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Thread: Setting up a home workshop - any tips?

  1. #1
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    Setting up a home workshop - any tips?

    Hi guys, I've just bought a new place with a decent garage. It's a 3 car space about 6.4 metres deep and 8.5 metres wide. I will be keeping cars in there, but there's plenty of room along the walls for work benches and storage. I know that most of you would probably break out the welder and knock up a custom set of shelves, work benches, cupboards and so on. The thing is, I can't weld.

    I've been looking at using something like pallet racking to make some shelving up to the ceiling (2.4 metres high). I will probably buy a set of tool drawers on castors to replace my random assortment of battered tool boxes. I would like to buy a couple of solid workbenches to make an "L" shape in one corner. I'd like them to be at least 60cm deep. I'll also need storage for lots of small parts, nuts, bolts etc.

    A lot of stuff I've looked at is pretty flimsy - just rubbish really. I'm currently in the process of getting all the dirt and Blutack off the walls, filling holes and painting, but will want to move in soon. Can anyone offer any advice, especially as to good, sturdy workbenches.

    Cheers, Dave.

  2. #2
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    Setting up a home workshop - any tips?

    How are you with carpentry
    All mine are made out timber 75x35mm construction timber at 2.4 or 3.0m pending on the height of the shed?? Then just screw it all together.
    I used construction ply at 2.4x1.2 cut in half to make shelves at 2.4x0.6 etc
    Pretty easy really!




    Can sort of see them behind all the mess!!!!

  3. #3
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    I had planned on using timber cut to size for shelving. I want to use as much of the space as possible, so I was even thinking of putting cheaper kitchen cupboards above the workbenches to store some of the lighter items. On shelving I will probably use plastic tubs with lids, as much to keep bugs out as anything.

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    Metal school-type lockers are quite useful and make the place look less cluttered than open shelves.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Classic88 View Post
    Metal school-type lockers are quite useful and make the place look less cluttered than open shelves.
    I wouldn't mind looking at a set of these. They would be good down one wall where I don't want a lot of depth. As I recall they are only 30 - 40 cm deep.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave_S View Post
    I wouldn't mind looking at a set of these. They would be good down one wall where I don't want a lot of depth. As I recall they are only 30 - 40 cm deep.
    If you're anywhere near a Costco they generally have some good workshop storage solutions, including a tool box about the size of a chest freezer last time I was there.

  7. #7
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    You can often pick up secondhand Dexion reasonably cheap if you look around. Good stuff if you don't mind blue and orange. It is usually sized to fit two pallets a span.
    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

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  8. #8
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    I take it that Dexion is modular pallet racking. I figure I can probably use it to make the shelving I need, with a tall shelf at the bottom (for engines, oil drums, etc), one or two shorter shelves above that for stuff that's heavy but not tall (diff centres, starter motors, heads, manifolds) and some mid sized shelves at the top to hold plastic tubs full of lighter stuff (rags, gaskets, filters and other parts). I was thinking most shelves would only need to be 60 cm deep, but I'd like to make a short section about a metre deep with just a top and bottom shelf for panels.

    Could I use pallet racking to make a work bench, or would it fall apart or be unstable if things were being hammered or thrown about on it?

  9. #9
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    By the way, I got a quote to have a professional epoxy finish applied to the floor. It came in at just under $4,000

    So that will be a no......

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave_S View Post
    I take it that Dexion is modular pallet racking. I figure I can probably use it to make the shelving I need, with a tall shelf at the bottom (for engines, oil drums, etc), one or two shorter shelves above that for stuff that's heavy but not tall (diff centres, starter motors, heads, manifolds) and some mid sized shelves at the top to hold plastic tubs full of lighter stuff (rags, gaskets, filters and other parts). I was thinking most shelves would only need to be 60 cm deep, but I'd like to make a short section about a metre deep with just a top and bottom shelf for panels.

    Could I use pallet racking to make a work bench, or would it fall apart or be unstable if things were being hammered or thrown about on it?
    Yes, Dexion is modular pallet racking. It is as strong as bu**ery if you fasten the legs to the floor with Dynabolts or somesuch. I fave seen heaps of work benches made out of Dexion, with the surface made from anything from chipboard through to 13mm steel plate. Like I said, fasten the legs and you could drop a Disco on it. It is remarkably stable even if the legs aren't fastened, so if you need it to be mobile, no problem, it just won't be as stable, but it beats the heck out of those shelf things you see at Bunnings. I've even seen benches with castors on them, so you can wheel them about.

    I'm not endorsing the company in this vid, it is for illustrative purposes only.

    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

    2000 D2 TD5 Auto: Tins
    1994 D1 300TDi Manual: Dave
    1980 SIII Petrol Tray: Doris
    OKApotamus #74
    Nanocom, D2 TD5 only.

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