Gads!! With all the dowels I already had plus all the ones I've been making lately trying different methods of making them, I realized throwing them at one end of my bench isn't cutting it as storage!!
What a colossal mess!!
So I decided to make storage for different size dowel. Mainly for 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2".
Here are the pieces for each storage unit cut up. There will be three. Each storage unit is made up of 1/4" baltic birch plywood as a backer board and three 2" diameter x 1" pieces of scrap pipe. The 1st ring is the bottom. I used 5 minute epoxy to adhere a piece of Baltic Birch on and flush trim routed it. Vertically the 2nd ring is spaced 3" on center to the 1st. The 3rd is spaced 5" from the 2nd. Then I epoxied these on the backer board as shown here. This spacing of the rings allows for different dowel length storage. I can store as small as a 2-1/2" long piece and as long as 36" or longer with these storage units. Here's an overall dimensional view: On the back of each one I made a couple of keyhole slots which enable me to quickly pluck each storage unit off the cabinet if I need to for any reason.
Thanks for looking!
Feel free to comment, ask questions and "thumbs up👍 " if you like it!
Great idea and well designed for ease of use, both for the ability to access short dowels and for the keyhole slots so entire assembly can be moved if necessary. These features make the storage very useful.
Oldtool Great idea and well designed for ease of use, both for the ability to access short dowels and for the keyhole slots so entire assembly can be moved if necessary. These features make the storage very useful.
Thanks Oldtool! It works very well. Yesterday I had some 1" stuff that also needed storage. There isn't much. Just a couple pieces. Now I'm thinking of making another or mix it in another unit. I'm leaning on making another unit. What the heck! It's out of scrap. I kill two birds with one stone. Lol.
Steve Rasmussen That is a well thought out design Rick. I like the ability to store shorter pieces. I might have to do an upgrade!
Thanks Steve! It's very handy! And it frees my bench top. Yes.. storing those short pieces was one of my main goals. Life is easier now. Lol. I can't believe it took me so long to do this!
Nah, they’re 6” dia tubes. Not all that big. I inherited a lot of dowels and it’s nice to have them corralled. But it would be nice to put them up off the floor, so I may need to look at modifying it.
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
Ryan..Well one thing is for sure..6" dia should hold plenty of dowel. Getting off the floor will be a relief for you. Certainly nice for me getting them off the bench.
I was thinking Mr. Rick I could use your idea to store stick pieces I cut off boards from various projects. You never know where or when you’ll need them.
TheWoodGuy I was thinking Mr. Rick I could use your idea to store stick pieces I cut off boards from various projects. You never know where or when you’ll need them.
For my models I regularly use dowels. And my storage is comparable, but yours is vertical, mine is horizontal. Horizontal costs a bit more PVC, therefore more environmentally harmful 😒.
Thanks Dutchy. I was trying to keep it simple, cost effective, easy to build, and compact. My shop is small and so space is a premium. It works well for me.
