Foldout Workbench

Looks great and ya can’t beat the footprint – I’ve been working on this off and on for a while now too. I stalled for a bit because I’m trying to figure out how best to incorporate a clamping system without significantly unflattening the top.

-- Optimists are usually disappointed. Pessimists are either right or pleasantly surprised. I tend to be a disappointed pessimist.

I am totally going to have to build one of these, this is awesome

-- Easy to use end grain cutting board designer: http://www.1024studios.com/cuttingboard.html

What a great idea. Would even make a good game table for spaces where you can’t leave it set up.

Paul

I have been pondering building this same table for my garage. A question that I have is couldn’t storage be built on the side of the base that does not store the table when it is folded?

-- "Projects beget projects and projects beget the need to buy new tools and that is what the cycle of life is all about." Stan Pearse, Novato, CA

Actually, I had thought as I was building it that the one side would work well for additional storage. The table only folds the one way so adding a small cabinet on the side with shelves or a peg board would be easy to do.

-- TTH, UT

Did you change anything of the Wood Magazine design? Or, after having built it, is there anything of the Wood plan you would change?

-- I'm looking forward to regretting this.

Hi John,
Actually, I did quite a bit different, but most of it was improvising with what I had.

The plan called to plane out your pine lumber to size. I don’t’ have planer so I cut the sizes different to accomadate the extra 1/4 inch and just sanded to make the lumber appear finished.

I didn’t have the twist out furniture feet the plan call for on the legs, but I ended up using 5/8” bolts into the t-nut and they work just fine. I am still able to adjust my leg height to accommodate the surface wherever I set up. The table is still sturdy (I stood on it to hang Christmas lights two weeks ago = 230lbs + my big feet).

To save cost I didn’t use hard maple for the table boarder. I just used white pine. I might regret that later but for now it is working fine as a work table.

And then there are the casters. I would have set up those different so that they turn freely and make cabinet easier to move.

If I could change anything it would have been to build in a power supply box on the upright that had an extension cord. That way you can power the table from any position and have a few plugs for tools where ever you set up.

Otherwise, (as mentioned before) a storage cabinet for some tools on the opposite side the table folds too would be helpful as well. I may end up adding those all (or selling to a neighbor and rebuilding it).

-- TTH, UT

Ya gotta love the ingenuity of a woodworker! So cool.
-Ed

-- Ed Pirnik, Fine Woodworking Web Producer

Great job!!! I love the little footprint it takes up when not in use. You executed this so well!!! Good project!!!

-- Drew -- "I cut it twice and it's still too short!"- Rock-n H Woodshop - Moore, OK

Thanks for sharing this. That is a very interesting idea and a smaller version would work well in my small worksop. Since joining LJ my list of projects has gotten a lot bigger.

-- Peter, Woodbridge, Ontario

Well executed. I think yours looks better than the one in Wood Magazine.

-- --bch

Great job, I like it. Should be a great addition to the shop congrats!

-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"

I’m building this right now, and the locking lever on my swivel casters bound up on the base plate – so I routed out a radius to give them some room. I don’t think it will affect the strength significantly. This thing’s a monster!

btw, I don’t have a planer either, and milled the lumber down on my table saw. This worked ok, but not great.