Tool storage

[Craig Salisbury]

how do you chaps organise and store your hand tools?

Its something I need to sort out but reluctant to build a hanging tool cabinet, they seem ideal back in the day when we didnt have modern tool chests, but i guess a lot cheaper than a roll cab. For power tools, everything just sits in its systainer....something else i need to organise better.

Photos if you got em?

 

[Cabinetman]

My everyday tools are in this rack, locked away each night in a safe inside the tool cupboard. Safe bolted to the wall and floor. Simple shelves in the cupboard for all the not used so often tools. Screwdrivers pliers and other cheaper tools are in a rack along the window cill in front of me when working.
Some people (particularly Americans) spend days and a whole lot of cash creating a huge display of tools, but it makes me wonder sometimes if they are collectors or woodworkers, don’t they get dusty?

 

[Craig Salisbury]

theres definitely a lot of tool cabinets just made for youtube backgrounds and display.

 

[AndyP]

I like to have mine in cupboards and drawers on the basis that they are kept cleaner. I’m embarrassed to share how some of my tools are “arranged” in some drawers but will take some images later, perhaps, maybe, to shame myself into improvements.

 

[AndyT]

When we moved here, over 30 years ago, the basement room that is the workshop already had some rough shelves and an old kitchen cabinet. They are still there, full of tools. I've put bits of board on one wall and hung frequently used tools on nails.
I added a cheap but sturdy chest of drawers and a little cupboard a neighbour didn't want any more. And some more shelves.

That's about it. I never thought I'd "finish" organising and I don't think I have, but it's densely packed with tools and materials and I know where everything is. Just let it grow as you need to, with the materials that turn up.

 

[MattS]

Mine is very much low spend and time solutions. I have some rulers and marking tools above my bench just on nails etc.
Then under the bench a couple of metal drawers unit from office furniture which I got recently £10 the pair in the village. Shallow drawers are really good so the rest of the marking tools, green wood knives etc in there. Then the rest of my planes and chisels etc are in a chest of drawers previous owner left in the garage. Does the job and keeps tools mainly away when not in use.

 

[AndyP]

You wanted photos.

Bench chisels, self made cabinet


Heirloom planes, saws and hand drills, ex kitchen cabinet


Turning gouges, repurposed dartboard cabinet originally made by my father in the 80s


Hammers, files, pliers etc in a repurposed cabinet orginal found in greenhouse of old house


Hand planes in socks and boring bits. Self made cabinet.


Decent drivers and spanners, marking gauges, squares etc


Oilstones, cabinet scrapers and sandpaper


Asstd hand saws, really ashamed of this arrangement.


Cordless drills, asstd drill sets and ROS. Off the shelf flat packed kitchen cabinet.

 

[Phil]

When we moved to our new house I had to downsize seriously as it is a double garage 44m2 and has to also accommodate the 2 cars.

Some of the tools, spanners and sockets, pliers and side cutters.
The short sash clamps also get hooked here.
Access not easy as the small Hegner slots in between the metal table and RAS




Some more on smaller pegboard behind the lathe.




All the fastners in bottles arranged by type.



The screwdrivers at the back of the bench top.




The bench is an old punch card cabinet with long narrow drawers.
Hole saws have a drawer.
Files and paint tin openers in their own drawers.
Drill bits are in metal dish and plastic dish, easy to get to.
2 drawers with all my drawing instruments and shapes, calculator and vernier.

Power tools are in a drawer below the router table, and all the sanders on shelves below the drill press.

Off-cut boxes are on wheels.

Electrical stuff in a box on wheels between the bench and the router table.

Spanners and spares for the saws in another box on wheels.

Oils, stains and paint on shelves above the lathe.

Timber stock up on the walls.

Fitted in between, also on wheels, the TP, table saw, large Hegner.

Sheet goods in another corner next to the one car.


This was taken in June 2015 when we moved in. Looks slightly different today.



{Edit - correct some spelling}

 

[Mike G]

I'm not sure what's wrong with a tool cabinet:

 

[Woodbloke]

Nowt quite as salubrious as a tool cabinet, but a 'Tool Wall' where all the tools I use most of the time are racked out at more or less eye level:



I've done it deliberately this way 'cos when a particular process has been done, the tools used can be instantly put back on the Tool Wall. Bench planes are underneath and power tools racked out in a floor standing unit on the lhs. There's nothing 'precious' about how it's done as the tools in front of me are constantly changing as different, new or better ones are added - Rob (glued up Cosman boxes in the foreground)

 

[Craig Salisbury]

I'm not sure what's wrong with a tool cabinet:

that is very pretty Mike, nothing at all wrong with them, i never really see them outside of youtube....but then i dont get out much. at the moment im trying to get inspiration of sorting out my garage into something a bit more organised and wanted to see other peoples solutions.

 

[johnward]

All my tools etc are secured on the 4 walls of my small workshop by one way or another. They look very tidy and orderly and none are kept in cupboards or drawers.

 

[clogs]

I cant post any pictures but I find that those little stacking drawer units from Ikea just great for all my batt drills and impact wrenches......
for the drill bits that I grab most often are also stored this way....wood pointy ones , metal and stone/brick,.....two stacks side by side....and on wheels.......
If it's a proper job with a drill press or machines there are other supply cabinets dotted around the shop.....

Cant stand those systainers....I get pleasure in binning them.....
the only container I keep has my £1,500 Hilti drill in it.....
Mike G and wood Bloke.....the way to go.........
just depeds on how much room/use and how damp the place is......

tool storage is always an interesting subject.....

 

[Doug]

Cant stand those systainers....I get pleasure in binning them......

You must have money to throw away the price of systainers :shock:

 

[RogerS]

My tools will be found where I last left them

 

[Tiresias]

For what it is worth, this is my tool box. Old photo', and the interior has metamorphosed a bit, but none of the interior fittings are fixed - all removable, and rearrangeable, held in place by the notched joints.



Irregular shaped items are in boxes in the lower space. Comme ca.



Knives and measuring thingies are in a small drawer I put in my work bench. MIscellaneous tools in a separate commercial tool box.

Perhaps I don't have enough tools...

 

[Phil]

I'm not sure what's wrong with a tool cabinet:

Mike that is extremely nice and organised.

The way to go if you have the space and a dedicated workshop.

 

[derekcohen]

My tool storage reflects 30 years of woodworking in this garage/workshop. Storage is a vital consideration as this makes for a more relaxed and safer work space. Plus, I still need to park my car in one half as it is a soft top (my wife’s lives outside! )

Once rough sawn boards are processed by machines, all joinery, finishing and detail work is done with hand tools … and I have a lot of these!

I like to see what is there, so the cabinets on the wall have either open- or glass fronts. Until recently all the marking tools and chisels, etc were on the wall behind my bench, but we will downsize and move when I retire in a few years, and so I build a cabinet under my bench…

Open a drawer …

…. And slide by the top layer ….

It is like this for all the drawers. One more example. Top row ..

And slide back …

Across the workshop are cabinets on the wall …

Regards from Perth

Derek