Having gradually accumulated perhaps 3 dozen router bits I decided it’s time to build a way to store them–other than the plastic packages from the store thrown in a small toolbox. Looking around the internet for ideas, I see drawers (as in Norm’s router table), or boxes with hinged lids, or foam squares from Rockler. But I wanted to see how you all store (and make accessible) your router bits. Knowing the Knots group, I’m guessing there’s more creativity here than anywhere else and someone has already come up with a better idea than I’ve seen elsewhere.
Thanks for any ideas.
Bob
Edited 10/11/2006 12:10 pm by Woodmaster1776
Replies
I started with drawers in a router table but discovered I don't like stooping, the drawers quickly became disorganized and filled with sawdust. I made a wall hung cabinet which is at eye level- PERFECT.
Easy to see what you have, no dust and better organized.
Good luck
Doug
I too store my router bits in Router table drawers, But One of my next projects is to build a wall cabinet like Winchester did. This one is going to be insulated like a Welders Rod Oven and lightly heated with a 25 Watt bulb as to keep the bits warm, dry and rust free. I really hate picking up and using a bit thats coated with Boshield.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
I use three types of storage: 1) one of those cabinets with small plastic drawers (mainly for straight and dovetail bits), 2) a wall cabinet for simple profile bits (like round-overs), and 3) drawers in my router table with moveable dividers, mainly for profile bits, where I also have space for a small cut off of the bit's profile.
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"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I saw in Fine Homebuilding a guy using a fishing tackle box. Seemed like a good idea since there are separate, small compartments which would keep the bits from rolling around too much.
TF
I made a wall-hung cabinet that has a shelf on the bottom for storage of boxed sets, etc. The "racks" are 2x2 oak that I cut at 45 in the back, so they angle toward you. I drilled forstner bit holes across each rack first, and epoxied in those plastic bushings from CMT so bits stay snug, but are easy to remove and replace. Before I made this my bits were all over the place in there little plastic cases.
Very interesting. Would you happen to have any pics you could post?Thanks for the feedback.Bob
Sorry, haven't been on in a few days...I was on a short fishing trip. That's a bit redundant, since any fishing trip is too short. I will take a picture soon and post.
Very interesting. I have thought of building a wall cabinet for some time to hold forstner, brad point, and any other type of bit. I just bored holes in the wood but found I couldn't get some of the bits back out of the hole readily so am needing those bushings you have alluded to. My last CMT catalogue is 1997, can't find them. Can you give me a cat. #?
Here is a link to the CMT page with what you are looking for.
http://www.cmtusa.com/store/index1.ihtml?x_page=store.ihtml&id=CID1588191645&step=2&parentid=CID4501485646&pagetitle=&menuinclude=leftnav_products.ihtml&titleimage=titles_accessories.jpg
Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb
Thankyou for the info. I had a 2x2 with holes drilled in it but some of the bits just didn't fit well so it would be good to have a bushing to give of take a little.
I have a drawer in my workbench that has holders for the bits. The holders are angled so i can easily see the bit profiles. I also label the holes where the bits go so I can tell the difference between the 5/16" straighbit and the 1/4" bit.
I have come up with a simple solution that takes up no drawer space at all. I took a sheet of plywood and dilled holes about half way through that matced the shaft sizes of my router bits. Then I mounted a hinge across the back and two lid brackets to keep it in position and mounted this under a cabinet. I can see all of my bits, they are organized and best it uses no drawer space. When I am not using my router it folds up out of the way. Mine can hold up to about 4 dozen bits but it depends on the width and depth of the cabinet you mount it under. I got the idea from a kitchen cook book holder.
Woodmaster1776
This is nothing I would show off, but cheap and works. I use pieces of basic white styrofoam packing material, into which I just jam the router bits. After the styrofoam gets ugly, I replace with new piece.
I'd like to do a wall cabinet as well, but never seem to have hte time to make one...
so for a quick simple solution i took a couple of scrap pieces of 2x12 cut to the length of one of my drawers and drilled alternating 1/4" and 1/2" holes on a 1" grid...i put the wood in the drawer and inserted the bits...they stand upright...don't touch each other... you can readily identify each bit...cost=$0.00
I did the same thing you did and then squirted oil and WD-40 in each hole.
Cowtown's first attempt at this was a small tool box which he drilled 1/4 and 1/2" holes in an oak block which fit inside same tool box.
ERROR- at some point, moisture got in, and shanks rusted.
Scrap that idea for the most part- except that squirting a few drops of oil on the oak made it a perfect storage container for the (seldom used) hss bits from the 70's (you know, the ones you can reshape quickly on the grinder, so yer loathe to toss em!).
Now he has a sawzall tool box, metal partitions ripped out, and top and bottom filled with high denisty upholstery foam. Poke a hole in, stick in a router bit.. ...simple eh.... extra bearings, spacers etc are in a small plastic box stuck in the foam (cut an opening to accomadate) Wrenches fit in around the edges, and extra bases can be tucked in behind the lid foam without much difficulty.
Closed up, the dubble foam keeps all them karbide edges from knocking together.
My router table is a double unit, and the drawer underneath was built to accommodate two of these boxes side by each. If I have to take em out on site, they just get pulled out and off we go. The extra space in the drawer gets used by the usual router bric-a-brac.
Any clever marketed storage system ususally has a bunch of 1/4 inch holes and a bunch of 1/2" holes, but I tend to group say" rabbetting bits" together, so if you have 3 1/4" shank and 5 1/2" shank rabbeting bits, well, they'll be in different locations, won't they. Same with ogee bits- nice to have em all together instead of trying to remember which were 1/2" shanks and which were 1/4" shanks. You get the point- sort by task done, rather than by shank size.....
anyway, that's what I do.
Eric in Cowtown.
I use a 2x2 glued to an upright 2x4, both 18" long, with 1/4" and 1/2" holes drilled into them and I have it sitting on ledge behind my workbench
" There'll be no living with her now" - Captain Jack Sparrow
Another idea, I just thought of and am going to look into, is one of those flat fishing tackle boxes with the divider that can be put in and taken out - it might not work for the larger bits, but for most it should.
" There'll be no living with her now" - Captain Jack Sparrow
Wood:
I cut two circles out of MDF. One was about 30% larger than the other. Then glued the small one on top of the larger one. Then I drilled 1/4" and 1/2" diam. holes around the perimeter of each to hold bits. Then I mounted the circles on a lazy susan.
Work great
Thank you,
Cheatah
Lee Valley sells these little plastic individual router-bit holders. I ordered a bunch and, whenever I get a new bit, screw another holder to the inside of my shop cabinet door and stick the bit there. Works fine, but I only have 15 or so bits.
I started with the drill holes in wood solution, which as others have noted led to bits that were hard to remove. Instead of buying commercial bushings, found some copper pipe in the the shop that had slightly larger than 1/2" ID and cut inserts for over sized holes. Works like a charm.
I use a wall-mounted shelf made from a scrap of MDF, drilled with several dozen 1/2-in. and 1/4-in. holes. Works just fine.
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