I've got this massive 4'x8' workbench with an outfeed for my table saw, plus it houses a bunch of larger tools like a miter saw and saw horses. Right now, it's taking up a lot of space in our third car spot while my garage is getting an epoxy coating, and my wife is thrilled about the newfound space! Since I don't do a ton of woodworking anymore, I'm thinking about scaling down. Any suggestions for minimalistic organizing or downsizing my work setup?
5 Answers
You might want to look into cutting down your current workbench to something narrower, like 24" or 30". If you really want to get creative, you could design it so you can join the pieces when you need more working surface. This way, you’ll keep it functional without hogging all your garage space. Plus, it can just be pushed against a wall when not in use!
Have you thought about getting a Workmate style portable saw horse or table clamp? They’re compact, versatile, and perfect for smaller jobs without taking up too much room.
From my experience, when we sold everything for RV life, it was tough. We kept only one big toolbox and the power tools. Now we're settling down in Oregon and building a house, which is awesome, but I really miss some of the tools we sold. So make sure you're not too hasty in letting go of all your gear!
A great way to save space is to consider a wall-mounted fold-down bench. It can give you the work area you need when you're using it and then you can fold it up when you're done to free up space in your garage.