I used to think a proper miter saw station had to be built like a tank, a workbench had to weigh as much as one, and a workstation… well, that was just another opportunity to eat up precious floor space.
Then reality hit me—specifically, the reality of a 198-square-foot one-car garage. (Yep, it’s technically smaller than a typical one-car garage. Fun times.)
So I changed my mindset—and my furniture. Now, just about everything in my shop either folds, rotates, or rolls away when I need it to. It's not magic, but it’s close.
Here are a few tips for your own space-saving shop setups:
What’s Working Great:
- Gate Latches and Retractable Casters - The latches hold my Wall-Mounted Folding Workbench securely in place and the casters are on the same workbench and are SO much easier to use than your typical casters. Click HERE to check out plans for my Wall-Mounted Folding Workbench.
- Posi-Lock Folding Leg Brackets and Piano Hinges – The leg brackets lock when folded and when extended, and the piano hinge allows my Foldable Workstation to..well...fold. Click HERE for plans to what is essentially a folding desk and a game changer in my small shop.
- Toggle Latches (aka Toggle Latch Clamps): Used to keep the legs from folding in on my medium-sized folding bench. Simple. Effective. Weirdly satisfying. Click HERE for plans to the Middleweight Folding Workbench.
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Flipping Hardware (3/4" Steel Tube) – This one's hidden inside the top of my flip-top cart, and it's what lets me switch between my planer and spindle sander. Strong enough to support 140+ lbs of tools, no sweat. Click HERE for plans to the 2-For-1 Tool Cart.
What I’m Not Sold On:
- Hydraulic Hardware for Folding Desks - In certain setups, I’ve seen these used without full leg support and… it makes me nervous. I’d personally stick with actual legs on the ground.
- Tabletop Hinges Alone, Without Reinforcement – I trust Gorilla Glue and screws together over screws alone in certain situations. The tabletop on my Middleweight Folding Workbench is one of them.
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Wooden Dowels for Flip Carts – Might be fine… but I wouldn’t risk it under 140 lbs of tool weight. If you go this route, use a thick hardwood dowel with some real girth.
If you want to see all the folding, flipping, latching, and retracting in action (with a few dad jokes thrown in), check out the full video here:
And as always, feel free to hit reply if you’ve got questions about any of the hardware, plans, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Keep making cool stuff,
- Thomas Gojkovich
Thomas Custom Woodworks