Small shop power tool storage ideas???

[Always_Thinkin]

Hello all. I have been slowly building my collection of power tools. I would love to have a large woodshop like some have here on GJ. For now I will have to make do with what I can currently afford. I am looking for space saving workstations because I don't have a lot of room. I currently have a miter saw and table saw. I plan to purchase a router, planer and a benchtop sander. I have researched some on the internet and have a few ideas and attached those photos. The storage system in the second photo, I thought of storing my shop vac for dust collection in the rolling cabinet. I could incorporate noise reduction into the design. What have some of you used in the past or currently use? Experiences? Any input and PICTURES would be greatly appreciated.

 

[evintho]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

This probably doesn't help 'cause you're talking about workstations but as far as power tool storage, I picked up this used HON file cabinet for free and it works great keeping my saws and grinders dust free! Woodworking tools in the bottom drawer, metalworking tools in the top.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

This probably doesn't help 'cause you're talking about workstations but as far as power tool storage, I picked up this used HON file cabinet for free and it works great keeping my saws and grinders dust free! Woodworking tools in the bottom drawer, metalworking tools in the top.

Good use of file cabinets and you definately can not beat "free." There is a business close to home that buys out office and hotel furniture/storage unit pieces. I am always looking over his site to view the new arrivals. I haven't had any big scores yet...

 

[MOTODOJO]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

New here. I use one of the cheap HF $ 190.00 scaffolding sets. Height adjustable...all my sanding, grinding, drill press, vices all in a row down both sides. bolted through for security and safety...well as sheet metal covered as not to start a fire. It rolls out of the way or will have full use as scaffolding. I've made shelves for unused rungs beneath the "work surface" and a few racks and hangers for the top rungs. all powered by distro. beneath the surface.

 

[lilredex]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

My most used mobile station..

 

[cburnscrx]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

I thought I wanted to go the file cabinet route...that confirms it. Plus I can lock it.

 

[olds70supreme]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

I've been thinking on the same problem, but I have zero floorspace for a cabinet. I was wondering if anybody had ever hung their power tools? What I am thinking is an enclosed wall cabinet with a heavy duty closet rod. Each tool would have a bent metal hook that looped over the closet rod at the top and had either a bent loop or carabiner to hold onto the tool below. You would make efficient use of the cubic space by varying the lengths of the hanger rods to better fit the tools into the space. I am looking at doing this to things like my sawsall, electric drill, air brad nailer, circular saw, etc... The bottom of the cabinet would be for tools that won't/don't hang well, like my slide hammer kit.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

New here. I use one of the cheap HF $ 190.00 scaffolding sets. Height adjustable...all my sanding, grinding, drill press, vices all in a row down both sides. bolted through for security and safety...well as sheet metal covered as not to start a fire. It rolls out of the way or will have full use as scaffolding. I've made shelves for unused rungs beneath the "work surface" and a few racks and hangers for the top rungs. all powered by distro. beneath the surface.

MOTODOJO, could you post some photos of your setup? I like the idea.

 

[ckadams00]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

Be interested in what you come up with - I am challenged with the same issues and this year it's time to get some of my tools into a more efficient space. I've seen the "spinning top" set ups, but had not seen the shelf unit in the first photo - I kind of like that one and the idea to put the shop vac in the cabinet is smart.

I prefer the carts that you can remove the tools from the top so that the cart can also double as an outfeed table or additional work surface.

Keep us posted on your plans!

 

[Krusty]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

The handiest setup I ever had for hand power tools was a wire frame shelf about 2 ft. above my workbench, with a power strip strapped under it. The hand power tools, various chargers, and so forth were easy to reach and easy to put back. My current woodshop is long, but not deep. All the "stationary" tools are on casters. They get shifted a lot. I really like this idea, the quick-convert tablesaw/router station. The pic doesn't tell you much, but the drawer beneath the saw is a router stand. Pull out the saw, put in the router box with out feeds for both. I believe it had a dust collection feature as well?

http://www.woodstore.net/qutast.html

 

[boiler7904]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

I built a rolling cabinet with folding support wings for my DeWalt 12" sliding compound miter saw. The wings have a set of Kreg's Trak and Stop systems. My router table hangs flat against the back of the cabinet when not in use. The lower section of the cabinet holds these tools in their plastic cases:

Milwaukee Circular Saw
DeWalt Track Saw
Fein Multimaster
Hitachi 15 ga Finish Nailer
Hitachi 18 ga Brad Nailer
Hitachi Narrow Crown Stapler
Porter Cable Upholstery Stapler
Porter Cable Biscuit Jointer
Bosch 1617 Router Kit
Bosch Colt Router Kit
Bosch Jigsaw
Bosch 1/4 Sheet Sander (soft sided bag that I hate)
Bosch Random Orbit Sander
Kreg Pocket Hole Jig
Seems like my Dremel tool may be in there somewhere too

I also mounted a 4" sq metal electrical box with a pair of 20A duplex receptacles and a 25' power cord so there is one cord back to a wall when the saw or router table is in use.

Best part of the whole thing is that I can break it down in just a couple of minutes and fit my wife's car back in the garage.

This isn't mine but similar

Wings up

Wings down

 

[venturesomerite]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

A good rule to live by, everything in my shop has wheels or casters so that it can be moved and everything serves more than one purpose.

I have about 1000 sq ft, and honestly I really need 3000, so I have to move everything including work benches depending on what I am doing.

One of the best things is to pick up cabinets free from someone remodeling the kitchen. File cabinets are nice, and stack shelves floor to ceiling.

 

[usmc_noma]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

I think the combination of a file cabinet and the cabinet in your second pic is the best route. You can use the file cabinet for smaller power tools like drills, grinders, etc. and for the larger tools like miter saw, table saw, etc for the cabinet. Your footprint could be the size of the lateral file cabinet or just a bit bigger.

Going vertical in storage is always a good thing in a small confined space.

 

[crewchief888]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

i'm in the process of possibly using a recycled dresser for woodworking powertool storage.

havent decided just what it's fate will be....

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Re: Small shop power tool starage ideas???

Be interested in what you come up with - I am challenged with the same issues and this year it's time to get some of my tools into a more efficient space. I've seen the "spinning top" set ups, but had not seen the shelf unit in the first photo - I kind of like that one and the idea to put the shop vac in the cabinet is smart.

I prefer the carts that you can remove the tools from the top so that the cart can also double as an outfeed table or additional work surface.

Keep us posted on your plans!

Good point to using the cart as an outfeed table/additional work surface. I am thinking I can attach a collapsable stand/frame for teh table saw off the back of the cart to accomplish this. I assume I will have to add additonal support to stabilize the cart when supporting the table saw off the rear of the cart. Great input, thank you.

I built a rolling cabinet with folding support wings for my DeWalt 12" sliding compound miter saw. The wings have a set of Kreg's Trak and Stop systems. My router table hangs flat against the back of the cabinet when not in use. The lower section of the cabinet holds these tools in their plastic cases:

Milwaukee Circular Saw
DeWalt Track Saw
Fein Multimaster
Hitachi 15 ga Finish Nailer
Hitachi 18 ga Brad Nailer
Hitachi Narrow Crown Stapler
Porter Cable Upholstery Stapler
Porter Cable Biscuit Jointer
Bosch 1617 Router Kit
Bosch Colt Router Kit
Bosch Jigsaw
Bosch 1/4 Sheet Sander (soft sided bag that I hate)
Bosch Random Orbit Sander
Kreg Pocket Hole Jig
Seems like my Dremel tool may be in there somewhere too

I also mounted a 4" sq metal electrical box with a pair of 20A duplex receptacles and a 25' power cord so there is one cord back to a wall when the saw or router table is in use.

Best part of the whole thing is that I can break it down in just a couple of minutes and fit my wife's car back in the garage.

This isn't mine but similar

Wings up

Wings down

I like the idea for the folding support wings when using the miter saw. This should be fairly simple to incorporate into the cart. Thanks for the input.

 

[lowbucktruck]

I went the used metal office cabinet route as well. Got tired of my power tools being all over the place, so went out and picked up a couple of office cabinets with roll-out drawers. Then I took a solid-core door and made a workbench top on the cabinets. I now have a 7-foot long workbench with power tool storage. Works great!
(I've posted this workbench up before, but what the heck, its still cool and cheap)

I like Boiler's miter station. Those outfeed wings would come in handy. I ended up buying a miter-saw stand, so that I could also use it outside.
For my mobile workstation, my father-in-law gave me some cabinets from his kitchen remodel; built a base with casters and a worktop (from solid-core door, hey they were free), now I have a 4 foot long mobile workbench with a spot for mounting sander or router table, and storage underneath. Will post of pic of it later. At only 4 ft long, its small enough that its easy to move around and doesn't take up too much floor space in my small garage.