Storage space is a high priority in my shop. Maybe in yours too? It’s not that there is not enough space, it is the prime space where tools are super accessible for any moment you might need them. This is particularly true for tools I use frequently, so I am always keen for better storage solution ideas.
Clamps – C-Clamps, Scissor Clamps, Bar Clamps – all fit this “frequent use” category for me. For a long time I kept them in buckets, which is a good storage solution for easily carrying them all to any spot in my workspace. But, it seems they are always hooking on each other. I had one bucket for large clamps and another bucket for the small ones. Yet, even with that, the one I want is inevitably at the bottom, under the others.
One day I just said “Enough!” I will keep the buckets for transport, and for work outside the shop, but in the shop I need a better way to store and access the clamps. I need something clean, simple, and easy. I need something that is not in the way.
Turns out, I was also noodling about drill access and storage of all the paraphernalia that goes with the drill. Since I want the drill bits right at my fingertips when I am using the press, but I don’t want them cluttering the workbench, nor off on a distant shelf. I considered shelves on the wall behind the drill press, but that means reaching over and around for drills. Again, I want something clean, simple and accessible.
An Elegant Storage Solution!
I was pondering the combination of the 2 ideas, and looking around my workshop. Then the stroke of light – which spurred this double sided “Tool Door” storage Solution!
I will build a new fold-away in the prime storage space near the drill press. Then, put the drill stuff on one side and clamps on the other. If I make it fold against the wall when not in use, or when I want something big on the drill press, then it can get out of the way easily.
A quick look around the shop found all the needed wood pieces. But, I did have to buy hinges and metal angle mounts. (I could make them, but I was running to the store anyway, so easy to simply buy a few.)
This arrangement gives easy access to the drill bits and other items, right by the press. So, when I am working on small things, everything is super accessible. Then, when I need more space around the drill press for bigger stuff – like drilling on long parts – the “tool door” just folds to the side and out of the way.
On the back side, when the door swings out, the clamps are in view. Beneficially, the clamp side is my workspace side for bigger projects like building a trailer frame. That is where I use the clamps most anyway.
This turned out well because the drill bits are much more accessible on the “tool door storage solution” than they ever were on a shelf behind the drill press. Swinging the “tool door” a little to allow bigger things on the drill press is amazingly easy.
Clamps too. When I need them, I just swing the “tool door”, then I have full access to any that I want.
Building the Tool Door
The Tool Door hangs on one 2×6 bolted edgewise securely to the back wall. Several metal angle brackets anchor it with long, strong screws. It hangs on a stud in the wall (actually a double stud, which is fortunate). To support the weight, the long 2×6 has several metal angle brackets that also help support the tipping loads – whether sticking out, or folded against the wall.
Orientation of the 2×6 and hinges allows space for the clamps between the tool door and the wall when the door folds all the way back. A 2×4 framing around three sides of the plywood gives it the needed rigidity.
Next, I put all the additions for the storage solution on a piece of plywood with arrangements for the tools. The plywood becomes the “Tool Door” with a couple of stout hinges – because all the clamps and drill stuff is pretty heavy. The hinges are separated as much as practical for a mechanical advantage by spreading out the load to the wall. Also, the position of the hinges with respect to the door and the 2×6 puts the screws in shear instead of pulling against the threads.
The finishing was just using a rasp on all the edges to remove potential splinters. I suppose if I had more time and patience, I could paint it. Or, I could paint outlines of the tools or something and make it look nicer. Oh well. The drill and clamp storage solution works well just like this, and I am much more of a “function over looks” kind of person.
What Would I Do Different?
I try to learn with each project. When I finish something, I like to look back to see what I might do different to improve unknown projects of the future. There are some things I would consider different for this project:
- I would make the 2×6 on the wall go all the way to the floor so weight of the tools and door is on the floor. The wall would have less stress by only holding tilting forces. This is not a big deal, but it is something.
- I would use a 2×8 against the wall instead of the 2×6 for a little more space when folding the tool door closed. Mostly it works fine, but it would be nice for closing when things are against that wall.
- A little taller would be nice too. I guess you never have enough storage space, but in this case, I love the clearance under it (that is now where the shop vac resides), so I would not go lower, but I would go higher to take advantage of that space for the long bar clamps.
- Making this again, I might splurge for materials instead of just using the bits I had lying around the shop. The plywood size, the 2×6 length. When I first built it, the idea was as a test. But we know how that goes. When the test works wonderfully, then we don’t tend to go back and re-think and re-build.
Storage Solution Perspective Changes
The storage solution is super functional, and I really like it. Interestingly, I use it much more than I ever would have anticipated. I even re-did the clamp side after getting some more clamps.
One change in perspective is that I rarely fold it all the way back to the wall. Maybe never. Even with long sticks on the drill press, it folds out of the way enough. Because of that, the space on the wall has been consumed for other things, and now it can’t actually fold all the way back. That works, however, because it swings enough both ways to function well.
The swinging function has also turned out really nice for storing the Shop Vac under it. I also have a portable air tank under there, but it is so easy to access just by swinging the tool door. An unanticipated benefit.
This Is Your Solutions! Category
This is another post in our Solutions! Category. Don’t forget, this is your place to share, too. All our readers would love to see what you create as solutions in your shop, like this other storage solution for pneumatic tools submitted by a reader.
Join in with your good ideas. We would love to see them. Please submit your stories here. Thank You!
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