So many tools, so little space--that's the problem in many workshops. Carl Mueller, host of DIY Tools & Techniques, offers wall-mounting and organizing tips to help you clean up your workshop.
Drill Index
Drill bits are small and easily lost. A homemade drill index can remedy that problem. All you need are two scraps of wood and the bits to be used in the index. Materials:
7" x 4" x 1" block of wood
7" x 2" x 1" block of wood
Wood glue
Drill
Two dry-wall screws
Various drill bits
Pencil or thin marker
- Glue the smaller block of wood to the top of the larger block. Don't center the top block: glue it to one side. Drill the dry-wall screws through the blocks to hold them in place (figure A).
- Use the various bits to drill their own holes. Drill a row of holes into the top block, then a row of holes into the bottom block.
- Use a pencil or thin marker to write the bit size over its hole (figure B).
Slotted Shelf
Turn empty wall space into storage space with slotted shelves. Here's how to make a slotted shelf of any size.
Materials:
Two strips of wood 2" thick, 4" wide and the same length as the plywood listed below
Pencil
Table saw
Chisel
Hammer
3/4"-thick plywood, cut to desired length and width
Drill
Wood screws
- Make evenly spaced marks along the two wood strips at the points where you want the shelves.
- Set the height of the table-saw blade to 1 1/2". Tilt the blade of the saw to 45 degrees. Cut through each pencil mark in the two strips of wood (figure C).
- To make wider slots, use a chisel and a hammer to cut out the area between each set of slots (figure D).
- Screw the two strips of wood to either side of the plywood board.
Wall-Mounting System
A scrap piece of wood can be used to hang a cabinet or a large mirror on a wall. Here's how it's done. Materials:
1"-thick block of wood, about one-fifth the length of the work piece and the same width as the work piece
Table saw
Wood glue
Drill
Screws
- Set the table saw blade at 1". Tilt the saw blade to 45 degrees. Make one cut down the middle of the block of wood (figure E).
- Glue and screw one block to the top of the work piece, with the 45-degree beveled side facing down (figure F).
- Screw the other block to the wall where the work piece is to hang. The 45-degree beveled side should face up. The wood attached to the work piece will fit right into the wall piece, holding the work piece in place.
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