Tool Spinners

This simple fixture will allow you to keep your most used tools above your workbench, easily accessed and by rotating the spinner, you can select the tool you want very quickly. The spinner shown is for my SAE and Metric wrenches and sockets, and it is accompanied by two more spinners, one for my driver bits and screwdrivers, and another to hold my files, and chisels. I now have a place for each tool and no longer have to make multiple trips to the tool box.

Using simple lap joints and glued and nailed joints, the spinner mount is solid and functional.

Let us begin.

To start with is used the following materials:

2x2x5 inch piece (wall mount)

2x2x7 3/4 inch piece (stand off from wall)

2x2x8 inches (upright on which disc is mounted) (The upright length is determined by the length of the longest tool to be mounted on the board plus one inch for clearance)

The tool disc is a 12 inch diameter edge glued round panel approx 1" thick

Hardware:

1/4-20 x 3" hanger bolt (one per spinner)

1/4 I.D. Fender Washer (two per spinner)

1/4-20 Nylon lock nut (one per spinner)

(2) kreg screws 2-1/2" long (for mounting spinner to wall)

Nails or screws to secure joints as required

The wall mount (5" piece of 2x2) and the upright (8" piece of 2x2) will have a single lap joint, while the middle piece or stand off will have two lap joints to form the z-shaped structure. An important note here is that the stand off must be long enough to allow the disc to miss the wall so it can rotate freely. If tools are to be mounted on the edge of the disc as I did with my wrenches, then a bit more length is needed to allow for the tools to move between the wall and disc edge without hitting the wall when rotated.

The lap joints can be cut in a number of ways, like multiple passes on the miter saw, a few stroke of a Japanese pull saw, or a regular hand saw, you can even make them with chisels. The big requirement is that they be 90 degrees cuts, a smooth glue surface and use lots of patience. On glue up, my method was to align them against the large black clamping square, a few quick 18 gauge air nailer nails and check for squareness at every step. The nails hold the joint tight until the glue sets and adds an element of stability in the joint to rotational forces.

The last step is to drill a hole into the end of the upright and then screw in a 14-20 x 3" hanger bolt to become the central pivot of the disc.

paint and set aside for now.

Here is your chance to be creative! Take the tools you want to have on the spinner, and figure out how you want them arranged for your usage, making sure that there is room for them all, and will they fit so that you can reach out touch any one of them without hitting any others tools.

Mark that position so that you know what size hole you want, and does the hole go through the board, or only part way (as for small driver bits.) Allow space in the center for your fender washer and nut. Don't pack too many tool on the board or it just become a nightmare to retrieve tools or even access them.

Wrench and socket board

Wrenches hang from small kreg screws (about 1-1/4" long)

Sockets mount around edge on 1/4 dowels so as to match up with corresponding wrenches.

Center of disc left open for ratchet handle, extensions and such.

File and Chisel board

I found that a 1/2 diameter hole would allow tool handles to set on board top, and a simple slot jig sawed into the edge of the disc allows the files or chisel to mount or slip off board with ease as I required.

This leaves the center of the board open for my quad rasp and other tools like the file card brush.

Screwdriver and Driver Bit board

My screwdrivers are arranged on one side of the board in groups of same type, such as the standard screwdrivers in order of descending size, followed by the Phillips, torq drivers and the like.

I laid out a circular sort of grid, so that the multiple driver bits would be easy to see for selection, and I drilled each hole (5/16" dia. by 3/8" deep)

I added through holes for each bit driver (sized to fir that driver, thus setting them in a pattern and holding them secure but quickly available.)

Let's get them up on the wall.

Step one

Take the z-shaped structure and drill two holes in the 5" piece, so that there is one hole located a 1/2" from the bottom end, and a second hole 3-1/2" from the bottom end. Using 2-1/2" Kreg screws, screw one screw in through the top hole first. Using your level, make sure the top of the upright is as level, and vertical as you can and secure the bottom screw into the wall to lock this position in place. In this way the disc will be as horizontal as you can make it so it rotates smoothly and flat.

Step two

Place a fender washer over the bolt on the top of the upright, and set the wood disc in place, add the second washer and then the nut. Tighten the nut until the disc stops moving easy and then back off until the disc is free to turn without wobbling on the upright.

It done, now you are ready to fill it up with the tools and enjoy having tools at your finger tips.

Take your time and make it to fit your needs, and you will find these spinners a great item for your shop!