Best investment I ever made

for my "workshop" is this very old oak "teacher's" desk. Formica top, huge top surface, pull out extension boards on each side of me and tons of drawer space. Too big and ugly to be sellable to most people which made it real cheap. I've hauled it around for about 30 years now. Add some full extension drawer roll around tool chests etc and then add.......well, it sort of works that way, but the anchor is the desk, good lighting from both sides and a comfortable rolling chair.

@ricks

Great desk. I had something similar before retirement but it stayed with the house sale.

Tom

Second vote for the teacher's desl

I also vote for the teacher's desk. I use mine in stock form (I am envious of Rick's upgrades) and I LOVE it!

Something like this.....

to sit on the desk for small tools or parts to keep that new bench tidy.. well it's a try to keep it tidy:

https://amzn.to/2WMXK6R

The benches above are great workspaces.

The thing that plagues me is storage space for all the stuff I want to do on my workbench(es).  I like to pick at various projects and they may or may not have tools in common but generally the projects don’t have parts in common.  Storage around the bench is an important consideration as well.

Mike, good luck with your project!

Nick

Something I need to set up myself.

I have an ancient office desk that could possibly work for this and it’s already in right room. I have a piece of plywood between 2 shelving units as my current ‘work bench’ and it’s become another storage space. 

That's killing me right now

That's killing me right now to.  My stuff is in totes and tool boxes.  I was thinking of shelves and parts storage bins for little items.  I've already got a bunch of Plano boxes but they fill up fast. 

A few bins to keep project parts separated is a great idea!

Kitchen Style Workbench

I built my workbench from 2" X 4" and using kitchen counters in an L shape. (10 feet long and 8 feet long)

Unfortunately they've turned into "horizontal storage". One of these days I'm going to add drawers underneath for better storage.

And two benches 26 inches wide by 4 feet long for my machine tools. They've also become horizontal storage.

Bernd

Parallelogram Bench

I built a small modeling bench that parallelograms out from the wall.  When it is not in use it fully tucks under my 12" shelf, and when I want to use it it slides fully out and rests on sturdy legs.  In order to make this work the bench is attached to the floor across the back to prevent it from tipping forward.  When it is pushed back it rests against the wall and is stable there.  For my small space it really works well.

Doesn't every flat surface

Doesn't every flat surface turn into "horizontal" storage. Hard to keep off the layout too.

Custom

I went with custom cabinets and countertop from Premier Garage, a franchised US firm. A shelf of the layout runs over, and I installed LED strip lighting underneath it. The work area also is directly opposite a shaded window and during daytime I raise the shade for a huge amount of filtered light. There is more storage on open shelves behind the chair, but the drawers in the bench have 80% of the tools I use. I use small plastic trays to organize projects in process.

  I’m always trying to

I’m always trying to improve my workspace. My 2 most important priorities are plenty of light and no clutter. I have several rolling carts to store tools and supplies, hang my most frequently used tools on magnetic strips, and bolt a couple of parts drawers holes on the wall. The less things I have on my table the better. As for lighting I have several fixed lights and a few moveable lights.

Work surface

Very nice, patentwriter. What material is the surface? Don't send me legal advice--I have plenty to dispense already.

Wow

Beautiful, gregamer. Same question as for last poster: What material is the work surface?

Seamless laminate

It is a seamless synthetic laminate of the type used for prefab kitchen counters. The edging is a tough synthetic rubber. I use a self-healing cutting mat, plate glass, a kitchen cutting board, Masonite scraps or sheet cardboard under most work operations but the laminate surface vacuums and cleans up with Windex beautifully. I vacuum it once a month, and about every six months I remove everything, wash and clean with Windex and reorganize.

My Workbench.

My workbench is an old Roll Top Desk. Originally it was in the lounge and SWMBO specified it had to be able to be invisible when not in use, so the roll top was perfect. I made a folding light so I could see. I put in some electrics, one outlet is on continuously for a clock and phone charger and the light and 2 other outlets are on a switch so I don't forget to turn off things light a soldering iron.

Later I kicked the kids out of the playroom and it is now the train (junk) room so the lid is rarely closed!

@Graeme

For the "so I don't forget" stuff (for me, it's my soldering iron), I use one of those mechanical timers for lights.  I put 6 of the "turn off" stubs in, left out all the "turn on" stubs, and simply click the unit "on" when I want power.  I don't bother setting it to "real time", I just glance at it when turning it on to see how long I've got before it'll shut off again.  Sure saves wear and tear on the iron.

YMMV

Blair

The work surface

The work surface on my table is a melamine board. Basically the stuff you buy for shelves.

I am actually looking for an alternative surface now. Right now I’m using some steel flashing, which is nice because I can use magnets to hold my work, but it’s not ideal. I’m thinking about laying a sheet of glass on top of it or a thicker sheet of steel.

My current model workspace...

I have recently worked on an upgrade to my modeling area.  One station oriented to paint and decals, the other to building.

binder001

I'm wondering where you got those drawers with the wood frames?

Jack

Basically you use what

Basically you use what works.  I remember my parents got a couple of metal desks from surplus military supply when my dad was in the Air Force.  They were very durable and great work surfaces.  Well, that was along time ago in a galaxy far far away. 

A heavy wooden desk would make a good work bench but of course it would be a beast to move.  What I have for now is a low cost drafting table that was a hand-me-down and a desk.  It all takes up about 10 feet of one wall.  I bought three low cost 6 foot bookshelves and a wire rack for shelf space.  This will have to do for now as my wife and I are beat after 12 months of DIY basement finishing.  Layout construction is moving along now.

I am fortunate enough to have an unfinished 14x14 foot utility room that is completely separate from the modest finished basement area that can be used as a train workbench area and storage etc.  Eventually I have a spot earmarked for a paint booth.

Great ideas

I ended up building my workbench last weekend.  Havent used it much yet, and I need to get some orginization ideas for tools and such still but at least its started.  Greg, i went with a piece of glass from an old coffee table as my work surface, its over a 1/2" sheet of plywood that I painted white (to make it easier to see parts).  So far I like it, but the plywood is bowed in the middle a bit so I need a few more screws to keep everything flat.

Great ideas from everyone though, thanks a ton for posting your benches.  I may have to borrow some ideas from everyone

Put your

most frequently used information under that glass.  Suggestions:

- Scale conversion table

- Paint mix list

- Decoder wiring color map

- Car weight-length scale (i.e. if it's a 50' box car, it should weigh..."

- Car maintenance checklist (couplers function, wheels spin, trucks swivel, parts missing, etc. etc.)

- List of excuses for why you just HAVE to work on or run your trains TONIGHT...

- anything else you reference regularly.

Blair

Another idea...

When I built my hobby bench, I challenged myself to design something I could make out of one sheet of 3/4" plywood. I wanted a test track across the top, drawers to hold larger tools and small parts, and a flat drawer for scratch building stock. I've been using it for two years now and I love it. It's on locking casters so I can move it to the train room if I want to.

For tool display, I cut three pieces of 1/4" and a piece of 3/4" plywood and screwed them together making holes in them with forstner bits.The holes went all the way through the 1/4" pieces and about an 1/8" into the 3/4" piece on the bottom. I then added plywood risers between the pieces. The tools go into the holes and the bottoms fit into the 1/8" depression in the 3/4" bottom.

The best thing about this is having the trash can attached to the side. Between projects I can use a foxtail to sweep the cast off bits and pieces into the trash can.

P.S. if you think this is a mess you should see the train room. And my wife agrees with you.