Magnetic Tool Tree for Use As a Small Tool Holder on the Desktop

This is a simple thing I made for holding small tools where I could see them on my cluttered desktop. This isn't for use on my main workbench, but on a small work area next to keyboards and PCs which frequently contains plans and other documents, and no major tools.

It's made from a magnetic strip tool holder mounted vertically with a few pieces of wood offcuts and another off cuts drilled with holes to contain screwdriver bits.

In my case, the tool holder was one of a number bought for use in my workshop and ultimately not used there.

Magnetic tool holder strip. I found the short 8"/20cm type too short, the 18"/45cm too long but the 12"/30cm was ok, but this is really what is available and personal choice.

Wood/MDF offcuts to make a wide flat base and support the magnetic strip as well as make the bit holder

1. Chose the magnetic tool holder you want to use. They are typically 8"/200mm, 12"/300mm or 18"/450mm long, as well as 25mm/1" wide.
2. The tool holder may have only one screw hole available for fixing so needs a supporting base. Cut a rectangle of wood as the base and mark an area somewhere in the middle of it where the end of the tool holder will sit.
3. Cut three pieces of wood to surround the end of the tool holder on three sides, leaving the magnetic strip uncovered.
4. Glue/screw the wood surround together and screw the tool holder into place.
5. Glue/screw the tool holder and its surround to the position marked on the base. If using screws, it's a good idea to countersink the screw holes to prevent the screws scratching surfaces in the future and make the whole stand more stably.

The optional bit holder was made of two pieces of MDF glued together, about 30mm thick overall and cut to fit on the base in front of the bottom of the magnetic strip. It was marked out to hold various screwdriver bits and drilled, in this case with 10mm, 7.5mm and 6mm holes, each 25mm, 10mm and 25mm deep respectively.

The glued and drilled bit holder was then attached to the base with screws in countersunk holes.

The number, size, depth and layout of the holes used is up to the maker, but this is an example. Also the positioning could change, such as moving the bit holder to the side of the magnetic strip.

This has been a very useful small project though the size of the base, originally chosen to be very stable, is now a bit big so will probably be cut down in size to recover the extra desk space used. It's only being used for small tools which would otherwise be stored in inconvenient plastic tool boxes or scattered across the desktop getting lost under project parts.

Only one screw hole was used on the magnetic strip to secure it but if a sufficiently long piece of wood is available and used at the rear, then both screw holes could be used making the whole more robust.

I did consider adding a small parts tray but haven't done anything about that yet.