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Thread: Shop cabinet configuration

  1. #1

    Shop cabinet configuration

    As I move forward to setting up my shop, I'm starting to think about details.
    Due to the small size, I need to use all the space I have for organization and storage.

    What I am hoping for are suggestions for an under bench cabinet and all are appreciated.

    I have a metal framed bench.
    Under the top, I have approx. 5' high and 22" high which I would like to fill with a cabinet.

    Because I'm not terribly imaginative, I don't always think of the best solutions.

    That's where I hope the community's wisdom and experience will help.

    I had thought of 3 rows of drawers; 18" at each end and 24" in the middle.
    Or, the 2 18" cabinets and shelves for something.

    Would you make all drawers the same depth, say 6" or small at the top, bigger in the middle and deeper yet on the bottom?

    I've been watching YouTube videos until my eyes are ready to fall out trying to get ideas.

    Thanks, in advance, for your help.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
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    Larry,

    I am confronting a similar situation. I was planning a grand drawer base for my bench with lots of drawers for everything...except I was putting the cart before the horse. What I mean is I was planning the drawers expecting everything to fit instead of figuring out what was going into each drawer and then making the drawer to fit. So I went and figured all the stuff that was going in that base and then made a lot of changes. The other thing is I tried to figure out the most used/important things that should be closest. So you can get ideas ( I got plenty) but everything really comes down to what you have and what you use. I like all my hand tools in small drawers right at the top and then bigger heavier tools below with some power tools mixed in and bigger power tools below that in bigger deeper drawers. So when I measured these tools I made some drawers shorter and others taller (I didn't need a 6" drawer for screw drivers)
    Hope this helps. Let Us know what you do.

    Carl

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
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    For me, the top drawers are for chisels and small stuff. Drawer depth around 2 to 3 inches. The middle drawers hold some small stuff. One side holds router parts, guides, collets, wrenches, etc. the other drawer holds some small clamps. Both are around 4 to 5 inches deep. The bottom right drawer holds power tools, routers, and the like. The other holds miscellaneou larger items.

    I used ball ball bearing full extension slides, and I am glad I did.

    best wishes on your undertaking.

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Foster View Post
    ...Because I'm not terribly imaginative, I don't always think of the best solutions...
    You are severely handicapped without some preliminary sketches.
    "Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're doing."

  5. #5
    instead of figuring out what was going into each drawer and then making the drawer to fit.
    Carl, I thought about that when I was asking the question.


    You are severely handicapped without some preliminary sketches.
    I usually am, Andy.

    I've been peeking at Sketch Up but, in the past, I've been a "wing it" kind of guy

  6. #6
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    I found deep drawers at the bench to be problematic and built again. As mentioned 2" deep for the top row or two for chisels, awls, pencils, calipers and other measuring and marking stuff. The rest of mine are 3-1/2" internal depth as that fits an organizational fixture (plastic interlocking boxes) that I use throughout the shop. Deeper drawers are fine else where but, most stuff I keep "at the bench" is smaller and a deeper drawer just turns into a catch-all.

    In another area to consider, I left about 5" between the top of the drawer boxes and bottom of the work surface for holddown clearance. this space is also handy as a place to set items (clamps, holddowns, a shooting board, bench horse, etc.) while working.
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    +1 for what Glenn suggests. My top drawers are designed for the height of boxes I buy on ebay for holding fasteners, and are just a few inches deep. Even so, loaded with fasteners they are heavy.
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    "the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.” Confucius

  8. #8
    Thanks, Bill and Glenn.
    Some good suggestions.

    Keep them coming

  9. #9
    I think 3" drawers across the top is good for keeping things like rulers, pencils, etc.

    I would suggest something like 3, 5, 6, 8"

    You might want to consider a door on the middle bank in case you want to store something like a router or if you have cases with tools like jigsaw, biscuiter, etc.

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Foster View Post
    ...I've been peeking at Sketch Up but, in the past, I've been a "wing it" kind of guy
    I think computer programs hinder an individual's creative freedom. Try a simple thumbnail sketch and even paper dolls on a quad tablet layout of the available space.

    The drawer arrangements/sizes commonly found on roll-away lower cabinets are very useful. I use the deep drawers for storing my full size planes standing on their soles, on foam drawer liner.
    "Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're doing."

  11. #11
    Thanks, Andy and Robert.

    I had thought about leaving the middle open for shelf storage fir things like you mentioned but I have another bench that I put a plywood shelf in for those kinds of things and I may be able to put a second shelf on that one.
    Harbor Freight had cheap plastic 4 shelf units for $14 and I bought 2.
    Those drawer sizes look interesting

  12. #12
    Join Date
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    Know anyone redoing their kitchen? I used my old kitchen cabinets in my shop and they work great.
    Don

  13. #13
    I don't, Don.
    Base cabinets would be too high for this particular application and wall cabinets may be too short(?)

    But, they would be good for other stuff in the shop.
    Thanks for that idea

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Adamsen View Post
    +1 for what Glenn suggests. My top drawers are designed for the height of boxes I buy on ebay for holding fasteners, and are just a few inches deep. Even so, loaded with fasteners they are heavy.

    Bill, can you provide a link on eBay for those little bins? I’ve been using single gang electrical boxes. They work fairly well but I would like to do better.

  15. #15
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    McMaster-Carr has the good quality, compartmented, plastic boxes with non-adjustable dividers for storing fasteners.
    "Anything seems possible when you don't know what you're doing."

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