Bob Borzelleri
02-08-2010, 2:26 AM
Shortly after getting my lathe in November, it became apparent to me that I needed to have some way to organize my tools and have them close by rather than walking back and forth to the workbench where I had them laid out. Sometime later, when I learned the value of keeping tools sharp before the tool or the project shouted at me (thanks to Jimmy Clewes, and yes, I owe a "review" of my 3 day class. The short version is, "Yes, it was worth every penny".), I started thinking I needed to rearrange my access to the grinder and Tormek which were across the shop.
The first picture is the original attempt at organizing the tools and having them nearby. Didn't work out too badly other than me knocking the tools over from time to time and wondering why I had sharp edges constantly between me and the handle. Still was wandering around the shop for sharpening.
The other two shots come courtesy of Frank Grant who is a fellow I know nothing about other than the fact that he wrote an article entitled, "Sharpening Cart" in the February 2010 issue of Woodworker's Journal. In the article, he describes how wanted to address both tool access and sharpening. I guess he was listening to me. So, on Thursday, I went out and bought some wood.
The cart is made from a couple of sheets of 3/4" Baltic Birch. His design calls for 1/2" BB for the drawers, but I have a thing about drawers. I put things in them and I rarely ever see them again. I debated building drawers for my workbench and still regret having done so. I'm sure that there are things in the back that I have purchased replacements for more than once. So this time, I went with shelves. After all, all I need to store in this thing are Tormek goodies and stones and I don't need to hide them.
The tool holders have a couple of rare earth magnets. One holds the rack vertical for pushing the thing around the shop and the other on the diagonal so the tools are easily accessible. Grant used aluminum for the top to address liquid spillage. I opted for HDPE. He also built a spiffy jig to rout openings in the PVC tool tubes so he could see what he was grabbing. I looked around for some 1-5/8” clear tubes and finally decided that I would memorize which tool I put where.
Grant says an NFL lineman could sit on this thing. I don’t know any pro football players (although I was in the same squad in basic training with Jimmy Johnson and Jim Vollenweider of the 49’ers), but I can vouch for the fact that the cart is very heavy and bulletproof (so to speak). I put the first of a few coats of oil on it tonight. BTW, when did Baltic Birch start coming with voids in it?
When I finally finish my shop renovation, (DC closet, new piping, compressed air system, and other stuff), the cart will live at right angle to my lathe. Both tools and sharpening will be close at hand. I would have taken a shot of where the cart will eventually be, but things are so stacked up from the work I am doing that I would have had to move too much stuff to get it over there. When I am done with everything, I’ll post the real “after’ photo.
The first picture is the original attempt at organizing the tools and having them nearby. Didn't work out too badly other than me knocking the tools over from time to time and wondering why I had sharp edges constantly between me and the handle. Still was wandering around the shop for sharpening.
The other two shots come courtesy of Frank Grant who is a fellow I know nothing about other than the fact that he wrote an article entitled, "Sharpening Cart" in the February 2010 issue of Woodworker's Journal. In the article, he describes how wanted to address both tool access and sharpening. I guess he was listening to me. So, on Thursday, I went out and bought some wood.
The cart is made from a couple of sheets of 3/4" Baltic Birch. His design calls for 1/2" BB for the drawers, but I have a thing about drawers. I put things in them and I rarely ever see them again. I debated building drawers for my workbench and still regret having done so. I'm sure that there are things in the back that I have purchased replacements for more than once. So this time, I went with shelves. After all, all I need to store in this thing are Tormek goodies and stones and I don't need to hide them.
The tool holders have a couple of rare earth magnets. One holds the rack vertical for pushing the thing around the shop and the other on the diagonal so the tools are easily accessible. Grant used aluminum for the top to address liquid spillage. I opted for HDPE. He also built a spiffy jig to rout openings in the PVC tool tubes so he could see what he was grabbing. I looked around for some 1-5/8” clear tubes and finally decided that I would memorize which tool I put where.
Grant says an NFL lineman could sit on this thing. I don’t know any pro football players (although I was in the same squad in basic training with Jimmy Johnson and Jim Vollenweider of the 49’ers), but I can vouch for the fact that the cart is very heavy and bulletproof (so to speak). I put the first of a few coats of oil on it tonight. BTW, when did Baltic Birch start coming with voids in it?
When I finally finish my shop renovation, (DC closet, new piping, compressed air system, and other stuff), the cart will live at right angle to my lathe. Both tools and sharpening will be close at hand. I would have taken a shot of where the cart will eventually be, but things are so stacked up from the work I am doing that I would have had to move too much stuff to get it over there. When I am done with everything, I’ll post the real “after’ photo.