I have a “traditional style” Workbench in my shop. It is in an Alcove about 9’ deep by 6.5’ wide. Give or take. The bench is against the 9’ wall about 2’ from the end wall
And I am trying to figure out options for hand tool storage. Hand planes, chisels saw etc. The stuff you typically see in a wall mounted tool box.
The question is.. where/how to store these tools. Right now they are scattered around the rest of the shop and I have to walk over and grab what I want then walk them back and this gets annoying.
I could put a tool cabinet or shelves or whatever on the wall over the work bench but i don’t know if that would get annoying as it would limit what the bench can hold as it would overhang the bench.
Alternatly i could build something on the opposite wall to the workbench and just turn around to pick-up/put down the tools. I would have to rearrange the clamp storage to allow for the tool box/shelves but it is doable.
The final option is to build some storage into the bench itself. Right now it just has a shelf on top of the lower stretchers that collects all the crap in the shop. Downside is bending over to access it plus it needs to clear the front clamp as well as the dogs when they are pushed down flush with the bench top.
So any suggestions or advice from those of you that have already addressed this?
The dream has always been one of those nice wall mounted tool boxes. My Great Grandfather had a wall mounted toolbox for his tools (he was a pattern maker) but it has been lost to time when another branch of the family inherited it. The problem is wall mounted tool boxes are pretty deep to mount over a work bench.
Or am I over thinking this?
-Doug M
Replies
I chose to put most of my hand tools on the wall over the bench. Nothing extends over the bench more than just a few inches. My plane till is off to the side of the bench, so it does not hang over. I had the same concern as you regarding limiting use of bench. Pictures speak a thousand words, so here is my solution(s).
"Alternatly i could build something on the opposite wall to the workbench and just turn around to pick-up/put down the tools. I would have to rearrange the clamp storage to allow for the tool box/shelves but it is doable."
I store my planes, marking tools, pencils, some chisels, and back saws in a till in a Dutch Toolchest behind my bench. The Dutch Toolchest is on a stand. When I open up the lid and open the drop front by pulling two slats, it's like having an open tool cabinet. I store other tools that I don't use as often in two old Army chests. One normal footlocker type from my Dad and another bigger, built up chest I got when I was in the Army for free as a result of the US Army drawdown in Germany. I made three long dovetailed boxes that slide on battens that fit inside the big chest.
This is a bit of a piece of string question - how long is it?
It all depends on the type of tools, type of work you do, quantity of tools, willingness to make things, budget and tolerance of dusty tools.
Personally I have them over the bench where I can get to them stuck to the wall getting dusty. One day though I will make a cabinet - I'm just time-poor right now. I am sure when I am done that I will hate the cabinet and do something else, which in time, I will not like then...
Welcome to the wonderful world of shop organisation.
Sadly there is no right answer!
As Rob_SS suggests, it’s personal.
Like you, I don’t want to walk across the shop or search through an unorganized storage to access my most used hand tools. I used to have an open tool wall above my bench — great access, but somewhat cluttered looking, and no protection from rust and dust. I have since put a new overhead tool cabinet into use. Since my new bench is freestanding the cabinet is not wall mounted. It is currently on a short stand mounted to the back left corner of my bench, overhanging the bench by about 8”. Since this end of the bench is primarily used for hand planing, the cabinet/stand is generally not in the way. The remaining 2/3rds of the bench is unobstructed, for cutting joints, assembly, etc. Ultimately the cabinet will be on its own mobile stand that will mostly remain where it is now, but can be easily rolled to wherever I choose for a particular task.
As I’ve gotten older, I avoid stooping any more than necessary, so under-bench storage is only for things I don’t use often. Also, I use holdfasts a lot, which require a good 8” of clearance below the top. So the low under-bench shelf stores power tool boxes, various jigs, a Moxon vise, and my sharpening kit — readily accessible when needed, which is not multiple times a day.
While this setup works well for me, it may not suit you at all. Based upon your described space, that opposite wall sounds tempting…
Do both. Put small stuff in front of you above the bench and big stuff behind you on the wall. If after a few projects the setup isn’t working, reconfigure it until it does.
Make a tool wall-could be pegboard or something nicer that you build. Lot's of plans and ideas. Have your bench arranged perpendicularly to the wall, open on all sides of the bench (i.e. not too close to the wall). You need to be able to walk along the wall, not reach across the bench. Trust me on this.
All four sides of your bench need to have clearance away from walls, whether or not tools are stored on them or not.
Retrieving and using a tool, and putting it back, is part of woodworking. If you get your bench so close that you can just reach over and grab a tool off the wall, then you've likely lost the use of one side of your bench. Again, you need to be able to stand with room to work on all four sides of your bench.
Thanks for the comments. I guess i know what WANT I am just not sure if what I want will work. I would love a tool case mounted to the wall. Opening it would make shallower going from say 9” deep to 4.5 or something.
I should. Add that I have some items hanging on hooks from the wall over the bench right now. So the location works but I don’t have anything more then an inch or so,
I have never had a problem with this but…. I would hate to build a tool box over the bench then find I have issues.
Right now my hand planes and chisels and saws (the few I have) are scattered around the shop in locations chosen because I had the space to put them where three would be safe. Not located where I tend to use them.
Note the bench is used for working, and some assembly but most assembly and all finishing take place on a bench I built for this so that glue and stain and whatever are not messing up the nice bench.
Here's an example of under the bench storage. It holds layout tools, chisels, planes, dovetail saw and a few odds and ends. From the top of the bench to the top of the first drawer is 8 1/4" and the drawer hasn't interfered with holdfast or dogs. The top drawer catches a fair share of saw dust and is used mostly for storing bench dogs, rulers, tapes and so on. I've thought about removing it on occasion since its just mounted and slides on top of the cabinet, but its handy for certain things so I've kept it there. Wall cabinets are nice too. Probably the only advantage of having the tools under the bench, is that it gives more options as to where the bench is located and provides good tool protection from the elements since the drawers are almost always closed.
I work along a wall in the garage. I have cabinets for stuff I access infrequently. For the hand tools I used frequently, I have peg board and a lower shelf on the bench. I've been very happy with the set up. If I were to do it again, I'd likely build a hanging tool thingy like your grandfather had just to try something else.
I made this to hold chisels. I have a bench that runs along the wall with drawers about 3' behind me.
Due to floor space limits for years I had my bench against the wall that held my tool cabinet. (Actually it has not always been the same cabinet. I built my fourth over the past winter. I am determined it will be my last.)
With a larger shop I have an assembly table on retractable casters against the wall under the tool cabinet. My bench, also on retractable casters, is not against a wall which allows me to work from both sides. The tool cabinet is a few steps from the tail vise on the bench. I like this setup. The assembly table will normally be ready to catch any tools if I'm clumsy.
There is a FWW video on YouTube. About a furniture maker, Trevor Hadden, who did his "apprenticeship" in Sonoma, CA. Based on the lineage of whom he learned from, etc. The tool cabinet he made was free standing and more like a piece of awesome furniture. If I were going to make a furniture cabinet, it might be along these lines. Certainly something to dream about.
https://youtu.be/n0KJ3maQ2X4
Here's what I've used for decades, the picture is of my old shop where I had a window by the bench but now this type of tool setup is directly over the workbench. Everything is within easy reach and I keep the planes set up all the time. Simply a 3" or so wide piece of 1 1/2" thick material (Alder for this one) that is screwed to the studs. I then use 1/4" or 3/8" dowels to hold the tool. Once you've located the studs you could to all of the dowels before mounting it to the wall.
I keep most of the tools that I use regularly under the bench on an inclined shelf, and on a hanging rack that can slide along the rear edge of the tool well. I agree with some of the posters above that it is important to have the bench out in the open.
http://johnbarfielddesign.com/
I made the Anarchist’s Toolchest, and it is at my back when I face the bench.
I just turn around to access all my hand tools except for the one or two planes and chisels I’m using right then at the bench. I close the lid to protect the contents from debris. Every little bit, I return tools to the chest. With the lid down, it is a secondary work surface. This big heavy chest has been worth all the effort to build it.
Don
Same as me. Working from an over sized garage without climate control I store in a nice ATC type chest I bought for $75 on CL and restored. I then have climate/dust control in the chest. I have also built some small wall cabinets for chisels, etc
Comes in all sizes. I got this one for job sites and have larger ones (Husky, Milwaukee and Craftsman) in the shop. Works great!
https://www.homedepot.com/p/27-in-W-x-18-in-D-Standard-Duty-11-Drawer-Tool-Chest-and-Top-Tool-Cabinet-Combo-in-Black-UACT-H-270111BK/316439329
Frankie
Put the tools you use most often at eye-level where they're easiest to grab. Place your next most-used tools toward the bottom of the board and the tools you use least toward the top. Group similar tools in the same section of the board and arrange them by size.
BKLinkGlobal
I would pull the bench out of the alcove and use that space for a tool cabinet, lower with drawers and upper with doors. But what do I know, the underside of my bench (Moravian) is my clamp rack.
I like the idea of a large wall-mounted cabinet above the workbench. In my case, the workbench is not against a wall but approx. 3 feet away. This so I have easy access to both long sides of the workbench. After some thought and design, I made this set of cabinets with doors that hold most of the hand tools I use. A saw till is nearby. Depth of cabinets ( closed) is 10 inches and over 7 inches when open, so very little interference with my work flow. Image of workbench , wall-mounted cabinets while doing a livestream recently. This provides an idea of the space to work with around the workbench. Happy with the setup! Norman, WoodSkills @woodskillsmag
Check out this Woodsmith Slant Front Tool Cart made out of Plywood with removable top Tool Box
https://www.woodsmithplans.com/plan/slant-front-tool-cart/
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