Storing/stowing your stuff

[pinkiewerewolf]

Hello fellow shop...smithians?:)

I finally decided to get out the 38" scale for the 520 rail and as I was finishing up I thought, "OK, now where am I going to store this where it won't get damaged or forgotten." Most of my measuring tools are hung on the pegboard portion of my garage wall but it doesn't seem like that will lend itself to this situation to well.
I don't have a nice tool chest with multiple drawers yet, and well... that may be a while so:
Should I wind it up (very loosely like it came) and put it in a circular container? (I'm not liking this idea as I'm afraid it will develop a memory)
Should I drill a hole in one end and hang it on a wall?
Should I lay it straight/flat on a shelf? I was thinking about making a garage shelf with a dado groove that the strip might lay in to protect it while not in use, this may be the route I go but I wanted some feed back from the users that have had experience stowing this nifty lil tool.

BTW, if anyone has storage hints for any of their woodworking equipment then I'd love to hear them.

Thanks!
John aka pinkie

[a1gutterman]

Hi Pinkie,
I do knot have the scales, but they are magnetic, right? :confused: If you do knot hang anything from your lower tubes, why knot stick the scales to the tubes? It wood be out of the way, yet handy for when you need it. Of course, if you utilize the lower tubes, that might knot work.:(

[dusty]

I would suggest you hang it using two rare earth magnets; one to hang it on and a second one to hold down the other end.

Mounting the rare earth magnets is another problem but you could use two sided tape, counter board the holes to fit the magnets, or use magnets that can be screwed down.

I have mine hung along side my saw blades/arbors on that back board.

[pinkiewerewolf]

Great suggestions.
Tim, the scales are not magnetic, the front rails are and they "grab" the scales.
Scales really = metal measuring strips. I must say, they are very cool.

Dusty, rare earth magnets, good idea those things can really hold on to stuff.

hmmm, now you've given me an idea to mount the scale with the magnets so I can use it to measure along my bench.

I knew you guys cold get me where I needed to go!

Now, where do I store all those lathe tools and rest?:o

[curiousgeorge]

Hi Pinkie,
I do knot have the scales, but they are magnetic, right? :confused: If you do knot hang anything from your lower tubes, why knot stick the scales to the tubes? It wood be out of the way, yet handy for when you need it. Of course, if you utilize the lower tubes, that might knot work.:(

Sorry, Tim. The scales aren't magnetic. There are strips of magnetic tape on the rails that hold the scales. ;) :D

[fjimp]

John,

How about sky hooks (fjimp said in jest)

[pinkiewerewolf]

John,

How about sky hooks (fjimp said in jest)
I'm a bit height challenged...might pose a problem.
Oh, wait not the Kareem Abdul Jabar skyhook!
OK I can handle those kind of hooks.:D

I think Dusty gave me a winner of an idea with the magnets.
My garage needs so much organization...I know there has to be others in my situation. ( I hope I'm not the only one) LOL
I'd like to keep the lathe tools resting where they won't roll around. I have some storage cabinets but they aren't too handy for this type of storage.
I think I'll make a a cart with side storage for the gouges and drawers for the rest and other misc. I'm envisioning the side storage like a screwdriver holder except it holds those tools for easy access. maybe a rail to store clamps on the other side.

[dusty]

Hi Pinkie,
I do knot have the scales, but they are magnetic, right? :confused: If you do knot hang anything from your lower tubes, why knot stick the scales to the tubes? It wood be out of the way, yet handy for when you need it. Of course, if you utilize the lower tubes, that might knot work.:(

You could put self adhesive magnetic tape along the tubes where you want to store the scales. The metal scales could then be stored there.