Tool organization inspiration

[James Webster]

Hello! I'm fairly well a newbie here, so my apologies if there's a better spot for me to be posting this, or an obvious gallery that I'm totally missing. I actually joined back in November when I decided to go all in and invest in a full size lathe (the Nova Orion) which due to worldwide shipping issues only just last week was finally delivered.

Anyway, now that I've a very nice upgrade to the shopsmith fueling some creativity here, I'm thinking it is time to put something together to organize my many chisels and maybe faceplates/chucks/keys as well. I'd love to see what folks have done near their lathe that has worked well for them!

I've some blank wall behind my lathe, so while I'm likely to go wall mounted, I'm interested in seeing carts or whatever else as well. I figure it only seems fitting to turn the crate that the new lathe was delivered in into some sort of shop organization accessory. And after finding someone selling a bunch of chisels and other stuff recently (their lathe was stolen from their shop but their loose tools left behind, go figure), I've now officially entered "too many" chisels territory and need to get organized.

So please, share your organizational ideals! I'm sure that just about anything is better than my 'loose pile under the router table' approach!

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

My chucks and faceplates aren’t organized very well but I am happy with the way my tools are set up. I have more tools but took out the ones I never use.

 

[James Webster]

My chucks and faceplates aren’t organized very well but I am happy with the way my tools are set up. I have more tools but took out the ones I never use.

Dang, that's a clean setup! Also, I like the towel dispenser there... I wonder if I have room to add towels by my lathe rather than the opposite wall...

And yeah, I have a ton of chisels that will stay boxed up and just be around for me to practice with different grinds or whatnot on occasion. I feel like old Shopsmith brand lathe chisels reproduce on their own somehow.

 

[Chris Lawrence]

I used the top of the garage door as a cleat to hang it. Its got a lot more hooks and stuff hanging on it now. All my small stuff is stored in the drawers under the bed. Its not normally that much of a mess i was in the middle of flipping my lathe and bandsaw from opposite sides of the shop.

 

[Dean Center]

There was a lengthy, worthwhile thread on this subject about a year ago, probably stated by Odie. You could do a search and all at once have the multitude of varied and interesting answers to the question.

 

[James Webster]

There was a lengthy, worthwhile thread on this subject about a year ago, probably stated by Odie. You could do a search and all at once have the multitude of varied and interesting answers to the question.

I would love to see this! I havent found it yet, but I am definitely looking. I suspect I'll be starting to build something next week, and the more ideas I have the better!

 

[Richard Aldrich]

My chucks and faceplates aren’t organized very well but I am happy with the way my tools are set up. I have more tools but took out the ones I never use.

Looks good!

 

[John Torchick]

I keep my turning stuff in the top drawer of a HF tool cabinet. Tools are kept on the top in the original wood box.

 

[Lamar Wright]

My chucks and faceplates aren’t organized very well but I am happy with the way my tools are set up. I have more tools but took out the ones I never use.

Hi Rusty, very neat shop indeed! I see what looks like some pen blanks. I turned pens for several years as a little business. Now days I just turn bowls. Happy turning!

 

[Paul Grenier]

 

[Lamar Wright]

My little shop does not look like this now as I am in the process of expanding the shop. I'm expanding taking in another room. I'll have much more room for more tools.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

I was able to pick up two rolling tool chests from Harbor Freight cheaply on a Christmas sale. These have worked very well for storing most all my lathe chucks & tools. (If you go this route make sure the drawers are long enough for your tools).

 

[robo hippy]

Well, mayhem could describe my shop. I have the grinders set up by each lathe, and the rolling wire racks/shelves for tools. Easy to move and position where I want them. I built plywood trays for the tops so tools don't fall through, and I like them laying flat so I can see the tool I want to use, even if I have to push the shavings aside...

robo hippy

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Paul,
I love the little shelves on the post dedicated to the chucks. Very elegant!

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

Hi Rusty, very neat shop indeed! I see what looks like some pen blanks. I turned pens for several years as a little business. Now days I just turn bowls. Happy turning!

Thanks. Yes those are some of my pen blanks on that little shelf with the scroll saw blades. I used to make and sell a lot of pens but haven’t made any for a while. Been turning mostly bowls and lidded boxes.

 

[John Torchick]

I was able to pick up two rolling tool chests from Harbor Freight cheaply on a Christmas sale. These have worked very well for storing most all my lathe chucks & tools. (If you go this route make sure the drawers are long enough for your tools).

View attachment 38883
I looked at one but the shelf is a dust catcher, IMO. Got the nine drawer cabinet. Have one empty drawer. Turning tools will go there. thanks for the idea.

 

[Forrest Forschmiedt]

There's never enough workbench space.
A month or so back I finally got tired of the tool I wanted always being under three other things. Less used tools, extra jaws, etc. hide in the drawers.

 

[Odie]

My shop is a hodge-podge of incremental changes. I first put this shop together when I moved into this house in 1996. I am completely out of space, so organizing things with "convenience" in mind, has been a great effort. I've been taking photos of my shop for many years, and each time I update the photos, I'm amazed at how much things are in a continual state of change!

More to come.

-----odie-----

 

[Odie]

continued.......

 

[Odie]

continued......

 

[Odie]

continued.......

 

[Aaron Harris]

My shop is a hodge-podge of incremental changes. I first put this shop together when I moved into this house in 1996. I am completely out of space, so organizing things with "convenience" in mind, has been a great effort. I've been taking photos of my shop for many years, and each time I update the photos, I'm amazed at how much things are in a continual state of change!

More to come.

-----odie-----

View attachment 38891View attachment 38892View attachment 38893View attachment 38894View attachment 38895View attachment 38896View attachment 38897View attachment 38898

Very cool progression, Odie-you gotta keep the sawdust outta your coffee lol!

 

[stu senator]

My shop is a hodge-podge of incremental changes. I first put this shop together when I moved into this house in 1996. I am completely out of space, so organizing things with "convenience" in mind, has been a great effort. I've been taking photos of my shop for many years, and each time I update the photos, I'm amazed at how much things are in a continual state of change!

Is there room for you???

 

[Odie]

Very cool progression, Odie-you gotta keep the sawdust outta your coffee lol!

Heh,heh,heh......Yep, there is a lid I keep on the coffee cup.......always!

Is there room for you???

Barely!

-----odie-----

 

[Gary Beasley]

Organized chaos! Sign of genius at work.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

You’ve got A LOT of stuff there Odie! What is the wooden gizmo with cord attached to the right of your grinder stand? Looks like something to hold a window open at variable heights.

 

[Odie]

Organized chaos! Sign of genius at work.

Gary,
Wish I could claim to be genius, but I am persistent in doing things over, and over, and over again, until I finally get a workable solution!

You’ve got A LOT of stuff there Odie! What is the wooden gizmo with cord attached to the right of your grinder stand? Looks like something to hold a window open at variable heights.

Lou.....
I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to, but.....
#1 is a paddle that I use to apply pressure to the motor when I change belts.
#2 is a utility work platform that fits between the bedways of my lathe.

-----odie-----

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Sorry, I see there are two grinder stands. Here it is:

 

[Odie]

Sorry, I see there are two grinder stands. Here it is:

Oh, that......it's part of my honing station that adjusts for the length of my gouges while I hand hone.

Actually, that isn't a grinder......It's an old pedestal motor I use with a 3M deburring wheel. It's used to polish the bottoms and corners of scrapers, so they slide smoothly on the tool rest. The motor is a "Packard" motor with old fashioned oil cups for the bearings.......probably about as old as you, or me!....I'm guessing 1940's

-----odie-----

 

[Odie]

Here's something interesting, that I didn't show you, because it's covered up with other stuff. .......late 1940's or early 1950's vintage Delta table saw. I completely tore it down and rebuilt it about 1975. Installed a Beismeyer fence, new motor, and added extensions. Still runs like a champ!

Yeah, some of my tools are pretty old, but they come with kindred spirit ghosts from the past! It bugs me a little, because these old-timer ghosts keep looking over my shoulder while I work......I hate that!

-----odie-----

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Ahh, I see (said the blind man...). Actually 1940’s predates me by about a decade, but who’s counting. You’ve got an amazing shop. Thanks for opening the doors to us!

 

[Tom Lucas]

My storage. I love my chuck/accessories shelf. There are holes for the chucks and a lip at the bottom. Holds a ton of stuff. I need better chisel storage, but this will do until I move to a new shop of a couple of years.

 

[Curt Fuller]

I designed my shop (which is just a corner or my garage) on the fly, one thing at a time, with really nor rhyme or reason to any of it. BUT, if I could start over, knowing what I know now after twenty years of working in there, I would pay very close attention to where the shavings tend to land and leave those areas free of hard to clean racks and holders. You'll get used to where your stuff is and it will become second nature just to reach for it. I don't necessarily agree with all the talk of ergonomics and in fact think it helps prevent fatigue to be forced to move around a bit while you're turning. But cleaning is a pain in the backside any way you look at it. Make your shop easy to clean!

 

[Philip Rose]

My current system, plus another shelf, a rolling cabinet to the left (various sandpaper, hollowing tools, drill bits, etc.), and a fixed cabinet below the tool rack for miscellaneous.

 

[Glenn C Roberts]

Phil, the longest bar (handle with a collet?) looks a little out of level.....

 

[Mike Johnson]

You can look at someone's sock drawer and have a pretty good idea as to what their shop is going to look like.
Having an organized shop is a big plus compared to spending a half an hour trying to find a tool you need to use each time.

 

[Dave Hulett]

here's my setup. I have three Nova Infinity chucks and a set of jaws 2-6. the jaws are kept in turned boxes on the shelf. tool rests and other accessories are in drawers under the lathe in a homemade stand.

 

[stu senator]

Having an organized shop is a big plus compared to spending a half an hour trying to find a tool you need to use each time.

Not all the time for me. I often find a different tool that will do the same and that leads to a new learning experience.

I am not a production turner, for them tools should be where expected.

Stu

 

[Tom Gall]

You can look at someone's sock drawer and have a pretty good idea as to what their shop is going to look like.
Having an organized shop is a big plus compared to spending a half an hour trying to find a tool you need to use each time.

Sock drawer ?..... you have a sock drawer ??? No wonder my shop looks like it does - I'm doomed!

 

[Mike Johnson]

I worked in a shop for several years where the owner had the habit of leaving his tools in the last place he used them. It was quite common to walk around the shop looking for a tool you needed with that zombie look in your eyes finding another tool you were looking for yesterday and then trying to remember what you were looking for to begin with. It is a lot easier and more efficient to keep your tools in a designated location so it is always there when you need it. 5S process will help anyone that manufactures goods and services.