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Sawdust Girl®

Sawdust Girl®

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Router Bit Storage Drawer

Workshop Storage and Organization

While I continue to practice perfecting my polyurethane application on my Pantry Countertop (lots of time waiting for it to dry),  I’m organizing my workshop.  It needs it BAD!  It’s been driving me almost literally nuts for  months now.  I pushed through getting the pantry built and the drawers and drawer fronts installed but now there’s nothing more to do but wait…so I’m busting out a major overhaul of my workshop.Router bit storage.

Router Bit Storage Drawer

I kinda’ started trying to organize a few weeks ago as I started discovering loose and rusted router bits in various odd places.  I found a drawer to designate to router storage and halfassed a block of wood with some randomly spaced holes I drilled for a bit I had just used and didn’t want to put back into the cracked plastic packaging I took it out of.

Router bit storage.

But NOW I’m taking this business seriously!  ‘Cause I have time. I wanted somewhat modular storage, so I can change it up later without redoing the whole thing.  So I decided to create storage “rows” that can be removed individually at any time — if ever needed.   I can’t imagine why I might ever need to remove a row but the capability is there.

First, I cut 3″ strips of 1/4″ MDF to fit the width of my drawer.

Router bit storage

Then I cut 1 1/2″ strips of 3/4″ plywood and cut one end at an angle.   My MicroJig GRR-Ripper is perfect for jobs like this.

Router bit storage

45º was too steep — 20º was perfect!

Creating router bit storage.

I marked the center of one 3″ MDF board with a speed square.

Router bit storage.

Then I used my long T square to mark every 2″ along the centerline.

Router bit storage.

I only marked one MDF strip because…carpet tape.  Love that stuff!  I stuck all of my MDF strips together so I could drill them all at the same time.Router Bit Storage Drawer

And then I used my drill press to drill through all the boards at once with a 1/2″ bit.  Most of my router bits have a 1/2″ shank so most of my storage will have 1/2″ holes.

Router bit storage.

Of course you could do this with a manual drill.

Router bit storage.

Then I switched to a forstner bit and drilled half a hole on each end.  These are so my fingers can get in there to lift out one row if ever I decide I need to do that…turns out I needed to quite a lot during the process of setting them properly in place in the drawer.

Router bit storage.

Next was possibly the most difficult task.  Pulling the stack of boards apart.  That carpet tape is STICKY!  I had to use a 5 in 1 painters tool  to pry them apart.

Router bit storage.

Then I sanded away the pencil mark and sanded all the boards extra smooth, cause sometimes the drill bit makes some sloppy burrs while cutting/tearing this mdf.

Router bit storage.

I used wood glue and nails to secure the MDF to the angled top of the plywood strip.

Router bit storage.

I used my 18ga battery powered nailer first but it was too bulky for this job so I switched to my 23 ga pneumatic nailer.  That thing is great for so many things!

Router bit storage.

After I made all my of 1/2″ storage rows I wanted to add a few 1/4″ holes.

Router bit storage.

I used a new wider strip of MDF and some more carpet tape to trace the exact location of the holes on one of my prepared 1/2″ rows.

Router bit storage.

Router bit storage.

Then I marked a centerline through the traced holes to help guide me as I drilled 1/4″ holes.

Router bit storage.

My forstner bit was still on the drill press so I started with those.

Router bit storage.

Then I drilled all the 1/4″ holes.

Router bit storage. My plan was to cut this piece, maybe in half, and set it on top of the 1/2″ strip so I could use just a few of the 1/4″ holes and still have access to the rest of the 1/2″ holes in that row.Router bit storage.But it didn’t stay in place, height-wise, in the drawer so I ended up not cutting it and nailing it on top of the “Base” 1/2″ hole thingamajig.
Router bit storage.

Also, because I had used crappy scraps of plywood with random holes in it (that I had torn out of the Master Closet) when I was building these drawers, I sanded, filled, primed, sanded and painted the drawer.

paint

And then, not because it needed it but because I felt like it, I sprayed on some lacquer finish.

Router bit storage.That last row houses my BIG router bits so I needed a little extra space but I didn’t want all my rows from slipping and sliding around when I open and close the drawer.  So I fitted a piece of MDF to fit snugly in that space and that worked perfectly.

Router bit storage.

So, as it turns out, I need a LOT less router bit storage than I thought –so dedicating an entire row to 1/4″ shank bits is no problemo!

Router Bit Storage Drawer

Router Bit Storage Drawer

SO I have plenty of room to  grow!  🙂  I haven’t even used those long bits yet but when I do, I’ll cut a small piece of each profile and glue it behind each bit on MDF piece that I placed on the drawer bottom behind that last row.

Router bit storage.

October 29, 2015 · 7 Comments

« How NOT to Refinish a Wood Countertop
Sliding Bit Storage Tray – Workshop Organization »

Comments

  1. Darlene says

    October 29, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    OK, you got me beat on router bits! I think I only have 6. I’ve only used 2 round over bits so far.

    Reply
  2. Champa says

    November 2, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    Hi,
    I am commenting on the wrong post but couldn’t make my browser to let me comment on the crown molding post. It was very helpful when I finished molding in my home. I wanted to do a keystone block on few of the doors, but am unable to come up with the cuts, angles. Do you think you could help with that and post something? Iam looking for a very simple trapezoid block in the center of crown molding ledge using 1×4 as the top ledge and the standar 31/2″ crown. Thanks.

    Reply
  3. DON Lawler says

    November 4, 2015 at 12:06 pm

    Looking for you video installing the blum slides. I like this video but currently I am about to install the slides on our grandson’s dresser changing table. Please send link.

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      November 4, 2015 at 5:37 pm

      https://youtu.be/7uxSdTdwPA4?list=PLxbIbN3ppVccboYFNlp1zDbPMW1tE7hPn

      Reply
  4. Shimi Yacoby says

    October 10, 2019 at 1:21 am

    I love how you wear a respirator for the dust but when you’re spraying, no respirator needed. Funny

    Reply
    • Sandra says

      October 10, 2019 at 5:03 pm

      Probably because I was outside spraying with the breeze drawing the overspray away from me.

      Reply
  5. Shimi Yacoby says

    October 10, 2019 at 1:24 am

    By the way, I love the video. Great job

    Reply

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