Shopsmith Forums

This morning I reset my chop saw on its new bench. At this point is is just some cabinet boxes with a top for the saw. I will go back and build the drawers. My goal is to someday have all tools and small shop accessories either in drawers or in cabinets behind doors.

I would like ideas from the group for organizing inside the drawers. Shaper cutters and router bits will be first on the agenda but if you have a neat storage idea please share it with me.

mbcabinetmaker wrote:This morning I reset my chop saw on its new bench. At this point is is just some cabinet boxes with a top for the saw. I will go back and build the drawers. My goal is to someday have all tools and small shop accessories either in drawers or in cabinets behind doors.

I would like ideas from the group for organizing inside the drawers. Shaper cutters and router bits will be first on the agenda but if you have a neat storage idea please share it with me.

Mbcabinetmaker
When I first setup my shop I was doing exactly what your doing building a spot for everything and everything in it spot. My shop was like a finely tune ship, I could stow everything and knew exactly where everything was. GREAT IDEA!

However over time my method of wood working changed as new and different techniques were invented and developed. Soon the tool I use to use was no longer used and my new tool didn't really have an appropiate home. So when this occurred often enough I redid my shop. Probably the biggest change occurred when I reevaluated my use of solid wood versus many of the new products. Did any of you realize that Cherry as only being cut from commerically grown farms and it is becoming scarce. I was talking to a cabinet builder buddy that said he can't get good cherry anymore. I digress.

As I changed tools and style I have to redo the shop over and over. This last time I went mobile. Everything except some hangin wall cabinets are on wheels and most everything in drawers that can be changed quickly.

One thing I'm doing now is instead of getting my tools out of the custom fitted cases and throwing the cases up in attic. I'm now keeping everything in it's case. Then when I have a project that needs fasteners I can grab my cordless screw drives case alone with a fastener roll around and move to where the need is. So far it is working like a top.

I had a table for my power miter saw but I found a B&D shopmate clamp stand and two Ridgid Flip Tops work far better, can be moved with where they are needed and have kept me from making so many trips back and forth.

The only piece that is more or less fixed is my Radial Arm which sets next to my workbench. Both are on wheels but I build my work bench to be the same height as the RAS so it acts as a table. Incidently I had my RAS built into a table but this last change I mounted in on a roll around cabinet too.

Drawers are great for organizing and storing smaller objects in the shop. Need to allow for removable dividers in the drawers. Even the "egg shell" system would work for larger drawers.

I've used this system with success. If these drawers are to be mounted on peg board, there has to be a chamfer on at least the top back edge.

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Ed

That is the problem with coming up with the perfect shop. We all work differently and what works now may not in the future. I work differently than I did 10 years ago but one thing that doesn't change is my work station. That consists of my bench and the chop saw bench. I am trying to expand the saw bench to accommodate most all small tools and accessories in the shop. I know the accessories will change over time but the drawer system can always be modified if necessary. All my stand alone tools with the exception of the Unisaw are on mobile bases although I rarely move them once they are set and hook to electrical and dust collection. I am trying to get more open floor space and place all large tools against the walls.

Chuck

That is a really unique design. Peg board drawers who knew? I will definitely use that idea for some hanging bins I have in mind.

For router bit holders, check these holders out: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx ... 46180&ap=1

There's a pretty good review/demonstration of them here: http://mattsbasementworkshop.com/354-ro ... t-holders/

mbcabinetmaker wrote:Ed

That is the problem with coming up with the perfect shop. We all work differently and what works now may not in the future. I work differently than I did 10 years ago but one thing that doesn't change is my work station. That consists of my bench and the chop saw bench. I am trying to expand the saw bench to accommodate most all tools and accessories in the shop. I know the accessories will change over time but the drawer system can always be modified if necessary. All my tools with the exception of the Unisaw are on mobile bases although I rarely move them once they are set and hook to electrical and dust collection. I am trying to get more open floor space and place all tools against the walls.

Chuck

That is a really unique design. Peg board drawers who knew? I will defiantly use that idea for some hanging bins I have in mind

Mark
I think I better understand what your tying to accomplish. Sharing my shop with my garage I must store all my tool along the wall. And yes we all change. As a matter of fact I made a change and forgot about it. In my earlier post I said I mounted my power miter saw on a B&D shopmate portable work table/clamp. I did but just lately I mounted it to the top of a Sears roll around tool cabinet. The cabinet now stores all my sanders and sander supplies plus a hammer drawer and pliers drawer.

I too like Chucks peg board drawers but I took all my peg boards down. Perhaps I need to put one back up and build a couple of drawers for it.

mbcabinetmaker wrote:....Chuck

That is a really unique design. Peg board drawers who knew? I will defiantly use that idea for some hanging bins I have in mind

Defiantly?;) Hope you were a victim of spell check!

This system also works for shelves, tool hangers including clamps, even a sandpaper holder with dividers. There are two things I really like about this system:

1) the drawers automatically have a small (5' to 6") shelf above the drawer
2) all of the mountings can be re-arraigned at any time

Sorry Chuck it was spell check. I was in a hurry and didn't read before posting. I have edited the post.

MB
Here is a couple of ideas that I use with success....

1) empty plastic pill containers work with keeping small parts together, such as speciality screws, washers, or parts of a jig or tool. I even keep a supply of Q tips (to clean up glue squeeze out or apply glue or even a dab of paint) in a pill container. A black marker writes clearly on the vile or top for identification.

2) Sandpaper sheets of all grits are filed nicely in office pendaflex folders in a four drawer file.

3) Saw blades kept handy in a home made holder. Glue 2 or 3 10" 2x4 scraps face to face. Square up the ends. With the glue up on the main SS table positioned over the saw blade, lower the table into the glue up (be sure to hold the glue up from moving) about 1 1/2-2 inches or just enough to keep a saw blade from tilting over. Make as many parallel cuts as you can across the glue up separating the blades by approx. 3/4 ". This portable saw blade holder can be used anywhere in the shop.

Hope these are useful to you.

Bob
San Diego

Bob

That is a great idea on the saw blades. I have been contemplating a system. I have about 25 blades but plan to cull quite a few. I also have a lot of various containers. My wife saves everything from the house, and they come in handy. I also use Q tips but keep them in my pen organizer. Thank you for your tips.