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Ultimate DIY Garage Workbench

12K views 90 replies 29 participants last post by  taledarkside 
#1 ·
I recently freed up quite a bit of room in my garage and am thinking about building a workbench. I’m collecting some ideas so I was wondering what you guys would like to have built into your workbench if you could design your own ultimate workbench. I have some ideas so far:

• Desktop computer w/wall mounted monitor and stereo
• Mini fridge and/or kegorator
• 120V Power strip (4ft long or so full of outlets)
• 12V Power supply for testing car electronics
• Bench vise and grinder
• Possibly sectional w/locking casters for cleaning under

These are some basics, but what else would you guys would build into the bench?
 
#50 ·
I knew they were cheaping out on some of these types of products because my dad has a similar setup but probably about 10-15 years old and it feels so much more solid than today's chests you can get.

At this price point, it seems like a pretty sweet deal. Plus HF has 20% off coupons almost every week which helps out even more.
 
#54 ·
HF boxes get very good reviews . You cant go wrong for a garage box , keep in mind that people use them professionally without any issues. Their top of the line box is well made , I have seen them in person .
 
#63 ·
Good point here. I hadn't done any looking, but was thinking about a Mopar color for that green but would need to find a way to put a hard clearcloat on it. Could I paint with automotive type paint and get an enamel clear?

I like the powder idea, but I've asked before here at work and they can't seem to find a good neon/lime green color through our primary supplier. Maybe I'll check with them again and see what they can find.

Sears gets their boxes from another company.


Sears "professional" "industrial" tool boxes are really good and up to par. They are 24inches deep and hold a lot of weight per drawer. Brand new they range for about 1000 bucks just for the bottom, and go up for their double large drawer models.


Otherwise, I would look for a used Matco or Snapon toolboxes on Ebay or craigslist, if dis is seriouz business.



Menards toolboxes don't look too bad, but i didn't really look at them close up.
Yeah, the $1000 for a tool storage box is just a bit too much. I'm not wrenching in my garage that often, maybe a few small projects a month. I just need something that's pretty solid that can fit all that I have.

I am going to check the HF one again today. The head maintenance guy here at work has some sort of company discount that he said he could help me out with, maybe 25-30% off. He has one of those HUGE MAC boxes that like 7 ft tall and 10ft wide and he said it looked like a solid box for the price. I did find a forum called Garage Journal that has a few threads on the US General product and their only gripe (for something at that price point) is that it's not made in the USA. They have gotten really good reviews, even from people with MAC boxes. If you check out the forum, the made in the USA comments got really preachy after about page 2 so I stopped reading.
 
#61 ·
Sears gets their boxes from another company.


Sears "professional" "industrial" tool boxes are really good and up to par. They are 24inches deep and hold a lot of weight per drawer. Brand new they range for about 1000 bucks just for the bottom, and go up for their double large drawer models.


Otherwise, I would look for a used Matco or Snapon toolboxes on Ebay or craigslist, if dis is seriouz business.



Menards toolboxes don't look too bad, but i didn't really look at them close up.
 
#81 ·
Well I got my new toolbox over the weekend, and got it all loaded up. Now onto the next project. I posted this on the Garage Journal looking for plans or pictures but no luck yet so reposting it here:

One of these areas that needs attention is the corner where I have the tools. I currently have a metal shelf system that was left by the previous owners of my house and I have my regularly used Rubbermaid type totes stored on the middle and top shelves. I want to replace that with a better looking cabinet which I’m guessing I can do with a custom cabinet myself. I don’t need anything fancy, probably 2x4 construction with some sort of nice cover, either wood or something I can paint red or black to match the box, just to cover up what’s in there and make it look cleaner.

I also have some cheapo plastic shelving kit that’s by the door (holds 5 gallon water jugs, jack stands, car wash supplies, and recycle bins on top) that I would like to make match what I end up doing in the afore mentioned corner as the second step of the process. There are also cheap shelves that came with the garage that we’re currently using but would like to replace with cabinets, again with a similar design concept to tie it all together. The corner is my first priority as the ugly corner is taking way from the look of my new tool box.

I’ve attached a couple pictures below to give a better idea. I wouldn’t be opposed to putting the tools on the other side of the wall, under the other totes – might make things a little more accessible on the shelves. Can anyone point me in the direction that might lead me to anything people have done for these totes/home made cabinets with shelving?

First picture: old toolbox with plastic shelving in the back

Second picture: New toolbox with metal shelving/totes in the back




 
#86 ·
You could do what I did, I had shelves that I liked, what I didn't like was everything out in the open. I looked into cabinets, but it would have cost a fortune to get cabinets that held everything my shelves hold. My solution was to build a "closet" around the shelves. I used cheap flush doors with slide by hardware. It works for me.
Sorry for the crappy phone pics.
 

Attachments

#90 ·
Something like this perhaps? Both from houzz.com. Awesome place for home design ideas.

<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/372635/Highcroft-Hunting-Barn-traditional-garage-and-shed-minneapolis'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/f521deab0ecab747_8-2155/traditional-garage-and-shed.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='334' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional/garage-and-shed'>Traditional Garage And Shed design</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/architect/minneapolis'>Minneapolis Architect</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/williamcostello/murphy-co-design'>Murphy & Co. Design</a></small></div>

or this...
<div><a href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/573682/Aluminum-Melamine-Garage-contemporary-garage-and-shed-new-york'><img src='http://st.houzz.com/simgs/c28136680f3bc4eb_8-3199/contemporary-garage-and-shed.jpg' border=0 width='500' height='344' /></a></div><div style='color:#444;'><small><a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary/garage-and-shed'>Contemporary Garage And Shed design</a> by <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/professionals/closets-and-organization/new-york'>New York Closets And Organization</a> <a style='text-decoration:none;color:#444;' href='http://www.houzz.com/pro/transformhome/transform-the-art-of-custom-storage'>transFORM | The Art of Custom Storage</a></small></div>
 
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