If you give a woodworker a table saw, he realizes new vistas awakening in his craft.  If you give him a table saw, he’d like a sweet router table.  If he makes that router table, he’d need a bench to store his other bench-top tools.  If he has a stand for his bench-top tools, he’d want storage for their accessories…..

Last year, the heart of my woodworking shop consisted of this gruesome bandsaw/router table.

Since then, I’ve picked up a Jet Supersaw.  With a new heart, I’ve moved the various bench top tools onto tool stands, such as the one below.  I used salvaged materials for nearly every part – 2×4 frames, 5/8″ construction plywood, some 3/4″ plywood for the drawers, the last of my stash of 1/2″ plywood, etc.

Of course, I had to do something with that space underneath.  I couldn’t just leave it be.  I built drawers and shelves to fit inside the space.  Bigger stands, such as the one holding my planer and bandsaw, get a one drawer/one shelf combo, whereas the skinny stands (drill press, jointer, a scrollsaw in the near future) received a three to four drawer look.  I ripped strips of 1/2″ birch ply to be my drawer runners and slides with tons of success.  The drawers can extend close to 90% and I can remove them easily for quick access around the shop.  The over-sized 3/4″ plywood drawers mean lots of storage for heavy tools.  These tool stands need big casters.  Don’t use anything under 2″.  Get big three or four inch casters, preferably something like these casters from McMaster-Carr.   I went with the cheaper sub-200 lbs casters during my first build and each set has broken under the strain of a stand, bench-top tool and storage.

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If you want to build along at home, I’ve uploaded a SketchUp model for a 20″ wide x 20″ deep x 32″ tall stand with three drawers.  Modify as you need to!

Make it safe & keep the rubber side down this weekend!