power tool storage

[lugo35]

hi all, will be moving soon and am slowly planning my new w-shop. what is the best way to store power tools ? drawers, cupboards shelving etc. have trying a few ways in the past but never been happy with it whats the best way??????

 

[ByronBlack]

How about a tall cabinet with numerous divisions and full-sliding extensions that will allow you to pull the tools out on a sliding try therefore avoiding having to reach into a drawer or cupboard.

I would also think about security; maybe bolting the whole thing to the floor and have good locks on a strong door - power tools are more interesting to a thief than handtools.

 

[lugo35]

yes thought of that the norm way but the cost for runners to take the weight of the tools makes it expensive, unless im missing something. got a load of the cheap runners(WHEEL AT FRONT AND BACK) wouldnt have thought they would be up to the job??

was wondering if someone has come up with something different

 

[ByronBlack]

Lugo, it depends on how many tools you'll have on each platform. If you have a tall cabinet then you would only need a couple of power-tools on each one so you wouldn't need heavy-duty runners.

The alternative is to make the runners out of hardwood.

 

[martlewis]

Full extension slides are pretty cheap fom Buller Ltd.

 

[woodbloke]

I store mine in a tall tower thing contraption, just made from odds n'ends of chipboard screwed together, the advantage of this is that it has a small footprint in the 'shop, shown in the pic with a dehumidifier at the bottom (running of an electronic timer) You can also use the sides to rack out additional tools and kit - Rob

 

[AndyBoyd]

Systainers of course :roll: :roll:

 

[ByronBlack]

Problem with systainers is they stack on top of each other so your buggered if you want the tool that is in the middle of a 5 tool stack And you still have to reach into and lift the tool out, rather than just reaching for it in a tower/tall cabinet.

I love festool though, but think the systainers are a bit rubbish.

 

[AndyBoyd]

Ah I have all mine along a shelf, I just take the one I want and clip it to my Festool extractor

 

[ByronBlack]

I quite like the systainer port drawer system but it's excessively expensive, even for festool

Andy, do you by chance have/use the MFT?

 

[AndyBoyd]

MFT?

 

[kafkaian]

hi all, will be moving soon and am slowly planning my new w-shop. what is the best way to store power tools ? drawers, cupboards shelving etc. have trying a few ways in the past but never been happy with it whats the best way??????

Agree, they can be a pain in the "derriere" so as to speak, but you also have to decide on the little knick-knacks you get with them - essential and non-essential.

So my decision was; if they come in a decent box, accommodate the box on shelving, if they don't, then create boxes for them

 

[ByronBlack]

I throw all the 'blow-moulded' cases away with any powertool purchase, for me they are clearly the work of the devil. Spanners and hex-keys are jammed in so tight only witchcraft can budge them, and god forbid you can actually get the tool and it's wire in the exact same position to close the damned lid!

Instead, I take all the accessories/useless junk that comes with them and put them in a small box, this gets labelled and filled away in the 'never to be used again' drawer in the odd occasion I might need something. The powertool is then placed in the relevant drawer of a large filing cabinet I have. Although this will soon be replaced with a sliding drawer tower as previously mentioned. The footprint this takes up is small and there arn't a ton of ugly plastic boxes anywhere to gather dust.

Andy - MFT = Festool Multi-Functional Table

 

[kafkaian]

I throw all the 'blow-moulded' cases away with any powertool purchase, for me they are clearly the work of the devil.

Well, with 3-year warranties often supplied with these things, I've decided to keep the moulded 'abominations' just in case (pardon the pun)

 

[AndyBoyd]

MFT? Multi function Table I think

I don't have one but my tutor Hans does, it was very good actually especially the way you could attach the guide rails and precisely guide tour tools.

It's easy enough to make one though, lots of hole in a table, and few ground down clamps to get then through and clamps your work down. Hans has made another one himself - literally an old metal table frame with a 18mm MDF top drilled, so fancy extrusions on the side to add the guide rails to and slide them along, but he just adds clamps to the guide rail and hey presto pretty close. The whole thing cost him 15€ - not too bad

 

[lugo35]

festool great but i havent won the lotto yet :lol:
a tower with drawers seems the way to go thought might have had a few more different ideas tho thanks all