Thread: How do you store/display your turning tools?

Like many turners I have my bad habits but I tend to try and stay organized. Any flat surface is fair game!

So I use a range of options. Having been trained by my father to respect tools and the edges on them I started off using a traditional chippies tool box with a series of racks like these.

Nice for protecting edges but like Cliff I found getting that not very often used tool on the bottom rack tiresome. So I have graduated to a mobile tool chest with the same racks in each drawer. However I have the eternal wood turners problem - its never big enough for all the tools.

As others have said I like using the bed ways to keep tools at hand so one of the racks is designed with a strip of timber on the back so it is a firm press fit into the gap in the bed ways. I don't use magnets due to potential hazards with my defibrillator.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

I don't use magnets due to potential hazards with my defibrillator.

Well that's buggered you ever getting a tour of my shop. There's 7 banister brushes, 4 drill press chuck keys and the woodlathe chuck key and centre drill all secured by hard drive magnets and about 30 or 40 spare hard drive magnets hanging off one of the drill presses.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Originally Posted by Old Croc

I can't do a photo, so I will have to describe my set up I copied off someone else.
Started with a 5 wheel base from an old office chair and fitted a 600mm timber column into the bases taper. Added 2 X 400 mm circles of 32 mm waterproof chip board. 1st one fixed to base column, 2nd one joined to it with lazy susan bearing. Bored 30 mm recess's into topside with forstner bit for handles to fit into. Added top column, approx 400mm high with a 300 mm circle fixed to the top of the column. Cut slots into the top circle to suit each of the chisels and glued a small flat magnet into each slot.
Now have a tool carousel that is movable and spins easily to select each tool. It holds about 20 chisels and I have found it one of the best ideas I have ever copied.
If the description is not good enough, the daughter may upload a photo for me.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Crocy, what happens when you have more than 20 chisels? I have at least 5 skews from 12mm to 32mm. No exact idea about bowl and spindle gouges but we are talking in the dozens. When a few of my mates come out, I can be sharpening 10 and 12mm Vicmarc bowl gouges (I have 3 of each) all day long. Plus a good many scrapers for when needed. Storing 100+ big chisels is a real challenge.

Originally Posted by Jeff Leslie

Crocy, what happens when you have more than 20 chisels? I have at least 5 skews from 12mm to 32mm. No exact idea about bowl and spindle gouges but we are talking in the dozens. When a few of my mates come out, I can be sharpening 10 and 12mm Vicmarc bowl gouges (I have 3 of each) all day long. Plus a good many scrapers for when needed. Storing 100+ big chisels is a real challenge.

Jeff, I can't give a definitive answer to that. I only have a 1/4 inch, 3/8, 1/2 inch bowl gouges and one lonely 1/4 inch spindle gouge. I have managed to do all my turning since 1988 with these.
The daughter is coming over tomorrow evening, so I will try to upload a photo then.
Rgds,
Crocy.

Crocy, thanks for being so frank. The old saying is that the tools do not make the man. I agree entirely with that sentiment.

That said, I (and a world-class turner) have found that a certain breed of US carbide tools work when conventional tools/methods fail. In the result, that meant another 5 chisels. I had some bird's eye redgum and some other woods that declined to cooperate. (And I more want a good finish off the tool rather than revert to sandpaper!)

From what you say, I imagine that you do more faceplate work rather than between centres. No worries, but even with faceplate work, I do like my spindle gouges (against the law). An interesting discussion, please do not castigate me unless I am on the wrong tram!

Originally Posted by Jeff Leslie

From what you say, I imagine that you do more faceplate work rather than between centres. No worries, but even with faceplate work, I do like my spindle gouges (against the law). An interesting discussion, please do not castigate me unless I am on the wrong tram!

Jeff you have to see some of Crocy's large platters & bowls. Not only is the wood about the best you can source but the finish is pretty top notch as well.

Here is an old thread on the topic started by Brendan Stemp, but some of the ideas may be new to some on the forum.

My initial system is at post #26 in the above thread, like Old Croc's, the rack spins like a lazy susan. It is still in use and I'm unlikey to dispense with it.

Later I added this to the side for long handled tools:

Long handled woodturning tools.JPG

And for the tools I'm using at the lathe I have immediately next to me this arrangement:

Tool tray for inboard turning.JPG Tool tray for outboard turning.JPG

When I'm turning inboard I put the tray in the outboard toolpost and when turning outboard (which is most of the time) it goes in the toolpost on the lathe bed.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Jeff you have to see some of Crocy's large platters & bowls. Not only is the wood about the best you can source but the finish is pretty top notch as well.

Geoff, we might have to arrange a mutual swap with Crocy. Wood at least! As we all know, good tool work doesn't come from just owning them. Skew's work, like Crocy's, is another classic case of doing very well with very little.

Originally Posted by Jeff Leslie

....... Storing 100+ big chisels is a real challenge.

I am still trying to get my head around the number of chisels you have. I am thinking this happen over a long period.

Originally Posted by Christos

I am still trying to get my head around the number of chisels you have. I am thinking this happen over a long period.

Some time indeed - started collecting in 2006. Stopped smoking a packet a day and rewarded myself with some decent chisels.

Originally Posted by Christos

I am still trying to get my head around the number of chisels you have. I am thinking this happen over a long period.

yep

Originally Posted by Christos

I am still trying to get my head around the number of chisels you have. I am thinking this happen over a long period.

Don't ask about how many lathes he has

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Don't ask about how many lathes he has

You are a cheeky lot. Yes, I did over-invest with my woodturning (just a tad), but I am pleased to tell you all that I am now down to three lathes. I sold my Vicmarc VL175 and now have only the LB VL300, a VL150 plus the S750 Stubby.

What I really need is another table/panel saw as I only have 3.

I do know that normal, more skilled/intelligent people than me can and do more/better than me. But, as a case in point, my good friend Paul always borrows my set of Frontline clamps when doing a big glue up on a table top.

It is HARD not to get addicted to woodturning. I just got the bug. So when I saw the VL150, I got rid of the VL100.

And when I have the "crew" out on my 9 acres, I want to be sharpening gouges/ scrapers etc in batches, preferably at least 3 a time. No stress which is very important to me. Please don't hold that against me. I sold all my guns and boat for serious $ so my collections is just a replacement.

Originally Posted by Jeff Leslie

...
And when I have the "crew" out on my 9 acres, I want to be sharpening gouges/ scrapers etc in batches, preferably at least 3 a time. No stress which is very important to me. Please don't hold that against me. I sold all my guns and boat for serious $ so my collections is just a replacement.

Yep good point - when the jig's setup it's better to do a run of the same - more efficient use of time!