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Thread: tool storage help

  1. #1

    tool storage help

    I'm a new turner but alreay I have too many tools to leave on the workbench next to my lathe. I'm actually a little suprised that there are not turning tool racks for sale everywhere. How to you store your tool or keep them organized and within easy reach?

    Jonathan

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Willow Spring, NC
    Posts
    487
    There are some threads on this subject that will probably give you a good idea on what most folks around here do. I keep my tools on a rack below the ways of my lathe. Not idea, but I plan on installing a small drawer on my work bench to keep my tools in. If you have wall space around your lathe, a few pieces of PVC on the wall is a simple and cheap way to display tools.

    The biggest tip that I can give if you're starting to get cluttered is to limit the amount of tools you have out to three or four that you use constantly. Some folks turn pieces with basically one tool...some people use several. But most of us probably have a few tools that we almost never use. Those can be stored somewhere.

  3. This is how I store mine........built it out of scrap plywood I had lying around and the drawer sides are made from the crate that my lathe came in........... It doesn't all match exactly, but I was more after function than beauty with this one!

    IMGP3097.jpg
    Remember, in a moments time, everything can change!

    Vision - not just seeing what is, but seeing what can be!




  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Fresno, Ca
    Posts
    4,032
    2x4 with 1.5" forstner bit hols drilled 3/4" deep. Glue a piece of PVC 8" long or whatever floats your boat, into the hole. Stack 'em, pack 'em and rack 'em
    Your Respiratory Therapist wears combat boots

  5. #5
    Do a search on tool storage as there are a lot of different idea. Here is what I use and this design is pretty popular. I used scraps of plywood and they really didn't cost me anything. I actually need to build another one.



    tools.JPG
    Last edited by Greg Just; 04-13-2012 at 10:42 PM. Reason: typo

  6. #6
    Jonathan, these are my toolracks, and they are copied from a design that was posted by Jeff Wright and Dan Forman. Also similar to the one posted by Greg.

    TOOLRACK 1.jpg
    The original posts, with dimensions, were copied into this pdf file.
    TOOLHOLDER.pdf
    Seems to work great - though I did not build mine to the furniture quality as did these two creekers!!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Macomb Township Michigan
    Posts
    205
    Here is how I did mine:
    Works great for my use.

    Thank you,
    Scott Gibbons

  8. #8
    Heres mine

  9. #9
    I have too many to put in racks, or I don't have enough rack space. besides, that is just too organized. I liked Mike Mahoney's solution. He had several sections of about 6 inch inside diameter heavy plastic pipe, and had a number of tools in each one. These were stacked on a shelf.

    robo hippy

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Spring City, TN
    Posts
    1,537
    This is my hodge podge plan. I bought a dinged up lower Craftsman tool box and put an old piece of counter top on it. It stores tons of lathe stuff and is movable. Behind my lathe is piece of 10-10 extrustion with my tool rests stored. I had an old fender try that I put my torrent for my chisels on.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Republic, Wash. State
    Posts
    1,187
    Used the canister from a shop vac that died. I inserted a plywood lid with holes drilled to fit a particular tool with the point down. Rolls around the shop and lath area with tools within easy reach.
    C&C WELCOME

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Abbotsford B.C.
    Posts
    317
    Here's mine,
    It's now pretty full though and I'm trying to come up with additional storage.

    John
    Attached Images Attached Images

  13. #13
    I'm a fan of PVC pipe in a bucket.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Tucson
    Posts
    5,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    I use a pocket sliding cabinet. If you notice, in one picture you see the window. In the other the tool rack slides out in front of the window. Compact and usable.

    What you listen to is your business....what you hear is ours.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Kapolei Hawaii
    Posts
    3,236
    Here is my ghetto cheap tool storage. PVC pipe & 5 gallon bucket. I put caps on the end to save the bucket, a coupler on the top to even out the pipe ends. If you don't add the coupler the pipes will all converge and you can't get tools out. Drop the pipes in and steady them with expansion foam. A wad of newspaper in the pipe saves teh tool tips. You'd be surprised to see how many tools can fit. My whole shop has to move, so I can't make nice wall mounted racks......

    Good thing is you can take your bucket to demos and if 1 pipe is empty, you know you forgot a tool out somewhere.

    Sorry about the pic quality. My camera makes 11 meg files, so I have to shrink them down to post. Board won't load big files. Any tips to get a nice picture loaded?

    001 - Copy (2) (427x640).jpg002 - Copy (2) (640x427).jpg

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