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Thread: My new tool rack.

  1. #1
    Registered TXFred's Avatar
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    My new tool rack.

    I felt like showing off my latest upgrade to the shop.

    One of my long term projects has been to make my own tool holders. This was a success, and so suddenly I had an enviable problem. Too many tool holders. This lead to a bit of a mess on my workbench.



    I'd seen a tool rack made out of a cutting board, and I thought that it was a brilliant idea. Cutting boards are cheap, and they're made of oil and solvent resistant, high temperature plastic. So yesterday I set out to copy that idea.

    $20 at the grocery store got me two of the biggest cutting boards they have. One became the top of the rack, and the other was cut up to make the supports. Here's the result.



    The bottom of the rack, showing the support structure.



    Most TTS holders will fit in the grid of holes. Some tools, such as the 1/2" drill chuck, or a 2" slitting saw, are too large. So there are six spaces dedicated for large diameter tools. All told, this rack will hold 62 tools. And it takes up the same amount of space as two Tormach tool racks, which could only hold 42 tools.

    It's meant to be put together with countersunk screws, but I was out. On Monday I'll go buy the correct hardware. But for now, the button head screws work well.



    Of course, now I'm back to my old problem. Too many holes. Not enough tool holders!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails My new tool rack.-tools_.jpg   My new tool rack.-rack.jpg   My new tool rack.-tools_.jpg   My new tool rack.-rack_underside.jpg  

    Last edited by TXFred; 03-24-2012 at 06:56 PM.
    [URL="http://www.pure-geometry.com/"]Pure Geometry LLC[/URL]
    Vertical Lathe tool holders and more.


  2. #2
    Registered Steve Seebold's Avatar
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    That's neat. All you need now is bench space to store it.
    You can buy good parts or you can buy cheap parts, but you can't buy good cheap parts.


  3. #3
    Registered TXFred's Avatar
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    That's the eternal problem, isn't it? The workbench is never big enough. The air compressor never pumps enough CFM. And you always need 100 more square feet of floorspace.
    [URL="http://www.pure-geometry.com/"]Pure Geometry LLC[/URL]
    Vertical Lathe tool holders and more.


  4. #4
    Registered Scott_M's Avatar
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    Nice job Fred !!

    I did something similar a couple years back, but mine slides out from under my bench. No bench space taken and it does not collect chips either.
    http://www.cnczone.com/forums/tormac...rack_pics.html

    Scott
    www.sdmfabricating.com


  • #5
    Registered Steve Seebold's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TXFred View Post
    That's the eternal problem, isn't it? The workbench is never big enough. The air compressor never pumps enough CFM. And you always need 100 more square feet of floorspace.
    Ain't that the effing truth.
    You can buy good parts or you can buy cheap parts, but you can't buy good cheap parts.


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    Nice!
    I'm just approaching filling all the slots.


  • #7
    Wog
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    Looks great! Super idea using the cutting boards.
    I'd think about getting stainless screws when you change over so that there won't be a rust problem on the black oxide steel from any coolant.


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    Registered Gerry Sweetland's Avatar
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    Looks nice Fred.
    Are those just standard mailing labels you have on the tool? If so, how do they hold up?
    I have a plywood tool rack with numbers on each hole and you wouldn't believe how many times I put the wrong holder/ tool # in the wrong slot as I'm working.
    Your method for labeling seems like a nice way to go.
    Gerry
    Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme...
    from Vincent Black Lightning 1952 by Richard Thompson


  • #9
    Registered TXFred's Avatar
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    Those are from a label maker, so they're printed on plastic. So far, the labels are staying in place with no problems. And will peel off cleanly when I want to relabel a tool holder.

    The problem with having a label maker and a CNC is that while the CNC is working, I spend all my time labeling things. My workbench is becoming a shrine to Obsessive Complusive Disorder.

    Frederic
    [URL="http://www.pure-geometry.com/"]Pure Geometry LLC[/URL]
    Vertical Lathe tool holders and more.


  • #10
    Registered Gerry Sweetland's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TXFred View Post

    The problem with having a label maker and a CNC is that while the CNC is working, I spend all my time labeling things. My workbench is becoming a shrine to Obsessive Complusive Disorder.

    Frederic
    Ahh, OCD I have CDO. It’s like OCD, but the letters are in alphabetical order, LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.

    Gerry
    Red hair and black leather, my favorite color scheme...
    from Vincent Black Lightning 1952 by Richard Thompson


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    Quote Originally Posted by Gerry Sweetland View Post
    Ahh, OCD I have CDO. It’s like OCD, but the letters are in alphabetical order, LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.

    Gerry
    ROTFLMAO... Damn that was funny!


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