Clamp storage solution for TINY workshop

[sams93]

My ‘workshop’ is small. Very small. It’s a 6x8‘ shed, which I’ve managed to cram all Sorts of machines into.

currently I have my clamps just sitting in a corner and they are kind of in the way, but I can’t come Up with a way of storing them that’s sufficiently compact that I’m happy to go ahead and make.

I wondered if anyone else has had any ideas or success with similarly cramped areas and clamps.

thanks in advance.

 

[mikej460]

I thought this was a neat idea
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/537054324325257165/

 

[Jameshow]

My ‘workshop’ is small. Very small. It’s a 6x8‘ shed, which I’ve managed to cram all Sorts of machines into.

currently I have my clamps just sitting in a corner and they are kind of in the way, but I can’t come Up with a way of storing them that’s sufficiently compact that I’m happy to go ahead and make.

I wondered if anyone else has had any ideas or success with similarly cramped areas and clamps.

thanks in advance.

If it's a shed type construction just a piece of 2x1 screwed into the studs with 3" screws will suffice.

 

[mynamehere]

Is there no way you can clamp them horizontally to the roof of the shed, on a 50X50 lenght of wood?

 

[John Brown]

I had an 8 by 10 shed at our previous property. I always clamped my clamps to one of the roof joists or collars. Now I have a slightly larger shed, at about 10 by 16, I still do the same. I can pretty much always reach a quick grip clamp in an emergency.

 

[sams93]

I added two cross members to the roof (like the centre of an ‘A’ to allow for more wood storage up there, unfortunately that means less room for clamps! I’ll have a think!!

The hinged Pinterest idea is interesting, I wonder if it would still be too big thoufh

 

[Bingy man]

A little outside of the box ( literally) but could you make a storage rack on one of the outside walls of your shed as 6 x 8 wow any space saved inside will give you more workspace . You could then make it a feature and with a bit of water proofing and a couple of locks your clamps will be accessible but never in the way . In my workshop I had previously built a storage rack for my power tools and my vinyl collection- sick of moving clamps out of the way and limited space led me to build this ( see photos)

 

[sometimewoodworker]

A lot of the solutions use horizontal along the wall, I use horizontal out from the wall, it uses less wall space and works well if you have numbers of the same size

 

[robgul]

I had an 8 by 10 shed at our previous property. I always clamped my clamps to one of the roof joists or collars. Now I have a slightly larger shed, at about 10 by 16, I still do the same. I can pretty much always reach a quick grip clamp in an emergency.

Similar solution for me I have several lengths of scrap boards screwed to the ceiling and all my trigger clamps are just, err, clamped on - being tall I can just reach up to take one/return one - the 6 1m sash cramps hang on the wall with some 2 x 2 blocks on a backing board, cramps hang for the screw end in slots between each block. The mini clamps and MFT stuff is in a plastic bin on a shelf above the MFT.

 

[blackteaonesugar]

This is what I did with a mountain bike wheel.



Added another level since and more clamps. Works really well.

 

[OldGreyDog]

My shed is only 8’ x 10’ extermal with a bare 6’-6” headroom to the roof joists. I store clamps locked onto the roofplate and any other convenient bit of timber where I won’t bash my head on them. Small 3” and 4” clamps I tend to lock onto the edge of narrow shelves.

 

[OCtoolguy]

I thought this was a neat idea
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/537054324325257165/

Most all clamp racks seem to be for all the same brand/type of clamps. My problem is that I have a mix/match selection of clamps. I installed brackets of wood on each of the studs in my shed. They are 20 inches apart. I bored holes in them just big enough to put 1 inch pvc through them so that it ran horizontally from one end of the shed to the other. I can now hang all of my clamps from it leaving space below for other things. Sorry, no picture. If someone wants one, I'll post one later upon request.

 

[mikej460]

Most all clamp racks seem to be for all the same brand/type of clamps. My problem is that I have a mix/match selection of clamps. I installed brackets of wood on each of the studs in my shed. They are 20 inches apart. I bored holes in them just big enough to put 1 inch pvc through them so that it ran horizontally from one end of the shed to the other. I can now hang all of my clamps from it leaving space below for other things. Sorry, no picture. If someone wants one, I'll post one later upon request.

Yes I agree most of us have different makes of clamps so I think it may be that the op needs a mixed approach

 

[OCtoolguy]

Yes I agree most of us have different makes of clamps so I think it may be that the op needs a mixed approach

I agree. Also, I'm wondering just who can afford the Bessey style of bar clamps etc? I'd love to have some of them but at 79 years of age, it would be a very bad investment. Nice for my heirs but not for me. I'll just have to muddle through with what I have.

 

[mikej460]

I agree. Also, I'm wondering just who can afford the Bessey style of bar clamps etc? I'd love to have some of them but at 79 years of age, it would be a very bad investment. Nice for my heirs but not for me. I'll just have to muddle through with what I have.

It depends on how you view 'investment' if it pleases you and greatly assists your hobby now, and you can afford it, then why worry?

 

[OCtoolguy]

It depends on how you view 'investment' if it pleases you and greatly assists your hobby now, and you can afford it, then why worry?

I agree but it's the last thing you added where the problem comes in. We are in a hard way right now.

 

[mikej460]

I agree but it's the last thing you added where the problem comes in. We are in a hard way right now.

ah I now understand. I hope things improve for you soon

 

[baldkev]

You need a new shed / workshop
Surely your mrs will sacrifice the kitchen for your hobby? Go ask and report back

 

[sams93]

I sadly have quite a lot of space constraints - the loft is currently used as the sheet goods storage area. She is always delighted when I ask her to pass a board of 18mm birch ply up to me

You need a new shed / workshop
Surely your mrs will sacrifice the kitchen for your hobby? Go ask and report back

Thankyou all for those suggestions, a lot of them are rather ingenious. I shall have a look and see what I think might work.

@sometimewoodworker - you explained you use horizontal out, do you have any photographs of what you mean? thanks

 

[sometimewoodworker]

I sadly have quite a lot of space constraints - the loft is currently used as the sheet goods storage area. She is always delighted when I ask her to pass a board of 18mm birch ply up to me



Thankyou all for those suggestions, a lot of them are rather ingenious. I shall have a look and see what I think might work.

@sometimewoodworker - you explained you use horizontal out, do you have any photographs of what you mean? thanks

The horizontal out are like this, though they should probably quite a bit deeper.

as you can see they are on a locking French cleat system.