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Router jigs and templates are easy to store badly. A stack of loose plywood shapes against the wall gets damaged, covered in dust, and forgotten. Thin templates warp, guide bushings catch on exposed edges, and a jig that seemed useful six months ago can become impossible to identify. Good storage keeps these parts flat, visible, clean, and close enough to the router table that you will actually use them.
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What Good Router Jig Storage Needs to Do
Most router templates are made from 1/4-inch plywood, MDF, hardboard, acrylic, or laminate. They are not heavy, but they are often wide and irregularly shaped. Storage must prevent four common problems: bending, edge damage, moisture exposure, and loss of identification.
Flat storage is usually the safest choice. A template only 18 inches long can develop a noticeable bow if it leans unsupported for months. MDF is especially vulnerable near an unheated wall or under a leaking roof. Keep panels at least 4 inches off a concrete floor, and avoid storing them directly against an outside wall where condensation can form.
Dust is less destructive than moisture, but it still matters. A thick layer of sanding dust can hide pencil marks and clog the bearing on a template guide. If your shop has a router table or spindle sander nearby, storage with a door or cover is worth considering. Otherwise, a simple rack is adequate if the parts are cleaned before use.
Best Storage Options Compared
| Storage method | Best for | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical slot rack | Frequently used flat templates | Cheap, visible, quick access | Needs dividers and wall space |
| Shallow drawer cabinet | Small and medium jigs | Protects from dust and light; easy labeling | Uses floor or cabinet space |
| Hanging pegboard panel | Irregular jigs and setup aids | Uses wall space; very accessible | Parts can fall or get knocked loose |
| Document or map case | Thin templates and router patterns | Keeps pieces flat and grouped | Limited capacity for bulky jigs |
| Wall-mounted plywood cabinet | A large, growing collection | Good protection and efficient storage | More work to build and mount securely |
The Best Choice for Most Shops: A Vertical Slot Rack
A vertical slot rack is the best starting point for most home workshops. Build it like a narrow file rack, with 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch plywood dividers spaced 1 to 2 inches apart. A rack 24 inches wide and 30 inches high can hold a useful collection without taking much room.
Make the bottom shelf deep enough to support the largest template, not just its center. A 3-inch-wide base is often enough for flat pieces, while large oval or circular templates may need 6 inches. Add a front retaining rail about 3 inches above the base. That rail stops a template from sliding out when the rack is bumped, but still leaves enough exposed area to read its label.
Do not make every slot exactly the same size. Narrow 1-inch slots work well for single templates, while 2- to 3-inch slots are better for a complete jig with fences, clamps, or guide blocks attached. A rack with removable dividers is more useful than a permanently fixed grid.
Mount the rack with screws into studs or a properly installed French cleat. A loaded rack can weigh more than expected, especially when built from MDF. Two 3-inch screws per mounting point are a reasonable minimum for a small rack; use more support for a full-width cabinet.
When Drawers and Cabinets Make More Sense
Choose drawers when your templates are small, fragile, or made from acrylic. Clear acrylic edges chip when they are knocked together, and a shallow drawer prevents that damage. Drawers also work well for router-base inserts, guide-bushing plates, circle-cutting arms, and small clamps that belong with a particular jig.
A drawer should be shallow enough that parts do not pile up. Around 2 to 3 inches inside height is practical for flat templates. If the drawer is 24 inches wide or more, use full-extension slides and a center divider. Without it, a heavy stack can make the drawer sag or bind.
A wall cabinet with doors is preferable in a dusty shop. The doors do not need to be airtight; even a simple plywood panel with a small overlap keeps most airborne dust off the contents. Avoid deep cabinets. Anything more than about 8 inches deep encourages double-stacking, which defeats quick identification.
For a ready-made solution, compare shallow plastic parts storage drawers with shop-built drawers. The plastic units are fine for small templates and hardware, but they are usually too narrow for cabinet-door or countertop jigs.
Organizing and Labeling Templates
Label both the storage location and the template itself. Write the project, part name, material thickness, and router bit information directly on the jig. For example: “Shaker door rail, 3/4-inch stock, 1/2-inch pattern bit.” A label on only the rack is not enough; parts eventually get moved.
Use a numbering system if you have more than about 15 templates. A simple code such as “D-04” for doors or “C-02” for curves is faster than searching through handwritten descriptions. Keep a matching list near the storage rack or in a shop notebook.
Store the components of a multi-part jig together. A zippered canvas tool pouch with a zipper works well for fences, screws, spacers, and setup blocks. Mark the pouch with the same code as the main template. This prevents the common failure where the jig is present but its special hardware has disappeared.
Protecting Templates From Dust and Damage
Before storage, remove loose dust with a vacuum and soft brush. Do not blast MDF templates with high-pressure compressed air; it drives dust into the edges and creates a cloud throughout the shop. If a jig has a bearing or metal hardware, wipe the metal parts dry rather than spraying the whole assembly with lubricant.
Seal porous MDF and plywood with one or two thin coats of clear finish, sanding lightly between coats. This reduces moisture movement and makes pencil marks easier to clean, but it will not correct a template that is already warped. Paint the edges only if the template remains easy to read.
For thin, valuable patterns, use large plastic document storage envelopes inside a vertical rack or cabinet. The cheaper option—cardboard folders—is perfectly adequate for templates used once or twice a year, provided they stay dry and flat.
A Practical Storage Layout
Place everyday templates within arm’s reach of the router table, but not where they can collect chips from the dust port or interfere with stock handling. Keep larger cabinet-door and countertop jigs on a separate rack near the assembly area. Store small accessories in drawers at waist height, where you can inspect them without kneeling.
Leave at least 30 inches of clear floor space in front of storage. A beautifully organized cabinet is still a poor shop fixture if opening it forces you to move the router table or stand inside the machine’s work area. The best system is simple: flat parts stored vertically, small parts in shallow drawers, complete jigs kept together, and every item labeled before it goes back on the shelf.