Right mates, I’ve been upgrading the facilities.  First, a bit of history.  11 years ago I bought a garage with a house attached.  The garage got equipped quite rapidly as a workshop.  4 years later, due to a difference of opinion between my then boss and me, it started to look like the plan B for a wage involved the contents of said garage and me using them.  I then got a new job.  Fast forward  a few years and my rentry to the hobby.  There was some space in the garage, with the departure of some tools to the the new job.  However, there wasn’t tons of space, plus a brick garage in December isn’t the warmest place in the world.  However, I wasn’t sure if I’d stay interested in the hobby, so I didn’t want to upset the applecart.  That was 18 months ago.

I decided I was definitly into the hobby.  So at that point, this was the bench I’m doing most of the work at (there are another two in there, but this is the only one you can get your legs under).  It’s a mess because a) I work at it and b) it’s too small.  It’s also too low, as my back regularly reminds me.

So, an upgrade.  But where?  I don’t want it in the main body of the house, there’s no room in the garage.  But is has to be warm, easy to get to and ideally has natural light.  A bit of experimentation showed that the small conservatory on the back of the house (used as storage in winter and somewhere to sip a bear or three in summer) with the addition of a small blower heater could tick all these boxes. Note the title, one of the joys of living on your own, your gaff, your rules.   So....

A bit of experimentation gave a height of 800mm, and an available length of 1500mm.  It needed storage and after a bit of research I found these cabinets at Halfords.  They’re intended to bolt onto the end of a workshop rollchest.  I’ve got two Halfords industrial rollies, one at work (along with a giant Machine Mart effort) the other in the garage, so I was happy with the quality.  Just need to add a few bits (hardboard offcuts and ally tube) to reach the desired height of the worktop.

Next, a top.  600mm deep 12mm white faced hardboard from B&Q (other DIY superstores are available).  Cut to size in store, to give the top and end panel (plus fit in the car).  A 20x45mm batten goes along the back as a stiffener and it’s held together with L brackets and joining cubes.

And finally, we move in!  The height according to my back is much better, it’s warm, so I’ve got no excuse for not getting on now. Keeping it tidy, that’s another question....

If anyone is wondering,, the bin started life as a 25l drum full of industrial ethanol.  That got used, I acquired the drum, filled it with water and cut the top off.  

Owain