Build a space-saving workstation

 

Skill - 5/10

Time - 4 days

 

 

Double your workspace by building a solid bench with deep drawers plus a rollout table with customised storage for tools. Use a drill and a table or circular saw to cut the pieces, although have larger pieces cut by the supplier for $2 a cut at most places. You’ll also need eight pairs of 600mm self-closing drawer slides. The bench takes about four days to make, including drying time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the inside of the drawer cabinet sides, mark the centre of the drawer slides and secure with the self- closing slides that mount to the base of the drawer (see Diagram 1).

 

To assemble the drawer cabinets, drill pilotholes,applyadhesiveandsecurewith screws. Fix cleats to the base of the sides using 30mm brad nails and use 40mm screws to secure the stud to the back of the sub top. Align the drawer cabinets then apply adhesive and secure with 30mm screws from inside the cabinets.

 

 Attach three studs to the sub top, clamp the front stud to a straightedge, secure with adhesive and screws. Attach to the cabinets with 60mm screws from inside and to the sub top with 40mm screws from underneath. Spread adhesive on the studs, position the top and secure with 50mm nails.

 

Assemble the drawers using adhesive and 50mm nails, keeping them 24mm narrower than the opening. Attach the slides to the drawer and temporarily fasten the drawer faces through the handle holes with 3mm gaps between. Open each drawer to secure the face from inside using 30mm screws. Add the front and side trims to the bench top.

 

On both sides of the rollout base, use a router with an edge guide to cut 5mm-deep, 7mm-wide tracks for the sliding doors, then cut the tracks on the top 10mm deep, which allows room to insert the doors (see Diagram 3). Rub the tracks and doors with 120-grit paper so they slide easily.