Cordless tool charging station?

Toolhorder · Oct 10, 2019

So I have a lot of cordless tools at my shop. I have chargers scattered on top of my toolbox locker, stainless top of my other toolbox, etc.. I'm looking for ideas on how to get them all on a rack maybe or something where I can run them to a power strip and charge everything same area so I'm not looking all over for what charger I need, etc.. I'm not really worried about storage of the cordless tools but if it did that too that's fine. Most of my stuff is cordless ratchets from Snap-on and maybe 3 guns. All my snap-on stuff has the optional magnetic battery base so they stick to anything metal.

PhantomEB · Oct 11, 2019

Are they all the same batteries?

bradpac · Oct 11, 2019

I would build a shelf, make it like a rectangular tube with the long sides (front and back) open so you can contain the cords inside with a power strip and just have all the chargers in a row on top. No reason it has to be overly complicated. The key for me would be mounting the chargers so they don't move around when you slide batteries in and out.
This is a "one of these days" project for me.

Chevota Guy · Oct 11, 2019

I made this crude one about 12 years ago. The shelves were angled for the chargers and the bottom shelf had an enclosed space beneath it for a short power strip. All of the chargers plugged into the strip and the cords were tied neatly with velcro wraps and out of sight. It hung on a wall near an outlet and had a single cord to power all.

The rear panel was recessed about 1.5 " in from the sides so that the cord management would be out of sight behind it.

View media item 97639

dagofast · Oct 11, 2019

I know at one time, Lowes sold a metal unit that would hold 4 or 5 cordless tools and had a shelf for the batteries and chargers. Now that they are Sears Lite, I don't think they sell it anymore.

I made my own out of some scrap wood. Here is a picture of it before it was painted. And full of more Ryobi tools and chargers.

https://i.imgur.com/sJTgsfa.jpg

Bryanthegreat · Oct 11, 2019

Here is mine

SmokeyBC · Oct 12, 2019

I have a version of this one, my brother made it for me.

The big one I found on this site, some time ago.

mik386 · Oct 13, 2019

I built this set up last year and put it on the top of my side box for easy access. These are the two i use all the time.

astroracer · Oct 15, 2019

I use a Craftsman Power Box. It has outlets in the top and the lid closes. Open it up to charge and close it to keep the junk out when not charging. It is the storage center for all of my drills/drivers and drill motors.
The cheaper chargers are ran thru a 24 hour timer so they all shut off after 7 hours to prevent over charging.

Lid opened for charging.

Driver storage in cabinet.

Lots of drawers for bit and chuck storage.

The Power Box is bolted to that 2 drawer filing cabinet and the whole mess rolls around so it is mobile and goes wherever needed in the shop.
All of the big drills are stored in the cabinet.

Mark

Showkey · Oct 15, 2019

While runaway lithium battery events are rare...........good charging station design would be away from combustibles and made of metal or lined with metal.

Yes......safety is for sissies.

acer66 · Oct 15, 2019

SmokeyBC said:
I have a version of this one, my brother made it for me.

The big one I found on this site, some time ago.

The softer rubber on the drills is not affect by storing them that way?

BuffettFan · Oct 15, 2019

View media item 88900
Here is the one I put together for the shop.
Mounts on French cleats, I turn off the power strips when I'm not in the shop. And remember to.
I did keep a couple of loose chargers for portability.

Qrazy · Oct 15, 2019

SmokeyBC said:
I have a version of this one, my brother made it for me.

The big one I found on this site, some time ago.

I made a similar tool holder. I made mine part of a dutch cleat so I can remove it and place it anywhere I mount a cleat.

Qrazy · Oct 15, 2019

I made one like you described. Here is mine from 2014. I used all scrap materials (basement) and have added another charger on it.

bullnerd · Oct 15, 2019

Showkey said:
While runaway lithium battery events are rare...........good charging station design would be away from combustibles and made of metal or lined with metal.

Yes......safety is for sissies.

Yup. When my shop burned down (faulty power strip cord) The insurance company fire dude stepped out of his car and said, "How many batteries did you have plugged in?", before he even said Hi.

My neighbor/fabricators son was standing next to his dewalt charger when it started smoking.

I'll never trust anything plugged in again after seeing my shop burn, especially battery chargers.

Wanna buy a toolbox? I'll throw in the tools! :lol_hitti

1Garageman · Oct 15, 2019

I am subscribing to this! I have four batteries that I like to keep charged, and six devices. My biggest problem is finding room to store them, and also come winter time you can't leave batteries outside in a freezing garage!

ezriderga · Oct 15, 2019

Simple setup. All chargers on one power strip. One switch turns on/off all chargers.

ItsNemo · Oct 15, 2019

bullnerd said:
Yup. When my shop burned down (faulty power strip cord) The insurance company fire dude stepped out of his car and said, "How many batteries did you have plugged in?", before he even said Hi.

My neighbor/fabricators son was standing next to his dewalt charger when it started smoking.

I'll never trust anything plugged in again after seeing my shop burn, especially battery chargers.

Wanna buy a toolbox? I'll throw in the tools!

Yeah, I only put the batteries on to charge when I'm present. Given how hot the chargers get, it makes me nervous to leave them unattended.

ezover · Oct 16, 2019

1Garageman said:
come winter time you can't leave batteries outside in a freezing garage!

Well never been a problem for me. I’m in mich. so it gets at least as cold as oh.

Could be the battery’s will die sooner but I can’t say I have ever noticed a problem. 3 years with my new 18v set and still going.

Maybe I missed some warning notice?

1Garageman · Oct 16, 2019

ezover said:
Well never been a problem for me. I’m in mich. so it gets at least as cold as oh.

Could be the battery’s will die sooner but I can’t say I have ever noticed a problem. 3 years with my new 18v set and still going.

Maybe I missed some warning notice?

A couple of years ago I left my Porter-Cable batteries out in the garage and they died really soon. They hardly kept a charge. In a way it was good, because I now have Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless tools. But I am to scared to leave them out in the garage and take a chance of them going bad.

Here is a webpage with tips. It basically says don't let them get to hot, or to cold.
https://www.protoolreviews.com/news/lithium-ion-battery-maintenance-tips/12527/

IMCA38 · Oct 18, 2019

bullnerd said:
Yup. When my shop burned down (faulty power strip cord) The insurance company fire dude stepped out of his car and said, "How many batteries did you have plugged in?", before he even said Hi.

My neighbor/fabricators son was standing next to his dewalt charger when it started smoking.

I'll never trust anything plugged in again after seeing my shop burn, especially battery chargers.

Wanna buy a toolbox? I'll throw in the tools!

And here is another unfortunate reminder from today’s local paper.

https://journalstar.com/news/local/...cle_02a6c6c0-2a85-513d-9e16-d6e1aa864cb7.html

A faulty power tool battery ignited a fire that engulfed a rural Denton shed and caused $115,000 damage Thursday morning, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner said.

slodat · Nov 29, 2019

I had not thought of the battery chargers causing a problem/being a fire hazard until I read this thread. Made a wiring change today in the shop. Now, the chargers are only powered up when my lights are on (aka, when I'm in the shop).

Instead of power strips, I have receptacles for all of the chargers.

DeeDubz · Nov 30, 2019

Heres mine, I used a couple of different designs I found on the web. I only have one charger. Its plugged in all the time. I only need one charger. 5 or so batts I usually can find a full one.

sanddan · Dec 2, 2019

BuffettFan said:
View media item 88900
Here is the one I put together for the shop.
Mounts on French cleats, I turn off the power strips when I'm not in the shop. And remember to.
I did keep a couple of loose chargers for portability.

OCD but I love it. Thanks for sharing.

az45 · Dec 3, 2019

I mounted a couple chargers to the side of a HF tool cart, the plug into a power strip mounted in the top trey. The power strip also has USB outlets for flashlights,phone or whatever. I have more batteries than I can run through in a day, so I don't see the need to have a bunch of chargers, Having only 2 chargers also forces you to pull batteries to charge dead ones..so they don't get left on the chargers.

NWill · Dec 4, 2019

I made this one last week. 10ga steel with a power strip and 30 zip ties.

icecactus · Dec 4, 2019

NWill said:
I made this one last week. 10ga steel with a power strip and 30 zip ties.

Pic is dead

NWill · Dec 4, 2019

icecactus said:
Pic is dead

Thanks! Should be up again..

pc350 · Feb 14, 2021

I know this is an old post, but I'm new and just started searching around and reading posts. Here's a link to how I built mine. Since this one, I've come up with a couple of new designs. I'll add pics if I can figure it out!

pc350 · Feb 14, 2021

Here are two of the styles...

https://images2.imgbox.com/a5/05/8qXBA5cx_o.jpg

https://images2.imgbox.com/a2/80/pDcTAIN6_o.jpg

foush56 · May 28, 2021

Tool Storage & charging station

Bessy · Jun 17, 2021

It's uglier than version 1, but it was free and holds several more tools than V1 did. Slowly 3d printing accessories to mount bits and batteries. If storage becomes and issue I'll print a few hangers to hang the drills/drivers/impact below the bottom shelf, but for now they work where they are sitting.

Cordless tool charging station?

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