What's inside
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Spare machine accessories are easy to ignore until they occupy the workbench, a shelf, and eventually the floor. Router plates, drill chucks, planer knives, saw blades, collets, guide bushings, wrenches, sanding drums, and spare belts all need a home. The goal is not to hide everything in a cabinet. It is to store each item where it stays protected, identifiable, and close enough to use without creating clutter.
Sort Accessories by Use Before Buying Storage
Start by emptying the drawers, shelves, and machine cabinets where accessories have accumulated. Group items by machine, then divide each group into three types: frequently used, occasionally used, and backup or replacement parts. This immediately shows what should remain within arm’s reach and what can go into deeper storage.
Do not store every item beside the machine. A spare planer knife set may be needed only twice a year, while the wrench used for blade changes belongs in the planer’s dedicated drawer. Keeping rare-use parts in prime storage space is one of the main causes of workshop clutter.
Measure the items before choosing containers. A drawer that is 3 inches deep may suit router bits but will not protect a 10-inch saw blade. Leave roughly 20 percent spare capacity in each box or drawer. Containers packed completely full become difficult to sort, and accessories end up on the bench again.
Choose Storage That Matches the Accessory
Small plastic parts bins are inexpensive and work well for collets, bearings, drill stops, spare fasteners, and sanding accessories. Choose bins with straight sides rather than heavily tapered shapes; tapered bins waste space and make it harder to stack items efficiently. Clear fronts are useful, but a good label matters more than transparency once dust settles on the containers.
For loose items that can scratch one another, use divided cases or shallow drawers with removable dividers. Router collets, chuck keys, and precision bushings should not rattle together with heavy steel hardware. Foam or felt-lined compartments are worthwhile for delicate measuring accessories and coated cutters, but unnecessary for ordinary wrenches.
For common consumables and small replacement parts, small parts storage bins are usually the cheapest practical solution. They are not airtight, so they are less suitable for rust-prone tools in a damp shop.
| Accessory type | Best storage | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Saw blades and dado sets | Vertical rack, blade case, or original packaging | Damaged teeth, rust, and unsafe handling |
| Router bits and collets | Dedicated bit case or divided drawer | Cutting edges touching or getting lost |
| Planer and jointer knives | Rigid labeled box with edge protection | Chipped edges and accidental cuts |
| Belts, brushes, and spare hardware | Labeled plastic bin or cabinet drawer | Being forgotten or mixed with incompatible parts |
| Machine-specific wrenches | Holder mounted beside the machine | Searching for tools during adjustments |
Protect Blades, Bits, and Cutting Edges
Cutting accessories deserve better than a shared cardboard box. Store saw blades vertically, with dividers between them, or keep them in individual cases. A horizontal stack is acceptable if the blades are separated and the stack is not so high that removing the bottom blade becomes awkward. Never put loose blades in a drawer where a hand can land on the teeth.
Router bits should stand in holes or slots that keep the shanks supported. A simple wooden block with drilled holes is often better than a large commercial case because it can be sized to the bits you actually own. Label the holes by cutter type or diameter. Store bits dry and wipe resin from them before storage; residue can harden and make removal difficult.
Keep planer and jointer knives in their factory sleeves or in a rigid box. Wraps of cardboard are better than bare blades, but they do not prevent bending. Put a label on the outside showing the machine and knife length. This prevents the common failure mode of buying a replacement set that was already in the shop but hidden in an unmarked box.
If you need a ready-made solution for cutters, compare router bit storage cases by compartment size rather than advertised capacity. A case with 50 small holes may be less useful than one with 20 holes that fit your largest bits.
Use Wall Space Without Creating a Dust Trap
Wall storage is effective for bulky accessories, but it should not become a random collection of hooks. Install a French cleat, rail, or narrow shelf at a fixed location and assign each machine a zone. Leave at least 2 inches between stored items and the wall where possible. That gap makes labels visible and allows a shop vacuum nozzle to remove dust.
Shadow boards work well for frequently used machine tools. Outline the wrench, arbor lock, or blade-changing tool and label it. If a tool is missing, the empty outline is obvious. Keep the board away from the direct blast of a dust collector or sander; fine dust settles into open tool holders and eventually works into moving parts.
For a cabinet-based system, metal workshop storage cabinets provide better protection from dust and accidental knocks. The cheaper option is a used kitchen cabinet or plywood cupboard. That is perfectly adequate if it is securely anchored, the shelves can carry the load, and the doors close tightly enough to keep out most dust.
Label Every Container and Control Backups
Use labels that state both the part and the machine. “Belts” is vague; “15-inch planer belts” is useful. For a box containing similar items, add size or specification: “router collets, 1/4 inch” or “bandsaw blades, 93-1/2 inch.” Large lettering is easier to read than a detailed inventory list.
Keep one small inventory sheet on the cabinet door or in a phone note. Record quantities for expensive or safety-critical parts, such as saw blades, dust-collector bags, and replacement knife sets. Set a maximum quantity. Owning four spare sets of a part that is used once a year is not organization; it is delayed disposal.
Put new accessories behind older ones, and mark opened packages with the purchase date. Rubber belts, adhesive-backed sanding discs, and some lubricants age even when unused. Store them away from sunlight, heaters, and ozone-producing motors. A cool cabinet is more useful than a premium container in a hot corner of the shop.
Prevent Storage From Becoming a Safety Problem
Anchor tall cabinets and wall racks to studs or masonry. Heavy accessories stored above shoulder height can fall when a door opens or a bin is pulled out. Keep the heaviest items between knee and waist level. Do not place spare blades, chisels, or sharp cutters above a normal walking route.
Leave at least 36 inches of clear walking space around machines and do not let storage reduce the operating area needed for long stock. Keep accessories out of the dust-collection hose path and away from emergency electrical shutoffs. A well-labeled cabinet is not useful if it forces you to step over a cord to reach it.
Finally, review the system after a month of use. If a container repeatedly ends up on the bench, it is either too far from the machine, too small, or poorly labeled. Fix that specific failure instead of adding another shelf. The best storage system is the one that makes putting an accessory away faster than leaving it out.