Organizing the shop

There is something quite satisfying about clearing space in a workshop. I started out the year with an organization state of mind and it still continues.
Warren Downes decided to make an extra large version of my lumber cart that also holds jigs, sawhorses and other stuff. He added extra casters to ensure it wouldnt sag.

*****

Jeremiah Giehl removed the stand from his table saw (same one as mine!) and built this space-saver that includes a space beneath in which he can store hand-help power saws. Built with scrap wood, the whole project only cost him $5.29 for the hasp. I love having a mobile table saw. Not only is it easy to store, but its great to work outside on sunny days!

*****

Allan Voisin decided to organize his clamps using my system. Looks like a big space! I can also report back that I still love the racks I made a couple months ago. They really work great.

*****

For a long time, well years, Ive been wanting to make sense out of my router bits and drill bits. They tend to be all over the place. Ray Levesque made this tool box for his leather-working tools. I think I may build something similar to this for my router bits and accessories. 

*****

Milan Gigel in Slovakia sent over a picture of his french cleat system. The thing I like most about french cleats is that they are so customizable. Milan builds boxes and holders to fit whatever changing needs arise. He can remove the shelves and take them to his work space then return them when hes done.

*****

In the kitchen organization department, Andor Rábay and his wife Timea in Hungary sent over some very cool projects. They are a very creative couple. I really like the napkin holder made with scrap wood and reeds. The serving tray was Andors first router project. And oh man, those paprika potatoes look good!

*****

Check out this box Matthew Denny made. Its a kind-of modified bandsaw box and would make a great, lets see, oh yeah...Mothers Day project! Ha. Just when you breathed a sigh of relief that Valentines Day was over.

*****

Finally, Phil Keirnan built one of my book-boxes for his wifes fifth wedding anniversary. (Well, I guess its his anniversary too.) Made with Euaropean Oak. Beautiful work!

*****

Mere Minutes.

Heres a follow-up to the french cleat video from last Friday.

Read More..

Still organizing

I decided against throwing out my scrap wood and am giving it away on Craigslist. I saw an episode of Hoarders the other day and it really inspired me to stop saving stuff I probably will never use.
Ive been working on getting a video together for the guitar pick holder I made last weekend. Look for it on Friday. Its really a great little project and one that allows you to use those, well, scraps youve been saving. Wait, what?? Preview of it at the end of this video:

Read More..

Organizing the shop and lots of clamp storage ideas

One thing leads to another as I organize my shop. It really just started by wanting some clamp storage racks. That got me to make a new lumber storage rack, which inspired me to go through my wood hoard. Now I have a bunch of wood in my driveway I need to get rid of.
The clearing of excess lumber got me to clean out a bunch of other junk under my workbench. Mostly, a large pile of towels that have been doing nothing but collecting sawdust for a couple years. When my wife buys new towels for the house, the old ones become shop towels. And shop towels are not like clamps: you can definitely have too many.
Now I have seemingly tons of extra space in my shop. Im going to give this all some thought before I start slapping up shelves willy-nilly. Need to fully examine the long-term implications.
*****
Thirteen-year-old Connor DeWald (so close to DeWalt!) began organizing his clamps with this DIY rack. Connor sent me over a shop tour, BTW. Great looking shop in the making.

*****
Heres a clamp rack Wil Wilson built with his father-in-law to store his massive collection. Wow!

*****

And Bill Wilson was able to organize some of his clamps using my rack:

*****

Looking for a simple clamp storage solution? Check out Dallas Diehls system. PVC pipes! This make a lot of sense.

*****
And just in case youve been wanting to buy some green clamps and having a hard time finding any, it appears Michael Calhoun bought them all.

*****

But you wont need to buy any clamps at all if you make your own. Here are Dave Rutans homemade bar clamps and awesome fold-up storage system. Check out the full story here.

*****

Tomas Johansson shows how clamp storage is done in Sweden. Well, at least in his shop. Very organized!

*****

Quarto!

Lest you think people have stopped making Quarto games, heres Ibrahim Al Abdulaalys all-in-one board with storage. He made it using an old Ikea bench!

*****

Patrick J. ORourkemade this version with oak and walnut pieces (love the shaping on those pieces) and used a glass cutting board for the game surface. Clever!

*****
Shane Rudnik really took Quarto to another level by making a dual-function game table. Quarto on one side, chess on the flip-side. Sweet.

*****

Mere Minutes

Heres an update on the lumber rack from last Friday.

Read More..