Advise On A New Tool Rack

[King's X]

I like your first design. My suggestion was to be careful with your spacing. If you are considering this design, I would suggest enlarging each hole to at least 3/4" to 1".

Edited January 8, 2012 by King's X

[gtwister09]

Cody,

The angle is a personal one. Mine is not quite as pronounced but others do have a steeper one. If I read your note correctly, then all your holes are 1-1/2". I would suggest some variety for swivel knife storage as well.

I have included a couple of links to some other threads on the forum. Check out the 4 that I have (actually 5 - one is much smaller) in the "To Montage". I don't show the lesser angle in this photo but you can see the variety of 1-1/2", 1" and 3/4" holes.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=34152&view=findpost&p=211630

The spacing and issue that Sam was talking about is apparent in the Sears box in this thread.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=27585&view=findpost&p=173533

Regards,

Ben

[CGish]

I like your first design. My suggestion was to be careful with your spacing. If you are considering this design, I would suggest enlarging each hole to at least 3/4" to 1".

Sam,

Sorry about the confusion, I started putting the first design together and began thinking about a new improved version. I made some modifications to the first design, and it will look like this when finished:

I am still debating the amount of angle to cut into the base of the tool block. I increased the hole size on the bulk of the block to 3/4", the largest I think can safely be drilled out of 1" soft poplar, and increased the spacing of the holes. There are some smaller, shallower holes on the bottom tier to accommodate some smaller tools. Should hold 230 - 250 tools depending on the shaft size of the stamps. If I make another like this I will use 2" wide tiers to allow for 1" - 1 1/2" holes. I have the blocks glued and ready to drill.

Will post more pictures as I get farther along.

Thank You for the advise and time.

Cody,

The angle is a personal one. Mine is not quite as pronounced but others do have a steeper one. If I read your note correctly, then all your holes are 1-1/2". I would suggest some variety for swivel knife storage as well.

I have included a couple of links to some other threads on the forum. Check out the 4 that I have (actually 5 - one is much smaller) in the "To Montage". I don't show the lesser angle in this photo but you can see the variety of 1-1/2", 1" and 3/4" holes.

http://leatherworker...ndpost&p=211630

The spacing and issue that Sam was talking about is apparent in the Sears box in this thread.

http://leatherworker...ndpost&p=173533

Regards,

Ben

Ben,

I saw the Sears Box when I initially read that thread, but I missed the boxes you made. Thanks for pointing those out. The redesign in revision two was strongly influenced by hidepounders pictures in the post after yours, but I am working on my first variation. My wife will lose patience if I start to many projects at once!

Thank You,

Cody

[King's X]

Looks good....cannot wait to see the final product.

[King's X]

Cody,

The angle is a personal one. Mine is not quite as pronounced but others do have a steeper one. If I read your note correctly, then all your holes are 1-1/2". I would suggest some variety for swivel knife storage as well.

I have included a couple of links to some other threads on the forum. Check out the 4 that I have (actually 5 - one is much smaller) in the "To Montage". I don't show the lesser angle in this photo but you can see the variety of 1-1/2", 1" and 3/4" holes.

http://leatherworker...ndpost&p=211630

The spacing and issue that Sam was talking about is apparent in the Sears box in this thread.

http://leatherworker...ndpost&p=173533

Regards,

Ben

Ben,

Thanks for the reminder.......I just looked over the threads again, and notice MarkB block.....wow......I might have to give that one a try for long term storage.

Edited January 8, 2012 by King's X

[Ferg]

Cody,

I noticed your quandary on the angle of the bottom. I set my block at about 30 degrees. Probably just my preference, I can see each and every tool.

It is interesting how many like the larger holes to accommodate a number of tools. I don't like my tools banging against each other.

I find that with drilling several different sized holes throughout the block, I can "bunch" almost all of the "Like" tools close together. In a short time you learn where you have tools you want to use.

Also: I have a tendency to take several different size tools, of whatever I am doing, from the rack and lay them on the bench, easy to grab.

I have absolutely no intention of taking my tools from my shop to any other venue anymore so the permanent block works for me.

I bought several sets of basic tools when teaching a Sunday School class at summer camp, I don't anticipate doing that anymore. There were over 30 teenagers. Gish!!!!!

ferg

Sam & Ben,

Here is a new drawing based on my understanding of your suggestions and from looking at some others on the forum. Opinions, ideas?

All the ideas are appreciated.

Thank you for your input and time.

Cody

[jdwintx]

Cody,

Personally I think it's a good idea in concept, bad in practice. At least it was for me. Here are a couple of images of my rack which is a block of mahogany angled up with 9 rows of stamps on both sides of a center block for my swivels and stuff. I also added a top rack drilled for edgers, etc. as you can see. The problem is that tools get lost in this arrangement and it is very hard to keep all of your tools of similar kinds in groups. I spend more time sometimes trying to find the veiner/beveler/etc.. in the rack than I would like. Plus I find I have to stand up to find a tool as well vs. just looking and grabbing. I'm tossing this one away and going to build a horizontal strip model that looks like a ladder that allows me to group tools better and also keeps them at eye level. JMO though, I've had this setup for about a year now and that's what I've experienced.

[CGish]

Cody,

Personally I think it's a good idea in concept, bad in practice. At least it was for me. Here are a couple of images of my rack which is a block of mahogany angled up with 9 rows of stamps on both sides of a center block for my swivels and stuff. I also added a top rack drilled for edgers, etc. as you can see. The problem is that tools get lost in this arrangement and it is very hard to keep all of your tools of similar kinds in groups. I spend more time sometimes trying to find the veiner/beveler/etc.. in the rack than I would like. Plus I find I have to stand up to find a tool as well vs. just looking and grabbing. I'm tossing this one away and going to build a horizontal strip model that looks like a ladder that allows me to group tools better and also keeps them at eye level. JMO though, I've had this setup for about a year now and that's what I've experienced.

This is the problem I saw with a single block at the back of the bench unless there was a fairly steep angle involved. Hopefully the step design and angle on mine will be OK. If not, I'll have to make another one.

Thank You

Question: Can the tool rack be stained and varnished or should it be left raw? I am worried about getting something on the stamps and ruining a project on a humid or rainy day.

Cody

Here's what it looks like right now.

[King's X]

That came out pretty cool. I left my big block untreated. Another small block that I made for my swivels, I stained and finished it. I haven't had any problems with it.

Good luck

[gtwister09]

Cody,

FYI. Mine were finished and I have never had a problem with them.

Regards,

Ben