Organizing Little Things

[143-MPH]

I’ve been putting my shop together over the past year or so, just picking away as time permits. Placement of the primary tools was an easy and straightforward process. But it seems that the little things are costing me more time than space planning. General floor layouts are everywhere online. What I’m seeking is some input for storage and organization. If I place tools according to the building phase it seems that I spend a lot of time just moving tools and not using tools. I’m interested in ideas that help organize the little things (e.g. clamps, fasteners, fixtures, jigs, accessories, etc.) I would enjoy seeing how others addressed this issue. It’s a challenge but a fun challenge. I’m looking forward to the info. Thanks in advance. 143

[pelligrini]

The devil is in the details!

How big is your shop area? Mine is tiny, a 10x12 shed. I've found that organization and storage density is key to having a more workable space. I also like designing it with a little flexibility, so I don't have to totally rearrange everyting when I come home with a new toy or some more clamps.

There's several good threads on what you're asking. Dbhost started a couple really good ones.

This one has some recent interior shots of mine: http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=53976
I'll dig around for some of the other threads.

[dbhost]

A lot of your layout will depend on several critical factors. Among them are the following.

1. How big is the space you have?
2. How is that space laid out shape wise?
3. Where are your major tools and fixtures such as the table saw, jointer, and workbench?
4. Do you have time, money, and desire to build dedicated storage fixtures?
5. Would you rather just buy organizers, stuff it together and get to building something better?

I have a laundry list of organization projects in progress right now. For example...

I am building a dedicated sliding miter saw / mortiser workstation with storage. My routers, and router accessories, as well as finishes, measuring and marking supplies, and electronic meters will in the long run be stored here. It is immediately behind the workbench as well, so all of my handheld power tools will be stored here. Just reach, grab, work.

My workbench is getting a major redesign, featuring a set of drawers / cabinet in the base providing storage for my hand planes, chisels, sharpening supplies, mallets etc. I am also providing storage for my bench hooks, jigs etc, and pnuematic nailers in this bench.

Probably one of my best misc stuff storage ideas so far has come from Wood Magazine, and my crazy brain... I have 2 of Wood Magazine's clamshell "workshop in a box" cabinets built, with a single 8' long, 18" wide shelf that attaches the two end to end, a sized to fit set of shelves between, and a pair of simple piano hinged plywood doors on the front. The doors house turning tool holders, and the entire thing is mounted just above the lathe so that I simply reach up, grab the next turning tool, keep working...

My clamp rack isn't the most conveniently located, but not too bad from where I work. Attached directly to the wall, a few feet from the bench. Holds plenty...

Check out my workshop page for ideas...

[pelligrini]

A few more threads:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=53816
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=51409
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=50094
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=45691

[JR]

This is a deep subject!

Having a rack for clamps is n excellent idea. The big question is whether you can find a fixed location for it or should it be mobile. I found Turaj's excellent mobile rack by searching this site. His thread can be found here. In any case, you definitely want your clamps to be handy when doing doing glue-ups. They frequently do not go as planned. So, expect to have a fixed rack within a few steps of your asembly area, or try to find a parking place for a mobile rack that can be easily moved to your assy area.



I use open-front bins for parts, similar to this setup from Harbor Freight. Mine has three rows on the wall at the back of my workbench. The open front makes it easy to peer into the bins and fish out parts. Ideally, the bins would be on shelves making it easy to grab the bin and take to where you need it.


Jigs and fixtures present a real challenge. I have one or two sleds that I hang on the wall, which would be the ideal solution for most large sleds, fistures, and templates. I just don't have enough wall space to do that, so my templates are in ckind of a stack that doesn't get in the way too much. My cross-cut sled sits on the floor right by the TS because I use it a lot.

I have my most-used small power tools on a shelf next to my asssy bench. It's nice to be able to just grab the tool and start using it without hunting for it. Less-frequently used tools are in milk crates kept within cabinets.

Finally, you can't have enough drawers. I have dwawers each more or less dedicated for specific activities, such as measuring/marking, drilling, painting/finishing accessories, etc.

I recently made two purpose-built cabinets, one for routers and accessories, the other, in the base of my Bt3000, for blades, throat plates, push sticks, T-nuts, etc. It really helps to have the right things conveniently-located to the activity at hand.



Hmm, can't seem to find a pic of the TS cab.

HTH,
JR

[143-MPH]

Small shop space

Thanks for the good input guys. The space I have is 11' x 25' (1/2 of my garage). Naturally one side is the roll up door and I've decided to store my raw stock in the space above the door. For the most part I have one full wall ~18'. (then the side door) The back wall is about 11'. My BT3100 is on a custom rolling platform with locking feet as is my Dewalt 734 on a flip top cart. Those two units fit into bays under my finish workbench. The remainder of the stations are set up for a clockwise build rotation with an assembly bench that has casters but almost never moves. I've attached a quick sketch so hopefully it will make things a bit more clear.

[cork58]

When I set up my shop I decided to use cleats for whatever was put on a wall. After a year or so I finally got it right. It was easy to move around since they all were on cleats. That system works in any size shop by the way.

[dbhost]

I never realized I was getting that well known that I get referred to when pointing out storage threads, but it is no shocker. I am honestly trying to cram way more shop into too little space... And I am almost where I want to be with it! It has taken me a few years of hashing it out, saving up, building this or that, moving things around, but I have garnered a LOT of ideas from folks over the years, and things are coming together...

To address some of the posts of mine that were pointed to...

The one about my clamshell cabinets... I have spaced them now so that the left side of the left cab is exactly 8' from the right side of the right cabinet. There is an 18" shelf above them both. There are shelves between the two, and doors in front of the shelves holding turning tools. At least there was. Those are now off the wall for me to rip the sheet rock down for my power project...
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=53816

The other one, is a pretty old post, my shop has changed a LOT since then... The strong tie workbench is history. I gave it to an auto hobbyist friend as he needed something to do his car work on. My new bench is sized better, made from 3/4" ply, and braced so that I have TONS more storage. Drawers are in progress as I type more or less. I am finally getting junk out of totes, and into drawers, on pegs and in manners I can actually use it!
The tool stacker idea that came from another member here, I have been using for a couple of years. It allows me to have a fairly large number of bench top tools, jointer, planer, sander, scroll saw, and bench grinder, in the floor space that would have been dedicated to just one machine by going up the wall. I simply slide the machine I want off the shelf, onto the bench, and clamp the mount board to the bench to use it. Good and solid system...
My clamp rack really isn't anything to brag about. It needs to be redone and will be soon. For your application, I would recommend building a roll around clamp rack, or buying one.
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=45691

From your drawing, you should have tons and tons of space relatively speaking. So I have to ask the next big dumb question....

Do you know, or can you take the time to learn Sketchup? It's pretty easy to learn, and beats the tar out of constantly moving things physically around to decide if you like a layout or not...

If you can get going with that program, look in the 3D Warehouse for BigDaveF150 (that's me) and feel free to use any of my models... That's why I put them there in the first place...

Given enough lumber to build proper storage, benches and whatnot, I can jam just about my entire shop shy of my big old HF sliding miter saw into a 12x16 shed... Actually if I wasn't so fussy about that miter saw being used on a proper bench I could get it all in there and still work... Sketchup is a great way of proving these things out before breaking a sweat, or doing serious damage to the budget!

[143-MPH]

Rolling Dolly's for Everything

Thanks for all the good ideas and images. It seems like the best solution will be to make a couple of rolling clamp dolly's and split my set in such a way to allow for one set of clamps in different work areas. As far as other tools, I've kicked around the idea of the clam shell storage unit. What are the pros and cons for storing tools in that manner? What's the consensus on using peg board for tool arrangement vs dedicated locations? More in a bit. 143

[pelligrini]

For Me, I like pegboard. I'm still procuring little tools, chisels, and such. The pegboard gives me a lot of flexibility when I need to fit 'one more something' into the space. I've seen some nice slatwall solutions too.

The clam shell units can give a lot of storage space in a small area, and provide some decent protection for whats inside.

The cons in my pegboard doors, and in the clamshell types would mostly be accessibility. You have to open a door to get to what is inside. It can be a pain if you have work in front of the door. I prefer to put my lesser used tools inside. Same goes for the low drawers or corner spaces. I don't mind moving something out of the way to get to a tool every once in a while. I do mind it if I put a frequently used item behind something else.

[dbhost]

I have to agree with Erik on low drawers, and inside doors. However the "just inside" doesn't bother me. The 2 doors into the cabinet is reserved for lesser used stuff...

Due to persistent back trouble, things that are close to the ground better not want me to use them very often, cause I am NOT going that way any more often than I have to...

[pelligrini]

Most all of my fasteners are in the boxes they came in, or some small plastic containers with dividers, or in a couple of wall hung organizers (the type with a bunch of clear plastic drawers).

I built a couple quickie shelves out of MDF and 1/4" ply for my box fasteners. I call all the assorted drywall screws, deck screws, nails & finish nails my box fasteners. The shelves were designed to hold the boxes I get from HD and Lowes. A similar shelf hold the plastic organizers. Each is filled with assorted, but related fasteners; 1/4" lag bolts of varying length, another with 1/4" carriage bolts, 5/16 carriage, etc..

Another set of small shelves hold all of my assorted wood screws, arranged by size and length. I usually leave those in the thin plastic boxes they come in.

I have some stacking container boxes that are filled with assorted package fasteners. Each box has a handle on top and slides into a stacking rack. One is labeled machine screws, the other has all sorts of package fasteners. A bigger box holds all of my steel wool and some glue brushes. Another has my electric stapler and staples.

I really like having an array of assorted fasteners on hand. I hate having to stop in the middle of a project to go pick up one or two carriage bolts or whatever from the store to finish.

[JoeyGee]

I love pegboard. A previous owner lined one 20' wall with pegboard. I use a lot of it.

For small parts, I have a few of those small HF drawer units, which I like. My favorite for small parts/hardware, though, is a series of plastic peanut butter jars. I screw the lids under shelves, and then just screw the bottoms back to the lid for some easy storage in spots that normally go unused.

My dad and grandfather both did this in their shops, but with glass jars--not such a great idea .

[143-MPH]

Reservations regarding peg board

I may be making more of this issue than I should, but it seems to me that the hooks used for storing tools on peg boards fall out quite easily. Is there a trick that will help reduce or eliminate this? Another question is regarding rolling drawers vs. rolling shelves. The latter seems to offer quicker access with easier tool location, but also increases the challenge of accumulating dust on and in the storage area. Finally, how would you address edge jointing without a dedicated jointer?

[JoeyGee]

You can get those little plastic clips for pegboard hooks. They basically straddle the hook and hook into each adjoining hole and hold the hook in tight. They usually come with a set of hooks from the big box stores. I really like buying the variety packs. I seem to use all the items in the pack.