For you engineering types ...

[millwab]

I'm quickly running out of floor space in my shop and want to find some creative way of reducing the footprint of tools that aren't used as often (typically "bench top" power tools eg: planer, disk sander, etc). What I was thinking of was maybe a "tool tower" of some kind for storage. I was thinking of having the tool mounted on a base that would act as the shelf in the tower, and when I needed to use one of these tools I could either hang it via a hole in the shelf slipping over a post (think of the way a fence gate is hung) with a folding pair of braces on the outside of the tower to support it, or having the base mount on a separate tool stand with a "quick release" type of attachment. The attached drawing is a rough sketch to give you a visual.

Anyone out there doing something like this?
Anyone see any pros / cons to either approach?
Any suggestions?

[workin for wood]

Not me, but seen all sorts of plans and idea's in wood magazines. You have pull outs and flip ups. Think woodcraft has the hardware for the flip ups. Basically like what your picture shows, the tool is upside down in the cabinet, you grab it from the back and it pulls out and up at the same time towards you so it is now upright and outside the cabinet. Another thing I've seen is having a regular work cabinet with a large square hole cut in the center. A piece of wood fits perfect in the hole. Then there is a cabinet like what you show there, like two sides and some wood strips to hold shelves, but the cabinet top with the tool on it is the shelf. The tool is mounted to the wood and placed on the work cabinet for use. It is removed from the cabinet and put into the other cabinet like a shelf and the next tool is pulled out then set onto the work cabinet. This system is a bit better as you have easier electrical access and dust collection access. The dust hose is permanent on the main cabinet, so you just plug it in to each tool as you place it on the cabinet. This system is cheaper too, as it requires less hardware, not to mention has better stability, you can walk around the tool if need be also.

[CanadianScroller]

The only drawback I can see with that is the shelving unit may restrict the work area around the tool.

I have seen a lower style unit where two tools are mounted on opposite sides of a board.
The board can be flipped in a framework so the tool you are using is facing up.

Another thing I have seen is mounting all the tools on a table with a french cleat on the bottom
There is a mating cleat on the walls and the tool is hooked onto this while it is being stored.
I can draw a pic if you are interested.

[workin for wood]

Right, basically Carl is saying the same thing I am, only instead of hanging the tools on the wall, they are inserted into a shelving unit, the cleats fit into the home-made drawer slides. Both are good systems. Wall space can become a problem as well as the weight of picking up the tool to hang it though. There's some TV shows like "ultimate workshop" that are all about maximizing your workshop space. You can purchase flip up cabinets already made. Sometimes it's cheaper to just break down and buy a unit than it is too build one when you consider costs of lumber and your time. Or, like me, build a huge work shop and get the wife pregnant a few times so you can have a cleaning crew and a tax right off at the same time. No need to pay the cleaning crew, just feed them and remind them how nice it is to have a roof over their beds.

Google...ultimate workshop

http://www.dura.us/preview/index.html

[lucky788scroller]

My concern with your design Bruce is not only having a restricted area for the tool you put on the side to use, but the stability. I will assume naturally that the heavier tools get stored on the bottom, lighter ones above.So lets asume you have your planer, quite heavy on the bottom shelf. Maybe your disc sander or bench grinder on the next tier, then above that maybe your benchtop spindle sander, or similar. Now, youve got that nice walnut board, but its 1/8th to thick. So, your planer gets pulled out and placed on the shelf.Your center of gravity is drastically changed. You fire up the planer, and start feeding that 40 pound walnut board through . Now,the weight could be enough that your complete stand full of tools, your running planer, and your nice walnut board tip over and crash to the shop floor. If you do decide to build something like youve drawn, DO put your wheels al the way out to at least the outermost distance under the 'workarea'.
I would much prefer having each of your 'stowable' tools all mouned on identically sized pieces of plywood, and a sturdy shelf built that you could place each on when not in use, or some dadoes cut in the uprights so you could slide them into when not needed.And a seperate bench made that you could set the tools plywood base on, fitting inside a rabbet. Thats my thoughts on it. Like Jeff mentioned though,sometimes it is just more feasable to buy one of those already made systems for storing these types of tools.Someone markets a bench with a revolving triangular worksurface so you can have three tools mounted, pull a pin, spin it to the tool you need and lock it in place. Dale

[millwab]

Originally Posted by lucky788scroller

My concern with your design Bruce is not only having a restricted area for the tool you put on the side to use, but the stability. . . Your center of gravity is drastically changed.

Thanx Dale. After looking at it some more, I've already thought that if I did use the tower to use the tool in addition to storing it I would use gate-type legs that make contact with the floor rather than braces as shown. That way it would be much more stable. I'll have to take actual measurements to see if access around each tool will be an issue.

[millwab]

Originally Posted by workin for wood

Not me, but seen all sorts of plans and idea's in wood magazines.

Jeff, any specific examples you can point me to?

The"work cabinet with a large square hole cut in the center" sounds like the alternative I was thinking about. I seem to remember seeing something similar somewhere, but I can't jog the neurons enough to find it again.

[millwab]

Originally Posted by CanadianScroller

Another thing I have seen is mounting all the tools on a table with a french cleat on the bottom. There is a mating cleat on the walls and the tool is hooked onto this while it is being stored.

Carl, not sure what you're refering to as a "french cleat", but wall mounted storage won't work in my shop.

[jowshu98]

Hi Bruce,

Just recently in "Workbench" magazine (I'll find it and verify magazine and issue) are detailed plans for something similar to what your looking to do. The bench was movable and the top rotated on a metal rod so that two tools could be mounted or a roller for outfeed support on one side. I know storage can be a real PITA but I think this solution was pretty smart. The bench top was set at a height so that when using the planer the outfeed was the table saw and vice versa. If your interested let me know and I'll look for it.

jowshu

[Mike Crosa]

What I have ssen in a magazine which I have in my collection somewhere is a unit made of 2 x4 with cleats on the side. The bench top tool is on a shelf which rides on the cleats for storage. When you want to use the tool you slide it out and mount to a work mate. I have done this with a couple of my tools and it works quite well. I have yet to build the tower but I can see where it would help in organization. The lighter tools would be stored higher with the heavier tools stored at waist level. I think it is a good concept for those of us who are space poor.