Charging Station With Storage

Last year I started to assemble my woodshop, the first thing I built was a rough and ready charging station for my cordless tools (2nd image).

It was made from 3/4" shuttering ply and it was as poorly build as it was ugly!

I got the rest of the tools into the shop and started to make improvements but the ugly station remained.

One day in a fit of organisation, I set about designing a new station, better looking, more solid, more storage and more out of my way.

Step 1: Modelling

I love to draw out my projects before I begin so I fired up Sketchup and made a first pass.

I wanted to be able to store the following:

2 cordless drills

1 1/2" impact driver

1 6mm impact driver

1 cordless work lamp

1 cordless angle grinder

Assorted cutting and flap discs

all of the batteries

my random orbit sander

My oscillating tool

All of the sanding pads

my 3 routers

(I also manged to squeeze in my 2 cordless dremels)

I had originally intended to include hanging space for the top of my jointer but this didn't work out.

Using the cut list extension for Sketchup I got a cutting list, all was made from 12mm hardwood ply.

I have included the .skp file if you are interested.

Step 2: Construction and Dry Fit

All of the parts were cut using the table saw (it was a little dangerous to photograph this process, I apologise!)

I rounded the corners on the tool supports using a disk sander to remove the sharp corner, I learned my lesson busting knuckles on the old one.

I then prepared a saddle support for the grinder on the right side of the cabinet.

The whole assembly was glued and screwed for added rigidity as there is pretty serious weight involved and it was mounted on the wall with a french cleat, this allows me to lift the unit off the mounting should I need to. This is important as I plan to paint the shop white this summer.

I then added 6mm diameter aluminium dowels to the sides to hold the sanding and grinder discs, these work really well as they pass through the dust extraction holes and I have separated into 40, 60, 80, 120, 180, 240, 320 & 400 grit, they are easy to grab and sort.

Step 3: Shelves and Fill (and a Little Extra)

I left the shelves out until I lived with it for a few days, I then changed the planned design from 2 to 1 shelf.

I installed a power rail from a 19" network rack in the back of the battery section, this has 8 outlets, is surge protected, switched and as it's designed to mount in a rack had predrilled wings for mounting.

I had to put the routers on top but I'm tall enough this isn't a problem.

While I was feeling organised, I built a little cabinet beside the station (you can see it peeping in on the right in the 1st image)

This holds an organised set of HSS bits, brad point bits, forstners, spade bits and a full set of screw driver. This is right at hand between the drill station and to the other side is my drill press.