Instant Access Tool Center

Designing and building a case that provides instant access for most of the small tools that you use regularly. This portable fixture is set up so that you can easily access the tools you need, and also replace them the second you are finished with them, keeping your workplace organized. It protects small tools from damage or loss, and increases efficiency by ensuring that they will not get lost in workbench clutter.

Plans: this fixture needs to be customized to each woodworker’s personal needs and tools, so it makes little sense to exactly duplicate my layout. However, I will post photos of the case on my website, with dimensions, to help you get started with your own layout. Here is the link to my website:

I will list below links where you can buy some of the tools I show in the video.
For the Veritas marking gauge and miniature planes, see the Lee Valley site at:

For links to earlier videos where I make some of the tools shown, see the following links:
or go to my channel.

[mjac]

Great video best of many I've seen NO musak, good camera work, NO big EGO just education of the best kind. Thank you!

[karljolley]

I really appreciate the use of Both metric and imperial measures. Being that both are functional in their own way, we should all be fluent in both "languages of measure" I notice that I also watched this about 4 years ago.... well, it is just as relevant today as it was then...

[mikethompson]

You are everything I aspire to be as a woodworker one day. I am only 21 and only have a small basement in my apartment with a tiny workbench a jigsaw and a drill but I am learning

[discerningx]

This is SO awesome. I was in my shop designing a what I call a sharps, marks, and cuts tray. Then I said to myself, I can't be the only person with this problem. Surely someone smarter has solved it before. Lo and behold! I LOVE IT! I am totally stealing this design strategy. Thank you Patrick.

[sonnyo]

Great project....I am redoing my workshop and this is a must build. I also had less tools and a bigger brain when I was younger. Now that I am semi retired, I find myself in the workshop more and this will make my life easier.

[beetee]

Love watching a craftsman at work. This man adds true value to our world

[pilotg]

Patrick, you are a voice of calm and sanity from what seems like a social and political maelstrom. Thank you. I hadn't seen a video for a while and I was anxious that you had stopped production. This was worth waiting for. With much appreciation from Christchurch, NZ.

[theseconddarrin]

I recently downsized to a condo and now work at a local makerspace that has the stationary tools but I found myself forever searching for the basic marking and measuring tools, bits, glues, etc. I love this concept and will adjust the dimensions to drop into a toolbox that I can keep on my car. I LOVE THIS!

[blandry]

Not only a great video, something I really need, but I love the steps you laid out before you started cutting wood. One of the best diy videos I watched.

[bpindermoss]

I built one to hold all the tools from a Chinese tool collection my mother-in-law bought me. It all came in a blow molded plastic case and at first I sort've sneered at it, but then noticed that when I needed a tool, that was the box I went to. Patrick's tool center idea fit the collection perfectly once the blow molded case died. I added a bunch of other stuff I use and it is crammed with the tools I once spent hours looking for. I just built a second one to hold all the metal files and rasps I use in my knife making. The third one will be to hold all my leather working tools. Patrick, this is a simple idea but so apt for the way I work that I have bought several of your designs now, based on how well this one worked.

[tutzking]

Mr. Sullivan, I watched thousands of woodworking videos, you're the best teacher, presenter and professional woodworker on youtube period. Glad I found you, however, it's really very very sad that I found just a few posted videos of yours. Please try to share your experience with us more often. Thank you.

[KyleHohn]

New actual favorite woodworking channel. Incredibly efficient, practical, elegant, and economical solutions! So many other channels are all about how many woodpecker tools they can smash into each shot.

[MichaelHartwick-xm]

I echo the other comments, and I will say: This is not one of, it is THE best YouTube videos I have ever watched. Cannot thank you enough.

[JenkinsStevenD]

I think I will build something similar and slap a french cleat on the back so it isn't taking up my table space too. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan!

[sebastianaussenhofer]

yes, good idea. My alternate solution are wall stations: all set up similar with basic tools. good as i work across several rooms. I’ll give your system a try.

[jay-rus]

Built my first one a year ago, building a second one this weekend for my indoor smaller workspace. Absolutely amazingly useful build. Has saved me so much time and frustration looking for a small tool that I was just using a couple minutes before. With this I know exactly where it is and where to place it back when finished using it

[DistractedDaisy]

It really amazes me how much skill You-tubers have.. this is a very detailed item.. imagine.. you even put in a adjustment for the knife... very nice work! Thank you for sharing.

[VIDEOEPPO]

I have most of these tools on my pegboard which is setup on the wall. The work table is in front of me with me facing the back on the wall. That is because I have space constraints and I need to film while I am working. I turn to the wall to pick any tool I need. It never occurred to me to put the stuff i regularly in front of me. This is a great solution. It would save a lot of time (and space on the memory card of the card too)

[kathrynnewton]

Such an excellent video, thank you! I am almost 70 and only started wood work a couple of years ago. I wish I’d seen this before I started building my tool wall (in a spare bedroom! I’d still like to make a small one though, SO good!

[DavidParker]

I started watching thinking “why would I need one of these I have little places for all my things...” but I am 100% sold I definitely need to get onto one of these ASAP!!!