Lathe tool storage

I went through all the options a while ago. There are some rather innovative ones on the net! However, space being at a premium they live in the Lee Valley tool roll when not in use. The roll can be stored wherever it happens to be convenient at the time, usually behind the lathe. When in use the roll lies open on a side table.

Having said that, I have just exceeded the number of tools the roll can accommodate so I shall be going through the process again but not for some time. I am in the middle of the "metalworking season" :-)

short answer: I pile the tools I am going to use on a stool next to the lathe - you only need one or two tools for most projects

I have a Jet Midi and matching stand. I made a custom table top for the lathe that extends out further on one side. On the long side I drilled holes large enough to slide in my turning tools so they are always at hand, just to the right of the lathe (I'm right-handed). Works for me.

Chucks and other assorted turning supplies I keep on a shelf just above or below the lathe or in a box nearby. Close enough since I don't change things out frequently.

I had planned to make a wall cabinet to hang everything but never got around to it since this setup has sufficed. I suspect if I ever upgrade to a larger lathe, I would reconsider the wall cabinet. I like things to be close at hand. :)

`Casper

I use one of those magnetic tool holder bars. Most of my tools are on it, w/in easy reach. The ones that I'm actively using are on my lathe stand...

I do the same thing except the roll(s) are from Woodcraft. I now have two that are completely full plus 5 or 6 tools on a wall rack behind the lathe. I've gotta' stop buying tools :-).

I built a fixture on the end of my lathe bed that holds the five tools that I use the most (three spindle gouges and two skew chisels). The other tools are mounted around a roll around tool cabinet that has a structure built around it with pvc tubes to accept lots of other tools. I keep my bowl gouges in this group plus the occasionally used tools. By always putting the tools back in their place, I know just where to find them when needed. The three drawers in the cabinet hold smaller tools, chucks, etc. If you wish to see a photo, e-mail me and I'll send you a photo.

Fred Holder

Thanks for all of the replies -- I'll try the roll for now, and once I'm better organized perhaps I can try the table extension with openings for each tool -- that would mean I have to get organized -- JimR

...

Purty much the same system I use. The roll-around also holds things like chuck parts, hollowing tools, coring tools, etc

I only use my roll for traveling (SWMBO made it for me)

I'm a full time turner, so my way might take up too much room for your purpose, but: I used two 2' x 4' pieces of pegboard and built sort of an A-frame on wheels.. I hung a narrow shelf about 2' from the top for stubborn handles and a row of rare earth magnets in fitted cups (both from Lee Valley) along the top of the a-frame, at assorted heights for my most used tools.. Repeated the above on the bottom half, then the whole process again on the back.. I keep my tools organized by how often I use them, top/front is highest priority, bottom back is the lowest..

(Tools are stored handle down , hanging on the magnets and supported by the shelf if needed)

I can post pictures on ABPW or email them if you're interested..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Hello Jim,

I turn full time, so I have lots of tools... For the tools I'm using on a specific project, I either put them at the end of the lathe (Oneway 2436 with a bed extension) on a thick towel or if that's inconvenient, I use a Bulldog rolling cart that is set up with some of my grinders for sharpening. The cart holds both wet and dry grinders at the moment, but I'm going to build another one to separate the wet and dry grinders.

My other tools are stored in a large mechanics tool chest that has sliding drawers. Some of the bigger ones are on peg hooks on the wall... There is never enough space! Some are always sitting on the top of the tablesaw it seems, right next to the wetsaw... :-o For general storage, the mechanics tool chest has been a real space saver for me and helps to keep everything organized.

I was looking for the same thing and borrowed an idea from other people. I cut up some PVC about 9" long and one end is cut at a 45 degree angle and the other is 90 degrees. I drilled a hole through the top 45 degree end and one all the way through the 90 degree end. I lined these up on a piece of plywood and screwed them to the plywood. The tools slide in handle first and sit on the screw that is all the way through the PVC. I then attached it to the end of a wooden shelf with a french cleat, so I can lift it off. I even toyed with the idea of putting something over the cleat so I could slide it in or out. Of course I filled it with tools so I would have to come up with another one or something else if I bought more tools.

Bruce

JimR wrote:

Thanks - sounds like a good and reasonable solution that I may take up. Actually, I've got a lot of surplus bamboo, and this may be one way to make good use of it.

Yours was one of a number of good suggestions - thanks to everyone for adding to my knowledge base.

Jim R

build yourself a box like a chest of drawers or armoire about 2' by 2' by 6' or higher and load it up with drawers. the three sides that do not have drawers (get a board and drill equally spaced holes that will allow the gouges to slip in but not fall through and then screw it to the side of box. this way the gouges can go in the holes and hang there) can be used to place the gouges and whatever else you may need all of the time. the drawers hold the boxed items and whatever you canot hang and the rest gets hung on the outside of the armoire. to make it really flexible place wheels on bottom and roll it where you need it or out of the way.

A bucket or two, and some short pieces of PVC pipe inside.