Space saving tricks/ideas

[Gareth J]

Many of us are trying to squeeze industrial equipment into a domestic space. I've seen a few nifty ideas on here already like stowable workbenches and suspended welders.

Please share any solutions you've come up with if you don't mind, it would be great to be able to harvest some ideas.

I'm pretty lucky with space really but my workshop is quite long and thin. It means I am always trying to maximise wall/floor space and keep the depth stuff sticks out to a minimum.

A couple of ideas;
Retractable stock carriers for the chop saw, the first incorporated into a workbench:

I don't tend to do anything heavy enough to really need rollers.

And again, but stuck onto a wall that already pokes into the space;

And a bench grinder holder, 2 for the price of one and nothing on the floor;

Leaving it sideways saves a bit more space. But not enough to make it worthwhile doing regularly.

 

[Wallace]

Nice ideas. A few of my machines are on wheels due to a lack of space and get swapped around depending on what I'm doing. Chemical fixings are useful for temporarily mounting kit that's not often used but needs bolting down.

 

[123hotchef]

i will be watching this thread i need all the help i can get

 

[WorkshopChris]

My woodworking machines are on 50mm box frames with bolts in the legs for levelling when in use. When not in use they go up against the wall under racking with a pallet truck. Will get a photo when next in the workshop.

 

[Pete.]

Bisley 15 drawer cabinets. They have saved me tons of space by gathering up all the small items in my workshop which were previously stored in parts trays and other boxes. I've even cut some dividers from 1.2mm steel to make 9, 12 and 16-compartment drawers. Got all my fasteners, taps, dies, bulbs, sockets, cable ties, shrink sleeving, soldering stuff, tig spares, dial gauges, calipers, rulers, squares, gear cutters, hose clips, helicoils, wire brushes, tin snips, mole grips, bearings, springs and electrical connectors plus a lot more in three cabinets under the bench and I'm still working my way through stuff.

 

[vwmark]

Google 12 gauge garage. Some good ideas at the beginning but ends the garage becomes a bit of a star and takes over.

I am struggling with space at the moment. Double garage with mill and lathe but still want to get car in to work on. Not easy.

 

[gaz1]

if that bench was staying in that place the first thing gone is that bottom bar maybe strengthen it and drill it to the floor so it stays put in one place as i like to store under mine as yours has that extra shelf underneath it it just adds to your storage

 

[addjunkie]

I am struggling with space at the moment. Double garage with mill and lathe but still want to get car in to work on. Not easy.

I was in the same place, mill, lathe, 3 bikes, a trike, just couldnt do anything with out moving stuff. Was easy fixed, moved, built 4 car garage.





Now thats bloody full!

 

[Gareth J]

I dislike using "under the bench" for storage, it's a hateful place of grit and dust and much better if it can be swept up. But I understand that lots of people won't have the luxury of not using all available space. I do have an old oil filled welder that lives under a bench - it doesn't mind the dirt and is on wheels....tbh, I wasn't necessarily looking for specific solutions to my own situation, rather hoping people might be able to share their own ideas/solutions to their situations.

Love those bisley thin drawers. I have a couple sets. Fortunately they're too thin to store socks in so have less appeal to the retrovintagechabbychic crowd than all the other metal storage stuff.

 

[Mee]

i will be watching this thread i need all the help i can get

And I am saying nothing to that.

 

[Mee]

I cheated, bought another property and rebuilt the barns, she claims I will even fill them up one day.

 

[addjunkie]

I cheated, bought another property and rebuilt the barns, she claims I will even fill them up one day.

Sounds familiar.....barns I have 3 mmmmm leaky roofs, dirt floors. New roofs, better workshop or holiday lets mmmmmmm


Space saving good shelving, i like the old wardrobe type filing cabinets, keeps stuff clean, and stored. But I struggled to find any. Use roof space where possible. And be agressive with decluttering. Moving was the best declutter I have ever done.

The bisley small drawer units are great too. Under bench if in cupboards. Cupboards above the bench.

 

[indy4x]

Seems to be a familiar problem for most of us, built a 5m x 6m garage a few years ago and filled it straight away, got a bigger lathe and milling machine and then ended up extending the garage to accommodate them but still don't have enough space, and I also rent a lockup which is also full

 

[julianf]

I have a (bad) habit of storing tools in other people's workshops....

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have a (bad) habit of storing tools in other people's workshops....

Hope you keep an inventory.....

 

[Pete.]

All this lot in four little drawers. Metric taps, UNf, BSW and imperial end mills

 

[8ob]

Draws are good if they are all labled up or you have an incredible memory

I made up some pigeon holes for some 24" tool boxes, I have decanted things like drills, grinders etc into them. The boxes powertools come in don't have enough storage so things like the grinder box has the 4"&9" grinders in with a good selection of discs, peg spanners, the earmuffs,specs and dust masks. So if grinding I just grab the one box and its all in there. I even put all the rivets,riveters, correct drills for the selection of rivets and a drill in the one box, makes riveting easy.

Bob

 

[Henrik]

I like 8ob's idea. I do something similar with cheap storage boxes from Ikea.

Another thing that REALLY helped incredibly was a decent tool chest on wheels. They swallow an awful lot of stuff into a small space.

 

[Seadog]

Is it still bad practice to store cutting tools loose with other cutting tools?

Yes

 

[Pete.]

Is it still bad practice to store cutting tools loose with other cutting tools?

I challenge you to find someone who stores all their used ones individually. They were all together in a box when I got them I don't see how a few drawer openings are going to affect them any more than rattling about in a big tub. I sure ain't going to be replacing UNF and Whitworth taps and dies with new ones for a few dings.