Each member of the average American family makes demands on space in the home basement. Mother needs a wide area for the family washing, small children want to play, teenagers need space for hobby paraphernalia. Add the home heating system and the thousands of odds and ends that must be stored in the basement and you have small space pickings to build a basement workshop for yourself.

But if you have a 12'-long wall with a 2'-wide area along it, you have enough space to build this modern basement workshop. And the cabinets over and under the bench will give you an additional 60 cubic feet of orderly storage space. 

The basement workshop in the model project was made of pine plywood, constructed on a foundation of re inforced 3/4" plywood upright partitions. The sliding doors, drawer fronts and all visible edges were finished in Nakora plywood, matching the V Plank paneling of the basement walls. Along the back edge of the workbench is a recessed "tool drop," to keep tools within easy reach, and into which tools can be shoved when not needed, All of the cabinets have space-saving sliding doors, The cabinet over the bench at the far right (see photo above) has perforated doors for storage of paints, glues and other articles that require ventilation. The plastic drawers at the far left of the workbench have small, evenly divided compartments to hold nails and screws. Electrical outlets are evenly spaced along the workbench to accommodate power tools. The ceiling over the workbench is covered with sound absorbing Cushiontone acoustic tiles and holds a fluorescent panel light which supplies even light over the working area. The floor in front of the work- bench is covered with hardwearing Gold Seal vinyl asbestos. Construction of the "hideaway" tool storage rack, shown at far right in the photo, is explained in detail in the next chapter.

The basement workshop is constructed on two end panels and four vertical partitions of 3/4" pine plywood, which give the bench solid support and separate the cabinets and drawer areas. Cut two end panels (panels 1 and 6) to dimensions shown in Fig. B on next page. In top back corner of each panel, cut a 7"-wide-by-3"-deep notch for the tool recess (see Fig. A). In bottom front corner of each end panel, cut a 3 1/4 "-wide-by-4"-deep notch for base recess (see Fig. B). In bottom back corner of each end panel, cut a 3/4 "-wide-by-4"-deep notch for back base piece.

Next, cut two upright panels (4 and 5) and two up-right partitions (2 and 3) to dimensions in Fig. B. Notch out upright panels for base recess and back base piece  (see Fig. C). Then, notch out top back corners of both panels and partitions for tool recess. In front corners of each piece make notch 3" wide by 3A" deep, to accommodate top front mounting strip. Cut six 3/4"-thick-by-4"-wide-by-24"-long bottom support strips and mount one, along bottom, to each side of both upright panels (4 and 5) and one to the inside of each end panel (1 and 6). Attach with glue and 4d nails.

Basement workshop is assembled in three sections, right, left and center. Assemble left section of workbench first. Cut a bottom piece, 28" wide, to fit between left end panel (1) and left upright panel (4). Fit bottom piece on bottom support strips of pieces 1 and 4 and attach with glue and nails. Then attach the two upright partitions (2 and 3) on bottom piece, spacing according to Fig. B.

Assemble right section of basement workshop, consisting of right end panel (6) and right upright panel (5). Cut a 28"-wide, W plywood bottom piece and attach between 5 and 6 in same manner as bottom piece was attached between 1 and 4 in left section.

Fig. A. Side view of workbencand cabinets. Height of workbench depends on height of man who will use it.

Fig. B. Workbench partitions and panels are notched to accommodate crosspieces and tool recess boards.

Cut two 3/4"-by-4" back base pieces, and mount one to back of left section and another to back of right section of basement workshop, keeping snug in notches and flush with back edge. Use glue and 6d nails.
 
Cut top front 3/4"-by-3" mounting strips for right and left sections. Cut length for right section of workbench first, so that it extends from right end panel (6) across half the thickness of right upright panel (5). Fit strip into notches and mount. For left section of workbench, cut top front mounting strip long enough to extend from left end panel to half of thickness of left upright panel. Attach with glue and nails.

Cut center bottom piece and back base piece to dimensions in Fig. B and attach between left and right sections to complete full length of bench. Use glue and 6d nails.

Fig. C. Notch details of left and right upright panels 

Cut top front mounting strip to fit between right and left top front mounting strips and attach with glue and ed nails. Check at this point to make sure all parts are square and straight.

Cut front base strip to dimensions in exploded view and mount with glue and 6d nails, driving nails downward through bottom of the basement workshop. Make sure bottom edges are flush.

Plane all front edges flush and cover with matching wood trim; then sand smooth. Weldwood wood trim was used here.

Turn workbench upside down and attach 4"-square reinforcing blocks of 3/4" plywood in corners of each section for additional support. Use glue and nails. Then turn bench right side up.

Fig. D. End strip for each end of workbench adds decorative touch and closes off ends of tool recess.

The drawers in far left end of basement workshop are installed next. The author used plastic moulded drawers in this project. Wooden drawers may be used here, if you wish (see chapter titled making drawers for your built-ins). Metal drawer slides, which can be obtained at hardware or department stores, were attached to insides of left end panel (1) and left upright partition (2), at proper height of each drawer.

Place bottom drawer on bottom slide and attach 3/4"-thick-by-3"wide front strip just above bottom drawer. Use glue and nails through partition and end panel. Place remaining drawers and cut and attach 3/4 "-thick-by-3"-wide front strips in same manner until all drawers are in place. Keep front edges flush. If you wish, leave space at top of this basement workshop section for shelf, to be inserted later.

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