Power Hand Tool Wall Rack

I have a number of power hand tools (circular saw, belt sander, drills, etc.) and need a place to store them where they would be convenient and visible.   I didn't want to pile them on a shelf under a bench that would be too bulky and hard to get the right tool out.   I came up with the wall rack below which makes for easy access and good visibility for where they are.   But the shop grew more crowded with machines pushed in front of the wall rack.

I recently came to the conclusion that my old wall rack was not the best use of wall space plus my tool mix had changed.   So I built some ceiling tool racks for drill motors and such then reduced the size of the wall rack so I could push machines up against that wall.

The old rack was built from 1x8s with a 2x4 cross piece at the bottom, lagged to studs, to support most of the weight.   The shelves near the center have 2" holes drilled for drill chucks and jig saws to fit into.   It was simple and it worked well.    

Front view of wall Rack.   Tool box is raised 1 1/2" and underneath doesn't touch bottom shelf.   Note the center shelf holds drill motors etc, there is a 2" hole drilled in the shelf for each drill motor and the jig saw.   I have replaced some tools since this pic was taken but everything still fits on it. Also, you can just see the top of my grandfather's tool box under the wall rack.   After starting as a farmer then a share cropper, my grandfather was a carpenter for many years, these were the tools he used to make his living.

Close up of the 2" holes for drill motors and jig saw.

Side view of original rack (circa 2004), also shows old Sears dust coll. and radial arm saw, both now gone.

I realized that after acquiring several largeer tools which I placed in front of the wall rack, it was unhandy to use.   So I built some smaller racks, attached to the ceiling, for most of them and needed to reduce the size of the old wall rack.   Reducing it's size meant I could push the larger tools against this wall and have a little more floor space to work.

Wall rack removed, this is the bare wall behind it.

Modified wall rack installed.   Note the space under it for the two machine benches.

Machine benches pushed against the wall allowing more work space in the center.   You can also see the new large tube rack above the loading bench and sander bench.

There is more free floor space in this area now.   I know it doesn't look like much but in my shop its very helpful and the hand tools are much more accessable.   Note how the loading and sander benches are almost flush with the front of the bandsaw base, they protruded a lot further earlier.