Organization and proper storage of woodworking tools are essential for the longevity and effectiveness of the tools. However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to the question of how to store woodworking tools. The solution depends on numerous things, including your commitment to the craft: is it a hobby, or are you a professional contractor invested in the job full time?
Another major factor that contributes to the perfect storage solution is the sizing of the tool. While some tools can be hung on a hook, others need to be stored away properly in a compact place to avoid the spares getting in the way of a project and causing injuries. Hence, there are numerous answers to how to store woodworking tools, but each answer is unique to the need for your woodworking tools.
We are introducing 8 significant steps you must take to effectively store away all your woodworking tools.
What You’ll Need
- A cabinet
- Hooks
- Clear baskets
- Planks for open shelves
- Drilling machine
- Mason jars
- Clear lid organizers
- Pegboards
- A mobile cart
- Slat walls or boards
Step 1
Categorize the Tools into Specific Groups
The first step in the drill of organization and storage of your woodworking tools is to go through your tools and categorize them. Create separate sets for tools that have different functions, whereas group together the tools that come in handy in a particular project or operation of a tool. For instance, all the clamps can be grouped together, but the nuts and bolts can’t be placed with them.
Step 2
Collect All the Nuts and Bolts in Clear Containers
Since nuts and bolts are easy to lose and can cause injuries if lying freely around your workstation, collect them and organize them first in clear containers. If you’re always looking for cost-effective solutions, you can use mason jars for storage. A dedicated organizer with clear lids can also come in handy to effectively stash away every single screw and nail.
If you’re on board with the mason jar idea, you will likely need a space to organize the jars. You can either store them away in cabinets or keep them displayed on open shelves to make them easily accessible. An organizer can be placed on top of the cabinet or in a drawer depending upon the room it takes up.
Step 3
Stash Away Everyday Tools on the Side of the Workstation
One of the most overlooked and underutilized spaces is the blank vertical area on either side of the cabinet. The commonly used woodworking tools such as measuring tapes and screwdrivers can be effectively tucked on the side of the cabinet, especially if the cabinet doubles as your workstation.
You might need to construct a small shelf using a plank to aid in the storage. Dig holes using a drilling machine in the shelf to pass the screwdrivers halfway. Doing so will decrease the chances of accidentally stabbing your hand on the tools and keep the tools in place.
Step 4
Hang the Woodworking Tools Inside and Outside the Cabinets
A cabinet is a perfect place to store away your woodworking tools. However, placing them horizontally and stacking them on each other can cause the wires to jumble. The weight of the tools can also damage some lightweight and delicate tools.
Hence, use a pegboard to line the doors and walls of the cabinet inside and outside. You can hang your most treasured woodworking tools inside the cabinet, whereas the everyday tools that need hanging can be attached to the outer surface of the cabinet doors.
Step 5
Utilize Baskets to Save Space
A lot of the miscellaneous tools that are awkwardly shaped or sized don’t fit into any category. For such tools, baskets can be great storage and space savers. Simply throw away all such tools in a transparent basket and label the basket with a list of things inside.
You can place the basket on an open shelf or hang it on a vertical surface using hangers or slat walls to save room.
Step 6
Use Hooks to Hang the Tools
Hooks can also save space while effectively organizing the tools. Some miscellaneous tools have such a design that a hook could be more functional than the baskets. Make sure to have a setup slightly higher than the workstation so that the hanging tools don’t hinder your workflow by dropping in between the work.
Step 7
Grab a Mobile Workbench for Project-Related Tools
The next step is collecting all the woodworking tools you need for an ongoing project. Grab a mobile cart and create shelves and spaces as per your need. Now store away all the tools you had set aside for meeting the needs of your current project.
Ensure that the last shelf has enough space to store heavy equipment.
Having a mobile workbench saves space while keeping your tools organized. Make sure you have enough space and unique design for almost all the tools. For instance, planning for screwdrivers and forgetting the battery-operated tools can severely disturb your work, especially when you need such tools during a project.
Step 8
Create a Separate Station for Rechargeable Equipment
Your rechargeable woodworking tools can be hung using an open shelf. However, having a custom station with multiple outlets for such equipment is better to ensure every tool is charged when needed for a project.
Our Final Thoughts
There isn’t just one way of knowing how to store woodworking tools. Time and experience are better teachers in this regard as you’ll gradually discover which organizing and storage solution works best for you and which doesn’t. You can customize your workstation and workshop accordingly to make it work in the best way possible for you.
For now, these steps will aid you in stashing away your woodworking tools in an orderly manner. You can follow these steps sequentially or jumble them up, whichever is effective for your work needs. However, knowing what equipment you have can significantly make your work easier.
