The Saw Blade Cabinet

It's been established that I have some OCD when it comes to cleanliness and organizational matters. I have a relatively small/narrow shop (9'x25') and when everything has its place, it stays uncluttered and improves my work flow and efficiency.

This space (for me) started as a musical rehearsal area with a few tools for house projects. I had one blade in the miter saw and one combination blade in the table saw - easy. Time has passed .. I've grown wiser ... at least older ... the shop took over and I've accumulated a larger variety of blades. 80 and 90 tooth fine cutting blades for drum shells, acrylic blades for other drum shells and plexi, 40-60 tooth blades for other projects, cutoff wheels, circular saw blades, etc.

I needed/wanted a storage solution other than a few nails on the wall with the blades knocking against each other in some random fashion. I wanted them all in one case, organized, separated, and mobile. I had an idea .. I also had plywood, poplar, and hardboard ... weird right?

Step 1: The Parts

Plywood for the carcass. Hardboard for the back and drawers. Poplar cut offs for the drawer fronts. I used more than this, but this picture was my attempt at being arsty and informative ... we all can't be good at everything I guess.

Step 2: The Milling/Carcass Assembly

I don't have a dado blade (yet), so this process took some time. I cut my plywood longer and wider than necessary .. because that's just my method (the method of screwing up so leave yourself some leeway). The dados would serve as drawer runners for 3/16" hardboard, so I cut them 1/4" wide ... spaced 3/4" apart (bottom to bottom). Each dado took three passes in an attempt to make relatively flat bottoms. At each end I made 3/4" rabbets to accept the top and bottom panels ... then cut off any extra material.

The newly dado ridden panel was cut into two sides, which are 11" wide by 13" tall. Tops and bottoms cut to 11" x 11" and all panels got a rabbet in the back to accept a piece of 3/16" hardboard.

I assembled the carcass with glue, brads and clamps.

Step 3: Additional Milling/Assembly

While the carcass assembly was drying, I milled drawer fronts out of poplar cut offs. 3/4" x 1/2 at random lengths .. then added a rabbet on one face to accept the 3/16" hardboard drawer.

Hardboard panels were cut at 11" x 11" for the drawers and an additional hardboard panel was set into the back with glue and brads (just snuck up on the cut until it fit).

I then added a cleat, which I made from 3/4" scrap plywood.

Step 4: Drawer Fabrication

Using a shop made marking gauge, I found the center point of each 11" x 11" panel and then drilled a 5/8" recess with a Forstner bit (about 5/16" deep). I then cut short sections of 5/8" dowel, which I then glued and pin nailed into these recesses.

To attach the drawer fronts, I used glue and pin nails with an on the fly spacing gauge. Unfortunately, the gauge was at a 3/4" spacing instead of the 1/2" spacing I actually needed because sometimes I space off.

Step 5: Finishing

To cut the drawer sides flush with the carcass, I taped all the drawers shut and used a crosscut sled.

After a bit of sanding, I finished all the plywood and poplar surfaces with 50/50 boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits and then branded the back hardboard panel.

Step 6: Complete

Final dimensions are 12" wide x 13" high x 11" deep. Storage capacity is 15 blades.

All my blades have a home with room for expansion and the entire case can be moved if necessary.

Comments

[bundyb]

Very nice. I too like being organised. Everything has it's place, everything in it's place. Best way to get things done.

P.S. You don't have OCD, it'll be OCPD. Yes there is a difference :-)

[lolamatic]

Neat. I especially like the diagonal finder you have in step 4. dimple and so effective

[-BALES-]

Thanks! I use that marking tool all the time.
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-Disc-Center-Finder/

[mbristophiles1]

nicely done

[nick ferry]

very cool

[spthorn]

Thinking how it might be painful on the fingers to lift out sharp blades... maybe drill a 3/4" hole between the dowel and the drawer front, so you can poke a finger through and lift the blade off the dowel.

[-BALES-]

I take the tray to the tool in question, palm it, and flip it upside down ... think Jello mold or bunt cake .. I don't like Jello mind you ... long story involving my Father never covering it, which allows a thick skin to form (I guess it really wasn't that long). Anyway .. Your hole suggestion is a clever and I like it ... can't say the same for Jello.

[craftclarity]

That's one way to keep your blades from getting nicked...Nice!

[chuckyd]

I have seen a blade cabinet made by a guy who was obsessive about saving space. His cabinet is similar to yours, but the drawers are only 1/4" thick, and 1/16" apart. He cut a number of hardboard square blanks, half of which he made holes the size of his blades. He bonded two blanks together, one holed, and one holeless. Then, he trimmed an edge on alternating drawers for a finger grip, and used sheet metal as drawer slides. Same concept as yours but more stingy with space.

[charlessenf-gm]

Found it. Sorry for small images but I am on Dial-up. Click Ctrl-+ to blow it up on your screen!

[charlessenf-gm]

Nice, neat job. I can't find a pic of the one I made. But I built a cabinet that was sligthly larger than the largest diameter blade I own with a French Cleat on the back to allow it to hang on the wal. Inside, I built a frame that was hinged at the left and the pivot point centered in the depth of the cabinet. This frame was square with a piece running from the top left corner to the bottom right so that I could center a dowel perpendicular to the hinged frame such that it served as a hanger for my saw blades. Half of which hang on the front side and the other half on the back side. The front of the cabinet has a door with a clear plastic insert that I decorated by laying old saw blades on the inside surface, then spray painted t form an image of saw blades in red and blue, then - removing the blades, sprayed it all white. The advantage is that I can open the cabinet and see all my blades at once and the box/cabinet takes up very little of the work area (no 'footprint' on the bench). Disadvantage is that I have to remove those in front to get to the chosen blade, then put them back in place.

[-BALES-]

If you run across the picture, or are able to take a new one, I'd like to this your design.

[mathieugfortin]

Nice design, I'll definately steal some of it. I've been thinking about something like this for a while, I think I'll tuck mine under one of the the wings of the tablesaw.

[gumbytig]

Might use something similar for sandpaper storage. Maybe 4 smaller dowels instead of the one big in the center.

[UncleEd]

Great solution to your problem. I'm still developing the skills required to build this, but will keep this in the back of my head for "someday."

[makendo]

Really neat solution. I would make one for sure, if I didn't enjoy the look of all those blades hanging on my wall. Bookmarked in case I run out of space!

[gcanders]

Very nice. Can't wait to build one just like it.

[pfred2]

If I had more blades, and room your cabinet would be a nice. As it is I only have a few extra blades not on saws so I just stack them up with cardboard in between them.