Organization strikes someone every 12 minutes--

[Roger Wiegand]

And yesterday and today seem to have been my day! After years of thinking about it I finally got off the dime, ordered a small rolling tool cabinet and built a mobile tool cart. My tools have long been on the wall over the lathe, and every time I've reached for one over the turning lathe I've had that little thought, will this be the time that I'll catch some piece of clothing and have a disaster. With the cart I can pull it out to be next to or behind me while I'm working and then roll it up against the wall to get it out of the way when I'm not. Getting the tools off the wall opened up a lot of good storage space for things I might need to grab when the lathe is off. So today, after a decade of tripping over them on the floor, I came up with what seem like pretty good storage options for my hollowing rig and for the knives for my coring system. Nothing turned, but a feeling of accomplishment nevertheless.

Now the frenzy is upon me, I’ve been discarding tools I haven’t used for 20 years, broken stuff I’ll never fix, and turnings I stopped working on because they were just too bugly to stand I’m sure it will pass soon! (Looking at the background in these pictures suggests I have a lot of work to do!

 

[Webb Willmott]

As I set up my new shop, you have inspired me. Love the tool cart and will copy it.

 

[Ron Solfest]

“Every 12 minutes”? I’ve been thinking about spending some time organizing in my shop for weeks but I haven’t been “struck” yet

Maybe one of these days…

 

[Mike Brazeau]

Looks great. I made a small cabinet almost 25 years ago with a lazy Susan tool rack on top. Added the coring tools on one side and after snagging a new pair of jeans on coring knives, I made a wooden cover for them.

 

[Paul Paukstelis]

Looks great. I made a small cabinet almost 25 years ago with a lazy Susan tool rack on top. Added the coring tools on one side and after snagging a new pair of jeans on coring knives, I made a wooden cover for them.

I 3D print covers.

OneWay EasyCore cutter guard by ppaukstelis | Download free STL model | Printables.com

 

[hughie]

I really never finish organising the shop, its a work in progress thats been going on now for around 30 years.

 

[Ken Cardinal]

Seems to me that there is a constant balance required. Organizing vs. Turning. If I spend some time organizing, it usually results in more speedy turning since I know where everything is. But every moment organizing is a moment not turning. For me there is also the constant challenge of space. I am restricted a little less than half a two car garage in which I keep my lathe, my bandsaw, my Festool Hepa vac, my 2 sharpening grinders, my tools and the wood to turn.

 

[John Torchick]

I bought a Harbor Freight nine drawer rolling cabinet. Top drawer holds about 98% of my turning stuff.
Looking at the first post, I'm uneasy with sharp tools pointing up. I have a Stanley work top where my tools are inserted into openings, sharp edges down.

 

[John K Jordan]

yesterday and today seem to have been my day!

Are your organization services for hire? My shop is in horrible shape. I can pay in US dollars, wood, or peacocks.

My tools have long been on the wall over the lathe...

One thing that has helped me at the lathe. I keep tools I'm using at the moment on a little tray held loosely by a block in the gap in the lathe bed so I can slide or move it as needed. I think I've made 4 of these - the first one over 20 years ago.
For demos I usually take one that fits the club lathe. Plywood, a thin carpet surface, low wood sides to prevent rolling.

A very quick little project!



JKJ

 

[Ken Cardinal]

I would think the carpet would collect wood fibers kind of like a microfiber towel. Do you use a special kind of carpet? Inspiring idea by the way! It’s definitely moved to my to do list!

 

[Roger Wiegand]

Looking at the first post, I'm uneasy with sharp tools pointing up. I have a Stanley work top where my tools are inserted into openings, sharp edges down.

The sharp bits are high enough up that I should have no reason to poke myself, the single deep perimeter design means I don't have to reach over one tool to get to another. (the block with the unhandled tools still needs to find a home; I may end up devoting the top drawer to less used tools laid flat). For better or worse, though I have a pretty broad range of different handles, I still need to see the cutting edge to grab the right one.

If it turns out to be an error I can just flip them over in the cart, nothing in the design dictates which way the tools go into the holes.

 

[Odie]

I would think the carpet would collect wood fibers kind of like a microfiber towel. Do you use a special kind of carpet? Inspiring idea by the way! It’s definitely moved to my to do list!

Nothin' a little shot of air won't get rid of pronto......right JKJ?

I love these threads that show what goes on in the shop behind the scenes.....and, like expressed in another post here.....improves the outcome at the lathe.....especially over a period of time that includes many personal inventions and creativity!

=o=

 

[Ken Cardinal]

My tool organization is flat. I have 3 drawers built to hold just cutting tools. Here’s an example:

 

[Tom Rice]

And yesterday and today seem to have been my day! After years of thinking about it I finally got off the dime, ordered a small rolling tool cabinet and built a mobile tool cart. My tools have long been on the wall over the lathe, and every time I've reached for one over the turning lathe I've had that little thought, will this be the time that I'll catch some piece of clothing and have a disaster. With the cart I can pull it out to be next to or behind me while I'm working and then roll it up against the wall to get it out of the way when I'm not. Getting the tools off the wall opened up a lot of good storage space for things I might need to grab when the lathe is off. So today, after a decade of tripping over them on the floor, I came up with what seem like pretty good storage options for my hollowing rig and for the knives for my coring system. Nothing turned, but a feeling of accomplishment nevertheless.

Now the frenzy is upon me, I’ve been discarding tools I haven’t used for 20 years, broken stuff I’ll never fix, and turnings I stopped working on because they were just too bugly to stand I’m sure it will pass soon! (Looking at the background in these pictures suggests I have a lot of work to do!


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How do you like that carbide adapter setup on your coring rig? Does it do better than the original, was thinking the more diamond shaped cutter would be better but the square rotated 45 seems pretty good too, was looking at ordering one to try out

 

[Terry Vaughan]

I'm uneasy with sharp tools pointing up. I have a Stanley work top where my tools are inserted into openings, sharp edges down.

Me too. I have some in a rolling holder with holes in the top, blades pointing down. But it's not easy to spot the tool I want. I'm thinking of changing to an inclined sheet of plywood so the tools lean against it, blades upward. They should be more visible that way, and the edges will be against the board surface, so less likely to spike me. Maybe two sheets back to back like an A.

 

[Joel Daniels]

Me too. I have some in a rolling holder with holes in the top, blades pointing down. But it's not easy to spot the tool I want. I'm thinking of changing to an inclined sheet of plywood so the tools lean against it, blades upward. They should be more visible that way, and the edges will be against the board surface, so less likely to spike me. Maybe two sheets back to back like an A.

Here’s an “A-frame” tool holder (on wheels so I can roll it around).

 

[John Torchick]

Adding: I hit the ends of some handles to clean off paint. I marked the ends of my tools with a Sharpie: Bedan, 1"RSG, B- bowl gouge, etc. The table sits within arm's reach. Only time it is moved is when I'm turning hollow forms.

 

[Terry Vaughan]

Here’s an “A-frame” tool holder (on wheels so I can roll it around).

Thanks Joel, that looks something like what I was thinking of.

 

[Roger Wiegand]

How do you like that carbide adapter setup on your coring rig? Does it do better than the original, was thinking the more diamond shaped cutter would be better but the square rotated 45 seems pretty good too, was looking at ordering one to try out

It's the Mike Hunter Korpro. I like it well enough to have bought a second one so I didn't have to swap one between my two most used cutters. They are stupid expensive but cut much faster and smoother than the standard cutters, plus, of course, a long time between sharpenings. It's impressive when it throws out a long ribbon shaving. "Cuts like buttah" as folks say in this part of the world.

 

[Tom Gall]

Here’s an “A-frame” tool holder (on wheels so I can roll it around).
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Nice rack, Joel. BUT, I would think it would be a little difficult to navigate the tool through and into two holes (incl. the PVC inserts) ... especially on the lower row. Looks like there isn't enough room to lift the tool without bumping into the upper row(s). And, on the double upper row(s) ... do you have to remove a tool(s) in the front to get a tool in the back row? Or do you have to reach over the cutting edges in the front to lift a tool out from the back row? Suggestion - cut openings on the upper boards (non PVC ones) so the tools just lean/rest into place without having to put them through the holes. A slight variation from the photos below ... since you have yours set up with some handles/ferrules in the holes, rather than the tool shafts, you may have to alter the openings to be parallel to accommodate them .

 

[Jim Byrne]

I use PVC tubes mounted at the end of my lathe stand with the tips pointed down.
The tips (and my hands) are protected inside the PVC. With only 10 tools they are easy to keep track of.

 

[hughie]

I would think the carpet would collect wood fibers kind of like a microfiber towel. Do you use a special kind of carpet? Inspiring idea by the way! It’s definitely moved to my to do list!

carpet? I use concrete, long lasting, easy to clean with dry or wet cleaning and extremely durable. will last a life time without even being careful.

 

[Curt Vogt]

carpet? I use concrete, long lasting, easy to clean with dry or wet cleaning and extremely durable. will last a life time without even being careful.

Concrete huh? Sounds like a fantastic sales pitch. Just so you know... I hate math... but here it goes.

Woodturning tool + Gravity + Concrete Floor = Unhappy
That's Almost as bad as this one:
Woodturning tool + Gravity + Concrete Floor + Foot thrown out there in desperation under the tool = (Very Unhappy + Emptying the BandAid Box)