Awesome Workshops

You’ll need a 3D printer to take advantage of this system, but with it, you can create the perfect workshop for your tools and gear. Created by Printable Accessories, this series of STL files provides designs for connectors, work surfaces, pegboards, and modular drawers that work with off-the-shelf aluminum rails to create your personalized setup.

Alex from Maker Dad DIY created a tool cart inspired by the ones Adam Savage built but thought the design could use some upgrades. After making a sturdier cart, he built version 2.0 with drawers and bins in its sides. You can find the full build guide on Instructables, and purchase the plans on his website or Etsy.

At just 13 lb., the Sidekick table from Worx weighs less and packs up smaller than other folding workbenches. Its 24″ x 24″ ABS work surface sits atop sturdy steel legs and has a 300 lb. weight capacity. It comes with four clamp dogs for holding materials in place and a pair of connectors that let you join multiple Worx benches and tables together.

After prototyping a system for organizing the hardware in his workshop (aka “The Cave”), Adam Savage put his nose to the grindstone and built the entire setup. The rolling storage system has a plywood frame and custom-built metal shelves that slide out and hold Sortimo boxes for easy access to parts. It was immensely satisfying to see it all come together.

Losing a bolt while working on your car can really suck. The Boltster securely holds onto bolts and fasteners thanks to its flexible silicone construction. Its hex-shaped holes hold bolts from 7mm to 17mm in diameter, while its perimeter holes hold smaller screws. They also make an organizer tray and a mini version.

Most of us don’t have the luxury of a large workshop. When space is at a premium, you want it to be as flexible as possible. Builder Matthew Peech shows us how he made a wooden unit that transforms from a storage shelf to a workbench and only takes up 2′ x 3′ of floor space. Its pivoting design also makes it easy to access items stored on its top and bottom shelves.

Fightech’s workshop apron is made from the rough suede of split leather and held together with durable Kevlar stitching. It has six tool pockets, as well as loops for hanging hand tools, and its shoulder straps are padded for comfort and all-day wearing. Fits sizes M to XXL.

Built for workshops and garages, Vyper chairs are designed for durability. They’re made in America and offer steel or aluminum frames, casters that roll over just about anything, and comfy padded seats. The chairs come in short and tall models, with or without backs. Add-ons include drink/parts and tool holders.

If you find yourself at the end of the world, buddy up with Gordo from Earth. He transformed a 2003 International Blue Bird school bus into a mobile workshop. It has solar and generator power, a massive roof rack, beds for four, and a rear deck with a crane for moving gear. Mobile Dwellings takes us on a tour of this awesome rig.

Engineer Mark Rober is known for pulling off some of the biggest experiments, pranks, and fun things on the internet. Now, he’s built an awesome maker’s space, lab, and play place with hidden entrances, a giant foam pit, and a bathroom that alerts everyone if you don’t wash your hands. It’s also the HQ for Crunch Labs.

With real estate prices like they are today, square footage is at a premium. If you live or work in a small space, this video from Handy Bear shows off a creative way to turn an ordinary desk into a tool and parts organizer, and keeping the desktop free as a work surface. (Thanks, Michel!)

Do you like to keep your workshop neat and organized? Some Skill Studio does too. In order to keep his workbench clear of power tools, he built them into shelves that flip over from underneath its surface. This is such a great idea for working in limited spaces.

We’ve seen lots of organizers for tools, but they’re mostly pretty boring to look at. Garage Junky Store sells storage units handcrafted from diamond plate aluminum for a shiny and substantial look. They make cordless drill holders, shop towel holders, trash cans, broom holders, document holders, and more.

For those of us who dabble in building and repairing things, our workbenches of often relegated to a corner of the basement or a garage. And then there’s Doug, a Houston-based commercial contractor whose workshop is better equipped than a Home Depot store. Bauforum24 visited from Germany to tour this amazing workshop.

Mythbuster and engineer Grant Imahara passed away in 2020. His friends Adam Savage and fellow maker Fon Davis took a tour of Grant’s personal workshop, which has remained untouched since his death. The video serves as a tribute to Imahara’s creativity and intelligence and brought a tear to our eyes.