April I'm pretty sure you are the only professional level woodworker i have seen on RUclips to use the degree of fold away space saving utilization despite the huge space your given. Which is good for a lot of us that are limited to a single car garage or less. Thank you for the valuable ideas. And also for introducing me to some awesome products from Triton tools
Such a joy to watch your shows, April! 1. I learn something very useful every time. 2. Straight to the point, no lengthy intro or unnecessary speech. 3. Fast work, good organization. 4. I love the fact you are a woman and skilled in DIY work, at the pro level. 5. I find you very charming in the way you move, laugh, and have those quirky gestures, makes me laugh every time. Keep up the good work, and make us women proud!
Hi April. One thing I thought I saw that may be a issue, was on the chargers holder, You may want to drill air holes on the hold down arm, so the charger vent holes can vent the heat if the vents are covered over, located 4 min into the video.. Also at this point I would pay no attention to the negative thumbs down a few people leave. There is nothing negative about anything you do. You are the Cats meow as far as I am concerned, the projects are great, absolutely great, neat Ideals, and inspiring. Mike
We ladies are full of surprises. 😉 I just bought my new house because it has a double garage and I’m super excited to turn it into my new shop. I can’t wait to get busy kitting it out like this. Diamonds and pearls or power tools? Silly question. ☺️ Thanks April.
He's just being a horn dog, it's not like being able to make some simple shelves instantly makes any woman wife material. However if we already knew she was, being able to do this stuff is great.
Very well done. As for multiple routers, I have 6. 3 are mounted in router tables, one with a flush trimming bit, round over and so on. Two are the Tritons and they're great. I know a guy with 25 routers !!! He says it's faster over the years once the setting is perfect. As for April's wonder idea, it is. Good for You! All the cabinets in my shop are hung onto wall with fresh cleats. My dad taught me this when he mounted the headboard for their bed on the wall, so mom could move the bed to vacuum and not have to move the night stands because their headboard was that full width, so it's a great idea. One tip - round off the sharp edge. It anything gets in there, the cleat won't seat properly and 2) the sharp point creates huge wedging forces that can force the clip off the wall. 3) I would have build cabinets around the whole area, to enclose the tools and keep the dust away, and then each tool can simply sit on the shelves, but the same idea of organization, planning, elegant execution and a place for everything and everything in it's place. Two thumbs up, April As for the audio, no not perfect, but unless you do enough to warrant the cost of a wireless mic, it's plenty good enough to showcase April's great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Great way to store all your tools and congrats on the sponsorship from triton, One thing to think about, the small battery charger storage, looks like you covered most of the vent slots.
SE45CX I have, I figured the big ones would be ok. The smaller ones might be an issue. I'll charge one and see if the charger gets hot. Or maybe I'll just reposition the top brace and cut a slit in the center of it. I'll try out a few things and get back to everyone.
This is fantastic. My dad passed away a few years ago and had accumulated years and years of tools. We are pretty sure he has one of everything (mechanic and carpentry). My mom, my sister and I have been at a loss as to how to organize all his tools. I stumbled on the video and you pretty much answered that question. Thank you! And my dad would have been totally impressed by the system. 😉
April, after reading some of the comments, I feel that you cannot have enough routers with different bits, or 4 or 5 drills with different bits and driver bits. You go girl! Congrats to you. You are creating the kind of shop that I personally would love! And you're cute too!!!! I'll keep watching. Thanks R.
I have not watched every How To video on organizing a workshop, but of the many I have watched, you win! I am a very particular organizer and what you did really sings to me. Plus my workshop needs a massive dose of organization and your video I think just kickstarted me in that direction. It is late and I am tired. Time to hit the sack so I can start fresh on this in the morning. Goodnight and thanks for the inspiration :-)
love this system. All my tools are in 2 mobile tool boxes, but my husband's tools which consists of wood working lathes and such for furniture making and small or power tools where ever and every where. Like you he doesn't use my tools as limited as they are. Seeing this set up I've warned him I'm going to organize his tools and shop - can't stand clutter, nor buying another or the same tool. Love your videos
The fact that you are able to easily modify/ add to it makes the french cleat concept an ideal solution. Many other designs are either inefficient ergonomically or insufficient structurally. French shipbuilders in the 1800's originally utilized the wedge as a way to hold things on a ship's inside walls when navigating rough seas, so the design is fail proof when implemented correctly on dry land. If only my house wasn't made of stone.....,,🤔😁 Cheers!!✌️👍
Peter Brown Agreed! Those plastic cases are a PITA and make things harder to get at. One day I'll get around to some more shop organization projects and get a french cleat system myself.. :)
I am not a big fan of those plastic cases. yes, they can offer some protection from a dusty environment but beyond that they can be a big hassle to deal with. I usually recycle them.
April, just want to say that you are amazing... You have the best explanations as to how you get your projects done. The best teacher. I have enjoyed all of your videos... Please continue to teach all of us your subscribers... a 1000 thank yous...
I was going to ask how many power drivers/drills and routers one person needs, but the whole sponsor thing answered that. So many power drivers and routers! lol
I am not sponsored, and I can never have enough drills/routers. Changing tooling is time consuming, and often ruins setups (at least for routers). Having a drill setup for your screws, one for a pre-drill/countersink is VERY nice, and if you use different sizes you can use multiple sets. Having a router with a flush trim bit, one configured for pattern following, one with a chamfer, and one with a round over is great for me as well. TLDR; Multiple tools doing a dedicated action just adds to your shop efficiency when done properly.
I am in the process of turning an old tack shed into my own workshop/storage. . And have been struggling with organizing my tools and workbench in such a small area! All while making a Dutch door out of scrap wood! Thank you for your video as it gave me ideas!
April, I am HOOKED on your videos! I'm just getting into woodworking and love how open and honest you are about things. I love it when you say "that didn't work out, so I broke it down and did it this way", which shows how human you are. Your imagination on designs is unreal. You have given me so many ideas on how to organize my small (1 car bay) workshop and I really want to thank you for that...Keep up the great work!!
April... I forgot to mention this in my first post... The smaller battery chargers have vents that are being mostly blocked by your brace... Any concern about that? i think you should hollow out spaces to let the units breathe.or even drill a large hole over each vent. Anon
Anon Ymousmie I noticed the same thing. Her other option would be, flip the battery carriage around, with the cords next to the wall and add mounting screws in the bottom of the carriage and opening up the sides with the air vents. It's just a thought, nothing more. Most battery chargers have the "wall" mounting holes on the underneath side of them.
well done. I agree that chargers need their vents kept clear, especially when the are so many chargers next to each other. Battery technology hasn't reached the safe era yet. Impressed though with APRIL'S WORK.
Anon Ymousmie I agree as well. The venting needs to be clear. I found that I was able to use a tap on the underside to create threads. I then drilled holes and used some small bolts to secure them. This left the entire vent open. I did like the tutorial and built my own system. :)
Thanks April for the informative ideas. You are an inspiration, and have given my some more ideas using the french cleat system. Im an over-thinker. I like the way you laid out the tool(s) worked out the most appropriate holder, then built it. I'm in process of setting up my NAN-Shed. In the Western Woodworkers group❤ that I am a member of, in South Australia, we have only a handful of active women. It's great interacting and having mutual respect with all our members. Keep up the good work.❤
: ) Hi Ron, I didn't know you watched my channel. I was just checking out your workbench. I'm planning my assembly/outfeed table right now and I really like your design.
First, fellow Texan... I love your videos! I'm working on doing this same thing to get my tools off the bottom shelf of my workbench! Second, I'm glad I came back to watch this again. I was using glue and Brad nails to make the holders. I'll be revisiting that. Good thing I only made a prototype for the circular saw. I didn't really trust myself not measuring... I'm very new to this. It turns out, I'm pretty good at this! Thanks for the nudge you unknowingly gave.
Oh, one more thing. Do your thing. It's amazing to me that here you are, doing a bust ass job and people comment about you "having an awful lot of tools for a beautiful woman" and crap like that. It's insane the world we live in. Anyway, I'm sure you don't need reassurance from me that it doesn't matter how many routers you have... Lol. Well done. Keep it up. Never give up... And just keep being you with your awesome skill, bad ass tools and fantastic videos.
As a 53 year old woman, I am excited to see you in action. Inspirational is a barely sufficient word for you! I've many ideas but not the courage to implement. Here's hoping that'll change. Thx!
SE45CX ?? Compensate?? My husband has no reason what so ever to compensate. My husband a complete badass and feels no need to prove himself to my audience. Also, I find it very odd you would call these manly accomplishments. I see you comment all the time and I don't believe you are trying to be rude, however I will not tolerate anybody even remotely putting down my husband.
April Wilkerson I have a power plane that's much smaller than yours, but I have used similar sized units. The main thing to remember is to secure your workpiece well and take shallow cuts until you get used to the tool. Like anything else, it just takes practice. You'll soon develop a feel for it.
April Wilkerson Oops, first I wasn't 100% serious. You also were making fun with cutting that chain the other day. I'm definitely not trying to put him down. You are proud of taking the majority of the to do list of the tasks around the house. So, I was just teasing you to cooperate with him to work together on these things. About the "manly accomplishments" I think the majority of woodworking around the world is done by men. It nice to see a lady doing these things tough.
I knew Triton had a lot of tools, but man, that's a LOT. I'm a bit envious. Great job on the organization. I do wonder about putting the chargers too close together and blocking the vents. I built my organizer with enough space to give them air to breathe. Maybe that's just me being paranoid.
You are the second to make a comment about that, I figured the large ones would be ok but now I'm curious. These batteries last so long I haven't had to actually charge one yet, but when I do I'll feel the charger to see if it gets hot then go from there.
Excellent idea. I used that "french cleat" system to hang all my cabinets in my old shop. I wish I had the wall space in my new shop. One concern I have with one of your holders. This may not matter but on the little chargers ... you covered the cooling vents with the top strip. I don't know how much heat they produce but covering the vent could lead to their early demise. Ps. Really enjoy your videos. Glad to see more ladies getting their hand dirty. Why should the men have all the fun!! Take care.
April Wilkerson I love the organization. One thing I noticed though is that for your non-sliding battery chargers, your horizontal brace is covering the cooling ports for those chargers. I'm not sure if anyone else has pointed this out, but you should probably think about drilling through-holes through your brace to allow the heat to escape the chargers or use the mounting holes that are often provided on the under side of these types of chargers to secure them and open the ventilation ports. This will greatly prolong the life of the chargers and the investment Triton has made in sending these to you. Keep up the great work, I absolutely love your channel!!
April, I was not aware that Triton made so many power tools... I had the 3 HP Router about 5 years ago mounted to my router table and I loved it. Had to sell my whole shop when I moved but I wish I would of stored certain things, like the Triton. Good video and nice organization.
I don't have a lot of corded or battery-op tools, but your wrench, drill and screwdriver cleats at 5:30 look like a great idea. I hate drawers and pegboard is the bane of my existence. Great vid.
Thank you for being such a good teacher. I've been a mechanic for a long time, have thousands of dollars in boxes and I was doing wrong the whole time. I love the French cleat system. Thank you. Keep up the good work.
That turned out great! I may have to try something similar. Since you did this a little while ago, is there anything you have changed, or would have done differently?
Very refreshing too see! Taking an old idea and and bringing it back to life in a new way.You are doing what all good carpenters do....problem solving. Well done!
Hi April, writing from Germany (am English). Most of your power tools are from Triton. Would be good to get some feedback on them. They're a tool we can get here, not many seem to have them though. Really love the uncomplicated way you do stuff. You're not just an inspiration to other women, but to men as well. Good on yu girl 🤘
are those all your tools nice lady?...Sorry if you mentioned something regarding your tool collection... i wasn't able to listen to the full episode....wow...your living my dream and its great to see a women doing what u do...im sure you hear it all the time....regardless...I'm very impressed...doing wonderful with your show ....keep it up
What you did is rather ingenious. I do understand having more than one router, drill, or whatever. I never heard of this brand of power tool. Good Job....
+April Wilkerson is there a difference between performance or what you use them for cause u start off with one small hand router now 3 plunge routers I was like what?
+Noah Knopf I can’t speak for April, but when I am making picture frames or signs I use two or three different bits. Set up and adjusting the bits can be time consuming.
Cause she's sponsored. Duh. PLus you can use three routers super quick. One in the table and two more with set up bits. Same shit goes for when people say you only need one drill. I regularly use two on a build. and have 4 on hand.
great work Madam! would love to hear how you store: nails/screws, how you handle misc stuff, advice on how you keep your garage clean, how you store/organize woodshop items, auto related items and hime maintenance items. also, your editing and audio are really good.
Outstanding organization and methods. Power strip on bottom of battery charger rack. I do like the power cord hooks, to prevent towing something else off the board while moving tool. Now you need to add: circular saw and table saw blade storage, table saw guide hangers, drill press accessories shelving/bracket, clamps hanger (remembering that you'll never have enough clamps.. bar, c-, wooden, right angle, pipe, adjustable. Air tool/hose and extension cord storage. Thanks for sharing..
The less professional they are the easier to follow. Pro ones use fast forward, no information about any of what they're doing, and lousy, LOUD background music that makes me cringe & mute or move on. I like the more non-pro ones telling me and showing me what to do.
Wow, April, replying to videos you uploaded 6 years ago! That must be a RUclips creator record! Well done, and thanks from all of us out here who are rarely responded to. 👍🙏 As for this video, as you were going along I kept thinking a lot of those holders were just done quickly to get the job done and you’d come back later after testing for a while with refinements. One structural observation - those tools which weigh a lot and are deep would be better constructed using end flanges on the bottom rather than the top, as those materials are stronger in compression than tension. Also, I suspect the circular saw has some steel in the bed somewhere and would be more secure and easier to remove with magnets countersunk into the holder rather than the flimsy latch which probably didn’t last long anyway. Oh well - everyone’s a critic. 😉😂👍
Great job getting organized. When you have some time on a rainy day, paint the walls with a cheap white primer paint and all the tools will stand out even more and the white will brighten the area!!!
Hello, April! You are well done! Everything is so practical and convenient. It's nice when a person does something with their own hands. I wish you success!
Nice work! I really like the idea of the wall system for power tools. Mine are either laying on the bench, and in the way, or stored in drawers which doesn't work well at all. Especially the larger tool like a circ saw. One comment on your charger shelf at shown at 4:01> make sure you don't block the ventilation holes. That may cause overheating of the charger which will reduce life of the electronics inside.
I found your channel by chance while looking for workshop organising tips. It ended up with me spending my entire afternoon watch your videos and loving it. I enjoy building RC planes kit and you can imagine that I have a fair amount of tools so I am looking for ways to organise them. However, I live in a rented apartment and don't have the luxury of having a large work space. The french cleat system looks interesting and I may try and make some for my tools. Have subscribed and looking forward to more videos.
+April Wilkerson For safety-fans: add an additional small latch to the wall right above the existing one, so the box/holder can be slided sidewards underneath it to fasten the box/holder (hard to describe for a non-native speaker :] )
Moises Albuquerque Where I buy my machines (if google translated correct) ? At auctions, local and web stores. But still a lot missing (even a really suitable room). Just started with some "wood-knowledge" of that time when trying out civil engineering and a head full of ideas and plans :) But you probably doesn't referring to me, right?
I've seen a couple woodworkers on RUclips doing the "french cleat" system now. I never gave it much thought: I thought it was more for cabinets, but it makes sense that if it's strong enough to hang a cabinet, it'll do a couple tools. Plus being able to move the hangers around makes a lot of sense for the future so you can shuffle things around as you get new tools or find you use a tool less (it can get relocated.) I did miss the sponsor video... I was thinking "Wow, someone went to the factory store!" LoL Very slick idea. Great vid, thanks!
Nice job. I live in a suburb of Detroit. I am retired now, but still have the fear of my tools being stolen, even though I am no longer on the road with tools. From theft in a 20 year career, I had over $27,000.00 worth of tolls stolen. It is sad that many of those were sold from $10.00-$50.00, for crack cocaine. I don't even want people who drive by my house to see in through an open garage door. When I had my shop in Knoxville, TN., there was almost no crime of stealing. I made a lot of carriers under my bench, and wired the bench with plugs. (Battery tools didn't exist). But once again, I love your work here.
just one word, "Respekt" ! today, i´ve discovered your channel and i have almost everything looked at your videos. most of all i have admired your Joy at work. for me it started exacly the sam way, first - ok just one maschine or tool, now i have a lot of them - and of course - i need it all - and sorry i love them. thank´s for your chanell; greetings from Germany
April, I've seen a couple of your videos before but I just went through your web site and I am stunned with all the ideas. They'll keep me busy forever! I'm very new to wood working so any advice you give is helping immensely.
Oh my, you remind me of a younger version of myself... to include the O.C.D. on organizing your tools. Keep it up, your tutorials are clear and concise. I'm happy for you.
its amazing how much you can get done without a measuring tape you have done a really good job i was taught by a very good carpenter when i was an apprentice that you build a lot of things with using just the materials themselves as a gauge for measurements
April, great tool storage idea! I presently have a fixed bench and tools all over the place! lol I'm just drawing up plans for a mobile work bench with table saw and router in it. Once I get that finished, I think I'll take out fixed bench and try your idea, I like the idea of seeing your tools. You've got some great ideas, keep up the good work!
Nice Job April, simple, easy and organized! I like it! Might use some of those in my shop! Never heard of Triton either until I saw your videos.. Will have to look into them. I'm a Dewalt man mostly... 1 word of caution though, you might want to be careful covering vents on your tool chargers. When they overheat it will shorten the life span over time. Heat in most cases is electronics mortal enemy... Kind regards.
Thanks for this. It's December 2020 and I'm in the middle of a French cleat system project and will use your circular saw 20 degree hanger for three saws. It is simple and to the point.
April, you keep surprising me. I really like the fact that you actually took the time to do what most of us keep putting off. I love the simplicity of your system, so much, I am gong to model mine after it. You really have a talent. Also from my perspective, I like the female side of it. So often guys get hung up with the right and wrong way to do things, and if you don't do it this way, it's wrong. So it's nice to see a fresh perspective of KISS. Some of the best designs on the market followed this principal, and can be seen in many of the products we use every day. I know I'm not alone in my assessment if "Rockler" believes you've got something to offer.
Thanks for the refresher on making a French cleat. Great idea if you have a lot of wall space. I set mine up in kit form for my tools as many times I am going to other places to work. Sander box, router box, nailgun/stapler box etc. They all stack neatly in one corner. It is a bit of a hassle when the toolbox I want is on the bottom of the pile. may put a rack in to fix that.
Thank you April, I have a small shop ....an extremely small shop...... and I am constantly looking for innovative ideas for using every square inch for functionality and space. I liked some of your ideas and will use em. Have fun with them Tritons.
I also am in the process of reorganizing my 18x32 ft. Woodshop. Have been looking at the cleat system for frequently used tools. Wall space is always at a premium in my shop 🙂. I like to save it for jigs. But will incorporate some of your good ideas. Thanks for sharing.
I've got a bunch of tools, just wish I had a nice shop to use them in. I just have a small back porch with a small work bench. Most of the time it takes me longer to get my tools out and put them back away for the small projects I do. I don't know if Triton has one, but Ryobi has a 6 port battery charger for their 18 volt 1+ system, over 50 tools that take the same battery. Its just nice only needing one charger on the wall. I did like your setup. Happy building.
I just found this video because of your comment on the facebook page that stole it.. It's insane that they credited the music that was used, but didn't credit you! Great video, and I'm very jealous of your shop! I'm so pissed off that the facebook video (that doesn't benefit you) got like 1.4 million views already, and this one only has 271,619!
: / Yeah I know it makes me sick. People don't realize how much they are stealing from content creators by freebooting. Or maybe they do, and they just don't care. Either way, I'm glad you found my page. : )
So simple. Way cool. I am in the process of a garage re-org and was trying to figure out a fast simple way to get some tools out of boxes and within reach. I was going to do Slat wall, rubbermaid this, Lowes that. But I have some odds and end of 3/4" ply and some 2 x 10 laying around. Perfect!!! thanks for the vid!!
Great idea for power tools. The design is now on my to-do list. I don't have near as many hand tools but the system will put them all visually in one place. Perfect time saver!
Not sure if you will receive the April, since it's been over 9 years; but ........ Thanks to your great video.... I finally got motivated 3 weeks ago and started to clean my small workshop and.... finally cut my first 2- 45 degrees boards today with my small circular saw. This weekend, I will start by building my drill and battery stand. Than continue from there.
Excellent!!! I am just starting to put together a little work area in my garage and this video couldn't have come at a better time!! Thanks for ALL your videos!! I really have learned a lot from them!!
Hi April, good job on the cleat system. One idea I have for your circular saw rack, (in case the keeper nail doesn't hold long term). Which is to use a shoulder screw. Where the keeper pivots on the shoulder, and the screw will keep itself from getting worked out.
Ya have a pretty impressive idea there April w that cleat tool storage ya built! Although some people may see clutter still, there IS true "organization" there. 2 thumbs up!
Hi April. Thanks for this Video you have inspired me to rethink the whole layout of my workshop. So have already started with my own cleat wall. Sometimes it's good to work on the business rather than in it .
April I'm pretty sure you are the only professional level woodworker i have seen on RUclips to use the degree of fold away space saving utilization despite the huge space your given. Which is good for a lot of us that are limited to a single car garage or less. Thank you for the valuable ideas. And also for introducing me to some awesome products from Triton tools
Such a joy to watch your shows, April!
1. I learn something very useful every time.
2. Straight to the point, no lengthy intro or unnecessary speech.
3. Fast work, good organization.
4. I love the fact you are a woman and skilled in DIY work, at the pro level.
5. I find you very charming in the way you move, laugh, and have those quirky gestures, makes me laugh every time.
Keep up the good work, and make us women proud!
Ignore the haters and petty criticisms, your vids are informative, concise and helpful. Good job.
April. I am a woodworking neophyte and appreciate your clarity, brevity, practicality, proficiency, and very entertaining videos.
Thanks! Been trying all kinds of expensive and completed drill bit holder and yours was simple, cheap, an fills the bill!
Thank you so much! I appreciate your kindness. I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching.
Hi April.
One thing I thought I saw that may be a issue, was on the chargers holder, You may want to drill air holes on the hold down arm, so the charger vent holes can vent the heat if the vents are covered over, located 4 min into the video..
Also at this point I would pay no attention to the negative thumbs down a few people leave. There is nothing negative about anything you do. You are the Cats meow as far as I am concerned, the projects are great, absolutely great, neat Ideals, and inspiring.
Mike
America needs more women like u April. What an inspiration u r. Keep up the good work
This is my first hour in the channel, I saw The most amazing, talented, handy lady I've ever seen in my life, just unbelievable
We ladies are full of surprises. 😉 I just bought my new house because it has a double garage and I’m super excited to turn it into my new shop. I can’t wait to get busy kitting it out like this.
Diamonds and pearls or power tools? Silly question. ☺️
Thanks April.
He's just being a horn dog, it's not like being able to make some simple shelves instantly makes any woman wife material. However if we already knew she was, being able to do this stuff is great.
Very well done. As for multiple routers, I have 6. 3 are mounted in router tables, one with a flush trimming bit, round over and so on. Two are the Tritons and they're great. I know a guy with 25 routers !!! He says it's faster over the years once the setting is perfect. As for April's wonder idea, it is. Good for You! All the cabinets in my shop are hung onto wall with fresh cleats. My dad taught me this when he mounted the headboard for their bed on the wall, so mom could move the bed to vacuum and not have to move the night stands because their headboard was that full width, so it's a great idea. One tip - round off the sharp edge. It anything gets in there, the cleat won't seat properly and 2) the sharp point creates huge wedging forces that can force the clip off the wall. 3) I would have build cabinets around the whole area, to enclose the tools and keep the dust away, and then each tool can simply sit on the shelves, but the same idea of organization, planning, elegant execution and a place for everything and everything in it's place. Two thumbs up, April
As for the audio, no not perfect, but unless you do enough to warrant the cost of a wireless mic, it's plenty good enough to showcase April's great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Great way to store all your tools and congrats on the sponsorship from triton, One thing to think about, the small battery charger storage, looks like you covered most of the vent slots.
Was going to say the same.
Natas70 April, you thought about this?
SE45CX I have, I figured the big ones would be ok. The smaller ones might be an issue. I'll charge one and see if the charger gets hot. Or maybe I'll just reposition the top brace and cut a slit in the center of it. I'll try out a few things and get back to everyone.
April Wilkerson please send me a skill😍
This is fantastic.
My dad passed away a few years ago and had accumulated years and years of tools. We are pretty sure he has one of everything (mechanic and carpentry).
My mom, my sister and I have been at a loss as to how to organize all his tools. I stumbled on the video and you pretty much answered that question. Thank you!
And my dad would have been totally impressed by the system. 😉
I am so sorry 😱😵😫😰😳
🌹🌹🌹
Dang, they sent you one of everything! That's way better than a micro-jig. Lol! Congrats on the sponsorship!
April, after reading some of the comments, I feel that you cannot have enough routers with different bits, or 4 or 5 drills with different bits and driver bits. You go girl! Congrats to you. You are creating the kind of shop that I personally would love! And you're cute too!!!! I'll keep watching. Thanks R.
I have not watched every How To video on organizing a workshop, but of the many I have watched, you win!
I am a very particular organizer and what you did really sings to me. Plus my workshop needs a massive dose of organization and your video I think just kickstarted me in that direction. It is late and I am tired. Time to hit the sack so I can start fresh on this in the morning. Goodnight and thanks for the inspiration :-)
Wow they didn't mess around when it came to tool sponsorship!
Dustin Penner you're not kidding
Dustin Penner one can never have enough power tools!
buttwheat75 or bigger or better
Dustin Penner I don't even know what most of those are.
Dustin Penner I've honestly never even heard of Triton until watching this video...
love this system. All my tools are in 2 mobile tool boxes, but my husband's tools which consists of wood working lathes and such for furniture making and small or power tools where ever and every where. Like you he doesn't use my tools as limited as they are. Seeing this set up I've warned him I'm going to organize his tools and shop - can't stand clutter, nor buying another or the same tool. Love your videos
Wow, it looks like a retail store haha, great job April!
The fact that you are able to easily modify/ add to it makes the french cleat concept an ideal solution. Many other designs are either inefficient ergonomically or insufficient structurally.
French shipbuilders in the 1800's originally utilized the wedge as a way to hold things on a ship's inside walls when navigating rough seas, so the design is fail proof when implemented correctly on dry land.
If only my house wasn't made of stone.....,,🤔😁
Cheers!!✌️👍
That's a great idea. Much better than taking up all that space with plastic cases...
Thanks Peter
Peter Brown Agreed! Those plastic cases are a PITA and make things harder to get at. One day I'll get around to some more shop organization projects and get a french cleat system myself.. :)
Peter Brown The ONLY reason I like the plastic cases with my DeWalt tools is that it keeps everything from collecting dust when I'm not using them.
I wonder what she did with all the plastic cases. Are they stored somewhere else? empty?
I am not a big fan of those plastic cases. yes, they can offer some protection from a dusty environment but beyond that they can be a big hassle to deal with. I usually recycle them.
April, just want to say that you are amazing... You have the best explanations as to how you get your projects done. The best teacher. I have enjoyed all of your videos... Please continue to teach all of us your subscribers... a 1000 thank yous...
I was going to ask how many power drivers/drills and routers one person needs, but the whole sponsor thing answered that. So many power drivers and routers! lol
I am not sponsored, and I can never have enough drills/routers. Changing tooling is time consuming, and often ruins setups (at least for routers). Having a drill setup for your screws, one for a pre-drill/countersink is VERY nice, and if you use different sizes you can use multiple sets. Having a router with a flush trim bit, one configured for pattern following, one with a chamfer, and one with a round over is great for me as well.
TLDR; Multiple tools doing a dedicated action just adds to your shop efficiency when done properly.
I am in the process of turning an old tack shed into my own workshop/storage. . And have been struggling with organizing my tools and workbench in such a small area! All while making a Dutch door out of scrap wood! Thank you for your video as it gave me ideas!
Awesome! Glad you found it useful. Thanks for watching.
I like the iron amongst all the tools. I also have one in the workshop for laminate edging.
Haha yeah, I use it for edge banding.
April, I am HOOKED on your videos! I'm just getting into woodworking and love how open and honest you are about things. I love it when you say "that didn't work out, so I broke it down and did it this way", which shows how human you are. Your imagination on designs is unreal. You have given me so many ideas on how to organize my small (1 car bay) workshop and I really want to thank you for that...Keep up the great work!!
April...
I forgot to mention this in my first post...
The smaller battery chargers have vents that are being mostly blocked by your brace...
Any concern about that?
i think you should hollow out spaces to let the units breathe.or even drill a large hole over each vent.
Anon
Anon Ymousmie I noticed the same thing. Her other option would be, flip the battery carriage around, with the cords next to the wall and add mounting screws in the bottom of the carriage and opening up the sides with the air vents. It's just a thought, nothing more. Most battery chargers have the "wall" mounting holes on the underneath side of them.
well done. I agree that chargers need their vents kept clear, especially when the are so many chargers next to each other. Battery technology hasn't reached the safe era yet. Impressed though with APRIL'S WORK.
Anon Ymousmie I agree as well. The venting needs to be clear. I found that I was able to use a tap on the underside to create threads. I then drilled holes and used some small bolts to secure them. This left the entire vent open. I did like the tutorial and built my own system. :)
Was thinking about the same thing, better not to cover the vent
4:00 Totally agree that the chargers need their vents unblocked during use.
Thanks April for the informative ideas. You are an inspiration, and have given my some more ideas using the french cleat system. Im an over-thinker. I like the way you laid out the tool(s) worked out the most appropriate holder, then built it. I'm in process of setting up my NAN-Shed.
In the Western Woodworkers group❤ that I am a member of, in South Australia, we have only a handful of active women. It's great interacting and having mutual respect with all our members. Keep up the good work.❤
April, great job!
: ) Hi Ron, I didn't know you watched my channel. I was just checking out your workbench. I'm planning my assembly/outfeed table right now and I really like your design.
First, fellow Texan... I love your videos! I'm working on doing this same thing to get my tools off the bottom shelf of my workbench! Second, I'm glad I came back to watch this again. I was using glue and Brad nails to make the holders. I'll be revisiting that. Good thing I only made a prototype for the circular saw. I didn't really trust myself not measuring... I'm very new to this. It turns out, I'm pretty good at this! Thanks for the nudge you unknowingly gave.
Oh, one more thing. Do your thing. It's amazing to me that here you are, doing a bust ass job and people comment about you "having an awful lot of tools for a beautiful woman" and crap like that. It's insane the world we live in. Anyway, I'm sure you don't need reassurance from me that it doesn't matter how many routers you have... Lol. Well done. Keep it up. Never give up... And just keep being you with your awesome skill, bad ass tools and fantastic videos.
gosh April, you are making me feel like I need to clean my shop now, lol
I love any storage system that keep the tools in plain view and easy to grab. Great Idea!
Last I saw your shop was looking very tidy!
April Wilkerson didn't stay that way for long, someone got sawdust all over it, lol
As a 53 year old woman, I am excited to see you in action. Inspirational is a barely sufficient word for you! I've many ideas but not the courage to implement. Here's hoping that'll change. Thx!
I would like to see that power planer in action.
I think I need to build up my muscles first. ; ) haha
April Wilkerson But your husband is eager to show off his powers. Let him do it. Then he can finally compensate for all your manly accomplishments.
SE45CX ?? Compensate?? My husband has no reason what so ever to compensate. My husband a complete badass and feels no need to prove himself to my audience. Also, I find it very odd you would call these manly accomplishments.
I see you comment all the time and I don't believe you are trying to be rude, however I will not tolerate anybody even remotely putting down my husband.
April Wilkerson I have a power plane that's much smaller than yours, but I have used similar sized units. The main thing to remember is to secure your workpiece well and take shallow cuts until you get used to the tool. Like anything else, it just takes practice. You'll soon develop a feel for it.
April Wilkerson Oops, first I wasn't 100% serious. You also were making fun with cutting that chain the other day. I'm definitely not trying to put him down. You are proud of taking the majority of the to do list of the tasks around the house. So, I was just teasing you to cooperate with him to work together on these things. About the "manly accomplishments" I think the majority of woodworking around the world is done by men. It nice to see a lady doing these things tough.
Yay, you did it again, Wilkers! I've been watching a number of videos for better tool holder ideas for cleats. You have some of the best! Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
I knew Triton had a lot of tools, but man, that's a LOT. I'm a bit envious. Great job on the organization. I do wonder about putting the chargers too close together and blocking the vents. I built my organizer with enough space to give them air to breathe. Maybe that's just me being paranoid.
You are the second to make a comment about that, I figured the large ones would be ok but now I'm curious. These batteries last so long I haven't had to actually charge one yet, but when I do I'll feel the charger to see if it gets hot then go from there.
Excellent idea. I used that "french cleat" system to hang all my cabinets in my old shop. I wish I had the wall space in my new shop. One concern I have with one of your holders. This may not matter but on the little chargers ... you covered the cooling vents with the top strip. I don't know how much heat they produce but covering the vent could lead to their early demise. Ps. Really enjoy your videos. Glad to see more ladies getting their hand dirty. Why should the men have all the fun!! Take care.
It was “like carrying a mini-alligator”!
Sincerely,
A fellow Texan
Keep up the good work, April.
April Wilkerson I love the organization. One thing I noticed though is that for your non-sliding battery chargers, your horizontal brace is covering the cooling ports for those chargers. I'm not sure if anyone else has pointed this out, but you should probably think about drilling through-holes through your brace to allow the heat to escape the chargers or use the mounting holes that are often provided on the under side of these types of chargers to secure them and open the ventilation ports. This will greatly prolong the life of the chargers and the investment Triton has made in sending these to you. Keep up the great work, I absolutely love your channel!!
This is a great system for organizing and storing all of your tools.
Thanks Tommy
April,
I was not aware that Triton made so many power tools... I had the 3 HP Router about 5 years ago mounted to my router table and I loved it. Had to sell my whole shop when I moved but I wish I would of stored certain things, like the Triton. Good video and nice organization.
Love the concept, i think i may eventually give this system a go in my garage/shop once I get it setup after our move in :) . Thanks for sharing!
Because you can never have too many 3HP Triton routers or drills!!! April, you do awesome work. Your hubby is a lucky man.
amazing shop! I would have never thought of some of those ways to store the tools. thanks!
I don't have a lot of corded or battery-op tools, but your wrench, drill and screwdriver cleats at 5:30 look like a great idea. I hate drawers and pegboard is the bane of my existence. Great vid.
If only Triton made an iron... You might have to paint it Trition colors.
pdxDavid +1 THIS!! XD
222varminter k
Thank you for being such a good teacher. I've been a mechanic for a long time, have thousands of dollars in boxes and I was doing wrong the whole time. I love the French cleat system. Thank you. Keep up the good work.
That turned out great! I may have to try something similar. Since you did this a little while ago, is there anything you have changed, or would have done differently?
Very refreshing too see! Taking an old idea and and bringing it back to life in a new way.You are doing what all good carpenters do....problem solving. Well done!
I have never used Triton tools. How do they stack up against your typical contractor grade tools?
not well. they are do not use brushless motors. for the price they are not worth your money.
Go for DeWalt
Hi April, writing from Germany (am English). Most of your power tools are from Triton. Would be good to get some feedback on them. They're a tool we can get here, not many seem to have them though. Really love the uncomplicated way you do stuff. You're not just an inspiration to other women, but to men as well. Good on yu girl 🤘
Is that workshop hooked to a security system?
Yep yep
are those all your tools nice lady?...Sorry if you mentioned something regarding your tool collection... i wasn't able to listen to the full episode....wow...your living my dream and its great to see a women doing what u do...im sure you hear it all the time....regardless...I'm very impressed...doing wonderful with your show ....keep it up
rneustel
John Penny III roll in your tongue.
What you did is rather ingenious. I do understand having more than one router, drill, or whatever. I never heard of this brand of power tool. Good Job....
I understand triton sponsors you but why do u have 3 of the same routers you weren't able to pick and choose which tool you want
They actually aren't the same, they are three different sizes. : )
+April Wilkerson is there a difference between performance or what you use them for
cause u start off with one small hand router now 3 plunge routers
I was like what?
+Noah Knopf I can’t speak for April, but when I am making picture frames
or signs I use two or three different bits. Set up and adjusting the bits can
be time consuming.
Because she can dude. So would you
Cause she's sponsored. Duh. PLus you can use three routers super quick. One in the table and two more with set up bits. Same shit goes for when people say you only need one drill. I regularly use two on a build. and have 4 on hand.
great work Madam! would love to hear how you store: nails/screws, how you handle misc stuff, advice on how you keep your garage clean, how you store/organize woodshop items, auto related items and hime maintenance items.
also, your editing and audio are really good.
Why do people moan about the tools she as, it's all about the storing of tools. Great job April.
I've read almost comment and seen 1 person moan?
Outstanding organization and methods. Power strip on bottom of battery charger rack.
I do like the power cord hooks, to prevent towing something else off the board while moving tool.
Now you need to add: circular saw and table saw blade storage, table saw guide hangers, drill press accessories shelving/bracket, clamps hanger (remembering that you'll never have enough clamps.. bar, c-, wooden, right angle, pipe, adjustable.
Air tool/hose and extension cord storage.
Thanks for sharing..
I have other plans for the majority of those things, it just takes time.
your videos could benefit from better audio. Maybe a wireless lapel mic? Every other aspect of your videos seem very professional excluding the audio.
The less professional they are the easier to follow. Pro ones use fast forward, no information about any of what they're doing, and lousy, LOUD background music that makes me cringe & mute or move on. I like the more non-pro ones telling me and showing me what to do.
Wow, April, replying to videos you uploaded 6 years ago! That must be a RUclips creator record! Well done, and thanks from all of us out here who are rarely responded to. 👍🙏 As for this video, as you were going along I kept thinking a lot of those holders were just done quickly to get the job done and you’d come back later after testing for a while with refinements. One structural observation - those tools which weigh a lot and are deep would be better constructed using end flanges on the bottom rather than the top, as those materials are stronger in compression than tension. Also, I suspect the circular saw has some steel in the bed somewhere and would be more secure and easier to remove with magnets countersunk into the holder rather than the flimsy latch which probably didn’t last long anyway. Oh well - everyone’s a critic. 😉😂👍
I try to answer a few comments every little bit. I can't get to them all of course but even a few is better than nothing. :) Thanks for watching.
Thats Awesome wall of tools
Mike Fulton I
Great job getting organized. When you have some time on a rainy day, paint the walls with a cheap white primer paint and all the tools will stand out even more and the white will brighten the area!!!
Also, free tools from a sponser? fukkin awesome!
Every time I watch your video I am amazed on how you create things with wood. I want you as my teacher....
"I don't think its any secret that I enjoy having a clean shop" she says in front of one of the messiest shop backdrops I've ever seen.
Hello, April! You are well done! Everything is so practical and convenient. It's nice when a person does something with their own hands. I wish you success!
"assessories" :D
Nice work! I really like the idea of the wall system for power tools. Mine are either laying on the bench, and in the way, or stored in drawers which doesn't work well at all. Especially the larger tool like a circ saw. One comment on your charger shelf at shown at 4:01> make sure you don't block the ventilation holes. That may cause overheating of the charger which will reduce life of the electronics inside.
I want a wife like you I'm in love with your work Cheers
I found your channel by chance while looking for workshop organising tips. It ended up with me spending my entire afternoon watch your videos and loving it. I enjoy building RC planes kit and you can imagine that I have a fair amount of tools so I am looking for ways to organise them. However, I live in a rented apartment and don't have the luxury of having a large work space. The french cleat system looks interesting and I may try and make some for my tools.
Have subscribed and looking forward to more videos.
Disappointed in the weak latching system.
Feel free to change it on yours. I've been using this latching system for four years and it's held up great, but that doesn't mean you have to use it.
+April Wilkerson
For safety-fans: add an additional small latch to the wall right above the existing one, so the box/holder can be slided sidewards underneath it to fasten the box/holder (hard to describe for a non-native speaker :] )
+alphons bretagne como faço pra comprar suas máquinas?
Moises Albuquerque
Where I buy my machines (if google translated correct) ? At auctions, local and web stores. But still a lot missing (even a really suitable room). Just started with some "wood-knowledge" of that time when trying out civil engineering and a head full of ideas and plans :)
But you probably doesn't referring to me, right?
Calm down.
I've seen a couple woodworkers on RUclips doing the "french cleat" system now. I never gave it much thought: I thought it was more for cabinets, but it makes sense that if it's strong enough to hang a cabinet, it'll do a couple tools. Plus being able to move the hangers around makes a lot of sense for the future so you can shuffle things around as you get new tools or find you use a tool less (it can get relocated.)
I did miss the sponsor video... I was thinking "Wow, someone went to the factory store!" LoL
Very slick idea. Great vid, thanks!
Nice job. I live in a suburb of Detroit. I am retired now, but still have the fear of my tools being stolen, even though I am no longer on the road with tools. From theft in a 20 year career, I had over $27,000.00 worth of tolls stolen. It is sad that many of those were sold from $10.00-$50.00, for crack cocaine. I don't even want people who drive by my house to see in through an open garage door.
When I had my shop in Knoxville, TN., there was almost no crime of stealing. I made a lot of carriers under my bench, and wired the bench with plugs. (Battery tools didn't exist).
But once again, I love your work here.
That collection of tools is making me salivate. I heartily approve of your organizational scheme.
just one word, "Respekt" ! today, i´ve discovered your channel and i have almost everything looked at your videos. most of all i have admired your Joy at work. for me it started exacly the sam way, first - ok just one maschine or tool, now i have a lot of them - and of course - i need it all - and sorry i love them. thank´s for your chanell; greetings from Germany
April, I've seen a couple of your videos before but I just went through your web site and I am stunned with all the ideas. They'll keep me busy forever! I'm very new to wood working so any advice you give is helping immensely.
Oh my, you remind me of a younger version of myself... to include the O.C.D. on organizing your tools. Keep it up, your tutorials are clear and concise. I'm happy for you.
You totally changed my life in 7 minutes!!!!! I have a HUGE garage. Now I have a huge garage project.
its amazing how much you can get done without a measuring tape you have done a really good job i was taught by a very good carpenter when i was an apprentice that you build a lot of things with using just the materials themselves as a gauge for measurements
Hello, great video. How far should the screws go into the studs. Thank you.
I think you did a wonderful job on the french cleat system and it made your shop look like a department store sooo cool
April, great tool storage idea! I presently have a fixed bench and tools all over the place! lol I'm just drawing up plans for a mobile work bench with table saw and router in it. Once I get that finished, I think I'll take out fixed bench and try your idea, I like the idea of seeing your tools. You've got some great ideas, keep up the good work!
Nice Job April, simple, easy and organized! I like it! Might use some of those in my shop! Never heard of Triton either until I saw your videos.. Will have to look into them. I'm a Dewalt man mostly...
1 word of caution though, you might want to be careful covering vents on your tool chargers. When they overheat it will shorten the life span over time. Heat in most cases is electronics mortal enemy... Kind regards.
Shop disorder is the NUMBER ONE TIME KILLER. Making organization easy, helps keep the clutter down. GREAT VIDEO -
Thanks for sharing...
The cleat system is great! Videos help a lot. Ignore the haters... I wish I was sponsored too... good for you, you EARNED it!
Thanks for this. It's December 2020 and I'm in the middle of a French cleat system project and will use your circular saw 20 degree hanger for three saws. It is simple and to the point.
April, you keep surprising me. I really like the fact that you actually took the time to do what most of us keep putting off. I love the simplicity of your system, so much, I am gong to model mine after it. You really have a talent. Also from my perspective, I like the female side of it. So often guys get hung up with the right and wrong way to do things, and if you don't do it this way, it's wrong. So it's nice to see a fresh perspective of KISS. Some of the best designs on the market followed this principal, and can be seen in many of the products we use every day. I know I'm not alone in my assessment if "Rockler" believes you've got something to offer.
Thanks for the refresher on making a French cleat. Great idea if you have a lot of wall space. I set mine up in kit form for my tools as many times I am going to other places to work. Sander box, router box, nailgun/stapler box etc. They all stack neatly in one corner. It is a bit of a hassle when the toolbox I want is on the bottom of the pile. may put a rack in to fix that.
Thank you April, I have a small shop ....an extremely small shop...... and I am constantly looking for innovative ideas for using every square inch for functionality and space. I liked some of your ideas and will use em. Have fun with them Tritons.
Thank you for sharing your thought processes as you went along. We are building a french cleat system now, and this was very helpful.
I also am in the process of reorganizing my 18x32 ft. Woodshop. Have been looking at the cleat system for frequently used tools. Wall space is always at a premium in my shop 🙂. I like to save it for jigs. But will incorporate some of your good ideas. Thanks for sharing.
I've got a bunch of tools, just wish I had a nice shop to use them in. I just have a small back porch with a small work bench. Most of the time it takes me longer to get my tools out and put them back away for the small projects I do. I don't know if Triton has one, but Ryobi has a 6 port battery charger for their 18 volt 1+ system, over 50 tools that take the same battery. Its just nice only needing one charger on the wall. I did like your setup. Happy building.
I just found this video because of your comment on the facebook page that stole it.. It's insane that they credited the music that was used, but didn't credit you! Great video, and I'm very jealous of your shop! I'm so pissed off that the facebook video (that doesn't benefit you) got like 1.4 million views already, and this one only has 271,619!
: / Yeah I know it makes me sick. People don't realize how much they are stealing from content creators by freebooting. Or maybe they do, and they just don't care. Either way, I'm glad you found my page. : )
I'm in the process of finishing up a small work shop, this is going to help me very much.Thank you!
So simple. Way cool. I am in the process of a garage re-org and was trying to figure out a fast simple way to get some tools out of boxes and within reach. I was going to do Slat wall, rubbermaid this, Lowes that. But I have some odds and end of 3/4" ply and some 2 x 10 laying around. Perfect!!! thanks for the vid!!
Great idea for power tools. The design is now on my to-do list. I don't have near as many hand tools but the system will put them all visually in one place. Perfect time saver!
Not sure if you will receive the April, since it's been over 9 years; but ........ Thanks to your great video.... I finally got motivated 3 weeks ago and started to clean my small workshop and.... finally cut my first 2- 45 degrees boards today with my small circular saw. This weekend, I will start by building my drill and battery stand. Than continue from there.
Awesome! I'm glad you found the video useful. Thanks for watching.
You can never have to many tools! I am a quilter and love the iron among your other tools ! !
Excellent!!! I am just starting to put together a little work area in my garage and this video couldn't have come at a better time!! Thanks for ALL your videos!! I really have learned a lot from them!!
Hi April, good job on the cleat system. One idea I have for your circular saw rack, (in case the keeper nail doesn't hold long term). Which is to use a shoulder screw. Where the keeper pivots on the shoulder, and the screw will keep itself from getting worked out.
April, thanks for this handy french cleat tool storage tip. Just came back from HD with a sheet of ply and am going to take on this project today!
Nice job on the cleat system. My grandpa did this in his shop. Very well done. Respect:)
Ya have a pretty impressive idea there April w that cleat tool storage ya built! Although some people may see clutter still, there IS true "organization" there. 2 thumbs up!
Hi April. Thanks for this Video you have inspired me to rethink the whole layout of my workshop. So have already started with my own cleat wall. Sometimes it's good to work on the business rather than in it .