Thread: I'm thinking about starting a share shed in Sydney's inner west

I've been using that drawer unit already. Just for small jobs. It's great having everything I need in the one place.

This weekend I'm going to start framing up the benches and I have a question.....

The shed is a decent size, but I'm still heading down the path of having places for like minded people to hang around and make stuff. So being economical with space is still important. (I suspect no matter how big your shed is, it could always be bigger.)
I have my own bench that I have had for ages and it will sit against a wall. It's nothing special - one day I'll make a good one.
For others, I plan to make two benches that can each be used by two people standing diagonally opposite eachother.
So each person will have a 600mm deep work space with a vice and the two work surfaces will be separated by a gutter. Make sense?
What is the minimum length for each work surface I could get away with?

For a bunch of blokes who always have an opinion, you all went quiet when i asked about about the bench length.
I went with 1800 - need to fit two of them in the space.
Got part of the way on the weekend.
I'm using stuff I had lying around in the carport - this is not going to be one of those benches I'm proud of and will pass down to my grandchildren. It will be a cheap and cheerful solution.
As I was making it on the floor, I found myself wishing I had a big bench to make it on.
Pleasingly, the old bit and brace my uncle gave me, that would have been my grandfather's, was perfect for making the rebates for the M12 bolts.
I wish one of you would have told me what a pain in the it is mounting vices. I have four old matching ones that I bought in one lot last year on Gumtree. Amazing, huh.

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Originally Posted by scottbr

For a bunch of blokes who always have an opinion, you all went quiet when i asked about about the bench length.

I went with 1800 - need to fit two of them in the space. ...

A bench that is too short is a PIA to use.

A bench that is too long holds too much junk.

1800 is perfect. Mine is also 1800!

Personally, I think that width is more important than length - it impacts on access and clamping - and I like 500-600.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

A bench that is too short is a PIA to use.

A bench that is too long holds too much junk.

1800 is perfect. Mine is also 1800!

Personally, I think that width is more important than length - it impacts on access and clamping - and I like 500-600.

Phew.

I've loosely assembled the frame. Now I just have to try and get it square before tightening everything up.

Wish I didn't rebate the legs for the frame. That has caused more trouble than it's worth given I didn't do a great job of it.

Originally Posted by scottbr

Bench is done. It's 970 high, too high for woodworking, but a good height for tinkering with things. Instead of a bottom shelf, I made some big boxes on wheels - much easier to use. One of them accomodates power tools, one is electrical stuff, and one is plumbing stuff. And one at the moment is empty. I'm looking out for some black milk crates to store stuff on the middle shelf. The spaces with no shelves will be for the shop vac and stuff like that. Maybe a router table on wheels.
I had the welder out on Sunday and started on timber storage for the back wall.

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Hey Scott, whats the go with using Formply? Is that an expensive way to build shop cabinetry? Full 17mm sheets cost $90 from Bunnings yeah?

Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

Hey Scott, whats the go with using Formply? Is that an expensive way to build shop cabinetry? Full 17mm sheets cost $90 from Bunnings yeah?

I like formply, Charlie.

Most of what I have used has been the 2400 x 600 sheets from Bunnings at $39 each.

Of course I would rather use standard ply because it looks better, but it's a lot more expensive than formply. It also need to be finished. And finishing ply means a few coats each side - I know from experience. Formply of course comes already finished.

Fair enough - I am looking to make some shelving BUT will be framed out of H2 pine framing timber and 2400 x 445 x 16mm Melamine Shelving. it'll be behind sliding doors so doesn't have to be too attractive.

Originally Posted by Charlie_6ft

Fair enough - I am looking to make some shelving BUT will be framed out of H2 pine framing timber and 2400 x 445 x 16mm Melamine Shelving. it'll be behind sliding doors so doesn't have to be too attractive.

Just watch the spacing. Formply is pretty strong so the supports can perhaps be further apart than they would with 16mm melamine.

Done.
The workbench.
As I noted above, this is a cheap and cheerful solution.
The legs and frame are all stuff I had at home.
For the top, there is formply first and then two pieces of 25mm ply from Bunnings - $62 each, from memory. That ply comes in 2200 x 600 pieces.
Each work surface is 1800 x 600.
I reconditioned the vices and they're fine. (I think I noted that I bought four of them from one seller on Gumtree ages ago for $40 each.)
My grandfather's No6 plane came in handy for leveling the frame.
The top is perfectly level - I was expecting a disappointment there.
I put a coat of tung oil on first and then three coats of Osmo hardwax oil. I've nailed the application of that over the years.
Made some rookie errors with the construction of the bench and it's not pretty, but it is very square and flat and solid, which I guess is more important than looks.
Now, I have to make another one.

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Originally Posted by scottbr

Wish I didn't rebate the legs for the frame. That has caused more trouble than it's worth given I didn't do a great job of it.

Rebating the legs for the frame might have been a PITA but IMO it was the right thing to do. It looks pretty wide in the photos leaving me wondering how much spring you might get if you gave it a decent thump towards the middle. I'm just curious.

mick

Originally Posted by Glider

Rebating the legs for the frame might have been a PITA but IMO it was the right thing to do. It looks pretty wide in the photos leaving me wondering how much spring you might get if you gave it a decent thump towards the middle. I'm just curious.

mick

Those 130 x 50mm LVLs are pretty strong. I have done the sit and bounce test - got a mate to sit on it - and could detect no deflection at all. Good enough for amateurs like me.
I'm going to wait till I forget about the problems I had with this one before starting on the second bench - I'll give it a fortnight.

If it’s to be a fair dinkum thump I always position the item to be thumped over a leg.
H.

Did you go ahead with this in the end? We are looking for some workshop space and it’s so hard to find, any advice would be great!

Done.

Things slowed down toward the end - I could have done with another month of lockdown.

Blackielaura, this might not suit you - it's more for people with projects who don't have the space or tools, but I know a fair bit about what spaces are available in Marrickville. Why don't you come over for a chat?

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