6 Storage Solutions You Can Build Into Any Cabinet

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Sandpaper Roll Storage

I use pressure-sensitive-adhesive (PSA) sanding discs. For easy access, I like to get them out of their packages and lined up by grit. I hang my rolls of sanding discs on horizontally supported dowels so I can quickly grab the right grit without looking at the back side of a disc. 

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Eye-Level Bit Storage

Lots of folks store router bits in wood blocks. I turned mine into pull-out blocks mounted at the bottom of my upper cabinets. The shelves pull out and hang at eye level while you find the bit you need. Each pull-out block slides on a pan head screw captured in a routed keyhole slot on the bottom of the block (see inset). If you want to remove the block and take your bits to where you’re working, just lift the block off the screw and go.

Rout the stopped keyhole slot in the center of each block. Drill a 1-in.-dia. x 1/2-in.-deep finger hole in the front of each pull-out block. On this cabinet, I use filler blocks to maintain clearance for the door hinges.

Easy-Adjust Drawer Dividers

I’ve tried lots of different drawer dividers over the years, but none comes close to this system. Its beauty lies in its flexibility. As my storage needs change, so can my dividers—in an instant! These dividers are friction-fit against strips of 1/4-in.-thick closed-cell foam. 

To make the foam inserts, cut pieces of 1/4-in.-thick fiberboard to fit across your drawer. Use spray adhesive to adhere 1/4-in.-thick closed-cell foam to the fiberboard. Then set the dividers into your drawer, measuring the distance you need between them. The best way to fit the dividers is to start long and slowly trim their lengths until they fit snugly. 

Swing-Out Drill Bit Rack

This swing-out drill bit rack means no more peering into a dark cabinet or trying to reach over a forest of sharp bits to get the one way in back. Just swing out the block and all your drill accessories are right where you can easily and safely reach them. 

The rack is 1-1/4 in. thick by 3 in. wide with a 17/64-in. pivot hole. The rack pivots on a 1/4-in. bolt mounted through the bottom shelf with a lock nut and washer. A rubber bumper acts as a stop. A couple of 1/8-in.-deep x 1/2-in.-wide dovetail slots are routed on the front and back edges of the rack to hold labels. 

Sandpaper Storage

Stored loose in a drawer, my sheet sandpaper curls like a potato chip, making it difficult to handle. This simple sandpaper storage tray solves the problem. The tray keeps an assortment of grits flat and ready for use. The lid is made from MDF, which is heavy enough to keep the sandpaper flat. Attach a grab knob to the center of the lid.  

The Right Screw Right at Your Fingertips

Nothing is more annoying than fumbling through odd-sized, tattered cardboard screw boxes, paper bags or, worse yet, old coffee cans. These translucent plastic boxes, which cost less than a buck apiece, make organizing screws a snap. I use two sizes of lidded boxes and one size of unlidded boxes. I place fasteners I use often into the unlidded bins. Those I use less often go into the lidded boxes; a label stuck to each lid makes it easy to identify what’s in the box.

Sources

(Note: Product availability and costs are subject to change since original publication date.)

United States Plastic Corp., usplastic.com, 800-809-4217, 42-dram translucent Flex-A-Top Box, 2-1/8 in. x 2-1/8 in. x 2-5/8 in., #201203; 104-dram translucent Flex-A-Top Box, 4-7/32 in. x 1-23/32 in. x 4-5/8 in., #201204; Bin cups for shelf bins, 3-1/4 in. x 2 in. x 3 in., #52299.

A-1 Foam, 952-253-1972, Dynaflex closed-cell foam, 1/4 in. thick, charcoal color, #XL2000; K-grip foam and fabric spray adhesive, 13.25 oz., #701.

Sears, sears.com, 800-349-4358, Craftsman drawer liners, mesh roll, 21-3/4 in. x 256-1/2 in., #65190.

This story originally appeared in American Woodworker January 2005, issue #112.

January 2005, issue #112

Purchase this back issue.