Add a Pull-Out Worksurface to Your Workbench
In a small workshop, you can never have too much work space. My main work area is a countertop built over a bank of cabinets, so I'm always looking for ways to make that space more useful.
This pull-out worksurface is a simple solution. It provides extra room for laying out parts, holding tools, or working on small projects. When I'm finished, it slides back beneath the countertop and stays out of the way.
Best of all, you can build it with a few scraps of plywood and hardwood.
A Simple Sliding Design
The worksurface consists of just five parts: a 3⁄4" plywood panel, two hardwood runners, and a pair of stops.
The runners mount beneath the countertop and have grooves that capture the edges of the plywood panel. This allows the panel to slide in and out while keeping it supported.
The most important step is cutting the grooves in the runners. I used a dado blade and fine-tuned the width to create a smooth sliding fit with the plywood.
You want the panel to move easily without having so much play that it sags when extended.
Once the runners are ready, cut the plywood panel to size and add a finger hole near the front edge so it's easy to pull out.
Add Stops and Install the Worksurface
A pair of stops keeps the worksurface from sliding too far.
Attach one stop to the plywood panel and the other to the underside of the countertop, as shown in the drawings. Together, they prevent the panel from being pulled completely out of its runners.
To install the worksurface, position the assembly beneath your countertop and drive screws through the runners to secure them in place.
Check that the panel slides freely and that the stops engage before putting it to use.
WOODSMITH TIP: Keep the Load Light. This worksurface is ideal for layout work, small parts, and temporary tool storage. Because the plywood panel extends beyond its supports, avoid using it for heavy loads or operations that require substantial downward pressure.
Extra Workspace Without the Extra Footprint
The beauty of this project is its simplicity. There's no complicated hardware, and the worksurface doesn't require any additional floor space.
Just pull it out when you need a little more room, then slide it back under the counter when you're done.
For a small woodworking shop, that's a handy upgrade.
More Space-Saving Workshop Ideas
Looking for more ways to get the most out of a small workshop? Check out our Space-Saving Tool Stations article for four practical ideas, including flip-top tool stands, pull-out tool shelves, and mobile benchtop tool storage.
EXPLORE SPACE-SAVING TOOL STATIONS → Make Every Square Foot of Your Shop Count
