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Ultimate Work Center

Project by RJones posted 542 days ago 2698 views 20 times favorited 42 comments Add to Favorites
Ultimate Work Center Ultimate Work Center Ultimate Work Center Click the pictures to enlarge them

Well ok maybe not the most ultimate workstation but real close for me:) I designed this work center to fulfill the need for a for a compact, functional and mobile work center. Complete with castors, an air compressor and vaccum so far it’s really been a great addition to the shop. I constructed this workcenter in about 50-60 hours from both solid and Hickory veneer. The top is actually an old solid core door I covered with 1/4” hardboard. As shown, I probably have about $500 plus as I had some of the materails and hardware laying around from past projects.

I could probably write a book on this project, oh wait I did so for those of you that might like to add something like this to your shop and would like the plans well your in luck as this will be my first project I offer as a free set of plans on a web site I am currently building. Hopefully, I should have the site up and running by the end of the week. As soon as I have it ready to go I will let you all know:)

Thanks,
RJ

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/


42 comments so far

View mot's profile

mot

4863 posts in 576 days


posted 542 days ago

Now THAT’s a nice piece for the shop. Nice stealth gloat on the Domi.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View RobH's profile

RobH

306 posts in 590 days


posted 542 days ago

Ok, now that I am rethinking my shop plans, I really like this idea. I may have to steal this from you.

Good work. Now enjoy using it.

-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

4452 posts in 617 days


posted 542 days ago

Beautiful! I’d like the plans! I have to have everything portable for my shop. My garage is so small, my woodworking shop is on the driveway.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

View Karson's profile (online now)

Karson

14323 posts in 940 days


posted 542 days ago

Great Project. It would be nice to have the plans.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View WayneC's profile

WayneC

5684 posts in 637 days


posted 542 days ago

I like it alot. Very functional.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5345 posts in 606 days


posted 542 days ago

Very nice project, looks like everything you might need is at arms’s reach. I like the look of the Hickory. You may have the cleanest shop floor around – I am impressed. Please let us know when the plans are available.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View Bob Babcock's profile

Bob Babcock

1807 posts in 626 days


posted 542 days ago

I love it…but…sigh…way to big for my shop…:)

Good luck on the website RJ!

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

View Tony's profile

Tony

624 posts in 570 days


posted 542 days ago

Very Nice, clean lines and layout and very shiny – I hope it will get a lot of use

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

12282 posts in 701 days


posted 542 days ago

a great workspace!! It looks really efficient.

(interesting how Tom’s eyes go right to the Domino)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View LJ's profile

LJ

75 posts in 608 days


posted 542 days ago

Awesome! A great design for size and efficiency. Thanks for sharing.

-- Peace, LJ http://mysite.verizon.net/biznxgtf/4Goldens.org

View Drew's profile

Drew

19 posts in 616 days


posted 542 days ago

Great workspace! I ‘ve been looking to hide my compressor as well, What size compresor is hidden in that beauty?

-- What would Marc do?

View RonR's profile

RonR

68 posts in 548 days


posted 542 days ago

Really nice work center! You’ll get many years of use out of it. Great job.

-- RonR, Massachusetts

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

4593 posts in 758 days


posted 542 days ago

I want one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 542 days ago

Wow! All these comments in such a short time, wow
Mot, nice pick up on the Domi, now that was funny!!! Stealth Gloat i am still laughing:) The compressor is a small PC pancake type. One of the nicest things about it being hidden is the noise reduction for both the compressor and vaccum
Here’s a link to the compressor area
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8563298@N03/542302174/

Thanks again for all the kind words:) Not so kind words (criticism) are also welcome:)

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View David's profile

David

1833 posts in 679 days


posted 541 days ago

Excellent! This is just what I have been looking for (and need!) in my shop. I agree that it would be great to see a set of plans or a drawing of the construction details.

I thought that was Tom’s Domino . . . Oh no, another Festoolinan!

RJ – Semper Fi Marine! I am enjoying your website. Awesome work! I was just looking at your metric conversion sheet for using the Domino. Very helpful for those of us that don’t use the metric system on a regular basis in woodworking. Next time I visit Tom's shop, I will have to take a better look at the shop walls for such lists!

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

12282 posts in 701 days


posted 541 days ago

maybe Tom had better go check his shop to see if his Domino has been put back!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

4506 posts in 787 days


posted 541 days ago

Ingenious as Wyl e coyote would say, very nice idea. Make the job easier. jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

View Bill's profile

Bill

2524 posts in 701 days


posted 541 days ago

A nice bench RJ. Now if it just had a downdraft section, you could do sanding, building, gluing, and finishing all in the same place. Plus, it is movable in case you want to put it somewhere else.

How tall is it? I just wondered if it could be used as the outfeed for your tablesaw.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

5399 posts in 839 days


posted 541 days ago

Neat bench, & neat shop. I’m envious of all that space.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 541 days ago

Don’t be messin with the Domi, those are fightin words there!!! :) Yes, I am most likley in a downward spiral with Festool:( or maybe :) The top sits right at 36” just perfect for an outfeed table (how did that happen??) hehehe:) I have additional features I am working on and a down draft section might just make it on the list… yeah I think 6 years in the corps has made me a bit anal about being tidy and organized.

Thanks again for all the kind words:)!!

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View oscorner's profile

oscorner

4573 posts in 851 days


posted 541 days ago

GREAT BENCH! Love the hardware containers on side with the vice.

-- Jesus is Lord!

View TreeBones's profile

TreeBones

1469 posts in 563 days


posted 541 days ago

If I only had some nice concrete floors or mabye a bigger shop, hmmmm. Real nice.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

View fred's profile

fred

257 posts in 638 days


posted 540 days ago

That is quite an accomplishment. You have some great ideas incorporated into the work center. And it is mobile. On good days I would roll it outside of the shop. Great job.

-- Fred Childs, Pasadena, CA - - - Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 540 days ago

Or roll into a trailer for onsite work:) The castor size may need to be increased for that purpose but I think it’s an option anyways.

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View DocK16's profile

DocK16

450 posts in 627 days


posted 535 days ago

Nice functional work station. I’m in the middle of building an assembly table (using solid core doors also). I’m curious as to what all the switches on the side are for. I must be missing something I’ve got outlets and comressed air coupling, what am I forgetting?

-- DocK, WV

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 535 days ago

Dock,
you are in luck:) I just posted the plans today. This should answer all your questions:)
http://awlfreeplans.com/Plans.html
Yeah the switches run a compressor and vaccum

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

4452 posts in 617 days


posted 535 days ago

RJ
Thanks!
PJ

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 535 days ago

not a problem PJ Tomorrow I should have the cutlist back in the PDF download:)

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

1557 posts in 530 days


posted 530 days ago

Far out! I built one just like this over a year ago and it’s been the greatest addition to my shop! I really love the use of hickory as it makes your bench much more attractive. Mine is faced with pine and the top is 1 1/2” thick floor grade plywood. So when the top is ruined, one can just flip it for a new surface. The base has two sliding panels and stores most all of my power tools. I’ve also incorporated a couple drawers and surprisingly, have placed my bench vise in the same location you have! Now I’m tempted to reface it in hickory!

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 529 days ago

I would have to say it’s probably my greatest addition as well. I should have done it a long time ago!! Do you have any pics I would love to see it:)

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

2898 posts in 520 days


posted 518 days ago

Hi RJones;

Nice job on this. The work someone does for their shop says alot about their passion level. You are obviously passionate about your woodworking!

I’m sure you’ll get years of satisfying use from this.

again, GREAT job!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

View will2480's profile

will2480

26 posts in 345 days


posted 343 days ago

Nice work station. I like it a lot.

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 343 days ago

Thanks Will:)
I have been using now for about 6 months and it really has been an awesome addition to the shop.

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View Bill Butler's profile

Bill Butler

72 posts in 303 days


posted 299 days ago

Is that a Grizzley bench vise you used? I just ordered 2 of ‘em.

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 299 days ago

Bill,
It sure is! I actually bought another one for an actual workbench I will be building hopefully in the next couple of months. At $30 it’s a great buy and so far I have no complaints.

RJ

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View Roz's profile

Roz

263 posts in 326 days


posted 252 days ago

nice workstation. thanks.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

1419 posts in 254 days


posted 251 days ago

Yeah, I’m eventually gonna have to build one of those… I’ve got workstation envy… lol..

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 251 days ago

Thanks guys! So far there’s nothing I would change it has worked out pretty well over the last year, geez I think it’s getting close to a year??? WOW

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View Texasgaloot's profile

Texasgaloot

425 posts in 240 days


posted 181 days ago

Okay, this whole thing, garage and all… way too neat. I feel out of place… Very nice!

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 181 days ago

thanks tex:) Looks like it’s coming up on a year and it’s still the work horse of the shop!

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

View Wade Putnam's profile

Wade Putnam

49 posts in 269 days


posted 84 days ago

That’s way to pretty to work on.

-- Wade, Nashville, www.casetn.com

View RJones's profile

RJones

203 posts in 695 days


posted 84 days ago

Not any more, LOL Well yeah it still doesn’t look to bad after a year or so but better yet it still works like I had hoped! probably the best thing I ever built for the shop!

RJ

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

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