Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbench?

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Dean J in MN

>Todd --

Here is the chest:

And it's realation to my bench: (Note, saws are hanging just out of frame to the right of the chest)

A few shots looking inside -- that is my complete set of bench planes, along with a plow and fillister in the bottom front portion. The rear portion holds the dado/rabbet/molding/etc planes. That empty space is for the half set of H&Rs.

Re: Handtool Storage: Wall Cabinet or Under workbe

Warren in Lancaster, PA

>Dean, I enjoyed seeing your well thought out kit. It is spare, but also versatile. Usually when I look at other peoples tools, I am thinking "why do they have four of these but nothing to make grooves with" or something like that. This chest is really well balanced.

Re: needs to be a SHOP SHOT

arw01

>Great looking chest, is there a whole series of posts and photos will you conceived it and built that beatuful tool porn?

Alan

Also say both, but ergonomics is key

Michael Recchione

>If you really use your handtools a lot, particularly if you use them for stock preparation, you want the commonly used things right near where you use them. I like a shelf under the bench for all the common bench and block planes because I do all my stock prep with them. Similarly, I like my commonly used layout tools, marking knives, pencils, chisels, mallet, etc right in front of me. If your bench is too wide to have a rail of these things along the back (assuming the bench is against the wall), a good option for these is to use a combination of a shallow tote/caddy with a handle and/or a machinists chest along the back of the bench. With a wide bench, you'll still have plenty of room to work, but these things can be moved off the bench if you ever need the full width. Finally, you need your commonly used saws near to hand. Again, if your bench is wide and against a wall, a saw till on that wall would do the trick. In my basement shop (the one I'm moving out of because of flooding and space issues), I build a saw till into the space between the joists of the first floor, right above where I stand when I work at the bench, so all I have to do is reach up...

By the way, if you're in a basement with exposed joists, this is a great space to take advantage of - I have all sorts of stuff mounted there, so it's never more than one or two steps away when I need it - spokeshaves, drawknives, scrapers, saws, braces, even clamps. Very handy.

For the less commonly used stuff, wall storage, even in another part of the shop, works fine. Like molding planes - I don't use them a lot, so they can be on the other side of the shop for all I care. Same with plow planes or rabbet planes - I don't use them all the time, so I don't mind taking a few steps to get one when I need one. If floor space is easier to come by than wall space in your shop, a traditional chest, maybe on wheels, might be what you need.

The final category of tools is stuff you inherited or bought because you thought it was cool, but really don't use. I know I'll never get rid of things like that (particularly the ones I inherited), but there's no reason to clutter up useful convenient storage with them. I plan to put them into plastic tubs, out of the way. It is kind of nice to look up and see Yankee screwdrivers or breast drills hanging on the wall, but honestly, I hardly ever use those things - if I need to drive a lot of screws, I usually use a brace. And I use eggbeater drills a lot for small holes and for countersinking, but for big holes, I'll either use a brace or an unmentionable. So maybe it's time to let these things take their place in the tool museum.

In the new shop, the ceiling is much higher, so I'm going to build a largish wall cabinet for the less commonly used tools. But I still want the bench planes on the shelf under the bench and the commonly needed stuff right in front of me.

- Mike