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Where/how does everyone store large power tools?

Threadkiller

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Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Messages
167
Location
Dutchess County, NY
Hey all. I currently have two toolboxes, a little craftsman box which houses a lot of my house tools (roller cabinet and toolbox on top I forget the size though) and a harbor freight 44" top and bottom with a side cabinet which houses my automotive stuff.

I have a couple tools that I cant seem to find a home for. What do you all do with your reciprocating saws, circular saws, jig saws etc? I actually purchased the side cabinet for things like that but it turns out to be a lot smaller and fill up quicker than I thought. For now I have my TIG filler and tools with those blow molded plastic cases in the side cabinet
 
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PhantomEB

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Feb 6, 2006
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6,817
Location
Medicine Hat, AB, Canuckistan
I put doors on my workbench and put all my "construction" type of power tools under the bench behind the closed doors.

I doing the same for the bigger ones. Plans is to have shitloads of overhead cupboards with doors so no one cupboards be overloaded. This kind of tools are only used from time to time so no issue grabbing the ladder from the corner.... 10' ceilings and I want to be able to stand under these cupboards for max floor space.:willy_nil
 

Trey T

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Aug 3, 2011
Messages
3,749
Location
Houston, TX
I don't do much woodworking anymore (1-2 construction projects per year @ church) so I store all my tools in my attic. I put them in a large clear bin and hoist it up w/ my lift.
 

Cyberbear

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Nov 23, 2013
Messages
1,524
Location
California
There are different definitions of "large" power tools. Most of what you've described would probably be best described as portable power tools, and can often be stored effectively in large stand alone metal two door cabinets with shelves.
My "large" power tools consist of stationary tools such as: 10" table saw, 16" radial arm saw, 20" wood and 16" metal lathes, etc., etc. I sometimes yearn for those simpler days when all my tools fit in the back of my pick-up truck.
 

Pack Rat

MEMBER EMERITUS
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Oct 7, 2014
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1,017
Portable power tools, wherever my daughters boyfriend leaves them (my wife loans them out).
Large power tools are currently in a rented storage unit. I need a shop building with combination locks.
 
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My Old Tools

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Jun 4, 2014
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Location
Hamrick Lake, TX
I built a cabinet. It is 8'x8'x12". It has 36 16"x16" cubes, cubby holes. Those can hold bigger saws, tool cases, etc. I took several of the cubes and outfitted them with drawers. Those are used primarily for nuts and bolts, small hardware, router and shaper bits, etc. My "large portables" include a 16" Makita circular saw, a Makita chain mortiser, several 1/2" drill motors, routers, nail guns, etc. It's easy to sub-divide the cubes with shelves as needed for smaller stuff.
 

nh_yota

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Mar 10, 2015
Messages
4,077
Location
Seacoast New Hampshire
All of my portable power tools are stored in their cases, with the exception of my cordless drill and driver because they are used most often. The cases are stored on a shelf under my workbench. If I had a cabinet, they would be stored in their cases on shelves in the cabinet.

Since I'm the Mr. Fixit among my friends I tend to be the one who helps everyone out with projects, and keeping my power tools in their cases makes it easy to throw them in my truck when I need to go fix something.

For the tools which didn't come with cases, I try to find a matching case on ebay or I just go out and get a plain plastic toolbox which is just the right size for the tool.
 

astroracer

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Jun 22, 2005
Messages
3,001
Location
Mid_Michigan
Lateral filing cabinets. This one has a Power Center bolted to it with all of my cordless drills, batteries and chargers in it.
photo6-vi.jpg

photo6-vi.jpg

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The upper box.
photo1-vi.jpg

Mark
 

Keel

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Jun 12, 2015
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Location
LaLaLand
At the moment, my tools are everywhere, as I am playing rubics cube, it do one project, have to move stuff, then it's in the way.. lol

for my power tools, I have a 36"x36" x'6 tall stainless shelf unit, from a sub shop that I put them on.. hopefully, next spring I'll build a shed /workshop to store, and use them in..
we shall see, wife needs to stop with adding to a list, of what she'd like.. my Automotice tools, take up 2) 5'wide 6' tall boxes, 2 carts, and most of the other wall on peg board 4'x24' and then you have the big stuff, sand blaster, blasting cab,gas wrench, mig,parts washer, etc.. mind you that is all in a one car garage, with a car, 3 engines, a few trans, to say I can't work in there is an understatement..
have a plan, we'll see if when I throw it on the wall if it sticks.. I have a 20'x16' canvas garage, that I will re inforce the metal framework, and then put the steel roofing on it, and make the garage L shaped.. so I'll have more room, and get **** done..
 

Matt The Hammer

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Sep 6, 2013
Messages
79
Location
South Jersey
File cabinet I sourced from my office. I have battery tools in top drawer, corded below. The last drawer actually is used for files. Although one file is all my sandpaper. Rest are manuals and the like I never know what to do with.
 

LumpyMusic

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Joined
May 2, 2012
Messages
492
Location
Phoenix Arizona USA
Simple, open metal shelving units. Not in their cases but out and available. Need a tool? Grab it off the shelf. Need a battery for that tool if it's cordless? Grab one out of the charger. Need a blade/bit/wrench/chuck key for that tool? They're right there on the shelf next to the tool they fit.


Sgt Lumpy
 

OJ Bartley

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Joined
May 18, 2009
Messages
605
Location
Toronto, ON
I like the idea of little tool cradles that are movable, something like this:

FeaWPp6.jpg


But I don't know how it would work in practice in my small area. I have a feeling things would stick out too much. If I had more space, I think I'd do something like My Old Tools said, and build a cabinet with cubby spaces for each tool, then put doors on it.

t32t5IN.jpg
 
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atthebeach

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Mar 18, 2014
Messages
311
Location
At The Beach
I keep my portable power tools in their cases on about 8' of the bottom shelf of one of my workbenches. My housekeeping is less than perfect, so there is often a layer of sawdust everywhere. The cases keep my tools clean. However, drills and drivers that get used the most often are kept in an open wooden box under another bench within easy reach.
 

94_C/1500

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Oct 13, 2015
Messages
82
I have a bench that I got for free. It's got a plywood top that is hinged and has 2 big compartments. I keep loose spare parts on one side and electric tools on the other. I figured it's the best spot to keep mice from finding them and they are out of the way.
 

rockinacummins

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Oct 27, 2013
Messages
1,707
Location
Wapanucka, OK
In the deep drawers of a large metal desk. I have my router table, scroll saw, and band saw on top of the desk. So it works out nicely. Plus the smaller drawers are great for toolsand extrad blades and such.
 
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audioworks04

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Oct 6, 2015
Messages
141
Location
Olathe KS
I hang all of my cordless tools overhead of my bench from my upper cabinets. Very simple to build just plywood. I use a 2" hole saw and then a circular saw to cut up to the hole. My holes are spaced 5in o.c. Not sure really how to describe it in words, but pretty easy to figure out.

 

venturesomerite

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Nov 3, 2011
Messages
1,135
Location
Connecticut - not sure why though...
I found some old cabinets at the side of the road years ago. They are kitchen cabinets, but have 3 large drawers instead of doors. That is where I put my commonly used ones (circa saw, grinder, sawzall) and the rest go in cases or bags on a shelf.
 

Jon_E

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Joined
Aug 19, 2015
Messages
575
Location
Southwestern Vermont
I built a cabinet. It is 8'x8'x12". It has 36 16"x16" cubes, cubby holes. Those can hold bigger saws, tool cases, etc. I took several of the cubes and outfitted them with drawers. Those are used primarily for nuts and bolts, small hardware, router and shaper bits, etc. My "large portables" include a 16" Makita circular saw, a Makita chain mortiser, several 1/2" drill motors, routers, nail guns, etc. It's easy to sub-divide the cubes with shelves as needed for smaller stuff.

+1 on this idea. Take it one step further by adding dadoes in the verticals every four inches or so, for a piece of 1/2" plywood to slide in. It will give you smaller cubbyholes for smaller items. Or cram a whole bunch of smaller things in a single 16" cube. This idea is great for the woodworkers who have a lot of smaller power tools.
 

My Old Tools

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Jun 4, 2014
Messages
5,446
Location
Hamrick Lake, TX
I built mine from 3/4" CDX. I ripped the 12" (11.5") strips from full sheets. Then I slotted them every 16" to half their width, about a 6"x3/4" slot. You can see where it goes from here, the pieces fit into each other to form the grid. The two outside uprights are put on with biscuit's. They could have been dadoed. I put it on a base of 2x4 material to make a toe kick and get the bottom shelf off the floor. I put a back on it of 1/4" plywood to stop racking and keep things from falling out the back. Mine isn't pretty. I didn't put solid wood edging on or paint it.

For the drawer units, I made my drawers from 3/8" Baltic birch ply sides, soft maple fronts, and 1/4" Baltic birch bottoms. The bottoms overhang the sides by 3/8" or so on each side. That becomes the slide. I then took 3/4" Baltic birch ply and cut it to fit the 16" cube sides. Then I cut dados for each drawer bottom to slide in. Apply Johnson's Paste Wax and it slides like a machined surface. I have some of them loaded with boxes of nuts, bolts and screws and they still slide great. They pull completely out easily to carry to the bench. To add shelves, I just tack strips to the sides of a cube and set a shelf on them. Quick and easy and reversible.

I'll do some pictures someday.....
 

Chasbec

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Joined
Mar 24, 2013
Messages
130
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
Lateral file cabinets with the lift up doors. Best i have found. Standard file cabinet is next.

Really surprised to see so many other people who uses lateral files. The previous owner of my house/garage left three sets of them in the garage, which I use for storing all my portable power tools. They work great and can handle the weight without a problem.
 
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PECVD2

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Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
1,380
Location
Albuquerque, NM
table saw, planer, joiner, shaper, bandsaw and drill press are on mobile platforms and pushed to one end when not in use. Smaller power tools are in their cases in a cabinet or two.

GALLERY]




GALLERY]
 
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Katodog

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Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
737
Location
Carol Stream Illinois
90% of my cordless tools hang over the workbench using old NiCad battery shells. The one reciprocating saw sits on a mount I made, and it's on the left side of the bench...you can see the top of it. The other two reciprocating saws are inside the rolling box that my original Ryobi tools came in (their old "Six-Pack"). Miter saw came with that kit and sits on top of it, which is how it was made. It's supposed to flip over and become the top of the box but I always leave it out. Drill press is mounted to a piece of plywood, and when I need it I just put it on the bench and clamp it down. Grinder sits on a shelf until I need it, and it clamps to the bench too. Planer is on a rolling platform under the shelves (not shown) and I just wheel it out and put it where I want when I need it. Belt sander sits on the white shelves, the portable belt sander and 1/4-sheet sander are in the cabinet. I also have another circular saw way to the right on a shelf, along with a Roto-Zip-type tool. Ran out of space under the cabinet for more cordless tools...



Garage 052
by Edward Durbin, on Flickr


Garage 053
by Edward Durbin, on Flickr
 

rt dak

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Joined
Nov 16, 2010
Messages
714
Location
Putnam County, NY
Tennsco cabinet from McMaster. Most things are in cases and labeled. The miter saw was too deep to fit so it went up top.

2015_10_17_08_13_57.jpg
 

Toolfool

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Joined
Aug 22, 2011
Messages
4,982
Location
Tallahassee, FL
The portable power tools that stay in my shop are stored in drawers built to accommodate each specific tool/tools. The drawer units are the base of my 20' miter saw stand.
 

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