Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbench?

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Ernie Miller

>Dom I have lots of storage under my bench I built boxes that hold drawers I think there are pictures of in in the shop shots section. don't expect to find and pulls as nice as mine. all are one of a kind hand made by some of my closest friends. Thanks Guys! I still need to finish one box full of drawers?

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Glenn Madsen near San Francisco

>What kind of storage system do you prefer for your handtools? In a closed/ opened cabinet? Cubbies along a wall?

- My Neandertools are stashed in a wall cabinet that hangs from the woodrack at the back of the garage. Two large, deep, swinging doors for longer stuff, like rules and squares and such, and cubbies/shelves for the growing group of handplanes, scrapers and shaves. There's a couple of drawers planned for the bottom for other stuff, but for now, things stay there by gravity.

Or a drawer in your workbench?

- There are no drawers in my workbench. When I built the bench, I'd only ever built one light duty drawer. There's a big shelf underneath that holds a bunch of disused jigs and fixtures, but mostly adds mass to the assembly. Functional, not pretty.

And why do you prefer them?

- I filled the rollabout tool cabinet my wife bought me 10 years ago with mostly non-woodworking tools. The 'good stuff' needed more room. It's semi-derisively called 'the tool shrine'. We don't talk about how much cash has gone into it's contents. That's a private matter. ;-)

It's also a prototype for the cabinets for the son's kitchen, and the one I might build someday for my wife here...

So my advice: Do what fits your way of working. But be flexible. Shops change. Tools migrate. Homes get sold, sometimes. Have fun!

do you like to stoop?

Bill Tindal, E.TN

>That will help answer the under workbench question.

My stuff is on shelfs behind the bench or on the bench where it is easy to get at.

Both

Denis Ch�nard, Orl�ans, Ont.

>Build a wall storage unit for the most commonly used hand tools, and put the rest in drawers under the bench. I see it as inconvenient to have to stoop under the bench to reach for stuff, and there's always the risk of hitting your noggin' on the bench (or stuff on it) on the "return stroke" after fetching a tool.

Having a tool cabinet on a wall near the bench makes it quick to pick up the desired tool. Mine is open for quick access. Since I have more tools than my cabinet space allows, I will build drawers for under my workbench to store the less used ones. A side benefit to this is that the bench will be heavier, thus more stable.

HTH,

DC

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Hank Knight

>Dominic,

I built a nice drawer case under my workbench for chisels, layout tools and bench accessories. It works fine for these things. I have a pegboard wall behind my workbench that I hang lots of other tools from and an open cabinet on the same wall that houses my planes and some power tools. I have found it much more convenient to reach for stuff hanging on the wall or in the cabinet than to fetch things from the drawers under my bench. I don't know why that is true, but it is for me. I plan to build a much more commodious hanging cabinet for hand tools to replace the peg board. I think I will like it better than the bench drawers.

Hank

Re: All the ABove and above (='s more) *LINK*

kevin French

>I store mine in the bench above the bench and in back of the bench I have 2 shelves of tools. I store them so's they are the frist tools I reach for and most of the tailed tools are on the other side of the shop.

It been posted before, but here's my hand tool store AT the bench




Closeup of above.

Both also...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>And anywhere else I can stash them. Ya know under the bed, etc...

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Jim Shaver - Oakville, Ontario

>Hi Dom,

A lot of thoughts on this. I remember my late father in laws bench. It was simple, nothing complicated or of rare value, but all his tools were at hand and priceless to him.

My bench is a combination of both storage and available toold at hand,

if only I could keep it clean!

:-)

Take care,

Jim

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Dean J in MN

>FWIW --

I've been working out of a traditional (Seatonesque) tool chest for a bit over a year. I had doubts when I started, but after some time I find it a workable solution. My saws hang on pegs, but my planes (bench and joint), layout tools and chisels are in the toolchest.

My 2d,

-Dean

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away

>Dean,

I like to see apic of that. My ideal toolstorage is in fact just as you described--working ut of a chest. My biggest problem however in convincing myself that I don't need 9 #3's 12 #4,s, 7 #5's 30 sharpening stones, 11 braces, 600 bits, 45 blockplanes etc etc.

Now that I have everything pretty much corraled up and at least in some type of order, I need to seperate the users for the "accumulation", and stow the accumulation in and area out of the shop.

So, lets see that chest!

T.O.

Thanks for your input

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Thank you all for participating in this thread. It seems that the consensus is for wall mounted, opened cabinets. But that is mostly due to the ease at which they can be re-configured.

I have to say that all of your comments show a deep appreciation for the rather fluid nature of the work shop and how much things like work patterns, number of tools, and shifting priorities can change your focus over time. :>)

My problem is that my shop is not what you would call a "dedicated Neander shop". I use my lathe quite a bit and I'm not ready to go fully unplugged (just yet). This makes planning out my shop space rather difficult.

You've given me a lot to think about.

Thanks again,

Dominic

This is one of those examples

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>of the answer being a combination of the two scenarios. Perhaps storing layout tools in the top drawer of the bench cabinet, and larger hand tools in the wall hung cabinet.

Hmmmmmmm.

See ya around,

Dominic

Thanks Jim

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Jim,

I remember that old photo! I have it saved for Windows Wallpaper.

Isn't funny how your new spiffy bench is set up in the same manner as that grand old one?

See ya around

Dominic

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Marv

>Hi Jim,

Now that looks like my work bench. Most of my tools end up on the bench within easy reach...nice and handy. When I need a little more work space I just cup my hands and make vee shape with my arms and shove everything aside. There's always a little more available space between all those tools. It's the height of the pile that will at times get to me though. I hate trying to drag a bar clamp out from the bottom. It's amazing how everything seems to get automatically connected. I clean my shop about once or twice a year, that is if I find the time. Once it's clean, all it takes is one project and everything is back in it's place.....on the bench.

Marv

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Hi Dominic

I like to have my handtools within reach, that is, close to the bench, which is against the rear wall of a double garage. There is a separate cabinet for planes and chisels, plus easy access to backsaws. I can reach under the bench for a bench hook or shooting board, use it and then return it so that it is out of the way.

My cabinets are pretty utilitarian but they hold quite a bit and make access easy.

Of course, it usually looks like this ... :)

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Dean J in MN

>I took a few quick and dirty photos last night -- problem is, if I shrink them to the 40K we can upload they are nearly useless. I'll try to throw them up a web site when I get a chance.

-Dean

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

"RJ" Whelan

>Dom,

I currently have both drawers under the bench and cabinets on the wall.

One of the cabinets is just to the right of the bench and that one is easy to access - chisels and marking and measuring. The two plane cabinets are on the other side of the shop (one for woodies and one for metal) - the cabinets work fine, but it's kind of a pain making two trips every time I need a plane (one to get it, and one to put it back) - don't have room on the bench side of the shop for these cabinets.

Block and rebate planes are in two drawers under the bench and they are very convenient.

I guess the conclusion, for me anyway, is ease of access trumps all other considerations because I really like the way the small planes, chisels and marking out tools are stored and I tolerate the commute involved in retrieving the larger planes.

Good luck with your reconfiguring (I don't think it ever really ends) ... rj

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Patrick Gibbons, Houston, TX

>Put the tools you use on nearly every project close to/ under the bench. This should include gages, rulers, bench planes, awls, knives, etc. Put the other tools close to where they are used. Saws and saw files close to your sawing area, drills and bits close together, finishing materials together, hammers, nails and screws and drivers together. I am redoing my shop and I'm trying to divide tools logically in stations. Some large tool cabinet on the wall seems like a nice idea until I start thinking about mounting it on the wall (great weight) and what and where I actually use something.

Re: tool Storage: Long

Ernie Miller

>Dom I will have to get some better pictures but I have a french cleat all the way around my shop wall. I make storage componets wall cabinets or short sections of peg board that hang on it. Originaly the thought was I could take my tools from the power tools shop in the garage to the hand tool shop in the basement. sinse then I have learned it is easier to get tool tools and leave one of eack in each shop. But with the movable componets I can change the layout quite easily as my needs change. I just added a second lathe in the hand tool shop so I needed to rearange part of the shop. it was no problem to move the carving tools to a differant part of the shop to make room for the lathe tools and accessories that I got. at one point I thought it would be cool to have a brace for every siz pit and an egg beater also but I am down sizing that part of the shop to make room for the carving tools. There is more than one box will hold any more. What I am saying if you are thinking about a partial or major renovation of the shop make it so the next one will be simple. make moduals that can be moved as you grow,

Thanks Derek

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Derek,

I was hoping that you would respond to this thread. I like the fact that you have several smaller cabinets and not one HUGE one. I prefer something of that nature.

I noticed the cabinets under your bench as well as your statement about your bench hooks. Do you store your bench hooks and other accessories under your bench?

I believe that solution I end up with will be a combination of drawers, and cabinet space. That seems to be what a lot of others have done as well.

Thanks again,

Dominic

Thanks RJ

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>RJ,

I appreciate you responding to this thread.

You wrote:

"I currently have both drawers under the bench and cabinets on the wall.....Block and rebate planes are in two drawers under the bench and they are very convenient."

I'm thinking along the same lines as what you're doing now. Drawers in the bench holding layout tools and block planes, with the larger items in cabinets. Perhaps even a small distance away from the bench. I think my preoccupation with placing cabinets over the bench may have narrowed my focus.

You wrote:

"I guess the conclusion, for me anyway, is ease of access trumps all other considerations"

Same here. That's why I think that the solution is a combination of wall and cabinet based storage. You work with the room ya' got!

Thanks again,

Dominic

Thanks Pat!

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>

Thanks Ernie

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Pictures would be appreciated. Thanks again for the input

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Robin Corell in Atascadero, CA

>The set up I have now is based on what I used to use when working in several patternshops. All the shops I worked at had the same set up. a woorkbench that was about 22" wide where everyone placed their tool box, usually a gertner or something similar.At the back of the bench were two 8" wide boards on edge and seperated by several 3/4" spacers to create a place to store chisels and screw drivers. about 3" above the bench and even with the back was a 3" board with a bunch of pegs to hang digerent tools from. There was usually one deep drawr and one shallow one with little cubbies for diferent size nails and screws. at one end of the bench was a wood vice, usually a Jorgenson or Wilton, never did have an Emmerit. below the bench was a shelf where most guys had a chest for any tools that were rarely used and for their turning chisels. The key to the extreme workability of this set up was that 30" oposite each bench was a work table/bench. these were usually stoutly made with plywood tops.

This arangement gives you a place for a tool box with plenty of bench space to set tools, but still have them at arms reach without having them in the way of what you are working on.

As I said, my set up is based on this. I don't have my vise on this bench and I have a seperate storage area for screws and nails but the basic idea is still the same. The band saw you see in the pic is waiting for a new home and is not usually located there.

Robin Corell