Project Information
May 2, 2013
Been busy doing more organizing in the shop. This project eliminates all the tool cases that tools come in and places them on one BIG mobile customized tool tower. (Scroll down to see all the detailed pictures and descriptions)
Please let me know if there is too much detail (all the following pictures). I like to see detail when I look at a projects.
It is mounted on 4 inch Total Swivel Lock casters.
This tool tower consists of individual boxes made from 3/4 inch plywood that measure 22 inches wide, 15 inches deep, and height determined by the tools that are to be stored. Each box has a back on them.
The base of the tower is a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood that has another layer of 3/4 inch plywood about 5 inches wide attached to the bottom perimeter of the base to which the casters is attached.
Over all dimensions:
Width = 44 inches
Depth = 15 inches
Height = 69 inches
NOTE: This modular system can also be configured to be a more compact tower by placing the boxes back to back. The resulting tower would be:
Width = 22 inches
Depth = 30 inches
Height = 69 inches
Of course, the base would have to be changed to accommodate the form factor.
(I may reconfigure mine later) If I do reconfigure mine, I might make it so the tower above the base rotates on some sort of lazy susan setup to make it easier to get to tools on the opposite side.
Once the boxes were made and customized, they were arranged according to use. I got lucky and it turned out that when all the boxes were arranged (as seen in 1st photo) the top of the tower was even.
I then started at the bottom of the tower and screwed the first boxes to the base with a couple of sheet rock screws. I also screwed the box sides to each other too. Subsequent boxes were then screwed to the boxes below (and also to the one next to it).
Handles were added about 1/3 of the way up the sides to minimize the chance of tipping the tower over. It won't be moved often.
Now here are the detail pictures of the tool tower starting at the top:
At the very top I have places to store my various batteries.
Starting at the TOP RIGHT of the tower and working down:
The 28V Milwaukee Recip saw was probably the hardest one to make a storage area for since it was so long. However, this allowed me to make a drawer to store the various owners manuals. You might note that every tool storage box has Laser made labels printed on 1/4 inch MDF. That is so when I get old I'll know what went in the box.
I also managed to make a tiny drawer where I now have a place to store all my recip saws.
Drawer for owners manuals.
Next box down I have my small impact driver, speed bloc sander, and a Porter Cable Panel Saw.
Beside the panel saw I have a storage area for all the blades for that saw with 1/4 inch plywood separators.
The next box down I have my corded angle grinder, PC ROS, and my Bosch jig Saw.
Storage for angle grinder wheels and ROS sand paper is right next to the tools.
Beneath the Jig Saw is storage for the jig saw blades.
Next level down is my 18v Makita impact driver and corded circular saw. Note the storage area for the edge guide for the saw.
Beneath the saw is storage for it's blades with 1/4 inch plywood separators.
And at the bottom of the right row of boxes are various corded drills, a heat gun, and a seldom used old heavy 3 X 24 belt sander.
Moving to the UPPER LEFT side of the tool tower is storage for my 28v Milwaukee circular saw and DeWalt and Porter Cable trim routers. The wrenches for the trim routers hang on nails. There is also a storage place for the saw's edge guide.
Beneath the battery saw are it's blades with separators.
The next box down finds my Porter Cable 2HP plunge router with all of it's accessories in their custom cradles.
Next to that is my biscuit router with all it's accessories in custom cradles.
NOTE: My dust collection for this tool utilized a hose from a C-PAP machine with an adapter for my shop vacuum.
The next box down holds all my nail guns and my 28V Milwaukee hammer drill. Storage for the pin nails are beneath the pin nailer.
Beneath that are more sanders. Beneath my PC mini belt sander is storage for extra mini sanding belts.
And the final box holds my power planer and Colt trim router with custom holders for the 2 other (offset and tilting) bases for the Colt
This is the back of the tool tower. Can we say more surfaces to store more tools?
One one end of the tool tower I have a place to store safety glasses. Beneath that is my dust pan and brush. The handles were made with a dowel inside a PVC Pipe.
On the other end I store my router/drill press fences and fire extinguishers.
I hope you enjoyed the tour of the Monster Modular Mobile Tool Tower and it gives you some ideas of what you can do to organize your collection of hand power tools.
Comments are encouraged. Don't forget to let me know if there are too many pictures.
Thanks for looking.
Been busy doing more organizing in the shop. This project eliminates all the tool cases that tools come in and places them on one BIG mobile customized tool tower. (Scroll down to see all the detailed pictures and descriptions)
Please let me know if there is too much detail (all the following pictures). I like to see detail when I look at a projects.
It is mounted on 4 inch Total Swivel Lock casters.
This tool tower consists of individual boxes made from 3/4 inch plywood that measure 22 inches wide, 15 inches deep, and height determined by the tools that are to be stored. Each box has a back on them.
The base of the tower is a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood that has another layer of 3/4 inch plywood about 5 inches wide attached to the bottom perimeter of the base to which the casters is attached.
Over all dimensions:
Width = 44 inches
Depth = 15 inches
Height = 69 inches
NOTE: This modular system can also be configured to be a more compact tower by placing the boxes back to back. The resulting tower would be:
Width = 22 inches
Depth = 30 inches
Height = 69 inches
Of course, the base would have to be changed to accommodate the form factor.
(I may reconfigure mine later) If I do reconfigure mine, I might make it so the tower above the base rotates on some sort of lazy susan setup to make it easier to get to tools on the opposite side.
Once the boxes were made and customized, they were arranged according to use. I got lucky and it turned out that when all the boxes were arranged (as seen in 1st photo) the top of the tower was even.
I then started at the bottom of the tower and screwed the first boxes to the base with a couple of sheet rock screws. I also screwed the box sides to each other too. Subsequent boxes were then screwed to the boxes below (and also to the one next to it).
Handles were added about 1/3 of the way up the sides to minimize the chance of tipping the tower over. It won't be moved often.
Now here are the detail pictures of the tool tower starting at the top:
At the very top I have places to store my various batteries.
Starting at the TOP RIGHT of the tower and working down:
The 28V Milwaukee Recip saw was probably the hardest one to make a storage area for since it was so long. However, this allowed me to make a drawer to store the various owners manuals. You might note that every tool storage box has Laser made labels printed on 1/4 inch MDF. That is so when I get old I'll know what went in the box.
I also managed to make a tiny drawer where I now have a place to store all my recip saws.
Drawer for owners manuals.
Next box down I have my small impact driver, speed bloc sander, and a Porter Cable Panel Saw.
Beside the panel saw I have a storage area for all the blades for that saw with 1/4 inch plywood separators.
The next box down I have my corded angle grinder, PC ROS, and my Bosch jig Saw.
Storage for angle grinder wheels and ROS sand paper is right next to the tools.
Beneath the Jig Saw is storage for the jig saw blades.
Next level down is my 18v Makita impact driver and corded circular saw. Note the storage area for the edge guide for the saw.
Beneath the saw is storage for it's blades with 1/4 inch plywood separators.
And at the bottom of the right row of boxes are various corded drills, a heat gun, and a seldom used old heavy 3 X 24 belt sander.
Moving to the UPPER LEFT side of the tool tower is storage for my 28v Milwaukee circular saw and DeWalt and Porter Cable trim routers. The wrenches for the trim routers hang on nails. There is also a storage place for the saw's edge guide.
Beneath the battery saw are it's blades with separators.
The next box down finds my Porter Cable 2HP plunge router with all of it's accessories in their custom cradles.
Next to that is my biscuit router with all it's accessories in custom cradles.
NOTE: My dust collection for this tool utilized a hose from a C-PAP machine with an adapter for my shop vacuum.
The next box down holds all my nail guns and my 28V Milwaukee hammer drill. Storage for the pin nails are beneath the pin nailer.
Beneath that are more sanders. Beneath my PC mini belt sander is storage for extra mini sanding belts.
And the final box holds my power planer and Colt trim router with custom holders for the 2 other (offset and tilting) bases for the Colt
This is the back of the tool tower. Can we say more surfaces to store more tools?
One one end of the tool tower I have a place to store safety glasses. Beneath that is my dust pan and brush. The handles were made with a dowel inside a PVC Pipe.
On the other end I store my router/drill press fences and fire extinguishers.
I hope you enjoyed the tour of the Monster Modular Mobile Tool Tower and it gives you some ideas of what you can do to organize your collection of hand power tools.
Comments are encouraged. Don't forget to let me know if there are too many pictures.
Thanks for looking.