The hobby of working with wood can consume a lot of space or a small amount of space, depending on a number of factors. For instance, if you're a wood carver who carves miniatures, you may only need a kitchen tabletop or similar amount of space. However, others seem to need an entire basement or two car garage for all their woodworking "stuff".

For the average woodworker, space must be shared - next to a basement laundry room or side-by-side with the family car in a garage. Here's one MARK V Owner's solution, based on a design created by the original Shopsmith Company over 50 years ago. It will serve the needs of the space-conscious woodworker as well as those of the rest of the family.

Building the Workbench-On-The-Wall

The foundation of this system is The Workbench-On-The-Wall…an easy-to-build bench that provides dust-free storage for tools and a work surface that folds up, out of the way when not in use. And since the design is so simple, it's easy (and feasible) to build more than one for use at different locations in the shop. They also make a great sewing center - potting bench - electronics bench - child's desk…etc. So, let's get started.

To build one of these benches, you'll need:

· One 4' x 8' sheet of 3/4" A/B plywood
· One 2" x 4" x 6'
· One 2" x 10" x 4'
· One 1" x 10" x 8'
· One 2' x 4' half-sheet of 1/4" tempered hardboard
· One 2' x 4' half-sheet of 1/4" pegboard
· Miscellaneous hardware (See List of Materials)

1. Cut stock to size according to the cutting diagram and List of Materials.
2. Cut the dadoes in the legs (M) for the stretcher (K). Attach the stretcher to the legs using glue and screws.
3. Make the benchtop (A) by first laminating the two pieces of 3/4" plywood together with glue and screws. Apply the facing pieces (E, F) with glue and 6d finishing nails
4. Assemble the case by first attaching the shelves (C) and bottom (P) to the sides (B) with glue and screws. Check for squareness as you progress. Next, attach the upper and lower cleat strips (G) with glue and screws (the lower cleat strip is fastened with longer screws). These strips need to be secure since they will be used for mounting the bench to the wall. The side cleat strips (H) are attached with glue and nails. Attach the pegboard (R) with screws, then glue and nail the stop (L) into place.
5. Attach the gusset (D) to the case with glue and screws...then attach a 5" strap hinge to the gusset.
6. Form the mortises for the hinges in the benchtop (A) and bottom (P) using a chisel.
7. Attach the benchtop assembly to the case with butt hinges. Attach the leg assembly with the strap hinges.
8. Make the leg brace (J) Cut a 45o bevel on the end of the leg brace (J), then glue and clamp the back-up block (N) to the beveled end. With the bench propped open, locate the position of the leg brace and attach it to the gusset strap hinge. Clamp the brace to the stretcher (K) and drill the 3/8" bolt hole through the stretcher, brace and block.
9. Attach a screw hook and eye to the lower shelf and the back-up block.
10. Mount the workbench on steel shelf brackets that are fastened to wall studs. Use 3-1/2" long lag screws through the upper and lower cleats and into the studs to fasten the case to the wall. Once the bench is attached to the wall, tack the hardboard top (Q) in place, using 4d nails.

List of Materials - Workbench-On-The-Wall
(finished dimensions in inches)
A: Benchtop (2) 5/8 x 12 x 47-3/4
B: Sides (2) 3/4 x 12 x 39-1/4
C: Shelves (2) 3/4 x 12 x 48
D: Gusset 3/4 x 8 x 11-5/8
E: Front facing 3/4 x 3 x 47-3/4
F: Side facing (2) 3/4 x 3 x 22-3/4
G: Upper/Lower cleat strips (2) 3/4 x 2 x 48
H: Side cleat strips (2) 3/4 x 3/4 x 19-3/4
J: Leg brace 3/4 x 3-1/2 x 27-3/4
K: Stretcher 3/4 x 3-1/2 x 36
L: Stop 3/4 x 3-1/2 x 7-5/8
M: Legs (2) 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 34
N: Back-up block 1-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 3
P: Bottom 1-1/2 x 8-5/8 x 48
Q: Hardboard top 1/4 x 23-1/2 x 47-3/4
R: Pegboard 1/4" x 23-3/4 x 48
Hardware

(2) 4" x 4" door hinges
(3) 5" x 5" strap hinges
Screws & nails, as required
Screw hook and eye
3/8" x 4" carriage bolt, washer and wing nut
(2) Shelf brackets

Building the Wall-mounted storage shelf

Diagram for shelf

The following plans are for a wall-mounted shelf that occupies only eight linear feet of wall space, yet holds four of your most important Shopsmith Special Purpose Tools and your MARK Vs Lathe Tailstock.

To make the shelf, start with an eight-foot length of 2" x 10" lumber. The tools can be positioned in one of two ways:

1: The budget choice: Drill 1-1/4" diameter holes, exactly 7" on-center, to accept the Mounting Tubes of your tools.
Here's a tip:
Make a cardboard template with two small nail holes located exactly 7" apart as a guide to accurately locate your 1-1/4" dia. tool mounting holes.

2: The snazzy choice: Carefully position and attach Shopsmith Mounting Bases to your shelf in the appropriate positions.

Continue by cutting a block for your Jointer (use a 2" x 4" if yours
is a current or newer Jointer with a dust chute). Nail the block into place. Use steel shelf brackets to mount this shelf to the shop wall, using one bracket at each wall stud location.

If you want additional storage space for your MARK V's main Worktable, Extension Tables, miter Gauge or other accessories, just attach them to the underside of the shelf as indicated in the lower drawing.
Important Note: Lower drawing measurements are for older Model 500 MARK V components. Dimensions will differ for Model 505, 510 and 520 MARK V components and will have to be adjusted accordingly.