Man Cave Update and Storage Options

It’s been almost 2 years since I’ve ripped out all the old shelving and re-painted the shop (aka, the man cave). Jeeze, 2 years. That’s a long time it seems, and I’m still slowly getting things organized to the point where I can work without tripping over myself.

I’ve managed to get all of the old shelving torn out, and below are a few before and after shots of one of the walls. These shelves were too hard to get to, and didn’t allow me to use the space as efficiently as I’d like:

Before: Shelving built by the previous owner.

After: Lumber storage with room for equipment underneath

From what I’ve experienced so far, there’s a lot of things to consider when setting up a shop for woodworking. Workflow, wiring, heating, and tool storage are all paramount in establishing a shop that is both efficient and comfortable to work in.

When it comes to tool storage, not only do you want a place to put all of your crap, but you also need to keep your crap protected from dust (my shop gets a ton of it). Wall-mounted tool racks and tills are cheap and easy, but some tools warrant a little more protection than a few pieces of wall-achored plywood can offer.

Cheap 'n easy - plywood clamp racks built in an evening

High carbon-steel handsaws for instance are notoriously susceptible to rust due to moisture and the salts that are transported in the air and settle onto your tools, so they require better protection.

More simple than a hanging tool cabinet, but offers no protection from dust

So far I like the idea of putting everything in some sort of rolling toolbox or cabinet, so I can easily move things around the shop. Or, in case I ever move, it’d be easier just to roll everything onto the truck without having to pack it all. I’ve already built a router table on wheels from Norm Abram’s plans, and it keeps all of my router equipment in one location protected for the most part from dirt and dust. Plus it’s easy enough to move it around the shop if you need to.

Now, I’d like to do the same for all of my hand tools. After reading Christopher Schwarz’s book on tool chests, I think I’m going to build a traditional tool chest that will house all of my woodworking tools. That way everything is in once place and protected. I guess that will be my next big shop project – that is, if I can find time to squeeze it into my kitchen re-model…

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