Re: Putting 10 lbs. of Tools In a 5 lb. Shop

[noreaster]

I acquired a free metal cabinet 18x36x72 free, it has lot of shelves set at the height for those cardboard bins. All of the screws and nails in the small boxes you get from Borg or Lowes fit nicely in the 4" wide bins. The rest of the bins have electrical parts, paint brushes, plumbing parts etc. In the two, 3 piece tool boxes are all the hand tools. One of the small roll around toolbox has the bench sander on top with supplies inside. The other has the planer on top when in use with routers and bits inside. I don't have rafters in the garage but with heavy duty eye screws, rope and some 2x2's, I can place long 2x3's, 2x4's there. I had just finished putting up some more screw eyes for pieces up to 4' long up there also. One thing that will help is to get rid of things you don't use anymore. I have too much scrap lumber I may "need" someday.

[Michael A. Terrell]

I had an old rack for 9 track computer tapes sitting around, so I made a rolling base for it, then I covered one side with 1/4" hardboard, and the Harbor Freight version of those bins. That left the other side open, which was filled with the old metal framed AkroMills 50 drawer parts cabinets. Small parts on one side, bigger stuff on the other! Not only can it turn, but it can be rolled almost anywhere in the shop to keep things close at hand.

It is similar to the open rack shown here:

I have made storage cabinets out of old relay racks with locking doors, as well. I store the expensive tools and test equipment in them. They are all on heavy casters, and can be moved, if needed.

[Leuf]

The biggest wasted space in my shop is under the stationary tools. If I really run out of space I'll start replacing the stands with cabinets. I have assorted crap stuffed under some of them, but most of it is not being used efficiently. If you aren't using the space under your bench then that's a big one too.

I gained a lot of space rearranging things in the shop. I used to have a big metal shelving unit near the workbench. When I needed to fit another stationary tool in I pulled the workbench out from the wall and stuck the shelving unit in there. I lost some working space from the middle of the shop, but gained precious wall space. This is specific to my shop, but it goes to show a simple rearrangement can find you space you didn't know you had. Of course once you've rearranged everything half a dozen or so times already there isn't going to be too much more to be gained.

-Leuf

[Roy Smith]

When I started making my shop (in my basement, with about a 17' x 27' footprint, minus annoying things like stairs, furnace, and lolly columns), one of the first things I did was build a workbench. Nothing fancy, just something banged together with 2x4's and plywood.

I figured I wanted a big surface, so I made it about 30" deep. This turned out to be a mistake. Sure, it's nice to have an aircraft-carrier sized space to work on, but it's so deep I can't comfortably reach the wall behind it and I lose out on all that storage space. If I were planning it all again, I'd go for a shallower bench.

I have a relatively low ceiling (about 7 feet). This really annoying (especially when trying to store 8 foot panels!), but I do take advantage of the space between the joists for storage. I store my bar clamps up there, for example.

[Leon]

Relatively smooth, no make that as long as the dips and small holes are not more than 1/4" deep. My garage floor is far from flat or smooth.

[J T]

Sun, Sep 9, 2007, 4:29pm (EDT+5) d@p (Dave=A0Gordon) doth query: Where do you keep the beer barrel?

No prob, I don't drink any more. Not good to drink in the shop anyway.

JOAT What is life without challenge and a constant stream of new humiliations?

- Peter Egan

[Martin H. Eastburn]

[noreaster]

My garage floor is all pitched towards a drain, so I cant get anything leveled without support block. In my 10x18 garage I have 2 toolboxes , two 4 drawer boxes, 36x18 shelves, 2 side cabinets, Radial arm saw, table saw, 30x72 workbench, 36x18 metal cabinet, 17" drill press, 20" scroll saw, 11 drawers (that was for workbenches) stacked on top of each other and 2 small tool carts, 28' ladder, and I can still fit my car in. What I did for the bench was made it pivot between 2 4x4's that go from ceiling to floor (with pegboard in between the two 4x4's), when in use I prop it up with a 2x3, if I need to move it, the legs and supports get wing nutted on. I had to figure out what to do with the radial arm saw or table saw since one of them would get in the way of the car to park in there, so what I figured out was the table saw without legs was 13" tall so I thought why not make that pivot to. Yes its a bit heavy to get propping up and to let it hang when not in use, but its working out great for me, the stand can get bolted on easily when I need to move it out. 4x8 sheets are behind the 2 tool boxes and radial arm saw. I have the garage pretty much well packed, even wood hanging from the ceiling. You just need a creative thinking cap.

[Gunner]

Shrug...my "shop is a partially closed in 14x54 carport with a dirt floor and a 24" slope from end to end.

With the exception of the HLV-H and the Gorton MasterMill..everything else is on 2x4s or 4x4s with shims.

Gunner

[asmurff]

Lots of good storage ideas thanks. BUT, no one mentioned a Garage Sale. If you have lots of hardware left over from past projects and you advertise your sale in a local paper, you'd be surprised at the local tradesman who will come to pick up discounted hardware.

[mac davis]

Roy.... been there, done that...

My first bench was 6' x 3' and in the middle of the shop... did little but get in the way, so I moved it against the wall.. Being 36" deep, the foot or so against the wall became an instant shit collector, of course..

My current bench is 6' x 2' and still collects things like a magnet, but at least it's less space to clear off when I do something that I actually need a bench for..

My last shop had exposed joists, too... I spent a few years dreaming up uses for them... One of the best was slotted 2x6's between the joists with the slots facing the ceiling... great over the work bench for squares, dowel saws, etc...

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

[Robert Bonomi]

simple ---

You need _one_more_tool_.

A motor-driven shoe-horn.

[Robert Bonomi]

Bigger shop doesn't help. "Mrs. Parkenson's Law" applies. ("Clutter expands to fill all available space." -- for those unfamiliar, see the writings of C. Northcote Parkinson at you library. Ranks alongside 'Murphy' and 'The Peter Principle" :)

[Dave in Houston]

I am reminded of one of our hunting club members who once tried availing himself of the one pound coffee can he kept in his deer blind. He dropped trou and positioned himself over the empty can. But, it was too late when he realized he was going to unload [at least] two pounds worth! :o)))))))))))))))))))))))))

[Swingman]

Gotta watch that Texas deer camp food ... it'll get you one way or the other.

[Mark Rand]

cabinet 12 inches deep. The

more into the workshop,

consume any usable space

couple of ledgers at the

recommend them.

How do you hinge the doors so that they will open without fouling on the adjacent cabinets?

Mark Rand RTFM

[Leon]

Ok, getting rid of the garage would solve nothing... ;~)

[Lew Hartswick]

Obviously at the TOP. :-) ...lew...

[J T]

Sun, Sep 9, 2007, 10:54am [e-mail] (J=A0T) formerly did posteth thusly: My shop is 8'X12'. I have a 37" center wood lathe, on a shop-made stand. Planer on shop-made stand. Bench saw, on a shop-made stand. Bench drill press. Router table - four spare routers. Bench bandsaw. Scrollsaw. Arc welder. and so on. Plus various hand tools, both power and non-power. And various items of my younger son - radio control boat, etc., etc. And I have a folding chair.

Drat. Forgot to mention my Tiki, air compressor, ten .50 cal ammo cans for storage, small belt/disc sander, grinding wheel, hand belt sender, hand power planer, 3 or 4 drills, chainsaw, project patterns, wood storage, scrap wood storage, and my planer sleds. Hmm, seems to me I'm still forgetting something. At least the car engine is not still in there, even tho I do have a differentia, and a few carbsl. I need to upgrade my bench too. I have a shop, it's all paid for; life is basically good..

JOAT What is life without challenge and a constant stream of new humiliations?

- Peter Egan

[J. Clarke]

Makes it difficult to store things on the doors though. You'd need to hang them so that they pivot from the front or else put some space between the cabinets.