My shop is in a reorg/flux due to a new tablesaw purchase. One thing that is top priority is a new bench. My shop is small ~14x18 so this bench will need to be multi purpose and act as TS outfeed/workbench and assembly/glue up station. I am also tight on storage (arent we all) so the lower portion needs to have drawers. I have done a lot of surfing around and looking at pictures and here is where I am currently at.
- Moveable base with leveling feet - height to match TS for outfeed.
- Maximize storage under ideally with drawers
- Approx 30-36 x 72
- At least one bench vise
My dilemma is whether to go with something more traditional with a fixed top and side/end vises with typical in line std dog holes. Or an MFT style hybrid top. I have looked at also sorts of Paulk videos including things like the MFSLAB. Not sure if this has made things more confusing. I like the MFT idea and do have a track saw but dont do that much work with sheet goods. I do use hand tools so I think I need to have at least one Vise. The Paulk bench top is way too high as that will lose me drawer space underneath. But need to have some gap under otherwise sawdust has nowhere to go. Would like top to be easily replaceable (thinking 3/4 mdf) but sturdy and of course needs a vise so if you go the paulk route mounting is more challenging.
So thats my current level of confusion. I am sure many of you have been through the same thing and would appreciate hearing your thoughts and what you ended up doing or wish you had.
Thanks in advance.
Jon