Popular Woodworking 2007-02 № 160, страница 33

These very simple, stackable storage boxes are a good example of low-tech ways of organizing tools. Drop-down doors make it easy to find what you need, and the materials list won't break the bank.

Tool cabinets can be more than utilitarian cupboards. At their best, they are expressions of personal tastes and skill.

If you have the space, a wall cabinet can grow into more of a tool locker with space for small power tools as well as hand tools. A larger cabinet not only helps keep shop clutter to a minimum but it also can provide security if you live in an area where crime is a worry. With a cabinet bolted to the wall and doors equipped with sturdy locks, tools are a lot safer than they would be if left out in the open.

A machinist's tool chest includes a tool tray under a hinged top plus a number of drawers that can be protected by a fold-up front piece. Handles make it easy to move.

You might want to leave a tool cabinet of any size and complexity for the future, until individual preferences and needs are a little clearer (to say nothing of developing the skills required to make one). Start with a more modest wall cabinet for tools. It's an excellent project that doesn't have to consume a lot of expensive materials or take a lot of time. Tool chests can be very simple and as your skills improve you can move on to more complex designs.

Don't Overlook Ready-made Cabinets

Another possible route is to buy inexpensive storage cabinets at used office-supply or furniture stores. Older steel cabinets and open shelving units can handle a lot of weight. Even if they need a fresh coat of paint and have a dent or ding here and there, these cabinets will provide a lot of useful storage at a relatively low cost.

Be more cautious about buying used kitchen cabinets. Some of them will be fine as either wall-mounted or freestanding storage, but inexpensive stock cabinets are often made from thin par-ticleboard or plywood and won't stand much abuse. It's worth checking the classified ads in your local newspaper but look the cabinets over carefully.

As libraries convert from paper to digital files they are getting rid of those classic wood card catalogues. If you can manage to get your hands on one, adopt it right away; the small drawers are ideal for storing everything from nails and screws to router bits and collet wrenches.

Tool Boards Keep Everything in Sight

If your workbench is against a wall, you can arrange a surprising number of tools directly in front of you on nails or hooks. It doesn't take much time to move a tool if you decide it's in the wrong spot. The down side is that you're not going to squeeze the volume of tools here that you would be able to put in a well-designed cabinet. But they are in plain sight and instantly accessible.

We've all probably been in a garage or two where one wall was devoted to ¹/4" perforated hardboard and the outlines of different tools neatly painted in

Chairmaker David Fleming keeps part of his hand-tool arsenal hanging within easy reach on a wall. Tools are close at hand and sharp edges won't get dinged.

Popular Woodworking