That Empty Space Under Your Tool? It's Your Next DIY Project

Look at the floor-standing power tools in your workshop. Your sander, your drill press, your bandsaw. Notice a pattern? Many of them sit on sturdy metal stands with a giant, gaping void of wasted space inside. It’s a dust bunny condominium, a graveyard for lost pencils, and a black hole of untapped potential. One user, commenting on their Grizzly Industrial G0529 sander, perfectly captured this frustration, noting that the lower cabinet was just wasted space and they ended up building their own cabinet to fit inside.

This isn’t a design flaw; it’s an opportunity. That empty space is the most valuable, under-utilized real estate in your shop. And today, you’re going to develop it. This guide will walk you through three levels of a simple DIY project—“Good, Better, and Best”—to transform that void into a hyper-functional storage unit tailored to your exact needs. Grab a tape measure; your workshop is about to get a major upgrade.

Chapter 1: The Prep Work - Measure Twice, Build Once

This project is universal. While we’re inspired by the G0529 stand, the principles apply to any similar tool base. Your first step is not to cut wood, but to understand your canvas.

• Measure for Success: Get three critical measurements from the inside of your tool stand: the Width, the Depth, and the Height. Measure at several points to check for squareness. Write these down. These three numbers are the foundation of your entire project. All our plans will be based on your unique dimensions.

• Gather Your Materials: For most of these projects, you’ll need some basic supplies.

  • Sheet Goods: 3/4” (or 18mm) plywood is the hero here. A single sheet is often enough.
  • Fasteners: 1-1/4” pocket-hole screws or general-purpose wood screws.
  • Tools: A tape measure, a drill/driver, and a way to cut plywood (a circular saw with a guide, a track saw, or a table saw).

• A Note on Structural Integrity: Before you start, inspect your stand. Your goal is to build a box inside the existing frame. Do not remove any cross-braces or supports that are part of the stand’s structure. Your new cabinet should be securely fastened to the stand’s legs or panels to add rigidity, not detract from it.

Chapter 2: The “Good” Solution (The Weekend Project) - A Simple, Sturdy Shelf

This is your entry point. It’s fast, easy, and instantly useful. In about an hour, you’ll have a dedicated spot for your sanding discs, spindles, and wrenches.

1. The Cut List:
   • One piece of 3/4” plywood cut to your stand’s internal Width and Depth. Let’s call this the Shelf.
2. The Build:
   • Decide on the height for your shelf. A good starting point is halfway up.
   • The easiest way to mount it is to cut four small blocks of scrap wood (e.g., 2x4s).
   • Attach two blocks to the inside of the left stand panel/legs at your desired height, and two to the right side, ensuring they are level.
   • Lay your Shelf on top of these support blocks. For extra security, drive a screw down through the shelf into each block.
   • Done. It’s that simple. You now have an organized, accessible storage surface.

Chapter 3: The “Better” Solution (The Skill-Builder) - A Full Cabinet with a Door

Ready for the next level? Let’s enclose that space to keep dust out and give your shop a cleaner, more professional look. This builds upon the “Good” solution.

1. The Cut List:
   • One Bottom Panel (Width x Depth)
   • One Top Panel (Width x Depth)
   • Two Side Panels (Depth x desired internal cabinet Height)
   • One Door (Measure the final opening and subtract 1/8” from the height and width for clearance)
2. The Build:
   • Assemble the box first. Attach the Side Panels between the Top and Bottom Panels to form a simple carcass. Use pocket holes or screws through the top and bottom panels into the sides.
   • Slide this completed box into your tool stand. Secure it by driving screws from the inside of the cabinet out into the stand’s legs or panels.
   • Now, for the door. The easiest way to hang a door for a clean look is with a pair of overlay European-style hinges. Follow the instructions that come with the hinges—they are simpler than they look and offer easy adjustability.
   • Attach a simple handle or knob.
   • Upgrade Complete. You now have a fully enclosed, dust-resistant cabinet.

Chapter 4: The “Best” Solution (The Workshop Upgrade) - The Ultimate Drawer Unit

This is the premium package. Drawers offer the ultimate in organized, accessible storage. No more digging in the back of a dark cabinet. This is a more involved project, but the payoff is immense.

1. The Plan:
   • First, build the cabinet carcass exactly as described in the “Better” solution. This will be your drawer housing.
   • Decide on your drawer configuration. Do you want one deep drawer or two shallower ones?
   • Build your drawer boxes. A simple rule is to make them 1” narrower than your cabinet’s internal width to accommodate drawer slides.
2. The Key Component: Drawer Slides
   • For a shop project, a pair of full-extension ball-bearing drawer slides is the perfect choice. They are strong, smooth, and allow the drawer to pull all the way out.
   • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to mount the slides to the inside of your cabinet and the sides of your drawer boxes. This is the most critical step—take your time and measure carefully.
3. Finishing Touches:
   • Attach simple plywood fronts to your drawer boxes.
   • Add handles or pulls.
   • Master Level Achieved. You have now transformed a completely useless void into a custom, high-density storage center that perfectly complements your tool.

Conclusion: From Wasted Space to Workshop Hero

That empty space under your tool was never just a void; it was a project waiting to happen. Whether you chose the simple shelf or the ultimate drawer unit, you’ve done more than just add storage. You’ve made your workshop more efficient, more organized, and more attuned to your personal workflow. You took a standard, mass-produced item and customized it, embodying the true spirit of a woodworker: seeing potential and creating value where others see nothing at all.