For many of us, there just isn’t enough space for a big work-shop. We end up sharing shop space with the garage or base-

ment, which usually means one of two things. The tools get spread out and take over the entire space, or they get put in long-term parking against the wall, and they’re seldom used.

Although enlarging your shop may not be an option, it is possible to make the space you do have more efficient. And that’s precisely the idea behind this home shop.

Although it’s hard to tell from the Photo, this shop has an unbelievably small “footprint” of only 50 square feet (the size of a small storage shed). Yet it functions like a much larger shop.

Five Workstations — The secret to making such a small shop work “big” is due in part to a unique arrangement of tools and cabinets that creates five major workstations. These include a station for the table saw, router, miter saw, and planer. And there’s a large, sturdy benchtop on each side of the miter saw station.

Each workstation can be set up in a matter of seconds. Equally important, it can be reconfigured just as quickly to perform a secondary function or get stowed out of the way.

Space-Saving Strategies — But these workstations are really only one part of the story of this shop. We’ve also incorporated a number of space-saving strategies, which are detailed on pages 42 and 43. Or you can visit WorkbenchMagazine.com to see videos of these space-saving strategies in action.

Time & Money — Of course, lack of space isn’t the only limiting factor when setting up a shop. You also have to consider time and money.

To save both time and money, we purchased six pre-assembled cabinets for about $240.Two shop-made end assemblies create tool nooks for the workstations. And we customized the cabinet doors with pegboard panels.

Finally, we built benchtops, fence extensions for the miter saw, a flip-top planer cart, and a cutoff bin — all to get this shop working to its full potential.

Create your own functional, hardworking shop in just 50 square feet of space. Made from pre-assembled cabinets and other inexpensive materials, it features five separate workstations, plus storage for tools and supplies.

SPACE-SAVING

HOME SHOP

WORKBENCH OCTOBER 200640

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42 WORKBENCH OCTOBER 2006

To save space, the router table is mounted to the table saw, which is housed in a tool nook. There’s no need to move the table saw to work at the router station.

Even when tucked into its tool nook, the table saw still provides plenty of capacity for ripping or crosscutting most boards (Illustration, above left). If you need to rip sheet material or wide boards, simply roll the saw out on its mobile base (above right). Once the cut is completed, park the saw back in its nook.

TABLE SAW STATION2ROUTER STATION1

HOME SHOPWORKSTATIONS5

Tool Shelves mount level or at an angle for convenient access

Cutoff Bin holds scraps, chips, and dust from miter saw, and pulls out for emptying

Manufactured Cabinets make it quick, easy, and affordable to set up a small, yet fully functional shop

43www.WorkbenchMagazine.com

MITER SAW STATION3Side supports and fence extensions offer almost 10 feet of crosscutting capacity at the miter saw station. A stop-block system gives the saw built-in precision.

The planer mounts to a flip-top cart. In the “up” position, boards feed out over the table saw. Rotate the flip-top to store the planer in its tool nook.

PLANER STATION5

WORKBENCH4To create a large, sturdy worksurface, simply remove one (or both) miter saw fence extensions, which are attached with knobs and threaded inserts.

Pegboard Panels get inserted into openings cut in the slab-style cabinet doors to hold hand tools & accessories

Mobile Bases & Casters let you roll workstations and other components out of their nooks, reconfigure as needed, and roll them back in for storage

End Assemblies team up with lower cabinetsto support benchtops and create tool “nooks”that hold the table saw and planer cart