Lathe tool rack ideas?

[Jeff Clow]

I am getting my lathe set up and starting to learn how to use it. I would like to make some kind of rack to hold the tools so they are handy for use. I have seen some people have a rack on the wall behind the lathe. I was considering maybe a free standing rack I could set on the floor next to me, tools racked on top, and also storage below for chucks, centers, and such.
What have other people done? (pictures would be great!)

[Kevin McPeek]

Two words, table saw (with a sheet of ply on top of it).

I stole an idea I saw on here (I think). I use a wire shelf, mounted upside down and backwards. The turned down lip is at the bottom facing outward and the handle sits on that. I made the top with a bunch of dowels glued between two boards to keep tools from tipping or rolling when I bump it.

[Mark Pruitt]

I found a nice sized tool box at the BORG which was very inexpensive. Then I made a two drawer cabinet from MDF and added casters. Here is the result. (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=57038&highlight=station) I have two dozen turning tools stored in this box, along with faceplates, chucks, jaws, etc. The two drawers in the bottom cabinet hold hollowing, coring, and buffing systems.

[Steven Wilson]

when I'm using my tools they lay out on a workmate. For storing chucks, mounting a grinder, and other things I use a Craftsman rolling tool cabinet (5 drawer or whatever).

[Ron Fleice]

This is what I use...its a turntable setup with small cabinet below for larger accessories...since I have accumulated more tools it actually should be a little bigger...also it is on wheels so I can move it around
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y290/Ronluc/toolholder.jpg

[Brodie Brickey]

Two things:

I mounted a tool rack on my wall. 1x4 board with a line down the center. Drilled out holes in it with a forstner bit, and then split down the middle with a table saw. Mount those in a box frame and you have your basic rack.

For your faceplates and chucks, take a 4x4 block about 2 feet long, split it in half at a 45 degree angle (diagonally) down its length. Mount it to the wall and put pegs on the block. You can now mount your chuck(s) and faceplate(s). Because the peg doesn't stick out 90 degrees for the wall, it is more stable and less likely to drop on your foot. you can also drill holes in the block to hold hex keys, chuck keys, MT#2 live centers & jacobs chuck.

I didn't get fancy with either of these things. There is no dust protection or theft protection. I'll try and post pictures if I can remember tonight.

[Bill Wyko]

Here's my collapsible setup.

[Jeff Clow]

Thanks for the ideas & pictures. I think I like What Ron did the best, but Bill's sliding rack looks pretty cool too! I was thinking of a free standing unit next to the lathe, instead of behind it on the wall... but who knows???

Keep the ideas comming!

[Allen Neighbors]

My tool rack is made from an old Ambulance Gurney. Collapsed it, shortened both ends to the wheels and built an A-Frame from 2x4s and put pegboard on it. Rolls easily to whichever side of the lathe I want it on. Mounted some Walmart fishing rod holders to hold some of the tools, the rest just hang. A little crowded but functional.

[Prashun Patel]

Very old thread, but am posting my preferred design.

I like this for its simplicity. 1" holes through a 2x4 block. Then I cut key hole slots in the front. This allows entry for skew and scrapers.

It holds 90% of all my turning tools perfectly vertical, as well as all M2 spindle accessories, chuck keys, and tool rests.

I notch the sides for a couple screws, and then add (sometimes) a batten underneath. Plenty strong.

If you want the handles to seat each sweeter, chamfer the tops of the holes 1/8".

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

I keep my tools in a tool cart between lathe sessions, but I have a portable tool 4 drawer cart with a hinged lid that opens. I keep the dividers, screws, glues, chucks etc in the drawers. The chisels are in the top covered tray. On the lid, I mounted two magnetic tool holder strips horizontally one about 5 inches above the other. I put the lathe chisels I will be using against the magnets vertically and they stay right there, Generally I have them to my immediate right, but I can move the cart a little closer when doing small work. When done the chisels go back to laying in the top tray. Works for me

[Brice Rogers]

Since you are just starting out - - consider making the tool rack about 3X the size that you need.

When I started, I had a set of 6 craftsman turning tools and a couple of home made ones. So I made a rack to hold 10 or 12 tools. Then perhaps a year or so later, I added on another 4 or 6 positions. Then I got a bigger lathe, more tools and built a new tool holder that holds perhaps 20 to 24 tools. It is now full. :D If you don't want to go for the big model now, consider designing it such that you can add to it later as you get more tools and are sucked further into the vortex.

[William C Rogers]

Maybe 5X instead of 3X

Seems like you never have enough places to put things. I built a box for sand ballast and made 3 pullouts above that under the lathe. This is where I keep centers and tool rest, etc.
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My bathroom wall is about 6 feet behind my lathe. It is 8 feet long. I used scrap lumber and PVC to hold my chisels. I put a small strip of peg board below for more stuff.
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I initally had my chucks in the pullouts, but they were too heavy for my cheap slides. I had an extra cart and used that for my chucks.

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I have a coupke of more small pegboards on the wall on the wall for my measuring tools.
Not pictured is my vacuum pump, small compressor, sanding supplies, Hollowing system. Small lathe, etc.

[Ray Ewing]

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[Brian Brown]

My rack is similar to Ron's. It holds lots of tools of different lengths, and some centers and mt2 tools. It was not designed for chucks because I put mine in a drawer below the lathe. I'm sure you can come up with something for chucks without a lot of effort. It sits between 2 lathes because I share tools with my wife when she is turning. It can be taken apart for storage, which unfortunately is the state it is in now because my shop equipment and tools are all in storage. As soon as the remodel of the new house is complete, I'll have a new shop, but that seems a long ways out on the horizon. Here are some pics.

[Olaf Vogel]

All my tools are modular. Chisels interchangeable with handles.
Years ago I did a course with a local professional turner and he had all his tools in a Husky tool box.
http://toolguyd.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Husky-52-inch-18-Drawer-Tool-Storage-Combo.jpg

These are great, but expensive.

Last year I was offered a set of drawers that previously held architectural drawings, similar to this
http://a3.southwestsolutions.com/images/storemorestore/stacking-flat-file-cabinets-for-architectural-plan-drawing-storage.JPG

Keep in mind that paper is insanely heavy, so the sliders are very high quality.
And who needs paper drawings any more. So there's a glut of these on the market, used. Mine was free.

[Dick Mahany]

I saw this type of cart posted online by a SoCal woodturner (B. Loitz?) years ago and made a modified copy for my self from his demo pics. It's compact and with 3 swiveling casters, can rotate 360 degrees within it's own foot print. A little top heavy until the tool holders are filled, then very stable.
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[Brian Deakin]

I really like your preferred design and plan to copy it Having slots cut in front is an idea a super idea

A huge thank you for posting

regards Brian

[Russell Neyman]

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For my money, a tool rack has to meet this criteria:
>> Compact-- lots of tools in a small space
>> Tools Visible-- The tips of every tool needs to be pointed up so it can be identified quickly
>> Easily organized-- The spaces need to be interchangeable so that all of the gouges, scrapers, etc can be grouped.
>> Minimum of dust catching spots-- Shelf-type racks catch wood chips and other debris

I probably tried five designs through the years -- some of them exactly what some of you have proposed here -- and finally settled on this one. No flats, no PVC tubes, no clumsy dividers, no rotating carts that need to be moved around and catch wood chips. It holds a whopping 33 handled tools (plus various chucks, spurs, awls, etc) in less than a 36-inch space, and every space can hold any size tool. The key is a slanted lower shelf that kicks the heel of the tool forward into place; debris slips off these spaces and fall to the floor. This design has been so successful I've sold half a dozen to other woodturners.

Also attached is an earlier, smaller version of the same rack.

[John Keeton]

This topic comes up often and there have been been many similar threads. I have posted pics of my tool racks and the PDF file below previously, but it may be worth posting them again. The design is not mine, but was posted by a couple of creekers that generously provided the measurements some years ago. These racks are easy to build, but one needs wall space conveniently situated to the lathe in order for them to be appropriate. However, it would seem easy enough to affix them to a mobile stand constructed of scrap lumber.

I prefer these over having to reach across or among other tools to reach the tool I need. Like others, my tools are always very sharp and I do not think it wise to have to avoid other edges to grab a gouge. I also want to be able to grasp the handle firmly with no chance of the tool slipping thru my hand. I also do not like the PVC tubes for the above reasons, as well as potential accumulation of debris in the tubes.

[Richard Dooling]

That's a nice simple design. I like that the sloping bottom plate wot't accumulate much dust or shavings.

Looks like a lot of D-Way handles up there!

[Don Jarvie]

Agree with John that having the handle up or a rack where the tool leans against the back is better. To each his own!

[John K Jordan]

>> Tools Visible-- The tips of every tool needs to be pointed up so it can be identified quickly


You certainly need to be able to immediately locate, identify, and grab the tool you want.

How one configures the tool rack might depend on the type of turning done. Someone who turns only bowls will often have different needs and fewer tools than someone who turns everything.

I keep turning tools in several racks, on shelves, and drawers, all within reach at the lathe or within two or three steps. A few dozen short scrapers, parting tools, texturing tools, tiny spindle gouges, and special purpose tools lay flat on several shelves, all with points towards me so I can see what's what. Big bowl gouges are in their own rack. Hollowing tools are I don't use often are in cases I get out as needed.

Most of the rack pictures I've seen don't address what to do with unhandled tools that are swapped in handles as needed. For example, I have 6 identical Thompson 3/8" spindle gouges and I swap a dull one for a sharp one then sharpen when they are all dull. The spares plus a collection of Hunter and other unhandled tools are within reach in shallow drawers in the workbench immediately behind me.

The tools I use the most are on a wall rack where I can grab the one I want quickly, whether in permanent handles or mounted in handles with adapters. The rack is made from a piece of plywood on a wood frame, the tools held with short lengths of clear plastic tubing slipped over deck screws. I can easily reconfigure the rack by moving screws which I've done several times so far.

My helper working on the rack and the rack mounted on the wall at the end of the lathe:

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I've tried several configurations over the years and this is definitely the most efficient both when I'm turning or when I have a student or two in the shop.

BTW, the turning gouges, skews, and such are only a small part of the storage and access issue at the lathe. It takes much more space and planning to keep everything else at hand within a few steps: live and drive centers, tool rests, knockout bars and draw bars, chucks and keys, drill bits and Jacob's chucks, hones, measuring tools, screw drivers and allen wrenches, saws, burnishers, hand scrapers, sanding disks and paper, files and sanding sticks, rotary and hand carving tools, finishing and solvent supplies, vacuum chucking stuff, buffing tools, glues, sharpening things, safety glasses and face shields, respirators, fire extinguisher, flashlight, pencils and markers, pen-making stuff, indexing plates, templates, special jigs such as for threading, etc..., and of course, wood. I have cabinets, tool boxes with shallow drawers, racks, and open shelves all around my lathe alcove for most of it. One reason I like to visit other's shops is to see what clever ideas they've come up with.

JKJ

[John Keeton]

...Looks like a lot of D-Way handles up there!
I really like Dave’s handles as well as his tools. By the numbers, most of my go to tools are Thompson. Doug and Dave both make quality tools, and they do not really have much duplication between them. Each makes tools I find indispensable. But, Dave’s handles feel better to me than Doug’s. My shop is heated in the winter to around 55-60* and I don’t like the idea of picking up a bare aluminum tool handle. The covering Dave uses feels comfortable regardless of the season and my D-Way and Thompson tools will both fit.

[Russell Neyman]

The tool tips (D-Way, etc) can easily be stored by drilling the appropriate sized hole in a shelf, then keeping it from falling through with a cup hook strategically placed on the underside. You can see that feature in the right front of my rack.

[robert baccus]

All my wall racks are full of seldomer? used tools--my gouges(can you have too many) are in a beautiful brass planter (12"X12" can full of these swimming pool worm like floating toys cut to an appropiate length and glued in to fill up the can. Reaching down to grab a tool is so convienant to an old pistol shooter like me and on the floor--no reaching over the lathe!. The "worms protect the tools and the tips never touch the bottom. Find your own can.

[tom lucas]

I've been needing a tool rack and got inspired by this thread. I have limited space. So I made this swing out tool holder. It swings out over the tail of the lathe and swings back under the cabinet on the wall It holds 22 tools. The bowl gouges would not clear the cabinet unless put in upside down. It'll do for now as I learn to turn. The small tools are the sharpened R.S. tools I posted about purchasing in a separate thread. Tell me what you think.


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[Phil Anderson]

Here is a 15 second video that shows what I did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZjNN9XwKhM

[tom lucas]

Here is a 15 second video that shows what I did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZjNN9XwKhM


I like it. I guess everyone makes custom to fit their space. I'm brand new to turning. Not really sure how much I'll actually do. For now, I'm at least set to play around a bit.

[Mike Heinen]

Does anyone have the plans for the Jeff Wright holder?? I see there are plans on a North Carolina clubs site. You have to be from the NC area to join... Looking for plans if possible. Thanks!

[John Keeton]

Mike, you need to view the PDF I included in post #20 in this thread. It has Jeff’s holder included in it.

[Chris Stolicky]

Like John said - you need much more storage for tools other than things that go on tool rests. I have used a combination of PVC and peg board attachments. The cabinets hold all of the smaller miscellaneous stuff. Below was a snapshot in time when I was setting up the new shop: