[RussL.]

How do you store your knives and palm gouges at your work area?

If you have photos I'd like to have some ideas.

Right now I just take what I think I'm going to use out of a tool roll and set them on the back of the bench.
I'm thinking it would be much handier to have everything (or at least more) available within reach at all times.

Thanks in advance,

Russ L.

[Mark Gargac]

Nothing fancy about mine, but it works. I made holes of various sizes with a hole saw into a 3.5" pine board, fasten a backer board onto this and fasten it to the wall. I have since aquired more tools and will have to soon make this set-up a little larger, but this has worked for me for the past 5 years and probably wont change much except get the larger gouges closer to the work bench. As you can see in the other pix. I have a small case for some palm gouges and another for knifes. Most the time these tools are at reach, but at the present time tools are scattered about the work benchs.

[Tom H]

Simple rack. Since I carve at various places in the shop and house I made a simple rack that holds the tools I use most. I can move this rack and set it anywhere I carve. Each of the slots have a piece of leather at the bottom for the blades and points to rest on.

Tom H

[mdallensr]

For my sit-down work with palm tools, I use a bench hook with holes for my tools. It's not usually as neat as it was when I took this photo.

For my stand-up, full size tools, I work on a regular bench in my basement and lay out the tools I need on a non-skid, no-roll pad.

I have tool rolls for my carving tools, and sometimes use them to transport my tools. Using them as a holder for your tools, while you're carving, can lead to cuts and nicks as you work to free them from the holder. Mike

[RussL.]

Mark/Tom,
Those are both great ideas!
Thank you so much for posting the images.
I can see myself using both.
First I'll have to clean some of the bench-debris that always seems to take up 80% of my work surface and wall behind it! ;-)

Thanks again,

Russ L.

[slivers&dust]

http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=9486&d=1167888633to

This picture link shows my tool rack in my basement workspace. Basically a 1/2 box with a tool rack on top and a rail for the rest of the tools. In this pic the tools resting on the table are now put in the bottom of the try with the handles on the bar, give me more space on the work top.

When I can move out to the shop I just put the tools from the lower rack into a roll and carry the box out and place it on my bench. The tools in the roll now get placed in a rack very similar to Marks.

http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=9865&d=1169675223

[RussL.]

Tony,
Wow! What a set up! That's beautiful!
But man, you are far too neat! :-)

RussL.

[xsailer]

RussL,
I showed this picture in another thread but here we go again. The rack you see goes in a white painters bucket and is called "The Bucket Box".

[Eddy Smiles]

Unfortunately I really don't have a shop, garage, or a designated place in the house to carve in. When I want to carve I need to take everything outside on my front patio or to the weekly club meeting so I have to be portable.

I keep all my carving knives in a clear Plano plastic fishing lure box, approximately 9x14. It has adjustable dividers so that you can keep knives, pencils, and other items seperated. As for my gouges and such I use a tool roll. I've made foam protectors for each tool that slip inside the tool roll pouch slot. This further protects the pouch from punctures and also protects me from unwanted bloodshed.

I picked up an 18"x9"x12" tool nylon tool bag at Lowes and the Plano box along with my tool roll fits very nicely in it. There's even plenty of space for all of the other acessories that we carvers can't seem to go anywhere with out.

But I sure envy you guys who have kicked it up one notch and have your own carving bench and workshop. Perhaps in another life!

[Tom H]

Eddy, Looks to me like you solved your carving tool/travel kit problem in a first rate manner. I guess I am one of these guys who is fortunate enough to have a shop and a carving bench in the shop. However, my favorite place to carve is in the house in a spare bedroom. This spare bedroom has my computer and a smaller work bench. It also has a bed for a nap every now and then. I started using the spare room during a cold winter, and prefer it even in the summer. The room is carpeted, so a good sweeper is always handy. Tom H