DawgTalkers.net Forums Thread Like Summary - Workshop Renovation Ideas?

We’ve lived here for nearly 20 years and I plan on doing some light renovations this summer. My workshop looks like it is original to the house - straight from the 1950’s. It’s in the basement of my house. Gray concrete floor that hasn’t been painted in easily 50 years, gray cabinets, sheet metal on top of the workbench. I’ve gotta get it updated. My biggest questions to all my dawgtalkers brothers and sisters are as follows:

Ideas for the flooring? Should I simply paint it or do you recommend linoleum, rubber, or a floating floor?

The cabinets. I have two grey wooden cabinets that run floor to ceiling, great for storage but so outdated. Tear them out? Paint them? Replace with shelving?

The workbench. Think of something that your gramps would have made as a workbench. Wood, sturdy, piece of well used sheet metal on top. It’s held up well butagain, needs either a fresh coat of paint and a new work surface, or needs to be ripped out altogether.

To consider… my furnace and hot water tank are on the left as you enter the room, workbench is straight ahead, cabinets on the wall to the right. Cinder block walls behind it all. The room is about 12’x12’.
Thanks in advance.

Alot to consider. If the cabinets aren't efficient, get them out. Especially if things are cluttered and you need to be more efficient. At the end of the day, regardless of how things look, an organized shop is what will bring the biggest smile to your face.

If you want to do a bunch of work for a night and day difference, break your ass prepping that floor and put down some epoxy. If you spruce and paint around a new floor, it will look like a brand new, modern space.

I'm with 'Peen 100% on the bench. If it's sturdy and fits your needs, keep it simple. If it's not, find some plans for a bench on wheels and build your own...





Other than that, already great ideas by others. Better lighting, more accessible electric, pegboard if necessary, ventilation consideration.


Also, I have pull-out racks under my workbench and love them. There are a bunch of efficiency ideas here:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pull+out+racks+under+work+bench

I’m thinking to take into account what everyone has said. For the floor, it looks like paint or vct tiles. Take the doors off the shelving to make it look bigger and slap a coat of paint on the shelves. Clean and paint the existing workbench and screw on a new surface. Purchase a rolling workbench that I can roam into the other room in the basement to work on bigger projects . I forgot to mention that there is pegboard on the wall opposite the workbench (same side as the entry door). I’ll paint that as well.
As for what I do in there, great question. When I was younger, I’d actually use the workshop and create/fix stuff for the house. Lately, I’ll go down there, drink beer and reminisce while talking to old friends on my cellphone. I have an old mini-fridge so I’ll move that to the ‘shop as well. Also, there is only one outlet. Directly above the workbench. Maybe ask my brother in law run a second line for me.
I’ll have to get before and after pics to post here as well.

Surgery in a couple hours. Wish me luck.
I’m thankful I was referred to one of the best hand surgeons in the state. May she walk away today thinking to herself, ”that’s the best amputation and flap I’ve ever done”.

I hope you get some relief soon. I didn't sleep much at all following my shoulder surgery. It sucks.

I have been thinking about the idea for a prosthetic type finger end. It turns out that there are companies that offer these, and some appear to be covered by insurance.

You'll be ok. Take that picture..............the pointer finger is just fine, but go at about a 30 degree angle - middle finger, ring finger, and pinky. That's what my cousin dealt with. He lost parts of all 3. He's back to playing guitar, doing everything he did.

Welcome to the club. This happened when I was 16. You'll adjust quickly, especially since it's the non dominant hand. Just be careful reaching for things, bumping the tip of that stump hurts like hell. For a few years, you'll have phantom pains and itching, but nothing severe. I have more issues with the middle finger, that got cut badly also and they had to put in a prosthetic knuckle, which never worked.