For quite a while now, I have been storing my hand tools in drawers. I really dislike this arrangement. When I need a tool, I end up rummaging through 3 drawers before I find it. Tools rattle around in the drawers, which can damage the cutting edges. And I can’t tell at a glance when something is missing.
I had a couple of hours of shop time this afternoon, so I decided to remedy my hand tool storage issues. This past winter, I rearranged by whole shop, and I created a wall that is (well, will be) dedicated to hand tools. My (soon-to-be) new workbench is up against this wall, and my intention has always been to build some sort of hand tool storage there. Well, here it is. I still need to devise a storage solution for my hand planes.
Clearly, this storage solution was inspired by Bob Lang’s article in the Autumn 2007 issue of Woodworking magazine. I had to tweak it quite a bit, however, since I am not installing it across a window. I built it out of some scrap maple and cherry that I had on my lumber rack and it only took me a couple of hours to make on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Both racks leave me with some room to grow.
The picture below gives you a better perspective. The 4×4 laying across the workbench base gives an approximation of the final height of the bench. Hopefully, I’ll get around to finishing that workbench sometime soon. I’ll probably build a simple shelving unit for my hand planes that I’ll mount to the wall to the right of these racks.
Hey Dave, I was just thinking about putting up the same kind of storage for a workbench that I am almost finished with.
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/kem/blog/series/661
Can you add some details for your top rack? In particular, I’m wondering if you added a spacer between the wall and the first board. Since I’m also going to do this on a wall and not in front of a window, I’m wondering if I’ll need a spacer to more easily grab tool handles.
Thanks,
Kevin
Dave:
The bench looks like it’s going to be a knockout. I just finished my own bench project this past winter… almost. I still have to install the tool tray ramps. Keep us posted.
Keith
http://www.woodtreks.com
Hi Kevin,
No spacer is needed. I used two 3/4″ thick maple boards separated by some 1/2″ thick cherry for the top rack. With it mounted flush to the wall, I have no problems adding or removing tools.
Regards,
Dave
Dave,
I like this, very simple and accessible. I am the same way with my hand tools in drawers. Eventually I would like to make something like Chris Schwarz’s A&C wall cabinet for my hand tools, but as a stop gap measure until I can get my bench built, this seems to be the way to go.