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Amongst those building work benches, one of the hottest topics is whether to include a tool tray. The arguments are many, on both sides, some making sense and others… well, you know. I love the tool tray on my bench and wouldn’t hesitate to include it in the next. Here’s why.
Regardless of how much use your machines get, you always need place to collect, organize, lay out, cut, plane, or just sit and think. The work bench is that place. There are always tasks you will perform only at the bench and often enough that it makes sense to keep some tools there. Doing so will reduce the amount of time you spend wandering around the shop, wondering where the last place you set them was. Time is also saved when your body already knows where that square or pencil is kept, as your muscle memory kicks in and retrieves it without thought.
Granted, things that are too tall will get in the way when working on a large panel, but those items can be worked around or temporarily moved. Granted, sawdust, wood chips and other debris do collect in the tray, but you can rig up something to help clean it out. Some people use angled ramps on the ends of the tray, I made a clean-out hole with a fitted lid. There are solutions to every problem.
Regardless of the perceived downside, I like having certain tools at hand. So, rather than go on and on, like I usually do, I will stop now, include a photo, and list what I keep in my tool tray. I use these things a lot and I couldn’t think of a better place to store them.
Legend
- Mallet
- Stanley 604C Bedrock Smoother
- Shop-Made Strops
- Pencil
- 12 Inch Combination Square
- Cabinet Scrapers Set in Hardwood Block
- Oil Bottle Set in Pine Block (for oiling scrapers before burnishing and for lubricating nailer)
- Paraffin Block For Lubricating Plane Soles
- Large Soft-Bristled Brush (to brush debris from work)
- Chalk (makes layout lines easier to see in dark wood)
- Baby Powder (so I can reuse latex and other gloves)
- Dovetail Template (just a block of tulipwood marked with pencil lines)
- Assorted Blocks (used as clamp pads, or under mallet so I don’t mar the project surface etc.)
- Wedge Used To Hammer Dovetails Home
- Awl
- Engineer’s Square
- Rag
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