The complete shop on wheels

Convenience, cost, and saving space were on Dan McNair’s mind when he designed and built his collapsible, mobile workshop.

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From space saving to extended

Dan McNair's Mini/Max Home Workshop and All-In-One Workbench-a mobile shop-in-a-box creation-gives him the flexibility to work in the garage during inclement weather, or on the driveway on pleasant Michigan days.

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And with storage too

Dan stores the tool fences, which he made, on this end of the storage unit. Clockwise from top left are an auxiliary fence for the tablesaw, mitersaw guide, router guide, another tablesaw fence, and a tablesaw panel-cutting slide.

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Keeps clamps handy

Clamps are conveniently stored on this end. Unlike the opposite end, which needed a frame to add structural strength, the shelves on this half of the unit provide the necessary support.

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Dan's all-in-one workbench sets up in four easy steps.

1. A plastic strap on each side keeps the rolling workbench compact when in storage.

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Unleash and unfold

2. Releasing the straps allows the bench to unfold, revealing the tool trays stored inside.

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Adjustable-height trays

3. Both tool trays can be locked in place at different heights to accommodate the height of the tool Dan is using. The height adjustment functions allow him to position each tool's worksurface at a height identical to the extension tables, providing a perfectly flat 25 sq. ft. of reconfigurable work area.

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Make room for the router

4. A rectangular opening in the rear tray accommodates a router base plate. Linchpins lock the supporting arms beneath the extension tables. Holes spaced 4"' apart in the vertical supports accept dowels that Dan uses to support workpieces.

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Now it's a mitersaw station

The mitersaw is positioned on the lowered front tool tray, aligning the table of the saw with the surrounding worksurfaces. Auxiliary fences are in place to support repetitive cutting of boards to the same length.

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It firmly holds workpieces on edge

Linchpins support the workpiece at the bottom. The black knob on each side is attached to a bolt that is tightened against the frame, holding the workpiece firmly in place for edge planing or for cutting biscuit slots. Dan designed the support system to be large enough to support a standard-size door.

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A tablesaw with support surfaces

The tablesaw is installed for panel cutting on a tool tray, adjusted to align the table of the saw with the worksurface. An auxiliary fence also is in place. Here, the other tool tray is secured in the flush position, providing outfeed support.

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Add a drill press table

A bench-style drill press sits on a height-adjusted tray, allowing the workpiece to align with the worksurface. Extension tables provide lateral support.

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A built-in router table

A router is mounted to a table insert installed in the tool tray, positioned flush with the extension tables which provides solid workpiece support.

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Set up for spindle sanding

A bench-style spindle sander is installed on a tool tray, positioned to align the sander table with the worksurface. The extension tables and second tool tray tprovide workpiece support.