Thread: cramped for room.

Based on your description, I had thought about something similar to save space when I was designing/laying out my workshop space.

The way I originally envisaged it I would put each machine on a surface - think like a cutting board, and then on each end of that, I was planning on mounting a drawer slide, and then on the workbench itself toward the back, I'd put two, very short uprights to mount the "other part" of the drawer slide. If you then ensure there is a gap between the mounting board and the workbench, I thought I would then have a long bench, and could "pull forward" the machine I wanted to use at the time. Of course, you need very capable slides rated for the right weight - and potentially locking ones.

All good in theory, and I spent a good many hours figuring through the various issues.

In the end, I gave up on the idea, because I ran across this video: YouTube I liked what I saw, so watched this one next: YouTube - even though that is for a lathe, I figured the concept and design could be adapted for near any machine. Based on this concept, I've come up with one cabinet for the Tormek and on the back side a bench grinder. Another will house a benchtop drill press and the other side will hold my mortiser. I will make one of the Lathe units to hold my lathe, the mitre saw station to hold my mitre saw, and a final one to hold a belt sander. All of these machines will be mobile, and will use braked rubber casters underneath for mobility. The only thing to be careful of when designing these is to make sure you end up with the machine at the right height for working on, and if you're pairing machines like I am, take special care with this aspect. Also to note, these ones I'm designing with 2 machines on them are going to be set up in such a way that the "front side" holds one machine - you swivel the mobile base through 180 degrees, facing the "back" of the unit to use the second machine. Of course, there's nothing saying you can't design it to have two sets of shallow drawers, one from either side if you wish.

The design of all these units will be done to put extraction connections in a similar place, and then I'm going to set up two spaces in the workshop where I can wheel the "units in use". These will then hook up to power and extraction at those "in use stations", and then roll out of the way once their work is done to make room for the next unit(s). Included in there will be some way of hooking up the bandsaw and planer/thicknesser - they're already mobile.

I hope this may help in your thinking and deliberations!

I get these brain snaps in early hours of the morning, when a trip to the little room is required, last night no exception...the drawer slides was last nights inspiration..still thinking about this.

I get the same sort of thing happening - ideas strike me at the oddest times.

If it helps, I found this crowd with fairly capable drawer slides: Drawer Slides - I never dealt with them, just had them bookmarked. I figured a 40Kg machine would make mince meat out of a set of normal slides which I think are rated at 45Kg, so I was thinking of using the 100Kg and up units.

I figured that the board the machine was on could be as little as an inch or so above the workbench surface, and if required, little blocks could be made to go under the front end to support the weight of the machine, especially if the machine involved putting vertical forces downward (e.g. mortiser, drill press and so on).

The trick will be to figure out the working height on each machine, and what that dictates on your bench height underneath. And doubtless it will be different for some machines. This is the point where I realised it wasn't going to work - but then again, I was trying to get 6 machines on a single bench, your needs are somewhat more modest in terms of the number of machines, and this, perhaps combined with some clever artistry in making height boxes that clamp to the bench when machines are in, or not in use, might yield a workable solution.

I will be most keen to hear how you go with it!

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

I get the same sort of thing happening - ideas strike me at the oddest times.

If it helps, I found this crowd with fairly capable drawer slides: Drawer Slides - I never dealt with them, just had them bookmarked. I figured a 40Kg machine would make mince meat out of a set of normal slides which I think are rated at 45Kg, so I was thinking of using the 100Kg and up units.

I figured that the board the machine was on could be as little as an inch or so above the workbench surface, and if required, little blocks could be made to go under the front end to support the weight of the machine, especially if the machine involved putting vertical forces downward (e.g. mortiser, drill press and so on).

The trick will be to figure out the working height on each machine, and what that dictates on your bench height underneath. And doubtless it will be different for some machines. This is the point where I realised it wasn't going to work - but then again, I was trying to get 6 machines on a single bench, your needs are somewhat more modest in terms of the number of machines, and this, perhaps combined with some clever artistry in making height boxes that clamp to the bench when machines are in, or not in use, might yield a workable solution.

I will be most keen to hear how you go with it!

your not the only one...

by george I think Ive d I thought. one it, much simpler idea. I only need the SCMS to move 150mm forward backward. and always thought the drawer slides mounting to complicated. But having brekky and spied the poly???? whatever breadboard get a big one, router 4 slots in it for each saw foot and run nut n bolt through may need a smaller piece of breadborad stuff underneath to act as a glide and not bind the nut.

does that sound great. breadboard is 20mm thick.