SawDustB Posted July 29, 2016 Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 Hey guys, I've been thinking quite a bit lately about trying to get my (garage) shop into better shape to make it more fun to work in... I had posted in the other thread about painting the walls, I've still got a workbench on my to-do list, and I'm looking a lot at storage. Right now my hand tools are scattered around the garage and mixed in with my power tools or with miscellaneous household stuff stored in the garage. I'm thinking the next priorities should be getting my walls painted and set up with better hanging storage to get the non-woodworking things out of my way, then I want to put up a hand tool cabinet. I'm not looking at going completely over-the-top detailed with this, since I just don't have the time. To start, I suspect it might just be a cabinet with plane/saw storage and some shelves, and I'll go from there. My inclination right now is to build something from Baltic birch, maybe with some accents out of something nicer. The space I have to work with is about 32" in height and up to 42" or so in width. I'm not set on dimensions yet, so I'm trying to figure that out (maybe 32x36?). The area I'm looking at will be on the wall above and behind where I want my bench to go, starting at about 18" off the bench surface (think upper kitchen cabinet height). The things I need to store in there to start (recognizing that I have quite a few more I want to get): 2 small japanese saws Pair of LV carcass saws (haven't bought them yet, but I plan to before the workbench) Fret saw & coping saw 2 block planes 4 bench planes (Stanley 4, 5, 6, and I'd like to get a LV low angle for shooting) Router plane and rabbet plane Spokeshave and cabinet scraper Card scrapers 10 or so chisels A couple of files (also planning on adding a few rasps) Misc measuring tools (squares, angle gauges, rulers, etc) Strop and plane supplies I'm sure I've forgotten a few things, but that's the majority so far. What have you done for storing your hand tools? There are so many designs, some of which seem kind of impractical to me. I'm leaning towards a cabinet that has an inset in the door that hinges out, to give more hanging space for small stuff. I can't decide if drawers are a good idea or not. I like the angled plane till, and right now I'm leaning towards a vertical saw till in the cabinet rather than putting them on the doors. If there are other threads I should look at, let me know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barron Posted July 29, 2016 Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 I've gone with a tool chest a la Schwarz, but I know Marc has a tool cabinet from ply on the guild that might work for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 29, 2016 Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 It started out a Guild project, but ended up on youtube and the free site. My cabinet was loosely based on this one as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted July 29, 2016 Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 Heres my tool cabinet.These are my most prized tools that i use the most. I keep my bench planes in a drawer.I also have tool rolls with carving chisels and paring chisels. Tool cabinets are really fun to make i made two crummy one before i made this one. John Wayne keeps a eye out for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted July 29, 2016 Report Share Posted July 29, 2016 Nice job, looks like lots of room to grow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted July 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 Thanks@Eric. and@Barron for pointing me to Marc's videos. I had watched them quite a while ago, and I also want to use a lot of his ideas. @Aj3 your cabinet looks pretty good. I'm looking to build something that functionality stores the same things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted July 30, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 I'll throw my hat in the ring just for bragging rights. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 E. I remember you posting pictures of this before and like last time, that is a damn impressive cabinet! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 It still is impressive! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown craftsman Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 That's a killer cabinet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 Eric and Aj3 those are awesome cabinets!! Aj3 I love the book matched door fronts. Eric what joint is the drawer front I don't think I have ever seen that before, they look amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 2 minutes ago, pkinneb said: Eric what joint is the drawer front I don't think I have ever seen that before, they look amazing Pinned rabbeted dovetail. Easy joint to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 4 minutes ago, Eric. said: Pinned rabbeted dovetail. Easy joint to make. Thanks! I am going to have to look into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 I'd build a nice cabinet like that, but it would be disgraced by all my cheap tools! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted July 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 @Eric that cabinet's beautiful. That's pretty much exactly what I would love to have eventually. Is it plywood for the front and back, and solid wood for everything else? I'd considered trying something similar, but I was trying to figure out if that would be a pain because of wood movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 33 minutes ago, SawDustB said: Is it plywood for the front and back, and solid wood for everything else? Yep. The panel in the plane till is plywood also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted July 30, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 Eric's cabinet is beautiful. I think I am finally starting to settle down as to which are my really consistently used tools. I think this will lead to a more elegant solution than I have now. As an interim step I wanted a maximum of flexibility. The plane till and the two side wing cabinets went through near constant change at first. At this point they are settling down. At first I thought I had not built big enough. You always have to start somewhere. I now seem to have plenty of room as daily users take center stage and peripheral tools find homes a few steps further away in drawers or other cabinets. These are older pics and the till and two wings have continued to morph. I even have items in the cases that will eventually move out; they're just there because they are not in the way ;-) The till carcass and wings are finger-jointed and have pegboard on all mounting surfaces. I do not have the bad taste for pegboard like some folks do but, I have avoided the low quality pegs and use custom made tool holders or high quality pegs that stay put and are reliable. The previous pic is of the left wing. Until I rearrange some wall space he has to live on the opposite wall. Here's an example of a holder. Small "L" hooks fit the pegboard and keep things secure. I use paracord to hang some of the planes. I saw this in Chris Gochnour's shop on Fine Woodworking. In this pic it is pieces of old boot lace that I used till I got things decided on. If you already know what tools will be in your till and where they will go, fixed holders work great. I'm still figuring it out so the pegboard offers cheap and easy rearrangement. Once I've got it settled I would like to make them a less 'institutional' looking home. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby W Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 Gee - I like your square holder. Putting them on a slight angle saves a lot of space. SawDustB - one thing to think about when you mount your cabinet is how far you can reach over your workbench. I am short and have short arms, so I can't comfortably reach more than about 6 1/2 feet over my bench. It puts a serious crimp in my cabinet height. Eric - very nice cabinet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted July 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 @gee-dub thanks for the details. You've obviously put in s lot of thought. I don't have my tool collection completed yet by any means, so I'll have to leave some flexibility. @Robby W I'm not too worried about reaching the cabinet. I'm 6' 1" with arms on the longer so while the very top may be a stretch over a bench, it shouldn't be a problem. I'm also OK with having more occasional storage at the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denette Posted July 30, 2016 Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 I have little to add but "ooh, that is nice!" So I'll add that! I don't quite have enough hand tools to justify such a cabinet, but if I did, I'd aspire to such a nice cabinet as these on display here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted July 30, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 30, 2016 4 hours ago, Robby W said: Gee - I like your square holder. Putting them on a slight angle saves a lot of space. Just as a point of interest . . . this fixture is on the door so I have small magnets that catch the heads and hold them firm. I don't normally swing the door open at high speed but, I also don't want a square hitting the concrete ;-) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby W Posted July 31, 2016 Report Share Posted July 31, 2016 5 hours ago, SawDustB said: @Robby W I'm not too worried about reaching the cabinet. I'm 6' 1" with arms on the longer so while the very top may be a stretch over a bench, it shouldn't be a problem. I'm also OK with having more occasional storage at the top. Now I am officially jealous....? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted August 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2016 After looking around the web a bit, the cabinets I liked the look of the best were Marc's and this one from Fine Woodworking (winter 2014 tools & shops issue): http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/57874/build-a-hanging-tool-cabinet I think this is the design I'm going to model mine after, although I'll be cutting the height down and maybe adding a couple of planes worth of width to use my space better. When it comes to the actual tool holders, I'll be borrowing ideas from everywhere. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted August 5, 2016 Report Share Posted August 5, 2016 SawDustB if/when you build please do a project journal I would love to follow that build. I have that cabinet on my list currently building the Mike Pekovich tool chest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted August 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2016 SawDustB if/when you build please do a project journal I would love to follow that build. I have that cabinet on my list currently building the Mike Pekovich tool chest. Sure, I can do that. Like I said, I'll have to modify the design some but I intend to follow it where I can. Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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