Project Information
Well I'm mostly done (minus drawer knobs) with my new work bench, which became a priority when I got tired of trying to cut longer pieces of wood on my shorter chop saw cart and having them bump into my taller RAS bench.
I started with a 10' cabinet, I found for free in my neighborhood on Craigslist and built it up from there. I had to raise the whole thing to get it to a comfortable height as well as make clearance for the crank on the RAS. I designed it as I went, so some things didn't come out perfect! The whole thing is 46" tall, which seemed to tall at first, but now feels great on the back!
I framed out the first layer out of 2×4's and decided this was a great place for some extra storage! I than layered it with two layers of particleboard, because I was feeling a little cheap. I added some more 2×4's and created three more drawers for a total of six, plus some cubby holes.
I finished the whole thing with a 3/16th's layer of melamine hardboard, so I could unscrew it and replace it easily as it gets weathered. I made a common fence for the two tools that was all based off of the RAS, once I dialed it in, and than topped it with the Kreg precision track and stop kit. I've only used it a little bit, but I'm already liking it! Not having to measure and scribe wood is already making me faster. Although I do not do this for a living, I can get more done when I sneak into the garage! The kit was in place before I made the drawers and I was able to whip them out like a production line! (to me at least
I ended up using 3 sections of rails out of the kit, which gives me around 36" of accurate measurements to the left and right of each to blade. I was not smart enough to figured out a way to have it continuos and accurate to both sides of the blade. On the rare occasion I have a longer piece to cut, I'll break out the pocket tape!
I plan on using the last piece of rail for the miter gauge on my TS!
I started with a 10' cabinet, I found for free in my neighborhood on Craigslist and built it up from there. I had to raise the whole thing to get it to a comfortable height as well as make clearance for the crank on the RAS. I designed it as I went, so some things didn't come out perfect! The whole thing is 46" tall, which seemed to tall at first, but now feels great on the back!
I framed out the first layer out of 2×4's and decided this was a great place for some extra storage! I than layered it with two layers of particleboard, because I was feeling a little cheap. I added some more 2×4's and created three more drawers for a total of six, plus some cubby holes.
I finished the whole thing with a 3/16th's layer of melamine hardboard, so I could unscrew it and replace it easily as it gets weathered. I made a common fence for the two tools that was all based off of the RAS, once I dialed it in, and than topped it with the Kreg precision track and stop kit. I've only used it a little bit, but I'm already liking it! Not having to measure and scribe wood is already making me faster. Although I do not do this for a living, I can get more done when I sneak into the garage! The kit was in place before I made the drawers and I was able to whip them out like a production line! (to me at least
I ended up using 3 sections of rails out of the kit, which gives me around 36" of accurate measurements to the left and right of each to blade. I was not smart enough to figured out a way to have it continuos and accurate to both sides of the blade. On the rare occasion I have a longer piece to cut, I'll break out the pocket tape!
I plan on using the last piece of rail for the miter gauge on my TS!