space:
Keep it clean!
Put things away when done, clean up spilled paint or weathering powders.
Keep a trash can handy.
My workbench is mainly used for assembly, disassembly, and I keep a test track elsewhere. As well as a place to work on painting. Though with the weather so warm I set up and paint outside more often.
Alvie
Well, its been a year or so since the OP posted his query. I wonder if he decided on anything, and actually got it in operation.........
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central