TerryMcK Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I've been operating with a tool rack made from some plywood mounted across the window, as suggested and used by Chris Schwarz, for about 12 months now. It has been a good experience so I've decided to "improve" it by making a new one. What spurred me onto doing this was the chisel rack I'd added to the original tool rack. Original Tool Rack. The chisel rack is mounted on the front LH side Essentially it comprised a piece of 1/2" ply 2" wide x around 30" long. Into this I'd drilled a series of 7/8" holes spaced on 1.1/8" centres. In practice when putting chisels in most went in but the handles touched on some of the bigger ones causing the chisels to lean over. I set to work making another complete tool and chisel rack but this time positioned the 7/8" diameter holes on 1.1/2" centres. I made the chisel rack a little longer than the original but this time it only had 20 holes. I left five holes at 3/4" diameter with two of them not having a slot. The slots were 8mm (5/16") wide apart from two at 10mm (3/8") wide to suit the large firmer chisels at the left hand end of the rack. Here are a couple of pictures from my Sketchup design for the new tool rack: The design of this is very simple as it is only two pieces of timber - in my case a softwood rear piece of 4 x 1 x about 55" long and the front made from a 6" wide x 1/2" thick x 48" long plywood. They are separated using 1/2" thick x 3/4" wide x 4" long spacers glued and nailed. I positioned the spacers about every 9" giving a series of slots that tools can be slid into. I made some brackets out of scrap oak to screw the chisel rack onto the tool rack. Here is the new rack fully loaded. The whole assembly has French cleats on the back and simply slots onto the mating French cleats that I already have on the wall. For extra security I screwed the tool rack into the wall too. Auxillary rack showing a few day to day essentials. This tool rack makes great use of the wasted space taken by the window and still lets the vast majority of light through so makes it a win all around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Looks awesome! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Great job. Mise en Place. Out of curiosity, why not have the french cleat span the length of the back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Thanks Vinny. Because there is a gap where the window is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Yes! I gotta get workin' on a tool cabinet. Looks like you use your bench cookies about as often as I do. Money well spent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 It took a couple of hours last Saturday. My next shop project is going to be a handplane cabinet. I've got so many now I just need to get them out of my bench and onto the wall. I can then use the bench storage for other crap I have lying around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Yes! I gotta get workin' on a tool cabinet. Looks like you use your bench cookies about as often as I do. Money well spent. Not to jack this thread but, I use them just about every time I apply finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Not to jack this thread but, I use them just about every time I apply finish. I did that once, but the rubbery stuff left an imprint on the wood that I found unacceptable. I guess because it's a petroleum based product. Occasionally I'll use them to hold up something for when I'm routing an edge, and that's about it. Mostly they stay in their cute little rack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pghmyn Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I like the design and execution, except one question about chisel storage. I thought it was advised to "hang" the chisels by the metal part and not the wood because if that wood contracts and the metal part falls off it will be a bad day when it hits the floor. EDIT: Socket chisels, that it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I like the design and execution, except one question about chisel storage. I thought it was advised to "hang" the chisels by the metal part and not the wood because if that wood contracts and the metal part falls off it will be a bad day when it hits the floor. EDIT: Socket chisels, that it.I was going to mention this as well, more than once I have picked up a socket chisel and had the handle come right out.Personally I'd be worried about knocking my combination squares to the floor, as it does't look like anything is holding them to the shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I was going to mention this as well, more than once I have picked up a socket chisel and had the handle come right out.Personally I'd be worried about knocking my combination squares to the floor, as it does't look like anything is holding them to the shelf. I have blade protectors on the tips and there is rubber matting on the floor - I've not had one fall out in the last 12 months but I suppose there's always the first time - I may add a catching lip later . The combo squares are held in small rabbets running vertically. You can't see that very well on the pictures but it's only about 1/8" rabbet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 I like the design and execution, except one question about chisel storage. I thought it was advised to "hang" the chisels by the metal part and not the wood because if that wood contracts and the metal part falls off it will be a bad day when it hits the floor. EDIT: Socket chisels, that it. I bought a tapered drill bit from lee valley for this very reason, to support the metal part of the chisel. I have the LN, and I only made a prototype so far, but i designed it to support the metal and let the handles sit flush and evenly with each other on the shelf. http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=54864&cat=1,180,42240,53317&ap=1 EDIT: This is a prototype because I did this with a jigsaw and sandpaper. My bandsaw was set up for a window sill cut for a door and I didn't want to move the table and fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Good points about the socket chisels. That's the beauty of the design you can just add bits to it as you go along. I think a catcher piece is going to be a good addition rather than mod the holes. Good idea with the tapered holes though Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 This is how I hold my chisels. It's not as elegant as tapered holes, but it protects me from my own clumsiness. http://www.dans-hobbies.com/project/chisel-racks/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 This is how I hold my chisels. It's not as elegant as tapered holes, but it protects me from my own clumsiness. http://www.dans-hobbies.com/project/chisel-racks/ But you got that lovely grain bro! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 But you got that lovely grain bro! it looks nice but that willow was a royal pain to work with, every time you cut it, the cut would be fuzzy. At some point I'm going to make a new holder, but that probably won't be till i make a tool cabinet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 This is how I hold my chisels. It's not as elegant as tapered holes, but it protects me from my own clumsiness. http://www.dans-hobbies.com/project/chisel-racks/ I like it!!! Thanks Dan for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapid Roger Posted April 17, 2014 Report Share Posted April 17, 2014 Well, if we are showing off chisel racks, I'll show you mine. Made in 2011. Yes, tip protectors and bottom slot for protection of cutting edges...Kind of a "belt and suspenders" approach. Made to hang on a wall but, it spends most of the time sitting on a shelf in the tool cabinet or on the workbench. I made the mallet too. All red oak. Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodieboy Posted April 18, 2014 Report Share Posted April 18, 2014 Pretty nice job on this tool rack. Let's get organized! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markpelly Posted April 21, 2014 Report Share Posted April 21, 2014 Let's get organized! This sounds like a Home Depot slogan haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 NICE RACK ! Really? None of you gave in to the temptation ? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 NICE RACK ! Really? None of you gave in to the temptation ? I was wondering how long it would take Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 My concern would be , reaching for something on the window sill! Sharp objects above your arm, often seem to have a mind of their own, and a thirst for blood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted April 22, 2014 Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Good point ! I have a magnetic knife rack on one side of my kitchen window and occasionally one pops off and dives into the sink. As sharp as some of us keep chisels an accidental stab could be quite deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted April 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2014 Good job I have a chainmail glove Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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