DocGHines

If I were going to do this, I would probably use a double layer of peg board. That would keep your hooks from one side from interfering with the other side. I would also definitely put it high enough that the swinging action does not interfere with the bench under it.

Nice lay out. It looks like one wall needs either cabinets, shelves, or both, though, as it looked pretty empty.

For a Powertool workbench, I would include the following:

1. I would recess a power strip into the top or into an end, so that it could be easily used and not in the way. A power strip screwed to the side of a leg would possibly be a substitute, but more in the way, I would think.

2. I would make it at least 34-36" tall, so that routing or sanding operations would be at eye level.

3. I would incorporate a vise, at least at the front. I have done this and have a series of dog holes for the vise and a pair of wonderdogs for holding flat panels.

4. I would have at least a large shelf, for holding portable tools. To me, a router and a jigsaw would be the most commonly used portable tools, along with battery powered drills/drivers.

5. For the top, I made my benchtop out of 4 layers of 3/4" Plywood. So far, it has held my dog holes without any trouble chipping, etc.

6. I am non-plussed about a downdraft table built into the bench. As long as the area is well supported, and you could hammer or whatever in that area, it would be fine. But I would worry about violating the top with a large area of weakness, as I use all of my bench at one point or another.

7. As above for a router table. Frankly, I think that is better suited for a separate unit from your workbench.

8. For hold downs, I like the traditional round dog holes for the multitude of gadgets for them. I use bench dogs, wonder dogs, and Bench Cookie risers in mine. I also have four larger holes arranged in the middle of my bench, and underneath have four pipe flanges screwed to the underside of my bench top. This allows you to screw in a pipe nipple into the flange, and then use a deep-reach pipe clamp on the nipple to hold things down. I mainly use it for holding down a portable planer, but it could be used for a lot of different things.

9. I would probably incorporate a pancake compressor to power air nailers or staplers. It would also be handy to have compressed air at your fingertips with a blowgun attached.

10. Drawers are a funny breed with workbenches. They are handy. They also have a tendency to fill with sawdust, especially if you perforate the top with dog holes. If I would going to put drawers in it, I would just use t-track for hold downs.

Very nice bench. I am considering making something simlar for sharpening, probably out of some scrap LVL a builder friend gave me. I did wonder, how did you attache the stop to the tabletop? More Epoxy? The mortise did not seem to be deep enough for it to hold by itself. I would also wonder why not just use a bench dog or pup to act as your stop, as then you could remove it if you ever needed to.

Doc