Need large hobby workstation ideas

[naubur]

Our basement has a large room that we are setting up for arts / crafts /storage. In the center is a large empty space in which I was hoping to build a large square work table with drawers and storage in it. We are thinking kids crafts, sewing largish fabric pieces, framing phots, laying out large pieces of whatever - I don't know how to describe it.

I am looking for photos or plans of similar tables - standalone craft centers for lack of a better description, to get some ideas.

Any help or ideas would be great, even if it is something else that can be incorporated.


Jason

[final_t]

Our basement has a large room that we are setting up for arts / crafts /storage. In the center is a large empty space in which I was hoping to build a large square work table with drawers and storage in it. We are thinking kids crafts, sewing largish fabric pieces, framing phots, laying out large pieces of whatever - I don't know how to describe it.

I am looking for photos or plans of similar tables - standalone craft centers for lack of a better description, to get some ideas.

Any help or ideas would be great, even if it is something else that can be incorporated.
Jason

Woodcraft and Garret-Wade, at one time, carried a Sjoberg workbench that was configured as a square with all four sides usable. It was designed to be used in a location similar to what you are describing. I think it was called a "teaching workbench" or a "school workbench".

Having built several large-ish laminated strip workbenches recently, making a square one that could be used on all four sides would be the same as a typical one.

If you're going to make it a nice even 4' x 4' side, you can get a 3/4" sheet of MDF, cut it down into two 4x4 slabs, glue that up, and bob's your uncle, nice flat and solid surface. It will actually be harder to make the legs and trim the edges with solid wood.

[mpphoto]

A recent issue of Shopnotes has plans for a portable hobby bench. Although not what you're looking for it may provide inspiration.

A couple of features I liked were:

-Including holes in the top for bench dogs
-It had a flat panel that slid in and out of the unit like a drawer. The panel was removable and it had hardboard on one side of it and self-healing cutting mat mounted on the other side. I often use those mats when cutting with an exacto knife and I like the idea of incorporating it into a workstation.

Michael

[mdutch]

Random ideas here...

My favorite "project table" is a "light-table" which has a big thick piece of frosted glass with a fluorescent bulb beneath it. I use it to sort slides, build models (having the "up-light" helps keep pieces sorted out.) I also have a large magnifying-light (circular fluorescent with 5" magnifying glass in the center) which helps for fine work. I don't have pix, but here's a site that builds custom -- you could use these ideas as a point of departure for yours. http://www.hallpro.com/customt.html

Incorporating a holder or slot to store T-Squares and straight-edges is pretty handy. A tilt-top is worth it's weight in gold IMHO.

My sister is a seamstress when she's not an IT director and uses a Dritz cutting board for fabric work. You might make sure your tabletop was big enough to accomodate one of these -- fabric can be hard to handle on a top that's too small. http://www.newarkdress.com/product982.html

Consider a table top with "leaves" like hinged outfeed tables for workbenches to expand your work surface. Laminate allows easy cleanup for waterbased materials like paints and glues.

How about a roll dispenser of wide craft (brown) paper that you can pull over the tabletop like the exam rooms at the Doctor's office? That way glue/mess can be tossed out with the old paper.

[Tamarack]

Lowe's has free plans for a huge workbench/table with tons of storage on their website.

Paul in Idaho (for two more weeks!)

[crokett]

For a base, get some old kitchen cabinets and screw them together back to back. Plenty of storage there. Then get a sheet of MDO for the top and wrap the edges with a nice hardwood.

[naubur]

Great ideas from everyone, awesome. Something is beginning to take shape in my head already.

I knew this was a great place to ask.


Jason

[LinuxRandal]

When you say framing photo's, are you talking mat cutting and the whole bit?

If so I would certainly consider a torsion box top. (hint, would be a good project glue up table too)