Custom Mobile Tool Cart

Posted by Justin C. on December 15, 2019 · 5 mins read Category: Projects Tags: woodworking , tools , toolcart

I’ve tried a variety of toolboxes over the years. They all seemed to have a variety of glaring deficiencies. I was tired on constantly rummaging around to find the right tool. I stumbled across a video of Adam Savage talking about how he struggled with similar issues. His solution was to build a custom tool storage stand based around a principle of reachability. I found this an ingenious idea so I set out to build my own custom mobile tool cart.

Inspiration

For those of you that are curious, here is Adam Savage’s original post on Tested.com

Adam’s stand on storage drawers is that they’re where tools go to get lost. To keep his essential workshop tools easily accessible, he built these custom stands as a solution for organizing all of his hand tools. Adam explains the design of these stands and shows off some of the more esoteric tools they keep within reach.

Ideas and Sketches

My first step for this project was to inventory of my tools and begin sketching what I wanted my cart to look like. Adam’s ideas regarding reachability was a key influence for my design. Additionally, I move frequently due to my daytime profession so I wanted the cart to be short enough to fit inside a small U-Haul without sacrificing reachability. Easily moving the cart with little effort was a definite must. However, I also wanted the ability to take a small portion of frequently used tools throughout the house without having to relocate the entire cart. My solution to this problem was to include a removable tool caddy on the top of the cart.

Primary Considerations

  • Reachability
  • Transportability
  • Modularity
  • Cost
  • Mobility
  • Repairability

Initial Sketches

Initial Sketch

Once my preliminary sketches and measurements were complete, I began procuring materials. The body is made from 1/2″ plywood, 1/4″ pine board, 1/2″ dowel (for the tool caddy handle), and 1/4″ dowel (for the hanging tools section). For mobility, I chose to use four large casters with builtin brake mechanisms.

200 lb. Swivel Casters with brake

Over a period of about two weeks I tweaked and refined my design until eventually the cart slowly came together.

Below is a collection of photos showing the various parts of the finished tool cart.

Screw Driver Rack

Screw Driver Rack (Large)

Screw Driver Rack (Large and Small)

Screw Driver Rack (Small)

Screw Driver Rack

Hanging Tool Rods

Hanging Tool Rods (Empty)

Hanging Tool Rods (Side)

Hanging Tool Rods (With Tools)

Hammer Holder

Hammer Holder (Empty)

Hammer Holder (Loaded) 1

Hammer Holder (Loaded) 2

Magnetic Bars and Saw Hook

Magnetic Bars and Saw Hook

Magnetic Tool Bar

Magnetic Tool Bar

Magnetic Tool Bar (with tools)

Hang-All Hook

Hang-All Hook Label

Hang-All Hook (with tools)

Rear Clamp Bar

Rear Clamp Bar 1

Rear Clamp Bar 2

Ruler Hanger

Ruler Hanger

Center Shelf

Center Shelf

Center Shelf (From Below)

Bottom Split Shelf

Bottom Split Shelf

Bottom Split Shelf (From Below)

Tool Caddy

Tool Caddy 1

Tool Caddy 2

Tool Caddy 3

Tool Caddy 4

Tool Caddy 5

Tool Caddy 6

Tool Caddy Dowel Catches

Tool Caddy Dowel Catches 1

Tool Caddy Dowel Catches (Closeup)

Tool Caddy Dowel Catches 2

Tool Caddy on Cart

Tool Caddy (with tools) 1

Tool Caddy (with tools) 2

Empty Cart

Custom Tool Cart (Empty)

Custom Tool Cart (Side View)

Custom Tool Cart (Corner View)

Finished Custom Mobile Tool Cart

Finished Custom Mobile Tool Cart (Front)

Finished Custom Mobile Tool Cart (Rear)

Thank you Adam Savage for the abundance of inspiration and ideas you’ve provided over the years.