WORKBENCH

STORAGE SYSTEM

2012 August Home Publishing Co.

storage
solutions

workbench

Storage System
This easy-to-build modular system
helps you turn unused space into
valuable storage.

{ Versatile Drawers. The centerpiece of

this system is the bank of four drawers.
1

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SN12522

During the course of building a

project, the top of my workbench
can get pretty cluttered. Its a real
challenge keeping the tools I need
close at hand and preserving a clear
work area at the same time.
The solution turned out to be
right under my nose. Taking advantage of the large, open space in the
base of my workbench, I created a

modular system of drawers and

shelves that you see here.
The key is that each component is
easy to make and simple to add to
the bench a piece at a time like
building blocks. The reward for
spending a little time assembling
this system is more than matched
by the organization and storage it
adds to your shop.

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.

Exploded View Details

REAR EDGING STRIPS

CAPTURE CLEATS
IN SIDE PANELS

OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 2412"D x 5312"W x 16"H

GROOVES IN
SIDE PANELS
SLIDE OVER CLEATS FOR
QUICK INSTALLATION

NOTE: SIZE OF MODULAR

COMPONENTS CAN BE CHANGED

TO SUIT YOUR WORKBENCH

SOLID-WOOD
EDGING MATCHES
EXPOSED PANEL EDGES

ADJUSTABLE SHELVES
INCREASE STORAGE
OPTIONS

HOLES IN SIDE PANELS

AND WORKBENCH
ALLOW FLEXIBLE
SHELF PLACEMENT

EXTENDED DRAWER
SIDES PROVIDE
FULL ACCESS TO
CONTENTS OF DRAWER

CLEATS ATTACHED
TO WORKBENCH
ALIGN SIDE PANELS

GROOVES IN DRAWER
SIDES FIT OVER RUNNERS
IN SIDE PANELS

NOTE: CHOOSE MATERIALS

WOOD DRAWER
PULL RUNS FULL
WIDTH ACROSS
DRAWER FACE

TO MATCH THE LOOK

OF YOUR WORKBENCH

INTERLOCKING
DIVIDERS MAKE IT
EASY TO CUSTOMIZE
DRAWERS TO SUIT
YOUR NEEDS

NOTE: DRAWERS ASSEMBLED

WITH STURDY DADO JOINERY

Materials & Hardware

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P

Panel Sides (4)

16 x 23 - 34 MDF
1 x 23 - 213
Runners (8)
2
32
4
Case Back (1)
16 x 1938 - 14 Hdbd.
3 x 11 - 130 rgh.
Panel Edging (1)
4
2
Cross Rails (2)
112 x 312 - 23
3 x 11
Cleats (4)
4
16 - 23
Small Drawer Sides (4) 3 x 2234 - 34 MDF
Small Drawer Ft/Bk. (4) 3 x 1712 - 34 MDF
Drawer Bottoms (4) 1712 x 1712 - 14 Hdbd.
3 x 15 - 181
Drawer Pulls (4)
4
8
2
3
Large Drawer Sides (4) 4 4 x 2234 - 34 MDF
Large Drawer Ft./Bk. (4) 434 x 1712 - 34 MDF
Large Shelf (1)
1878 x 1834 - 34 MDF
Small Shelf (1)
1212 x 1834 - 34 MDF
Small Dwr. Dividers (8) 2 x 1712 - 14 Hdbd.
Large Dwr. Dividers (8) 3 x 1712 - 14 Hdbd.

(42) #8 x 1" Fh Woodscrews

(6) #8 x 212" Fh Woodscrews
(66) #8 x 112" Fh Woodscrews
(8) Shelf Supports

WoodsmithPlans.com

> Before. This storage

system can be adapted
to fit (and make better
use of) just about any
workbench that has
an open shelf below
the benchtop.

SN08216
SN12522

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.

a.

FIGURE

NOTE: CASE

#/8

BACK IS !/4"
HARDBOARD

C
CASE BACK

SIDE
PANEL

#/4

(16" x 19#/8")

RUNNER
!/4

FRONT
VIEW
13!%/16
SIDE
PANEL

A
SIDE PANEL

B
RUNNER

(16" x 23")

10&/8

(@#/32" x 21#/4")

NOTE: RUNNERS ARE !/2"-THICK

HARDWOOD AND RIPPED SLIGHTLY
NARROWER THAN THE GROOVES
NOTE: CUT RABBETS AND
GROOVES IN SIDE PANELS BEFORE
GLUING THEM TOGETHER

NOTE: SIDE PANELS

ARE #/4" MDF

begin with the

Case

The first task on the list is to create a

foundation to support the drawers
and shelves. For that, I made a threesided case. The two side panels and
back divide the space below the
benchtop into three compartments.
The trick is installing these pieces
in a completed bench. My solution is flexible enough to work
with just about any bench design.

{ Shims. Use wood shims to position the drawer

runners along the lower edge of the groove.
3

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6!%/16

SN12522

b.

c.

TOP VIEW
SIDE PANEL

!/4

2!/8

SIDE VIEW
FRONT
EDGE

SIDE PANEL
RUNNER

#/8

RUNNER
CASE
BACK

#8 x 1" Fh
WOODSCREW

In the drawings on these pages,

youll see the dimensions that suit
my workbench. You may need to
tweak things to fit your bench.
Material Choices. Altering the
sizes of parts isnt the only way to
make this project work for you. I
used Douglas fir construction lumber and MDF to build these components because it matched the bench.
But youre free to use materials that
suit your needs.
The Case. The project begins
with making two vertical panels, as
you can see in Figure 1 above. The
panels slide into place over cleats
installed in the bench. The panels borrow the underside of the
benchtop and shelf below to create
a case. Each panel consists of two
layers of MDF glued together.

Joinery Details. There are a few

details to take care of before gluing up the side panels. A rabbet cut
on each end of the pieces creates a
groove for the cleats that I mentioned earlier.
The inner layer of each panel has
a series of grooves cut in it. These
hold hardwood runners that the
drawers slide on.
It can be tricky gluing up panels
like this. So I use screws to pull the
parts together while the glue dries.
I installed the screws in the bottoms of the runner grooves so they
wouldnt be visible, as shown in
Figures 1 and 1b.
After the sides were glued up,
I cut a shallow rabbet on the back
inside edge. This will hold the case
back, as in Figure 1b.

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.

Runners. The runners that fit the

grooves in the side panel are up
next. I want to point out a couple
things. First, theyre cut slightly narrower than the grooves. This way
they wont bind on the drawers.
Second, the runners are installed
flush to the edge of the rabbet at the
back, leaving a gap at the front (Figures 1b and 1c, page 3). In the photo
on the previous page, you can see
how shims keep the runners level.
Edging. The surface of the MDF
is durable, but the edges are fragile. To cover these up, I made thick
strips of edging (Figure 2). Theyre
chamfered on the leading edges
to match the details on the workbench, as shown in Figure 2d. For
now, glue the edging pieces on the
front of the case and set aside the
rear edging strips.
Installation. The panels are now
ready to be installed in the workbench base. Before that can happen, though, the bench needs a
little bit of prep work.

This involves adding a set of

four cleats, as shown in Figure 2.
The cleats need to be proud of any
aprons or stretchers in order to
engage the side panels. For example, on my bench, I needed to add
a pair of cross rails to the underside
of the benchtop (Figure 2a). The
lower edges of the rails are flush
with the top apron.
I cut the cleats so the panel slides
smoothly into place. Whats important is that the cleats are square to
the front and bottom of the bench
and parallel with each other. Otherwise, youre going to have trouble
fitting the drawers.
On page 7, you can see how to
use a spacer and a framing square
to get the job done. (I positioned
the cleats slightly off center. This
results in two different size storage
areas.) A little wax applied to the
cleats eases the fit.
Wrap It Up. The front edging
acts as a stop for the side panels, as
in Figure 2d. But it wont prevent

FIGURE

FIRST: SLIP SIDE

PANELS IN PLACE

the panels from being pulled out.

That job falls to the rear edging.
These two strips are attached with
screws only. In addition to capturing the panels, the edging holds the
back panel in place (Figure 2c).

a.

FRONT VIEW
CROSS
RAIL

BENCH
APRON

#8 x 1!/2" Fh
WOODSCREW

CLEAT

SIDE
PANEL

b.
SIDE
PANEL

CLEAT

FRONT
VIEW

#8 x 1!/2" Fh
WOODSCREW

SECOND: INSERT
BACK PANEL

THIRD: ATTACH
REAR EDGING
WITH SCREWS

CROSS RAIL
(3!/2" x 23")

NOTE: CROSS RAILS

ARE MADE FROM
TWO-BY STOCK

ADD CROSS RAILS SO UPPER

CLEATS CLEAR APRON ON THE
FRONT OF THE WORKBENCH

EDGING

(1!/2" x 16")

c.

EDGING
CASE
BACK

GLUE FRONT EDGING TO

SIDE PANELS BEFORE
INSTALLING IN
WORKBENCH

#8 x 1!/2" Fh
WOODSCREW

10#/8

F
CLEAT

(#/4" x 23")

TOP
VIEW

SIDE
PANEL

d.
18%/8"

NOTE: FOR TIPS

ON INSTALLING
CLEATS SQUARE
AND PARALLEL,
TURN TO PAGE 7

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NOTE: EDGING
AND CLEATS ARE
#/4"-THICK STOCK

SIDE
PANEL

TOP
VIEW

RUNNER
EDGING

SN12522

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.

FIGURE

a.

DRAWER SIDE
1

!/4

SMALL DRAWER SIDE

!/4"
CHAMFER

(3" x 22#/4")

9!/2

DRAWER
FRONT

TOP
VIEW

5#/4

DRAWER
PULL

3!/4

#8 x 1!/2" Fh
WOODSCREW

DRAWER BOTTOM

(17!/2" x 17!/2" - !/4" Hdbd.) 5#/4

SMALL DRAWER
H FRONT/BACK

CL

(3" x 17!/2")

CL

J
DRAWER
PULL

b.

SIDE
VIEW

(1%/8" x 18!/2")

#8 x 1!/2" Fh
WOODSCREW

LARGE DRAWER SIDE

(4#/4" x 22#/4")

DRAWER
BOTTOM

K
LOWER DRAWER
L FRONT/BACK

NOTE: DRAWER FRONTS, BACKS,

AND SIDES ARE #/4" MDF. DRAWER
PULL IS #/4"-THICK STOCK

!/4

Drawers

The side panels provide the structure for the project. The next order
of business is to build the drawers and shelves that add storage to
make the most of the space.
Neither of these components
is difficult to build, but there are
some features of each that may not
be obvious, so Ill point those out
as they come up.
Simple, Rugged Drawers. I
made four drawers to fill the inside
of the case. And as you can see in
Figure 3, there are two sizes. However, the construction is the same.
Building the drawers begins with
making the sides.
The drawer sides (front and back,
as well) are made from 34" MDF.
Begin by cutting a wide groove
on the outside face to fit over the
runners in the vertical dividers, as
shown in Figure 3c. A dado blade in
the table saw makes quick work of
this. The groove is carried around

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SN12522

!/4
!/4

(4#/4" x 17!/2")

adding the

DRAWER
PULL

#/4

FRONT
VIEW

c.

DRAWER
SIDE

!/4

d. &/16"CL

RAD.

5#/4

2" LARGE DRAWERS,

1!/8" SMALL DRAWERS

!/4
2

the front edge of the sides to create a notch. This notch accepts the
drawer handle.
While at the table saw, cut a pair
of wide dadoes on the inside face
(Figures 3 and 3a). These hold the
drawer front and back.
The dado for the drawer back
deserves some mention. Youll
notice its positioned well forward
of the rear end of the side, as in
Figure 3. While it does reduce the
capacity of the drawer, the upside
is that it creates the effect of a fullextension drawer. And you can
access the entire contents of the
drawer without worrying about it
falling out of the case.
One more thing. I located the
dado for the back so the inside
drawer opening is square in shape.
This simple trick means the drawer

DRAWER FRONT
!/4

DRAWER
PULL

TOP VIEW

divider pieces that are added later

can all be identical.
Router Work. The rest of the joinery work takes place at the router
table. First up is cutting a groove for
the drawer bottom with a straight
bit (Figure 3b). This isnt a big deal
on the front and back pieces. But on
the sides, I didnt want the groove
visible. So this groove is a stopped
cut, as shown in Figure 3.
The other joinery detail to address
is the dadoes that hold the drawer
dividers. Even if you dont plan to
make the dividers right away, its a
good idea to cut the dadoes anyway.
Then you can always add dividers
later. You can find the dimensions in
Figures 3 and 3d.
Chamfer. Swap the straight bit
for a chamfer bit to add a little detail
on the front end of each drawer side.

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.

FIGURE

LARGE SHELF
(18&/8" x 18#/4")

a.

EDGING
(1!/2" x WIDTH OF
SHELF)

#/8
#/8

!/8"
CHAMFER

NOTE: SHELVES
ARE #/4" MDF

Again, it matches the profile on the

rest of my bench. So you could use
another profile, like a roundover,
to suit your bench. The drawer can
then be glued and screwed together.
Wood Pull. To complete the
drawer, I cut a pull from Douglas
fir. Then, I glued and screwed it
to the front edge of the drawer. A
cutout on the inside edge creates
a handhold. And the long front
edges of the piece are rounded at
the router table.
Quick Shelves. The remaining
components of this system are a pair
of shelves. Since I positioned the
drawer case off center, this allowed
me to have compartments on either

Drawer Dividers
The drawers add a lot of handy storage space. But they dont necessarily keep things inside organized. To
do that, I added simple dividers, as
you can see in the drawing at right.
These allow you to arrange the contents to suit your storage needs.
The dividers are made from 14"
hardboard and theyre cut to fit the
dadoes in the drawer front, back,
and sides. Since the drawer opening is square, the strips will fit in
either direction. (Take note, though,
that the strips are narrower than the
height of the drawer.)
At the table saw, I cut notches
along one edge. These allow the
strips to overlap each other and create an interlocking grid.

SHELF
EDGING

N
SMALL SHELF
(12!/2" x 18#/4")

SIDE VIEW
!/4

SHELF
SUPPORT

b.

side of the drawer case that were of

different sizes (Figure 4).
The shelves rest on shelf supports
that fit into small holes drilled into
the outside face of the case side and
into the sides of the workbench, as
shown in Figure 4b.
Here again, the design of your
bench comes into play. You may
need to make a filler panel in order
to have a place to drill the holes for
the shelf supports.
The shelves are made from MDF.
A tongue on the front and back
edge interlocks with wood edging,
as in Figure 4a. The edging strips do

O
SMALL DRAWER
DIVIDERS

(2" x 17!/2" - !/4" Hdbd.)

NOTE: NOTCHES ARE

1!/2" DEEP IN LARGE
DRAWER DIVIDERS

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SN12522

5#/4

SIDE VIEW
SHELF
1!/2

more than just cover the MDF edges.

They keep the shelf from sagging.
Additionally, the edging locks over
the shelf supports so that the shelf
cant get pulled off.
At last, you can load up the
shelves and drawers. The added
storage makes it much easier to
keep your benchtop clear.

!/4

NOTE: DRAWER
DIVIDERS SLIP
INTO DADOES
WITHOUT GLUE

P
LARGE DRAWER
DIVIDERS

(3" x 17!/2" - !/4" Hdbd.)

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.

TIPS FROM

Our Shop
FIRST
CLEAT
FRAMING
SQUARE

SECOND
CLEAT
SPACER
19#/8

FIRST: USE FRAMING

SQUARE TO POSITION
FIRST CLEAT

Shop
Short Cuts

SECOND: USE
SPACER TO POSITION
SECOND CLEAT

Installing the Workbench Storage Cabinet

When installing the drawer case under
your workbench, there are a couple of
things to note. First, the case sides should
be square to the front and bottom of the
bench. They also need to be parallel to
one another. It all boils down to locating
the mounting cleats accurately.
The first step is to locate one of the
lower cleats, as in the main drawing
above. Use a framing square to position
it before fastening it to the shelf. To locate
the second lower cleat, use a plywood
spacer. Butt the spacer against the first
cleat and attach the second cleat.
To locate the upper cleat and cross rail
assemblies, see the drawing at right. The
spacer and framing square come in handy
for this task, too. Simply place the spacer
against the lower and upper cleat while
squaring it up. (You may need a helper.)
Now you can install the drawer case.

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SN12522

FRONT
VIEW

CROSS
RAIL

NOTE: CUTAWAY
SHOWN FOR CLARITY
CROSS
RAIL

SPACER
CLEAT
FRAMING
SQUARE
CLEAT

FIRST: POSITION

SPACER ON
OUTSIDE OF UPPER
& LOWER CLEATS

SPACER
CLEAT

SECOND: USE
FRAMING SQUARE TO
LOCATE UPPER CROSS
RAIL & CLEAT ASSEMBLY
FRAMING
SQUARE

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.

workbench

Storage Cabinet
Materials List
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J

Panel Sides (4)

16 x 23 - 34 MDF
1 x 23 - 213
Runners (8)
2
32
4
Case Back (1)
16 x 1938 - 14 Hdbd.
3 x 11 - 130 rgh.
Panel Edging (1)
4
2
Cross Rails (2)
112 x 312 - 23
3 x 11
Cleats (4)
4
16 - 23
Small Drawer Sides (4) 3 x 2234 - 34 MDF
Small Drawer Ft/Bk. (4) 3 x 1712 - 34 MDF
Drawer Bottoms (4) 1712 x 1712 - 14 Hdbd.
3 x 15 - 181
Drawer Pulls (4)
4
8
2

K Large Drawer Sides (4) 434 x 2234 - 34 MDF

L Large Drawer Ft./Bk. (4) 434 x 1712 - 34 MDF
M Large Shelf (1)
1878 x 1834 - 34 MDF
N Small Shelf (1)
1212 x 1834 - 34 MDF
O Small Dwr. Dividers (8) 2 x 1712 - 14 Hdbd.
P Large Dwr. Dividers (8) 3 x 1712 - 14 Hdbd.
(42) #8 x 1" Fh Woodscrews
(6) #8 x 212" Fh Woodscrews
(66) #8 x 112" Fh Woodscrews
(8) Shelf Supports

Cutting Diagram
#/4" x 7" - 48" MAPLE (2.3 Bd. Ft.)

BB

NOTE: PLANE
PARTS 'B' TO
!/2" THICK

1" x 6" - 96" DOUGLAS FIR (4 Bd. Ft.)

D
D
D
D
J

D
D

D
D

2" x 4" - 48" DOUGLAS FIR (2.7 Bd. Ft.)

E

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SN12522

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.

Cutting Diagram cont.

48" x 96" - #/4" MDF

M
N

48" x 48" - !/4" HARDBOARD

24" x 24" - !/4" HARDBOARD

O
O
O
O

O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O

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SN12522

2012 August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.