Tool tray on a workbench?

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cbatzi01

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2008
Messages
124
Location
Park Hills, Kentucky
Hi,

I posted this on Sawmill Creek, but I wanted some opinions from you guys.

With much anticipation, I am finally building a real workbench. I have spent the last several months reading everything I can (both of Chris Schwarz books, and the Landis book), and change my mind about what I want every other week.

This week I am debating a tool tray. If you were going to rebuild your bench today, would you include a tool tray? What about a center tool tray?

Thanks!
Chris
 
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Just to clarify, this is a traditional benchtop, not a surface to put the lathe. I can see the usefulness, if you work with a lot of hand tools. I don't care so much about it trapping dust/shavings, as that is easy to deal with. I "inherited" a laminated top, that I would have to retrofit the tray to, so it is more a question of "is it worth it?"

Thanks!
Chris
 
I'm in the midst of assembling a bench (48"Wx24"Dx41"H plus backboard) for the lathe I'm picking up on Wednesday. I'm considering a narrow, shallow tray along the front edge of the bench to catch the things that will inevitably roll off, but hadn't thought of a permanent tray elsewhere.

How big is your benchtop, how big is the tray, and where are you considering, apart from the center, putting the tray?
 
The bench will be 72"x27" @33" high. The tray would be =<6" wide, running the length of the bench. If I put the tray in the center, it would actually be made of 3 boxes, that could be removed/flipped over to provide a solid level surface. Otherwise it would run the length of the top, in the back.
-Chris
 
I recently built a workbench with laminated 2X3 strips on the top. Left 3 strips sllightly below the top in the back to serve as a tool tray. It really saves a lot of things (bushings, tools, parts, etc. ) from rolling off. And from seeking that dark hole under the bench!!! I have always worked on benches, since my grandad's, that had a place for pencils, screwdrivers, and other round things from departing the top.
Gordon
 
Chris, unless you have something substantial permanently mounted that you'd have to reach over, the rear or center ideas sound good. Otherwise I'd think a front-edge tray would be most useful.

flyitfast, I had 144" of workbench built into one wall of the garage in another house (I REALLY miss that bench!) whose top protruded a couiple of inches beyond the frame at the front. I mounted a 10' length of 4" galvanized rain gutter along the front of the frame, below the edge of the top, as a catch tray; it worked exceptionally well for spilled paint. :-)
 
I resurfaced my work area and painted it white (it's all dirty now), but it helps me find some that gets away. I also put molding up on the front edge and have it protruding above the work surface by about 1/3 of an inch. It doesn't get in the way and stuff that wants to roll to the floor to escape gets caught.

I am really intrigued by the idea of a row of flippable boxes though. If you build it thta way I would love to see some pictures.
 
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