Behind the Scenes - January
Added 2025-01-25 02:37:43 +0000 UTCThe shop is shaping up, but how should I fix my workbench?
Comments
I would gut the drawer section and put in an off the shelf metal toolbox. Either gut it to floor level so you can just roll in a box, or take the wheels off and slide it in permanently.
Kate Cole
2025-01-30 01:52:44 +0000 UTCWes, another video that was very very good. A little different but still it was an excellent video. A great job on doing storage and bolting things down. I wonder how many of your followers are in their garage now or this weekend and straightening everything out and getting caught up with the maintenance that needs to be done. I know one guy that is in this room with me and he should get out there and I got a vice that needs to be bolted down. It sat there since 2019.
James Phillips
2025-01-29 02:47:35 +0000 UTCHey Wes, rip those drawers out and get some steel in there.I spent a lot of time finding just the right size set of rolling tool drawers to fit under my bench - time well spent! I can pull It out for more work surface or push it in for more space, and it's rodent proof!
Shane McQuoid
2025-01-28 08:16:36 +0000 UTCThere's a channel I used to watch and he's still around. He tests various mouse traps. You mentioned the possibility of getting a sponsor. Maybe some of those mouse trap companies would sponsor you You could put a different trap in each drawer . Easiest thing to d though is just more open cabinet. Here in my neighborhood in North Texas, you won't find a hose that the squirrels and rats haven't eaten through the Hardie board. That led to me having a momma racoon with 6 babies in my attic, followed by a giant opossum and then every stray cat wandering in and out before I replaced it.
scottgm321
2025-01-27 20:33:46 +0000 UTCHow about a collaboration with another YouTube creator (wood- or metalworker) in relation to your workbench? It was the broken down motorhome of DDD-Neil that brought me to your Youtube channel (or possibly it was the other way around? đ¤)
Jørgen Amundsen
2025-01-27 18:46:28 +0000 UTCA couple of days late but for what it's worth... Congratz on your organization and bolting down of things. I think that a smaller version of the tool box would be ideal in that area. Good work Wes...
Paul Borchardt
2025-01-27 18:41:42 +0000 UTCSo organized, I hope you do not have a son like I was when I was a kid into all the drawers, luckily my dad stopped me before I could mess it all up!
Stevie Bboy
2025-01-26 19:49:44 +0000 UTCSmall contradiction in this video: Wes, you said you didn't have a proper video for this week. Yet you present one... And on that drawer note: Maybe a performance talk with the rodent disposal personal might help?
Uzi
2025-01-26 13:09:38 +0000 UTCAs someone who never has enough places to store things, I empathise with the drawer dilemma! Personally I would either remove the existing drawers entirely and go open cabinet or install a pre made toolbox if you need the storage space for smaller items. Ain't nobody got time for making bespoke drawers!
David Yates
2025-01-26 09:07:30 +0000 UTCRemove the drawers under the workbench and replace them with an entirely shop-made rodent catching and blending device.
The Dastardly Dimwit
2025-01-26 04:33:42 +0000 UTCYa know Wes, if you stored your cats in those drawers, it's kind of a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone solution :) Seriously though, if it were me I'd take the drawers out and make a recess for some sort of storage solution on wheels with a worktop, that you can pull out of the recess as an extra work surface when needed
Chris Freemesser
2025-01-26 03:28:07 +0000 UTCI like the concept of putting a nice toolbox into the space after removing the drawers. It would probably be bad form to mention that it is 87 degrees right now...but that's never stopped me before.
Blane Gardner
2025-01-26 02:47:53 +0000 UTCVery tidy and very quite workshop Wesđ, we seem to share the same rodent issues at the moment, mine ate through a section of cable on my 45m extension reel on top of eating the outside of the tub of poison along with all the contents!, weather has also been a week of -5 followed by a hurricane winds weâve just had that brought down 100ft trees into garden so not been the best month so far
Colin McElduff
2025-01-25 23:44:05 +0000 UTCI like the tool box / rolling cart idea; demo drawers and then just weld up whatever you need to support off the shelf tool boxes and trays. Btw, cold as stink up here in Maine as well, but no wind - the real blessing as you say.
James Riordan
2025-01-25 20:47:13 +0000 UTCWe all know you did that on purpose as a PSA!! And thatâs my story and Iâm sticking to it
Sammy Fender
2025-01-25 19:22:52 +0000 UTCI think what I would do with the drawer situation is pull all of them out and seal up the back and sides to try and mouse proof it. ThenI would cut existing drawers down to half the depth that they currently are and build enough new ones to take the place of what you cut off the old ones. Then rearrange slides and add new to accommodate additional drawers. Would give you twice the drawers and hopefully keep mice out? Just my thoughts..
Greg G.
2025-01-25 18:25:03 +0000 UTCCold weather is breaking here in North Texas, finally. But, we're now expected to have a week of rain and storms instead. The rainfall is needed, though.
CapnMac82
2025-01-25 18:24:29 +0000 UTCTo reiterate my YT comment, pull the wood drawers out and replace with open adjustable shelving or bin racks. Note, that, in the demolition, I suspect there's a back panel behind the drawers that is supporting a Max-annoying rodent lair. Now, if some need was foreseen for drawers on guides, go to your strengths--make the boxes out of expanded metal mesh (to discourage the rodents). The boxes could be cut with a plasma cutter and folded to shape. To be really 'meta' the corners could be made by 3d printing them, and fastening using flat head screws through the EMM into the castings. Or Not.
CapnMac82
2025-01-25 18:23:23 +0000 UTCHe
Richard Smith
2025-01-25 17:43:55 +0000 UTCUhhh... Have you seen how many times me crashing into the back wall of the shop ends up in his videos?
Watch Wes Work
2025-01-25 17:17:29 +0000 UTCDo a mousetrap competition. Get diferent types, one type per drawer, and see which gives the highest tally of victims. Probably best to put it on your second Youtube channel.....
Andrew Burton
2025-01-25 16:36:53 +0000 UTCGreat, now I have serious shop envy.
John Armstrong
2025-01-25 16:15:04 +0000 UTCI'm with this guy, buy a Facebook rescue tool box (maybe 2) and mount them in the space. Rodent proof and useful. Win win.
K H
2025-01-25 15:48:29 +0000 UTCThe biggest problem with those drawers is the mice. The design looks like they have plenty of room to live, breed, and eat. Pull all the drawers out and see where they're getting in. Seal the entry points and leave the drawers out until they don't come back. Max'll help with that I'm sure. I had to use some thin 6"wide sheet steel along my baseboards to keep the little darlings out. Also allowing my little black murderous feline in worked quite nicely. It also keeps her happy because she new toys constantly. Good luck, and Happy New Year.
John Lottes
2025-01-25 15:34:54 +0000 UTCFor the workbench, first thing that popped into my head was doing a sortimo style setup like Adam Savage did recently. Would be expensive and I donât know how much use youâd get out of it. I just figure a standard size storage solution in made to size shelves would be super tidy and useful to organize things in âkitsâ that you use a lot and donât want to store in the upstairs storeroom. Also, any sealed containers would deter the rodents. You could probably do it cheap with smaller sized Rubbermaid style boxes.
Patrick Filion
2025-01-25 15:08:56 +0000 UTCConsider making lids for your drawers. The drawers look very solid and far too good to toss. Thin sheet metal will do, but plexiglas might be more practical if you're going to use them to toss misc stuff. (So you can see without lifting the lid.) Mice have great teeth, but are not so mighty in terms of arm strength, so even a thin (but close-fitting) lid would do. If you want to get fancy, attach them and hinge them at a convenient spot. But simplest just to have them so you can pull off the lid, giving full access to the full length of the drawer. Not an original idea, btw. I believe that it was common for 19th century American kitchens to have a "flour bin", where the drawer was literally fully of flour. And a tin top was, I think, common, for those.
Christopher Hogan
2025-01-25 15:08:48 +0000 UTCKill the mice.
Adrian Gadd
2025-01-25 14:46:38 +0000 UTCOnly -12, have you beat -15 @ 8:00 AM, here in South Dakota. Canât help you with the work bench, professional exterminator?
Bill Scott
2025-01-25 14:38:38 +0000 UTCI'm suffering from workshop envy again. I'd put a metal tool cabinet in place of the drawers, at least it can be rolled out so the mouse poop can be cleaned up!
Alan Wood
2025-01-25 14:35:51 +0000 UTCyou can get stainless cabinets from hospitals and restaurants going out of business. You'll have a mouse problem regardless of what you do there. Might be better to start on the mice first. First I'd say seal any way they get in the cabinet. Sheet metal probably. That's what I'd do, but I'm not there and don't see it.
Aaron Windsor
2025-01-25 14:35:21 +0000 UTCI'd say finding a tool box to fit in there would be a great idea. Not sure what the depth of that workbench is, so that's a consideration.
Keith Mezzina
2025-01-25 14:13:32 +0000 UTCGreat job on the organizing and thanks for the mini tour. I'd probably try to find a metal storage for the wooden drawer area. Glad to see you kept the brake lathe had me worried for a second.
Eric Corse
2025-01-25 14:04:03 +0000 UTCYou know youâve reached âspecialâ status when youâre one of the very, very few content creators that Mortske doesnât insult!
Sammy Fender
2025-01-25 13:54:03 +0000 UTCI don't think it's possible. Every vehicle that comes in has mice in it. Any time the overhead door is open, they have unlimited access. Plus it's just a numbers game. There are just endless mice here. I can catch several every day.
Watch Wes Work
2025-01-25 13:50:27 +0000 UTCI think the toolboxes idea is the best option. Personally the harbor freight boxes have worked out great for me.
David Andrews
2025-01-25 13:16:10 +0000 UTCWes, the shop looks awesome! Very organized. Now you have to keep it that way. Good luck with a wife and kid. They always seem to infiltrate the shop space with stuff eventually. In regards to the drawers, I would definitely keep them. They look like they are built decently, and not worth the time and effort to build new ones. You could upgrade to ball bearing slides if the rollers start to become unable to hold the weight. The best way to keep the mice out is to put a plywood backer on the back of the unit, and make sure it is sitting tight to the floor. You might need to add a piece of shoe moulding to it. If that doesnât work, time to get a barn cat. Keep up the great work, looking forward to the next video.
Teddyz
2025-01-25 13:09:20 +0000 UTCI have built metal stands for my 6" and 8" grinding/wire brush tools, my sliding 4 1/2" grinder radial arm type tool (green one from amazon), and the framework for the bench top drillpress, all from residential bed frame material, usually 1 1/2" angle steel. Also 4ft x 6'8" yard trailer for towing behing the Cub Cadet GTX tractor. All bolted, no welding. Oh ! -also built my rowing/ERG machine from bed frame steel. It is very strong steel angle. needs Milwuakee or Makita discs to cut it on the chop saw. Building tool/ sliding draw cabinets with the steel now. VERY expensive to ship this size stuff to Bermuda, so the guys at the dump save the beds for me,-- and I take care of them !! lol
Maurice Johnson
2025-01-25 12:55:34 +0000 UTCHad a similar mouse issue with a cabinet in a shed way out in a back field. They loved setting up house in all the drawers of this one storage cabinet. If they were just better housekeepers I might look the other way but all droppings forced me to take action. Ultimately I found a fine mess screen fabric that I was able to staple into place after first removing all the drawers. It was actually way easier to do than I first thought. I essentially stapled screen to all the flat surfaces behind the drawers making it impossible for them to any longer infiltrate the area. No more mouse problem. At least not in these drawers. I mean theyâre still everywhere else. But now at least I can use these particular drawers.
Mike Adams
2025-01-25 12:11:15 +0000 UTCIâve seen quite a few people building steel frames out of 2â square tubing and put the harbor freight tool boxes in them to build workbenches. You said that top was about twelve feet long, so two 42â boxes and a 27â box plus the tubing for the framework will put you around 12 feet. I think putting doors on the existing framework is kind of pointless. I see lots of people on YouTube and in real life that put what are essentially (and sometimes literally) kitchen cabinets in their shops and they are about worthless. Theyâre less for organizing and more for hiding junk. My philosophy for organizing has always been that if you have to move more than two objects to get to what youâre looking for, then you need to re-think your organizing layout. Just my two cents
Joe Heimbecher
2025-01-25 11:53:46 +0000 UTCWhy not 'fix the rodent problem', at the shop I'm at there was a big problem as well and I just spent time sealing up all the cracks with some steel wool and flame-retardant sprayfoam, haven't had problems with them for years now.
SA007
2025-01-25 10:54:13 +0000 UTCWonderful tidy up! How efficient you will be now! Deep drawers are actually quite useful sometimes. Pity you can't just stop the mice getting in round the back. All of us in the UK are so jealous of the space you Americans have; we have to do everything in a telephone box.
Peter Facey
2025-01-25 09:34:14 +0000 UTCSecond thought.... beer fridge! ....with optional wine fridge for the better three quarters.
Marshall
2025-01-25 07:19:18 +0000 UTCYou could open the cabinet up and do some shelves and put festool systainers or whatever fancy Milwaukee or dewalt, etc storage system that keeps the mice out.
mike forbes
2025-01-25 05:35:22 +0000 UTCWes.. I am a 69 yo Nuclear trained electrician US Navy Submarines and I am completely impressed with what you know and do. I believe the tool box option is the best option. However you go I believe you will make the appropriate decision. Thanks for providing me with both entertaining and educational content. I greatly appreciate it.
Paul Borchardt
2025-01-25 05:01:31 +0000 UTCIâm with the masses on this one. But I would buy two tool boxes and just up the stainless steel top on that. If you end up with a space in the middle, thatâs just seating area or a place to push a rolling piece of equipment into.
Josh Hayes
2025-01-25 04:40:46 +0000 UTCThose little cheese eaters made a hell of a mouse house in the metrology drawer in the lower shop, it was mostly maple and ash seed (the whirly ones) not sure if it was mice or chipmunks, the shop is rotten with them too. luckily most of the good stuff is in cases and boxes so no real damage.
Greg
2025-01-25 04:36:59 +0000 UTCLiving next to ag fields out in the country it is next to impossible to kill all the rodents that want to hide in your building once winter sets in. While the bucket water trap works, dozens and dozens of critters later you realize that the supply side numbers are ridiculous. I have resorted to using all metal cabinets and sealing up any small openings along with the peanut butter roller 5 gal bucket routine
David
2025-01-25 04:28:26 +0000 UTCRegarding the cabinet w/ drawers, I look at this problem being two pieces. The first piece is that you make the drawers go away quickly and leave it open and looking as decent as possible . A bit of paint perhaps to finish this stage. The next piece is to leave it open until such time that you have something to put there or have a reason to modify it. Then do what is required if anything at all. This cleans things up with the mouse program and leaves options open. Stay warm.... đ¨đŚ
Marshall
2025-01-25 04:25:44 +0000 UTCSounds like a video on mouse traps is in order. I love the water bucket of death with floating sunflower seeds. I am sure you could make the ultimate mouse killing gizmo!
Tom Hollowell
2025-01-25 04:00:32 +0000 UTCYep had same problem with kitchen cabinet drawers repurposed into a bench. A mouse house nightmare. Agree with ripping out and putting in some built in tool boxes. Here's a thread in Garage Journal that has pages of examples https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/hf-toolboxes-workbench-phase-3.126086/page-3
David
2025-01-25 03:56:08 +0000 UTC1. Don't add doors. Asking for trouble with critters. 2. Finding a steel cabinet/toolbox that fits the area would be best. 3. If you do need to leave it open. maybe some steel shelves would suffice. Also, that steel (stainless maybe?) bench top reminds me of something that would have existed for either a medical or food service business. I wonder of somewhere along the line it was saved from something that was shutting down, and fount its way to your place. I have no idea how they are made. But I remember when working in a hospital there were some huge steel tables with pristine corners and edges to prevent people getting injured, and to facilitate thorough cleaning.
centauri61032
2025-01-25 03:24:46 +0000 UTCShop is looking really good! Rip out drawers and replace with tool box
Robert
2025-01-25 03:16:05 +0000 UTCHi wes i would remove the drawers and replace with a tool box. Thanks for the update.
Darran
2025-01-25 03:14:50 +0000 UTCMy thought is just to take all the drawers out and build in the sides back and bottom of the cabinet with plywood being sure not to leave any openings bigger than about 3/8 inch. That way, as long as the drawers are shut, no mice are going to get in. You could also add a mouse trap to each drawer in case there are residual mice hiding in there somewhere.
Merritt Derr
2025-01-25 03:13:23 +0000 UTC-11 here in Fort Collins, CO
Doug Wray
2025-01-25 03:01:01 +0000 UTCI think i would suggest a two-pronged attack. 1) Talk to your mouse-control agent doggo about why he's slacking so badly. 2) I'd go with the "find a tool cabinet that would fit into that space" option. 2a) I have a weird fixation on those flat-file blueprint cabinets. They seem to come up for sale at reasonable prices around me all the time.. I have nowhere to use one, and i'm pretty sure that those thin drawers aren't as useful as i'd like, but still..
ÉĽsoĹż uĘop Çpá´sd⊠(Ę︚Ę)
2025-01-25 03:00:12 +0000 UTCAn idea for mouse proofing the drawers. Make lids for each drawer either solid plywood, or frames and hardware cloth (1/4" galvanized mesh).
Terry Thompson
2025-01-25 02:54:19 +0000 UTCYeah, it was a struggle yesterday, went to the dump with a trailer full of green waste, and was very sweaty at 37 degrees Celsius. When it gets close to 0 which is only a couple of times a year I'm a no-show outside.
David Bird
2025-01-25 02:51:43 +0000 UTCWhen I made a bench/stand for my little South Bend lathe I made a frame from 2" box channel, and sized it so that a cheap 40" toolbox from Home Depot would slide right in and bolt down solid. I think something like that would be a really good option for your mouse resort situation. Saves making or modifying drawers and if you get them on sale they're pretty cheap. And as a nice little treat you have the wheels and big handle leftover for other projects
Nick Hough
2025-01-25 02:51:23 +0000 UTCTake out the drawers and find tool box to fit in that space. Stay warm!
Rich Wielechowski
2025-01-25 02:49:59 +0000 UTCWhat a coincidence I'm also working on my shop right this instance.
Kowyn Hibbert (Warrior of the Rusty Wrench)
2025-01-25 02:44:36 +0000 UTCItâs been cold in Colorado too. Both my jeep and Truck had the diesel gel up in them.
Conner Wright
2025-01-25 02:39:34 +0000 UTC
