Any person who owns a home will eventually need his or her special area in the house set aside for his/her tools and projects. Any area of this type will definately need a workbench of some sort. If your planning on building a brand new bench or just want to know how to restore your old one, you must think hard beforehand and know exactly what you plan on doing. As long as you do it this way you will be able to organize and the project will go alot more smoothly. Please read the following before you go on with your DIY project.

DO NOT get tangled up in extension cords: You will want to install a row of electrical outlets that will run the entire length of the bench project. If the project is against the wall, run the strip of outlets along the wall to keep you from tripping over the cords and causing serious problems. For a solo standing bench, just run the strip under the front edge of the project area

SAFTEY FIRST: Install a smoke alarm and an exhaust fan if you want to work with any sort of toxic substances. This is a MUST.

Avoid back and shoulder discomfort: Make sure the surface you are working at is at the correct height. To figure out what height to use, wear shoes and measure from the back of your foot to your waistline. This measurement will be the perfect height for your work surface.

Building the legs and braces: Make sure you dont use finished lumber. You can save your money and use

Adding a magnetic strip: If you will be often changing smaller tools (such as screwdrivers or hammers) while you're working on projects, using a magnetic strip to attach tools to keeps them easy to get to.

Hardboards: These will give you a great place to store large tools if hung behind the work area, saws and tools similiar, because it will be very easy to rearrange hooks and shelves.

The work surface: The types of projects you plan on doing should tell you exactly how the workbenches surface should be. For a smooth surface, the best type of plywood you can find, for rougher work, buy a flat birchwood door.

Protect your surface: Install, or keep handy, any type of relatively heavy lumber to rest between the workbench surface and whatever you will be working on. This trick protects your work surface from useless damage.

Proper lighting: This is very important because if you cannot see anything, obviously you aren't going to do a good job on the project. You might even get hurt, so make sure the shop area as a whole is well-lit. Also add task lights that you can easily move around to get more light to them if you need it.

Scrap carpeting: You will want this in the work area also. This will save your floor from stains and be alot easier on your back and body in general which is alot better then standing on the flat hard floor surface.

Brett Brinkley is a woodworking enthusiast and encourages you to read more about building work benches at http://www.BuildWorkBenches.com

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