Tool and workshop organisation?

[Hsmith192]

Used an old bit of chipboard to create a tool wall. What gets me though is how quickly the space gets used up.

Sounds silly but would I fare better with cupboard and drawers?

 

[Fitzroy]

Cupboards and drawers give you more depth of storage in comparison to a flat tool wall. The other solution is to give your wall some depth, for example the clamp rack below.

 

[clogs]

I scrounge as many old kitch cupboards as I can.......
plenty of storage and the right hight for working on small stuff not ness wood items...
always replaced the back panels with 1/2" ply.......

I had a huge workshop in the UK when working and the clients often comentated how well it looked......
all diff styles n colours....
best bit, it's ALL FREE.........
as an add, the higher cupboards had slid out trays on the top shelf and where ever nec....even an extra shelf fitted .......
sure beats making them esp with the cost of ply....

 

[Bingy man]

Nothing wrong with both , my work shop is small so every sq “ of wall space is used , my bigger tools have their own little homes to reside in and others are stored in stackable tote boxes ( free curtesy of royal nail ) I also feel that everyday tools should be in plain sight and accessible.

 

[Shoestring restorer]

Good thread and ideas. I'm awaiting a 4.5 x 3m gazebo which will become a work shop of sorts so currently absorbing all info detailed.

 

[Dr Al]

Both definitely seems sensible to me. Having stuff visible and easily grabbable is invaluable for the stuff you need to use regularly, but nothing quite matches the storage density of drawers and cupboards (but they're definitely worth labelling with their contents or they can be where tools go to die).

I wouldn't put clamps on a wall like that by preference as they take up so much space. @Fitzroy's method looks good, or they can be chucked in a bucket or similar on the floor or shoved up on a shelf or whatever. My workshop has wooden joists, so most of my (198 - I counted recently ) clamps are clamped to the joists above my head.

I haven't got any photos that show all the clamps on the ceiling, but I think my garage is probably one of the more crammed when it comes to fitting as much in as possible:

On the left-hand side of the first image, you can just about see one of two bits of plywood hanging from the ceiling above the motorbike (on French cleats attached to joists) to give two more areas for "wall storage" (both sides of the plywood) - maybe clearer in this photo:

There's another similar thing that sticks out into the door opening a little (again on a French cleat so it can be lifted off and moved out of the way if necessary):

 

[SLM]

Old office furniture turns up on freecycle now and again. It tends to be very robust! I have a floor to ceiling, lockable tambor (sp) cabinet, with shelves above 3 draws. It neatly take 3 sustainers, side by side. So for my power tools, this makes very convenient, secure storage.

 

[Adam W.]

Blimey!

There was me thinking that I had a lot of tools.

 

[thetyreman]

I like racks for clamps but tool chests and tool cabinets for everything else, not a fan of tool walls because of dust and also it's too easy to drop them onto a concrete floor.

 

[Fergie 307]

I like racks for clamps but tool chests and tool cabinets for everything else, not a fan of tool walls because of dust and also it's too easy to drop them onto a concrete floor.

Not entirely rational I know but I hate tools hung on the wall, drives me round the bend. All mine are in cabinets. Especially in a wood shop, how do you keep everything from being covered in dust?

 

[Dr Al]

Not entirely rational I know but I hate tools hung on the wall, drives me round the bend. All mine are in cabinets. Especially in a wood shop, how do you keep everything from being covered in dust?

By using hand planes rather than electric routers & sanders

 

[Sideways]

Old office furniture turns up on freecycle now and again. It tends to be very robust! I have a floor to ceiling, lockable tambor (sp) cabinet, with shelves above 3 draws. It neatly take 3 sustainers, side by side. So for my power tools, this makes very convenient, secure storage.

My dad had a really damp garage / workshop. One wall was a retaining wall for an earth bank. He repurposed a couple of old freezers for some tools. Quite well insulated and sealed...

 

[Hsmith192]

Cupboards and drawers give you more depth of storage in comparison to a flat tool wall. The other solution is to give your wall some depth, for example the clamp rack below.
View attachment 161979

Looks really good! I’ll try to create some depth and possibly look at storage under machines also.

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

My view is that, as much as I like tool on walls for ease of access, too many tools on walls just create a sense of clutter, and this is overwhelming … not restful. A balance of the two is preferred. Only keep the most used tools out.

Regards from Perth

Derek