I Built a Rolling Workbench

Just looking for the plans to make this? You can get the PDF plans for this rolling workbench with a table saw cutout on Etsy or download the the SketchUp file for free.

This weekend, I finally got tired of having this guy be my only workspace in the garage. Any time I wanted to use my table saw, or planer, or jointer, or drill press, or router, I had to clear off this table, hoist the tool up there and clamp it in place. Talk about a lot of wasted time.

After 11 hours of work (including the trip to Home Depot to buy the lumber), this is what I’ve upgraded to. No more using the kids’ toys in the garage as temporary sawhorses! I can use the table saw, planer, and router in place, and I’ll be mounting a drill press on top too. The jointer will be stored underneath, since I don’t use it that often and it’s not that heavy.

Home Depot. My SUV can fit a 48″ wide sheet of plywood perfectly, but I guess MDF is sold in 49″ widths.

The base framed up. You can see on the side some 90º clamps I bought the day before at a garage sale. I am in love with them already.

I used the plans from The Backyard Workshop (which have since disappeared). You can see the Sketchup model on my computer in the back of my car.

Framing the box for the table saw. I am so looking forward to having an outfeed table and not having to clamp the saw in place every time I use it.

I routed an opening for my router table to sit flush in the bench. Very happy with this too. (There’s a fence and stuff for this, it’s just not in the picture.)

The seat for the table saw.

My saw has a home!

My helper for the day. He volunteered to shop-vac all the sawdust, and I was not going to say no.

Finished (for now)! Total materials cost: about $170. I wanted to get it all loaded up with the rest of my tools, but it started raining and I was exhausted. I’m going to be adding some upper shelves in the middle two sections too for storing smaller tools.


Posted

in

,

by

Tags:

Comments

14 responses to “I Built a Rolling Workbench”

  1. Joshua Briese Avatar
    Joshua Briese

    Hi, I am wanting to build something similar for my tiny garage. I am super curious about how you measured and built to make sure your table saw is completely flush. This is baffling to me. What did you do to nail it and get it perfect?

  2. Christopher Finke Avatar

    I set the height of the shelf for the table saw a little lower than necessary and then used washers to shim up the saw until it was exactly right.

  3. Gary Avatar
    Gary

    Great Idea. I already built a mobile work bench similar to this one but I like the add on of the router and table saw, I think I’ll do the same thing to mine. Thanks for the idea.

  4. Michael Maynard Avatar
    Michael Maynard

    Just what I’m looking for. It looks simple yet roomy for storage underneath. I couldn’t access your sketch up file, and to be honest, at 70 years of age my drafting skills usually consist of graph paper, ruler and pencil.

    So my question is: what are the dimensions of your table? My work area is in a 10’x12′ shed, with one end taken up by cupboard space and an upright freezer just inside the door, so my work space is limited. If I could combine my table saw and router into one working space it would help.

    1. Christopher Finke Avatar

      It’s 94.5″x40″. If I did it again, I’d probably make it 8’x4′ so I wouldn’t have to trim the MDF sheet to fit the top.

  5. Caupolican desde Chile Avatar
    Caupolican desde Chile

    Interesante su proyecto .Tiene otras sugerencias ? tengo 93 años y mi vista no debo cansarla, Yo había empezado a calcular y a dibujar, no obstante me estoy demorando m mucho.
    Me puede sugerir donde encuentro medidas ya calculadas vale decir un plano de su proyecto?
    Muchísimas gracias

  6. FRANK PATTERSON Avatar
    FRANK PATTERSON

    Did you make any plans for this? If so can I have them

  7. Alex Avatar

    I like this. Great handmade work bench. I’ll build the same one on next week

  8. Afsana Avatar

    I love the way you made it. It is really a tough job. Hats off to you!
    Also sending love to your little helper.

  9.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    The link for the plans won’t open is there away to view it

    1. Christopher Finke Avatar

      If you email me at cfinke@gmail.com, I can email the plans to you.

  10. Joey Macias Avatar
    Joey Macias

    I really appreciate and respect your workmanship on your Roland work bench saw table, I would really love to have the plans so I can give it a try it would be much appreciated and respected.

    1. Christopher Finke Avatar

      I’ve emailed you the plans; let me know if you have any questions.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Google+