A couple posts ago, the one about the wall shelves, I showed the photo below and someone asked about the chests of drawers. They are part of my approach to organizing the new shop which emphasizes things like repurposing, avoiding clutter, and flexibility. The chest of drawers on the left (below) had been in our room in the old house. We found we were able to get by with one less dresser in the house, so it came to the shop. It and the chest of drawers beside it now hold tools and other shop supplies. Instead of a sock drawer, I have a spokeshave drawer. And a backsaw drawer, and a molding plane drawer…
Old “out of fashion” furniture like this can often be had for very little money at yard sales and flee markets. I found the chest of drawers beside the desk at a local flea market a few weeks ago. It is absolutely solid. It was made from maple at a furniture manufacturing facility — probably in Pennsylvania. The paper label from the manufacturer was mostly gone, but there is a blue crayon scribble on the back indicating that it was sold from Donaldson’s Store in Arbuckle, Pennsylvania on September 10, 1943. Sold to Donald Yost for $39.75 (That’s equivalent to about $700 today). That scribble wasn’t meant for my benefit, but I appreciate it. Scribble on your furniture.
I made the writing desk under the window years ago. With no room at the inn, it also came to the shop. And that repurposing theme goes on. Old dented filing cabinets, wood crates, etc. They’re practical and pleasing to the eye.
I find that I use a handful of tools far more often than the rest. I keep those close at hand for quick access, like the spokeshaves and drawknives above. The rest are in drawers away from dust, but still ready to serve with no digging around in a deep cabinet.
Many of the tools I use frequently at the bench are within easy reach either on the windowsill, the board on the wall right behind the bench, or on the bench itself. The stack of chests of drawers to the left holds carving tools, mainly.
I made the two cases with the shallow drawers years ago, but I picked up the little stand with drawers below them at the flea market recently. It was $38.
These shallow drawers are like trays and can be pulled completely out and taken to the bench if desired.
I did spring for a mobile tool cabinet (by the garage door in the photo above) with heavy duty drawers. It holds heavier tools and sharpening equipment. My grinder is on top along with a small metalworking vise and space to use my sharpening stones.
The central area of the garage is the spot for several things: two bowl horses (the new version and the original log model), Low bench, chopping block, old carpenter’s tool chest, English shave horse, and some other odds and ends, including a sleeping dog. I don’t turn much, but my spring-pole lathe is disassembled in the shed and I can set that up in the shop if I need to do some spindle turning.
So, the shop is ready to roll. It may look nice, but, more importantly, it’s working well. The chips have been flying and a few projects are underway.
David Fisher, Carving Explorations 
Congrats on new shop! It looks great!
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Cool work shop and storage ideas. FYI I have an old coat hanging shelf a little like yours that I use mainly for planes and various odds and ends including fishing stuff! For tool storage, I mainly use two tall old Ikea racks of plastic trays that were used for my son’s toys and stuff; and a big, old wooden tool chest. ;(. A set of wooden IKEA garage shelves help store various other things, inc. handsaws and handles!) 😉
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What a beautiful workshop! Especially pleasing (to my eyes) are the windows and abundance of natural light. Very nicely put together, including the repurposed furniture.
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Hi Dave,
As much as I admire you and your work, this post is special. Congratulations on creating such a fine and well-organized new studio!
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What a wonderful workshop. Mine is coming along and does feel homely to me, although many solutions are temporary for now. I’m aiming for a “nicer” shop slowly emerging from the practical solutions.
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nice work–looks great–very pleasing
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Dave, Thanks for the nice tour and useful shop tips. Your new work area is simple, elegant and efficient, and I know you will enjoy the extra space for better work flow. Your very useful tool organization in the chests of drawers is elegant. Well done.
Cheers,
Michael
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Cool. Shop dogs rule. I just started working on Christian Becksvoort’s 15 drawer chest specifically to keep it in the shop to house tools and declutter the pegboard. If I ever need to do a shop again, I will go more the way you have. The pegboard is handy but I’d prefer to go the route you are. There is YouTuber (Uri Truchman, https://www.youtube.com/@urituchmanpigeon). He does a mix of things – some woodworking, making some tools, some hand powered mechanical things, etc. For many years, he worked in his living/dining room using secondhand furniture to store tools. I really liked the look of it.
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Great shop, beautifully designed and laid out. Functional and very comfortable. How are the tools behind your bench attached to the backboard you have attached to the the wall?
Please keep posting your progress in the use of your shop and of course, your carving work.
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Thanks, Rick. The tools there are just hanging from little pegs. Just about all of them are bamboo skewers. I just drilled an undersized hole in the board, drove in the skewer, then clipped off the end with side-cutters. The handsaw is a little heavier, so I used bamboo “paddles” that are also made for grilling. The squares sit on the upper edge of a rabbeted board attached to the main board.
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Looking very nice. Aside from being well laid out there is something to be said for having an aesthetic to your working area which complements your work. I feel more relaxed and comfortable with a window looking out to the garden. Hard to beat natural light. Makes me want to get the last couple of things sorted on mine even more!
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Must be great to be out of the basement!
Your set up looks perfect
Happy carving
Steve
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Very Nice Dave
Another vertical storage unit I use are metal file cabinets.
Best
e
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I look forward to seeing your new place in person! You’ve done an amazing job!
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I’m a little late… seeing this post in 2024…! Your workshop is absolutely beautiful. I love the shallow drawers you’ve made! Great idea that they act like removable trays. Do you happen to have anymore info/plans on these? I would love to make some myself! Thanks 🙂
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I’ve never made plans for them. Just worked with available material and what made sense for the height of carving tools, etc. Construction of the shallow drawers is standard dovetail construction, but the sides are 1/2″ below the top of the draw fronts to allow for the runners which are just screwed to the inner sides of the case. Drawer fronts are 20 1/2″ wide, 2″ high. Sides are 1 1/2″ high. bottom is a 1/4″ plywood panel in a groove. Thanks for the comment. I do need a little more room for some carving tools. Maybe I’ll make another and get some plans and tutorial together. I really like the way these work.
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Hi Dave! Thank you for the detailed response! I will look forward to the possibility of a tutorial! I love them so much!
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