Just asking what everyone uses to hold and store their fixtures when theyre not being used. Any cool ideas for racks under the tables and such.
I’m going to build drawers for under the slag tray I’m also going to build.
I built a three level shelf with expanded metal for the shelfs so any thing from working on the table just falls through. It fits under the table when not being accessed as it is on wheels.
Thinking about it, for the fixtures that have pegs you can buy the fixture table drilling kit thing, drill a bunch of holes in a piece of wood and make that piece of wood a sliding drawer near your table. (Or metal and have it under your table)
For the clamps you can easily put some rods up near your table and hang the rods from those.
For squares, you could cut slots in a larger piece (wood metal whatever) and then slide them into those slots on a sliding drawer for condensed tidy storage.
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I like Thais idea, I have some 1/8 steal, makeing a rack on a 22.5 degree say 24 x24? Have the holes like a machinist collet tray? Would have to cypher on number of holes. Could fab it on to one of those harbor freight is general rolling carts like another gentleman mentioned.?
I drilled out a 2x2 grid pattern on a 1in oak stair tread cutoff to hold all the clamps. I placed that on top of some milwaukee pack out drawers on their wheels for the blocks and pins. I have learned you just can’t have enough Lego blocks and clamps when you are making even a simple thing.
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Nice! Milwaukee has some super nice pack out equipment!
@Cascade_Steel_Design I 3d printed custom holders with gridfinity for all the little pieces. The squares and table blocks are just in drawers, nothing special…yet…
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Again how does everyone keep everything looking like new? I would not even want to use this stuff it looks so nice 
I know, right? Its amazing the organization some people can come up with. The shop at home looks like a hurricane relocates everything on a daily basis. But at least I remember where I leave most things…
I employ a technique I call coarse sorting. If I have to put a tool in some perfect little cutout, I’m not nearly as good about putting things away after working on something. If I have a small bin or drawer where like things go together and I can slide, toss, close and be able to find what I need with just a couple seconds of rummaging when I need it again, it works much better for me.
I yearn for detailed little cutouts and perfect organization, I just know I won’t adhere to it.
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I’m same way! Everything has a place for sure, just not that organized of a place! I have a huge problem with not saying No when folks wanna drop stuff off, so about once a month I have to do the old " what is all this stuff and do I need it" shuffle!
Question for all y’all that have a pile of fixtures, I’ll be ordering the #2 kit to start out with, and these tool boxes are on sale right now, I would think this would be plenty to handle more that just a level 2 kit, planning for expansion. Any thoughts / suggestions?
I think the tool box will work fine. What’s the weight limit on the drawers? The FB tooling is heavy and could possibly overload the drawers.
I personally prefer the bin type storage. I like to grab the bin and put it on the table and grab out of it. Most of the time I don’t know how many to grab. So this saves some trips back and forth. I also like seeing all the tools. Sometimes I have my mind set on a fixture option but when I go to grab it I’m reminded of a better fixture to use. I like to work fast and the drawers would slow me down. It’s personal preference though.
FYI the cart linked above is being discontinued by the manufacturer. The replacement unfortunately will be more expensive.
So specs on it seem a little low 1200 lbs “total” that’s only like 171 lbs per drawer. I do like being able to see my tools you’re spot on, the bins do seem like a good alternative, I’ll pass on the box for now and do some more cyphering.
I use an older generation 42" US General tool chest. Works great, you just have to be thoughtful about how you load your drawers so you don’t overload them.
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I looked at a lot of different carts and racks and ultimately decided on the open bin type storage rack also. I REALLY liked the design Jason sells but I’m too broke to pay for something that I can build, (plus making things is fun!) so I just made something very similar to his cart. I also keep my most used tooling in one or two bins and just bring the whole bin to the table.
I keep this cart pushed right up to my table all the time and keep all my most used tools there within reach. Even stuff not related to fixturing like my tapping hammer, hand broom, magnet tray, marking tools, etc…
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Now here is a bot who knows themself and knows that a workshop is a system and not a bunch of stuff or that stuff’s location. Bravo.
(I’m not knocking the ideal storage implementations. That’s just one style of shops’ system. ) Know thy shelf and to thy shelf tools threw.