Norms Miter Bench and Storage - 130 Long Days or The Art of Making Things Look Square

sIKE;

What a great job you did here!

This should offer you a world of convenience and usefulness.

It really looks great.

Lee

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

Very nice, makes me wish I had room for something like that much less actually having that much storge and work space. Great job.

-- Glenn, New Mexico

That’s very impressive … good work! I love the cut away behind the saw to catch all the dust.

So much for those clamping squares I see hanging on the wall! A true artisan knows how to effectively hide their flaws, and from the great looking results here, I’d say you’re a true artisan. I’d love to have this in my shop if I had the room—square or not.

-- GSY from N. Idaho

Looks like a great addition to your shop! Well done.

-- - Ray

Now all you need is your check shirt lol, great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

Fantastic looking work area sIKE. I love the look of the bead board on the walls. I do have one suggestion for you. Ease the corners in the cut out for the Miter saw. If you don’t you are sure to have multiple hip and love handle bruises. Enjoy the fruits of your labors.

Rat.

-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

Very nice work, I also like the bead board.

-- Ron Central, CA

I’d maim somebody for that kind of room in my shop. Very jealous.

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

Thanks all, it has been frustrating project. I have been working on the shop since March of last year, I think of all of the projects from siding to roofing to painting, to interior build out this silly project has taken the most time and even more of my patience. But I am most happy now that it is done!

Rob,

The cut a away is not working as week as I had hoped it now causes about 20% of the dust to blow out the front back at the operator, I have been chewing on a re-design of the DC for this but it is gonna have to wait for a bit as I am anxious to get back to woodworking and not shop build out.

ScopeMonkey,

Those are new, Norms “Deluxe Router Station” better be square d@*mn it!

Rat,

Thanks for the suggestion, will do!

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Now that’s a place to work from great storage and plenty of work space…if I may offer a suggestion on the temper hardboard finish two coats of sand and sealer and when cured a coat of paste wax. This is a finish I have used over the years on hardboard and MDF it’s a perfect finish and will stand the test of time. Thanks for posting Blkcherry

Looks like a great storage system.
Mine is next on my list.
What are the little drawers for along the back?

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

The drawers on top of the bench were not a part of the plans. Scott Bryan suggested that I turn the wasted space into small drawers. They are small drawers that I divided into bins, you can see better pictures of them in my blog of this project.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

The small drawers on top are a great idea. Very efficient. Wish I had the space for this type of setup. Good work. Should keep the the tools safe and clean.

You need to start gettin’ it dirty. :) Throw some sawdust on there.

-- Tim from Iowa City, IA

I spent 20 minutes getting the area clean for these pics, it was covered in sawdust and other stuff that just likes to lie on bench. One of the things that I have already learned, is with the miter saw cut being on top of the bench I am able to put things in front of it and still be able to make my cuts when needed.

Speaking of cuts the saw is in desperate need of a good blade, this is the one am thinking about getting. Any opinions?

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

sIKE – Great job. I have been working on mine for the past four months and am in the process of dovetailing my drawers. Now I need to check my cabinet sides. I hope my final product looks as good as yours.

-- Ron Setzer

Good luck on the dovetailing, I wish I could get a jig to make those. Once of these days I am going to tackle a hand made dovetail I have plenty of red oak to practice on.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

I’ve been dreaming of the setup like this since I saw Norm make it on the NYW. Great job, I know you’re going to love it!

Good job! I really took notice of the drawer idea…excellent place for storage. Like your wall paneling too. Gives me some new ideas.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Dadoo,

Thanks! I didn’t want sheet rock, OSB, or plain old ply. I went with this as it was within budget and I thought that it would look good. It is only 3/8 think I cant get it to hold a lot of weight but I am able to hang my hand tools on it easily. The (10’) walls were sanded three times with two coats of ply in between, wore out the brand new hook and loop pad on my PC ROS. But, yeah it does look good. Once I save up enough the ceiling I am gonna insulate it and use 1/8” pre-finish ply. That is going to be lots of fun too.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

I too wish I had that kind of space. The drawers in the top will serve two purposes. One storage, second to open or use the drawer you have to clear the bench, thus keeping the shop organized.

Time spent on this type of shop project will save triple fold in the future. Thanks for sharing.

-- Kip Northern Illinois ( If you don't know where your goin any road will take you there) George Harrison

I do want to thank Scott Bryan for the inspiration for the small drawers on Miter Bench. He has encouraged me to get this project done and provided inspiration that has made this a great project.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

sIKE,

Finally!!!!! Sorry I didn’t get around to this earlier but I have been somewhat lax in my review of posted projects lately. You did a wonderful job on your interpretation of the NYW plan. You have created a piece of shop furniture that is both functional, which is where most of us stop, and gorgeous as well.

Well done!!! Now let’s generate some sawdust on it.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

sIKE – I have not tried any of the Freud saw blades. Others might. I have some Freud fortsner bits and router bits that I really like. Your link above appears to be broken. Just an FYI. I’ve heard some good things about the Amana saw blades—competitively priced around $60 I believe.

-- Tim from Iowa City, IA

As Timber4Fun has pointed out think in this thread about the saw blade I am considering is broken. Here is the working link.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Thanks for introducing me to lumberjocks.com! It is already apparent that one can invest considerable time exploring the site and responding to postings.

Although you verbally described the project, I didn’t clearly comprehend the project until seeing your pictures. I’m particularly impressed by the drawers under the support extensions for the chop-saw and the recess for the chop-saw structure.

Thanks again,

-- Jim Ward

Great looking miter bench. You have given me some good ideas when I build mine. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

good post I like the cabinets very Norm Abram but I have to ask about your walls they look so nice how did you do them.?Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Alistair

The 10’ walls are simple beaded 3/8” pine, with 3 coats of poly with sanding in-between coats. Wore out the pad and many sheets of 220 grit sandpaper using my PC Random Orbital Sander.

Tom

Thanks!

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Good job. I’m going to be working on one thats 11” long in September. I like the small little drawers that make up the chop saw table extensions.

-- Bud, NY, http://tpww.libsyn.com/

Budgie,

Thanks! Two tips, make sure your casework is square and that your layout is accurate. I know this sounds simple, but when you get going on a big project like this you might let things slip a bit more than if you were working on something small. If you need three hands wait until you can get the help. It will make things go much faster at the end of the project, when you don’t have to spend a large amount of time working over/around your mistakes that have now been greatly magnified.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Thats a nice bench.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Nice job, I am looking to do something similar for my shop as well. Your pics will help me out. thanks.

Very nice! Similar to mine! You will never be sorry you have all that storage! Great job.

-- spanky46 -- Never enough clamps...Never enough tools...Never enough time.

I have been loving it so far. I have been busy and haven’t had the time to organize the way I would like. But the storage has been very nice.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

I have had Norm’s plans for this project for more than a year! I like your idea of using the area below the support tables/arms for drawers!

-- "Lumber is just sawdust in 'solid' form!"

I got the idea from Scott Bryan....

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"