I must admit to being a bit of a tool hoarder. Rather than use one bench tool for multiple tasks, I like to have specific tools for each task.
The result is that I have a lot of bench tools that take up space. Previously I had each one fastened to a mobile cabinet. Some shop made & others converted from another purpose. Then I just moved them around when I wanted to use them.
One problem with this is they still all took up floor space and impacted the space I had to actually work on a project or to navigate around the workshop in an efficient way.
The solution was to either reduce the number of tools or find a more space efficient approach.
Reducing the number was not going to happen – so I had to find a more efficient method of day to day storage. That method was to build a vertical cabinet with the tools on removable shelves.
I built an almost 2m high open fronted cabinet with room for 7 tool trays (a stack of 3 and a stack of 4). When I need a particular tool, I pull the tray out and sit it on my Black & Decker Workmate (and if necessary clamp it down). It is then at a good work height and can be easily used. I’ve now reduced my floor-space requirement by 75% and have a far more efficient work space.
Off course, this approach doesn’t work for the frequently used tools (large bandsaw, sliding compound miter saw & drill press). So these have stayed on their original cabinets. However the reduction in number of tool cabinets mean that these tools can be better positioned within the workshop.
As I try to make my workshop more LEAN, efficiency of movement is important and this change frees up the space that enables some of that to happen.