How to Make a Router Bit Storage Case

This storage case is a simple box with four drawers. Some of the drawers have holes cut inside to hold router bits; the others are regular drawers for router accessories.

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Time
2 hours
Price Range
$1 - $50
Difficulty
Easy

In this Project you will:

Cut and Mark the Sides of the Box
Make Cuts in the First Board
Cut the Second Board, and Assemble the Box
Cut the Drawer Fronts and Bottoms
Make a Drawer for Router Bits
Assemble the Drawers

Step 1: Cut and Mark the Sides of the Box

Cut out the top, bottom, back and sides for the box out of plywood. The drawers will be built later. Mark each side of the box to cut dadoes for the drawers to slide into. Spacing is critical in this step. The dadoes need to be cut in the same place on each of the two sides. Leave enough space between the dadoes so that your tallest router bit fits into the drawer. Also, allow some room beneath the bottom drawer. The dadoes will not be cut all the way across the board. Make the last mark 1/4" from the back of each side to show where to stop the cut.

Step 2: Make Cuts in the First Board

Draw a start and stop mark on the router table fence (Image 1) to remind you to lift the board out of the cut 1/4" from the end of the board. Using the marks as guides, make the cuts in the first board (Image 2). A 3/4" flute bit will cut about 3/16" into the board. Cutting too far into the board will affect the integrity of the plywood.

- Image 1
- Image 2

Step 3: Cut the Second Board, and Assemble the Box

Cut the second board. Since the second board is a mirror Image of the first, align the back end of the board at the start mark on the fence and drop it into the cut. Assemble the box.

Step 4: Cut the Drawer Fronts and Bottoms

Cut the drawer fronts and bottoms out of plywood. Also, cut sides and a back if you are making accessory drawers. Remember to cut the sides and back smaller than the size of the drawer bottom so that the drawer will slide into the grooves properly. Sides and drawer backs do not need to be cut for the router bit drawers.

Step 5: Make a Drawer for Router Bits

To make a drawer for router bits, first draw a grid on the drawer bottom (Image 1). The shanks of the drill bits will determine the size of the holes. Use a drill press to drill the holes part of the way through the board. Then, use the depth stop (Image 2) to make sure you don't drill through the board. If the holes are drilled all the way through, the shanks will fall through the holes into the drawer below. Finally, attach a drawer front.