It has been two years since I last made improvements to my shop, a process I call shoptimization. Over the last few days, I have completed another round triggered by my desire for a larger assembly bench. The new bench is 72″ x 39″ compared to my previous bench which was 60″ x 30″. The top and legs are made of solid oak, and the bottom shelf has poplar sides and a Baltic birch surface. I have yet to complete two massive full-extension drawers (53″ x 30″ x 3-1/2″) that will sit immediately under the top. The legs and drawers will be set back from the edge by 3-1/2″ to allow for clamping, and I will add a 10-1/2″ vise to the back left corner. The legs are fitted with ratcheting levelers that double as mobility casters.

Because of the increased bench width, I decided to relocate my tool chest from the “clamp wall” to the northeast corner, reclaiming 20 inches of clearance for the back side aisle. I added two low-profile shelving units (made from remnants of a kitchen island we replaced while living in Indianapolis). The one on the left will be used to store sanding and pneumatic nailing consumables. The one on the right will be used for frequently used hand tools and hex shank bits for my cordless drivers. Finally, I will relocate all of my layout and measurement tools from the tool chest to the bench drawers, making them immediately accessible.