Workshop Storage

Sufficient and workable storage in a workshop is always a consideration. When I was working out of my garage, I never really got it right. When I purchased a 12x24' shed, I took the time to build in plenty of storage.

Plenty of Bins

In your workshop, you need plenty of places to store nails of all kinds, screws, nuts and bolts, assorted hardware... All kinds of things. The easiest way of having enough storage is to build it in between the studs. I cut 1/2 inch plywood to 3 1/2 inches wide, long enough to fit between the studs. For my Instructable, each vertical column of bins was offset higher or lower than the one next to it by half an inch. That way, I could nail into the end of every bin bottom. (I glued around all four sides, as I wanted it to be able to hold the weight of the nails, etc. Plus, I couldn't nail the back of the bin bottom, as I would be nailing through the side of the building.) The front of each bin was made of a strip of paneling, cut to 2" high. I just nailed it straight across, despite the fact that some of the bins were half an inch higher. It just looked better that way.

Pegboard

Any of the wall space in the shop not made into bins (and I have over sixty of those) was covered with pegboard, where I carefully arranged the tools for the most logical arrangement, as well as to maximize my space.
( Don't pay any attention to the electrical outlet - I hadn't completely finished wiring when I took the photos.)

Miter Saw and Tool Storage

I wanted to have as little in the way of flat surfaces in my shop as necessary. If it is flat, I lay stuff on it. I made my miter saw table just barely larger than the saw, and on either side, I added power tool storage shelves. The top surfaces are covered with plastic laminate.

Not shown are the roller stands I move into place when I use the miter saw.

Tool Buckets

I have arrived at the practice over the years of using five gallon buckets to hold specific purpose tools: Electrical tools, carpenter's tools, plumbing tools, sheetrock and tile tools, and masonry tools. It causes me to buy duplicates in many cases, but I like to grab a bucket and go, not having to sort through various drawers looking for what I need.

In order to store the buckets, I made a rack to hold them vertically. I cut four D shaped pieces of plywood a couple of inches bigger than the bucket. I screwed a 1x12 piece of 5/8 plywood to a stud, and added cleats to hold the back of the D. I screwed 1x6 pieces of plywood to each side to hold it rigid.

Radio/Chargers

In this area, I built a shelf for my big DeWalt radio/battery charger, and other shelves for my tool batteries and chargers. I made sure to have enough electrical outlets.

Overhead Storage

To add more storage, I added ceiling joists in several locations, then put a plywood floor on top of them. I found that covering just two joists gives me plenty of place to put stuff, but allows me room to reach it.

Part Sorter and Shelves

These oddly shaped shelves allow me to see what is on each shelf when looking down. The top shelf is covered with a piece of plywood, having slits cut in the top that line up with bins in the shelf. I use the slits to short nuts, bolts, screws, washers, etc. When I remove the top, the hardware is all nicely separated.