Kreg Workbench Build

[OXCanada]

Hello All,

So I am fairly new to woodworking and needed a mobile workbench that I could use in the garage. I have a young family and we will most likely move over the next few years so a solid maple bench was not in the cards and needed to stay as light weight/modular as possible.  I decided to go with the Kreg bench because I can customize it and grow with it over the years.

My overall goal was to have all of my hand tools and fastener accessories all in one place. A mobile project center if you will

What I did was build a cabinet to house drawers and a regular cabinet on the front. On the back I build a hanging tool storage area. On the sides I created a French cleat system so I could add various attachments such as a “cup holder” for drills etc and I am also building a kwik clamp rack for small clamps.

Overall I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. Only regret is not making an MFT top but I could still do that at some point I suppose.

I had posted some questions on here as to how to do some things and got some great feedback. Thanks for the help!

Cheers

 

[gunnyr]

Very nice, thank for posting! [thumbs up]

Where did you source the door/drawer pull profile from?

 

[eddomak]

I like these island type workbenches where you can orient it to what you're doing at the time, and also how you can move them around to suit your needs. Looks like it will be very useful for you. Great work - thanks for posting!

 

[mike_aa]

Really nice work!  Looks perfect.  Thanks for sharing!

Are the French cleats on both sides?  What are you going to hang from them?

Mike A.

 

[Billedis]

Very nice job.  Thanks for sharing.  Bill

 

[Tinker]

That's very nice. i like he way you did the hand hold for the doors.  Very neat and you don't worry about bumping into a handle when reaching across the bench.  also, the french cleats will be very useful with removable boxes you can kep the tools you need close at hand but store someplace else.  You have some good ideas.
Tinker

 

[COrider]

Very nice bench! super clean looking

 

[OXCanada]

Thanks for the support!

I got the handles from a place called Orange Aluminum.  They come in long lengths and then I just cut them to the exact length with the drawer fronts.  I really like them and will begin to use them on all of my shop builds. 

Here is a link: http://www.orangealuminum.com/cabinet-and-closet/pulls-and-handles.html

Now I just need to find some more tools to fill this up.

 

[Matty04]

That’s a nice mobile work space. Thanks for taking the time to share.
What are your thoughts regarding the assembly of the Kreg stand? The reason I ask is I have an Incra router table with stand that is a similar build and the lower fasteners will loosen with movement over time. 

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

I have 3 of the Kreg stands and they are very solid. Kreg uses serrated nuts that tighten well and stay tight along with the square bolt holes and square shaft carriage bolts just under the bolt head, all makes for a solid system when cranked down with sockets/wrenches.

That’s a nice mobile work space. Thanks for taking the time to share.
What are your thoughts regarding the assembly of the Kreg stand? The reason I ask is I have an Incra router table with stand that is a similar build and the lower fasteners will loosen with movement over time.

 

[OXCanada]

[member=62891]Matty04[/member] I agree with [member=23087]bnaboatbuilder[/member].  The Kreg is built very well. 

I took the assembly one step further and used loctite on the fasteners.  I figure that this thing will have constant vibration from routers, sanders and other tools.  Plus, once I put the cabinet in, I can't access the fasteners anymore so I didn't want them to loosen up.  So far so good and the thing is solid as a rock.

I had debated putting rubber (to dampen vibration) between the cabinet and the steel frame but decided against it due to time.  So far so good and no issues.  I really think this would have been overkill in the end.

 

[Matty04]

I have been looking at the Kreg stands for a while I think I’ll move forward with one.  Do I need to buy the casters that Kreg sells specifically for the stand or will others work? The casters that Kreg suggests are around $50 for four, but I guess other brand casters are about as much too.

Thanks [member=23087]bnaboatbuilder[/member] [member=39612]OXCanada[/member]

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

Not all casters are alike. The Kreg casters are double locking and in my opinion worth the price. Not many double locking quality casters out that where a set comes much under that cost.

But yes, any caster with a threaded post will do the job.

I have been looking at the Kreg stands for a while I think I’ll move forward with one.  Do I need to buy the casters that Kreg sells specifically for the stand or will others work? The casters that Kreg suggests are around $50 for four, but I guess other brand casters are about as much too.

Thanks [member=23087]bnaboatbuilder[/member] [member=39612]OXCanada[/member]

 

[OXCanada]

I would say to just go with the Kreg ones. They seem to be really good quality and for what you get they are a pretty good value.

They roll nicely and lock in for heavy work.

 

[gunnyr]

Thanks for the support!

I got the handles from a place called Orange Aluminum.  They come in long lengths and then I just cut them to the exact length with the drawer fronts.  I really like them and will begin to use them on all of my shop builds. 

Here is a link: http://www.orangealuminum.com/cabinet-and-closet/pulls-and-handles.html

Now I just need to find some more tools to fill this up.

Thanks for the drawer pull source!  I've seen them on several projects but never have been able to find them.

Your bench will fill itself up much quicker than you think, pretty soon you'll be looking for a shop with a small attached house. ;D

 

[OXCanada]

My first workbench has proven to be fantastic in the work shop so I decided to build another one for the house. Just something simple and sturdy. It was nice to have a quick project that was easy to do.

This was also the first time I used the edging plate with my new OF1010. FANTASTIC. It was much easier than trying to balance a trim router on the edging to flush trim them.