Mother's Woodshop Workbench

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To finish the frame, glue and screw the top rim pieces to the composite legs (the lengths of the top rim pieces should match those of the bottom rim). However, don't put the cross braces on. First, you need to give the frame some sheer strength by installing two of the interior pieces.

STEP 2: THE INTERIOR

Cut the two side drawer enclosure panels from 1/2" plywood (see parts B in the illustration ). Glue and screw the 2x3 top cross braces to the tops of these panels, slide the panels in place in the frame assembly and secure them. Ensure that the panels are squared up before you glue and screw them to the bottom rim cross braces. To double-check your progress, measure the distance across the bottom of the opening and the top of the opening on both sides.

N ow this structure will be pretty rigid and strong, which is one of the reasons for using 1/2" plywood for the four interior panels (see parts A and B in the illustration ). They function as sheer panels, dividers, and as a structure upon which to hang shelves.

Lay the structure on its side. Seal and paint the bottom, then lag bolt the four castors on. With the castors on and in their locked position, you may now return the structure to its fixed and upright position. Refer to the illustrations and, using cleat stock, plywood, pegboard and a few 2x4s, construct the remainder of the interior.

There are two doors on either end of the bench. The outer skins are 1/2" plywood (you could use 1/4" mahogany-, ash- or oakfaced plywood and varnish). The inner skins are 1/4" peg board. The 1 x 1/2" spacers (cleat stock material) are necessary if you use "off-the-shelf' peg board hooks, or you could skip the spacers and peg board and simply put in a series of screws or nails. The doors should be hung with two 2" hinges per door. Mount a door pull of choice or bore a finger hole.

The sliding doors that flank the pullout drawer are designed to be 1/4"-tempered masonite panels that run in a pair of plastic tracks, one on the top and one on the bottom (see the " Top & Masonite Door Components " illustration). Follow the manufacturer's mounting instructions supplied with the track kit. Once again, you could substitute 1/4" oak, ash or mahogany panels for the Masonite ones. Assemble the pullout drawer (according to the " Drawer Components " illustration) and be sure to cut two square holes in the plywood to use as handles.

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