Tool storage ideas for Pallet Rack woodworking bench bottom shelf

[FTG-05]

I just got done building this Pallet Rack Woodworking Bench and it comes with a 48"x8' bottom shelf. I'd like to use that shelf to store all my powered hand tools, drills, impact wrenches, etc. etc. etc.

My initial thought was steel 2 drawer filing cabinets. Unfortunately, here's the rub: I only have 24.5" vertical height to work with. The vast majority of 2 drawer filing cabinets are 28-30" tall.

Here's a pic of the pallet rack workbench:




Pic of the bottom shelf.



Here's a pic of an example 2 drawer filing cabinet off of Amazon that meets the 24.5" height restriction:



So, first question: Good idea/bad idea?

Second question: Is there a better idea or concept that maybe I'm missing? Feel free to post pics of your under bench tool storage ideas. I prefer something that has drawers that come out vs. having to reach in for something.

Thanks!

 

[RTM]

Custom designed and built. I’m mostly a hand tool woodworker, so the top drawer hold chisels, the bottom two drawers hold bigger planes #5-8. I have a bit of gap under the top to slip in use tools, and to allow the use of holdfasts. 100# slides on the wider drawers

You definitely want closed storage, else it fills up with wood chips and sawdust. Consider lateral files if you can find them, easier to get bigger power tools in and out of. Most cheap file cabinets have awful slides, so once filled with tools will become a disaster to open.

Weight under there will be your friend, you may want to keep thing back from the edges for clamping things down around the periphery.

 

[FTG-05]

Those look great! You did a good job!

 

[Jgaz]

I would think twice before I filled the whole space with storage cabinets.

With a wood working bench you’ll want to think about all the ways you may want to clamp something to work on it or glue up the project.

Maybe a single layer of drawers across the bottom shelf, 12” deep? This would allow you to put bench dog holes in the top. I find them invaluable for holding assemblies flat during glue up.
You might really find them useful with your 48” width.
That width will almost guarantee that you will only be able to secure one edge of an assembly to the overhang of bench top.

My bench is 30”x60”. If room wasn’t an issue, and I built another bench, I would build it narrower (24”?) and longer.


Here is a couple of examples of using hold down clamps in the bench dog holes

 

[GeoBruin]

These weatherguard boxes come in a ton of different widths and drawer configurations. Here's one that I would think would be ideal for power tool storage. Total height 24 inches, 4 drawers. About the same footprint as a filing cabinet but you grt two extra drawers and they're super heavy duty.

 

[Meursault74]

Why not build what you want out of wood? You can customize it any way you want.

I have a wooden work bench. I added drawers I made out of wood. Not very deep though. I didn't use any metal fasteners for the drawers, even the handles I made out of wood. Dovetail joints and dados all around with glue. They even slide on wooden slides I made. The slides I did attach with screws to the frame of the work bench. There was only so far I was going to go with the no metal approach .

 

[rust in the eye]

Nice job on your workbench. After a previous life in the office furniture business I'd recommend against those Amazon file cabinets for any purpose, they are junk, plain and simple.
Given your height constraints no 2 dr file will fit, good or bad ones, the drawers by necessity must accommodate a hanging file folder so 11" deep or so each plus the cabinet's structure.
If wanting to re-purpose old office furniture you might investigate "drawer pedestals" for modular workstations or "cubicles". One with a single "box" drawer and one file drawer combination will fit your space with a little room to spare. If you suspend them from the worksurface(as intended) you'll have 6" or so remaining under them.
There is a huge glut of used office furniture on the market and a used OF dealer ought to happy to unload a few of these. Stay with the better brands, Steelcase, Haworth, Knoll, etc. they will be made of durable components that can withstand hard use.

 

[RTM]

.
If wanting to re-purpose old office furniture you might investigate "drawer pedestals" for modular workstations or "cubicles". One with a single "box" drawer and one file drawer combination will fit your space with a little room to spare. If you suspend them from the worksurface(as intended) you'll have 6" or so remaining under them.
.

these may be what he is talking about, mine are Lyons. Definitely better quality than a cheap file cabinet.

 

[FTG-05]

These weatherguard boxes come in a ton of different widths and drawer configurations. Here's one that I would think would be ideal for power tool storage. Total height 24 inches, 4 drawers. About the same footprint as a filing cabinet but you grt two extra drawers and they're super heavy duty.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T36KQBU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

$550!!!

 

[ching0n]

these things are surprisingly sturdy and could probably be made permanently sturdy epoxying the corners:

Amazon.com : wire cube storage

Here's one w/doors:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6194ZQH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

there's also "horizontal filing cabinets" that are shorter but harder to come by used:


metal lockers, metal cabinets for flammables, etc...

 

[tincanoe]

Maybe a blueprint file drawer cabinet, if you can find one used for cheap with your height requirement. In my case, (2) five drawer, double stacked, fit under my pallet rack workbench. Each of the 5 drawer units is 16" tall, 48" wide, 38" deep. My rack uprights are modified in width, so the cabinets drop in, and rest on the interior recessed edge of the beams.

 

[rust in the eye]

these may be what he is talking about, mine are Lyons. Definitely better quality than a cheap file cabinet.

Lyon is a maker of metal industrial furniture. Made heavy and strong for factories/warehouse, etc. with little regard for aesthetics. The drawer arrangement on right above is what I was speaking about. "office" pedestals being the undermount(no top) version of this in usually prettier form.
Again, don't waste any $ on low line brands the best are surplus everywhere.

 

[FTG-05]

these things are surprisingly sturdy and could probably be made permanently sturdy epoxying the corners:

Amazon.com : wire cube storage

Here's one w/doors:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6194ZQH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

there's also "horizontal filing cabinets" that are shorter but harder to come by used:


metal lockers, metal cabinets for flammables, etc...

I'm looking at those too. Most I've seen break the 24.5" height limit, but I'm also considering just using the drawers and drawer hardware and make my own frame.

Thanks for posting!

 

[FTG-05]

Lyon is a maker of metal industrial furniture. Made heavy and strong for factories/warehouse, etc. with little regard for aesthetics. The drawer arrangement on right above is what I was speaking about. "office" pedestals being the undermount(no top) version of this in usually prettier form.
Again, don't waste any $ on low line brands the best are surplus everywhere.

I'm picking up two of these this morning - Free!

 

[tarmy]

Make large strong drawers yourself OP. These are deep and long to hold my power tools…the 4 on the left of my bench. My rolling layup table I use to store wood and misc. odd sized shop items.

 

[ching0n]

I'm looking at those too. Most I've seen break the 24.5" height limit, but I'm also considering just using the drawers and drawer hardware and make my own frame.

Thanks for posting!

looks tight but maybe you could chop top them if it's just a trim?

A drawer's not rocket science but I saw this vid recently:

Also, top chest tool boxes may fit the bill though drawers are shallow.

I personally use these types of setups and nothing says they have to be high on a wall:

 

[FTG-05]

Got two installed on my pallet rack work bench:





I also got three single drawer file cabinets my wife picked up cheap at an estate sale. I put them on my welding table lower shelf.

Welding table up in the air so I can work on it without having to bend over:



Installed file cabinets:





Thanks for looking!