The Tool Locker

When we bought Thistle, everyone was quick to point out the hanging locker that had been converted into a special tool storage locker. Someone had built a set of drawers and slipped them into the existing locker. I said, "Oooo, cool" but secretly I couldn't wait to recapture all that wasted storage space.

Firstly, the stack of drawers had to be narrow enough to slide into the door opening. Right there you lose 3" on either side. Then the drawer sides and hardware waste another 2" on each side. And finally, the drawer bottoms and rails waste 2" off the top and bottom each drawer. So when we emptied all the drawers we had a pathetic little pile of stuff. Here's one of the drawers with a few spare parts.

First we set Malcolm's tool box on the floor of the locker and opened the lid. Then we added a shelf above that. We wanted to make sure we could open the lid and access the tools in the drawers without removing anything. And when open, the drawers just fit between the door opening.

Next we put the wrench and socket box on that shelf and added another shelf above that.

Then we bought storage boxes that would fit in the leftover space, labeled everything, and started packing it in. It's amazing how many large tools and spare parts we put in there. 

Behind the tool box alone, there is a full Makita box, a Sawzall, a sander, an offset cordless drill, two battery chargers for the Makitas, extra batteries, and a battery powered circular saw.

On the shelves we have boxes for electrical, plumbing, soldering, nuts and bolts, sail repair, misc hardware, engine spares, and more. And it's not even full. Now we just have to secure everything so it can't shift. We plan to use fiddle rails and velcro, but whatever we use it's got to be super strong because tools are heavy and that flimsy door can't be relied on to contain them.

We are quite pleased with our new tool storage locker and don't miss the "custom drawers" at all.