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Ed Weber

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Buy or Build
Jul 9^th, 2021 at 9:00am

I see lots of shop organization products for sale these days aimed at DIYer's, handymen/women and woodworkers, The funny thing is that the people in those areas of of work could easily build these things themselves and usually for much less.
Clamp racks and little shelves for that special tool, seem to be popular offerings.
So my question is, do you prefer to build or buy shop organizers and similar items?

I prefer to build most of mine, mainly because I can customize it to my needs, not to mention usually much cheaper.
Here's an example of what I mean.
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Ralph Fahringer WR Addict Offline I'm the "Burly" Man!! Posts: 1,631 Ellsworth Maine USA Gender:	Re: Buy or Build Reply #1 - Jul 9^th, 2021 at 9:49am My question is...how many cordless drills does the average person have that they need to hang them in groups?
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Robert Fischer Senior Member Offline Posts: 299 Windham Maine USA Gender:	Re: Buy or Build Reply #2 - Jul 9^th, 2021 at 10:14am I'm guessing that Ed hasn't purchased the $25 Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or either. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or
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Bill Neff WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 1,030 Barronett Wisconsin USA Gender:	Re: Buy or Build Reply #3 - Jul 9^th, 2021 at 10:14am Build. My cordless drill has a special place... where ever I set it down. Cheap & easy
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Ed Weber

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Re: Buy or Build
Reply #4 - Jul 9^th, 2021 at 10:39am

It;s not just WP, it's all of them. I'm sure I could find almost equally simple items at Rockler and Woodcraft as well. The A frame clamp rack comes to mind

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Here's the one I built 17 years ago, it was clean back then and not overflowing. It also didn't cost me near as much as the above.

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David Moeller

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Re: Buy or Build
Reply #5 - Jul 9^th, 2021 at 4:34pm

Two prime reasons I build my own. Economy & Adaptability. No matter how a system works today you will outgrow it. You had 2 chucks, so where do the new ones go. At one time I had 6 routers. Easy to reconfigure your own builds. I used to have stuff 8' off the floor but it all had to come down to 6' or less. If I could redo my shop I would line the walls with self made french cleats so every cabinet, hanger, shelf, etc. could be shifted around, replaced or whatever. I panelled my walls with 3/4 ply so I could drive a nail for a quick hook or attach something where needed.

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Ed Weber

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Re: Buy or Build
Reply #6 - Jul 9^th, 2021 at 6:34pm

David Moeller wrote on Jul 9^th, 2021 at 4:34pm:

If I could redo my shop I would line the walls with self made french cleats so every cabinet, hanger, shelf, etc. could be shifted around, replaced or whatever. I panelled my walls with 3/4 ply so I could drive a nail for a quick hook or attach something where needed.

What, no pegboard with the tools outlined, I'm shocked.

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David Moeller Senior Member Offline Old chiseler Posts: 334 Linden Michigan USA Gender:	Re: Buy or Build Reply #7 - Jul 9^th, 2021 at 9:32pm Thinking of auctioning the ply. Wife and I could go on a long cruise. MOE
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Glenn Jacobs WR Addict Offline JC L&S Posts: 2,077 North DFW, Texas Texas USA Gender:	Re: Buy or Build Reply #8 - Jul 15^th, 2021 at 1:54pm I look at different designs and then design and build my own to meet my requirements. Glenn J.
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Glenn Jacobs WR Addict Offline JC L&S Posts: 2,077 North DFW, Texas Texas USA Gender:	Re: Buy or Build Reply #9 - Jul 15^th, 2021 at 1:57pm Ed, do you like your clamp rack design? or is there something you would change? No sure I would build similar or not, but my rack is out of space, so thinking about something more vertical. Glenn J.
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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,997 Wilton California USA Gender:	Re: Buy or Build Reply #10 - Jul 15^th, 2021 at 3:21pm Let me get back to you with some photos and some explanations.
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Dan Hoenisch

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Re: Buy or Build
Reply #11 - Mar 12^th, 2022 at 7:52am

I prefer to build my own. The only thing I'll buy, really, are metal shelving units, but I prefer to build my own organizers. Both of my work benches have peg board, which I am always reorganizing, and last week, I built a lathe tool organizer.
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I don't have an amazing clamp organizer like the one you built, I just threw some 1x2's across my rafters (basement shop) and hang my clamps from there. Also, any machine on a stand that looks like it can get a shelf, will get a shelf. I had one on my HF 12x33 lathe, the stand I built for my HF 12x18 has a shelf, and I even put one on my Hawk G2 scroll saw stand. And, as soon as I can get my butt to Menards for some more 2x4s, the new Grizzly will get a shelf. You can never have too much storage in the shop.

Dan

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« Last Edit: Mar 12^th, 2022 at 7:55am by Dan Hoenisch »

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Louie Powell

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Re: Buy or Build
Reply #12 - Mar 12^th, 2022 at 8:01am

Ed Weber wrote on Jul 9^th, 2021 at 10:39am:

mobile-clamp-and-storage-rack. - - -
Here's the one I built 17 years ago, it was clean back then and not overflowing.

but the real question is - - - do you have enough clamps?

As to build vs buy - I tend to build my storage, but there are exceptions. I have both metal and plastic shelving units in my shop, and I also have wall-mounted painted-wire shelves. And I prefer to buy things like drill bits in sets that include some kind of storage box - I know that's not always ideal, but if a bit breaks, I can replace it individually and still have a full set in an orderly storage box. I have pegboard behind the workbench, but I don't use those wire hangers - my experience is that they fall off too easily. Instead, I make hangers (from wood) for specific items that I attach to the pegboard using screws through the factory-made holes. For example, I have a 'shelf' made specifically for glues - it holds the two bottles that make up epoxy, plus has a couple of spots for PVA and polyurethane glue. Likewise, I have a shelf permanently attached to the pegboard that has holes for storing screwdrivers.

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« Last Edit: Mar 12^th, 2022 at 8:10am by Louie Powell »

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Ed Weber

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Re: Buy or Build
Reply #13 - Mar 12^th, 2022 at 2:14pm

Louie Powell wrote on Mar 12^th, 2022 at 8:01am:

but the real question is - - - do you have enough clamps?

Short answer is NO.
This is one reason why many of the retail versions of shop organizers perplex me. They rarely leave room for any expansion. Shelves ans containers aside, when you buy a clamp rack that fits one brand or one set of clamps, you're kind of stuck.
I could build a rack for all the clamps I own but what if I get some more for a project? I'll post some more photos in a follow up post but my little rack takes up a 24" x 24" footprint. I made it to hold F-Style bar clamps, they're cheap and functional but you do need quite a lot of them because they're not too strong, especially the longer lengths.
This cabinet holds 10 each, 6", 12", 18", 24", 30", and 36" F clamps.
The four drawers/bins and top bin, house some the little misc and specialty clamps.
It swallows up a lot but I have dozens more on other simple racks (AKA, a 2x4). So in terms od build or buy, I don't think I could afford or fit the retail offerings for clamp racks or storage.

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Ed Weber

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Re: Buy or Build
Reply #14 - Mar 12^th, 2022 at 7:17pm

Glenn Jacobs wrote on Jul 15^th, 2021 at 1:57pm:

Ed, do you like your clamp rack design? or is there something you would change?
No sure I would build similar or not, but my rack is out of space, so thinking about something more vertical.

Glenn J.

Here are a couple of pics if you're still interested, any questions, just ask

Louie Powell wrote on Mar 12^th, 2022 at 8:01am:

but the real question is - - - do you have enough clamps?

The first two pics are the clamps that don't fit in the rack, plus there is a dozen or so floating around the house somewhere holding something together for me. Plus a few I didn't photo.

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Glenn Jacobs WR Addict Offline JC L&S Posts: 2,077 North DFW, Texas Texas USA Gender:	Re: Buy or Build Reply #15 - Mar 15^th, 2022 at 12:26pm Thanks Ed Glenn J.
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