How is your shop setup?

[georgek1]

Ed,

I found that having doors that swing out create a number of different problems. In Shopnotes Vol.77 there is a plan for a wall cabinet that uses sliding panels. The effect is to multi-layers of panels occupying the same foot print against the wall. If I can figure out how to post a picture, I will post one later today.

I have also found a great supply of hooks for .25" peg board from Talon Hooks (talonhooks.com). They will not fall out of the board when you remove tools.

Good luck, I know there is never enough storage just like never enough clamps.
George

[charlese]

Ed- just snapped 10 photos of my system. With it I can make almost any type of specialized hanging device needed. It uses peg board, but not peg board hooks - so nothing ever comes loose unexpectedly. However all hanging units are movable(re-arrangeable) at will. The photos show tool hangers, a sandpaper organization box, drawers with removable dividers - - There are ten photos, so will take two posts to show.

[charlese]

Here are applications other than drawers. BTW I had a box of 100 'L' hooks several years ago. Now I'm down to 8. Time to order more. I didn't show every use of these storage devices, but you get the idea.

[Ed in Tampa]

Chuck
What a great system. My problem is my cabinets are already built.
As a matter of fact I think you mentioned in one of the other threads that I needed to use the door more. So I started to do that.

Unfortunately I can't use all of your ideas because in many cases the cabinets have obstacles to things hanging on the door. If I ever decide to rebuild my existing cabinets I would use many of your examples in a minute.

I did modified my one cabinet to allow me to hang my screwdrives on the door. I had to cut the width of the shelves down to get the room. I had thought of building a frame around the doors to make them thicker but then I would run into problems with the cabinet sticking out over the bench below them.

My biggest problem right now is my pliers. I must have 50 that I'm trying to organize. I have small, medium and large cross cutters, small medium and large needle nose, flat nose, lineman, etc. plus an assortment of speciality like gas, ring, crimping and etc. Along with slip joint, nippers and bolt cutter. I also have a whole set of mini pliers. Right now they are piled in a drawer half with the other half of the drawer holding files.

I have even thought of making a tray to fit the drawer. So I could place files and such on the bottom and then on the tray lay out my pliers but I think everytime I went for a files the pliers would all slide to the back and I would end up with my pile again. I can't store them out on the wall since I have so many spiders and after a while with dust it gets so you don't want to reach for a seldom used plier for fear of what might reach for you.
Ed

[charlese]

Ed, You didn't mention a tool chest. Although I don't have 50 there's a lot of them around. I finally bought two tool chests (really tool boxes) with an opening top, a handle and three drawers. My rule is - the top space holds odds and ends, the top drawer holds screw drivers, the second drawer holds 'squeezy' tools, the bottom drawer in one holds wrenches, the other holds sockets. (The squeezy tools are pliers, etc.) Yes the 22 inch tool chests sometimes get in the way, but they are movable.

This took care of the tools I seldom use -- the rest of the tools that I hardly ever use are in other tool boxes located in base cabinets.

The screw drivers that I often use are few. I have those hanging in plain sight and reach.

[Ed in Tampa]

Chuck
I have thought of tool chests, in fact it was a real temptation for me to know they are going to build a tool chest at the second academy class the week after the owner's weekend.

However tool boxes get real heavy real quick and it is just another thing to try to figure out where to put it. If I keep it on my work bench which is perferable then I would have to move it everytime I wanted bench space. If I stored it somewhere else the tools wouldn't be accessable as I would like them to be. However I may be forced into going that direction.

I think I have really boiled down my problem. I need to have a garage sale and sell half the tools I now own. Nobody really needs fifty pliers and dozens of screw drivers, two sets of wood chisels (one an everyday set and the other scarey sharp and never used so it stays sharp) If I got rid of all the junk I hang on to just because I have it I would have plenty of space to give every tool it own place.

[a1gutterman]

Ed, as soon as you rid yourself of some tool that you have never or seldom used, you wood need it!!:rolleyes:

[brown_hawk]

Ed,

I think if you combine the sliding panels with the chisel holder in Chucks picture 1788, you will be able to store those pliers easily.

Cut out a piece of wood to hold the pliers head down, then either use the "L" hooks or just screw them to the sliding panel. Do the cutouts from the back, so that the wood is whole across the front. That way nothing will fall out as you pull the panel out. Make sure that you have a stop piece on the panel, so it can't be pulled out, and you have your handy storage ready to go.

Hawk

[flashbacpt]

Ed,
As always, a lot of great ideas, and suggestions have been given. I found myself in a similar situation, and quite honestly, it took me a couple of years trying to find something that I like, that would work, and that would fit, and be functional in a small space. It is still a work in progress!
You must have a plan of action, and I can see that you have already made some important decisions. Yes, one does not need 10 pairs of pliers, etc. Holding a garage sale is a great idea! Take the money and then treat yourself to a new SS tool!
I finally settled upon a "Shop-in-a-box" tool cabinet that was featured in Wood Magazine, the October 2006 issue. I believe this is the cabinet that Ryan mentioned. It is a basic box attached to the wall, with two smaller "doors/panels" that close on the box, with two larger "doors/panels" that close on top of the smaller doors. The big attraction of this cabinet was quite simple. It occupies a little more than 7 square feet of wall area, but offers a full 26 square feet of storage on the perforated-hardboard panels/doors! In addition, you have three small shelfs, and eight small bins.
All that is required is one sheet of 3/4 inch plywood, one sheet of 1/4" perforated hardboard, and a quarter sheet of 1/4 hardboard.
For attaching tools, and other stuff, I have used a combination of items. The Talon hooks, McFeely's sells them, are just great. They eliminate the frustration of reaching for a tool, and having the hook come with it!
Also, Chuck mentioned the use of the "L" hooks. These are great! They allow you to design your own tool holders, shelfs, etc. to fit your needs. Too often, the pegboard hooks cannot do the job.
Finally, for all the odd shaped tools that the above two cannot handle, I found the answer in using BunjiPegs. They will hold items up to 10 lbs, are fast and easy to install. You just insert a small diameter bunji cord under a peg, push the peg in, and then strecth the cord to the length that you need, and push in a second peg! I believe that I also got them from McFeely's.
In closing, Keep moving forward, and remember that it never ends. You will always need something else to keep your shop organized!
Best Wishes! John

[Ed in Tampa]

I dug out my copy of Wood Mag Oct 2006 and looked at the cabinet flashbacpt and Ryan are talking about. It is really a neat cabinet and I may end up making perhaps a upscaled model of it unless I can modify my existing cabinets with slide outs.

Thanks for the idea!! I hope there are still more out there!!!
Ed