The custom drill storage and charge station and tool review is sponsored by The Home Depot. I have been compensated for my time and provided with product (tools). All ideas and opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Over 5 years ago, I made some plans for my friend to build a cordless drill storage charge station with 5 stalls. It has been the most built project on my site, which is awesome. My original version uses plywood, which was great for using up scrap pieces. However there have been 2 comments that I get frequently, “I want to make this but I need X stalls” and “I don’t have a table saw to cut down plywood.” To solve both of these comments, I have made a new plan that uses simpler tools (miter saw or circular saw and straight edge). This custom drill storage and charge station build uses a 1×10 board and a spreadsheet to input how many stalls you want for tools and kick out a custom cut list.
If you want a 2 stall drill storage, you can do that.
Or if you want a 10 stall drill storage, you can do that.
This custom drill storage organizer makes a great homemade gift for your favorite tool loving friends. To celebrate Christmas I’m giving away $100 Christmas Cash each week until Christmas (enter using the rafflecopter widget at the bottom of the post).
How to Build a Custom Drill Storage and Charge Station
the easy way
Cordless Drill Charge Station Cut List and plans – hertoolbelt <-download
If that link doesn’t work, try this one: Cordless Drill Charge Station Cut List and plans – hertoolbelt
Download this spreadsheet and enter in:
- How many ‘stalls’ you want
- How wide the gap width needs to be (default is 1 1/2″)
The spreadsheet will also tell you how many feet of 1×10 board you need.
Materials
- 1×10 board (cut list spreadsheet will tell you how many feet you need, 4 stall charge station can be done with 8′)
- (Note a 1×10 is the trade name, it really measures 3/4″ x 9 1/4″)
- 1 1/4″ wood screws
- wood glue
- power strip – optional
- sand paper
- The cost for lumber to make a 4 stall unit is just
Tools Used
- Miter Saw
- Drill
- Countersink Drill Bit
- Tape Measure
- Sander
- Drill Bits
- Spade Bits or if your plug is bigger you’ll want the larger set.
Cut Diagram
Sample cut diagram (for 4 stalls)
Step 1 – Cut Board
Cut the 1×10 according to the cut list. (I used a miter saw to make the cuts.) On the top shelf, cut the width down to 8 1/2″.
On the side pieces, cut a dog ear (45 deg miter) on the top front corner at 11 3/4″ up from the bottom.
Drill pilot holes in the 2 sides, back, lower shelf, stall supports and side supports. If you want your screw heads flush with the surface, drill countersinks. See diagram below.
Make sure the side pieces are mirror images of each other.
Step 2 – Assembly
Sides
Attach the 3/4″ x 3/4″ side support piece to the inside face of the side piece, make the bottoms flush. Secure with wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws. Repeat for both sides
Dividers
Mark the centers of the stall supports (1 1/8″) and the centers of the dividers (3/8″).
- Line up the center of the dividers with the center of the stall supports.
- Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to secure together.
Mark the centers on the other of the dividers (3/8″) and mark the center lines of the pilot holes (3 3/8″, 3 3/4″, 3 3/4″, etc).
- Line up the divider centers with pilot hole center lines on the lower shelf.
- Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to attach dividers to lower shelf.
Shelf
On the back piece, mark 2 1/2″ down from the top. Attach the top shelf to the back with wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws.
All Together
On the side pieces, mark 2 1/2″ down and 9 1/4″ down from the top. Use wood glue and 1 1/4″ screws to attach the side to the back, top shelf and lower shelf.
Repeat for the other side.
If you want to install a power strip to charge batteries, you may want to drill a hole near the top on the side to run the cord. Drill the hole wherever convenient for your setup.
The Bosch Daredevil spade bits are an easy way to drill larger diameter holes. The spade bits have a threaded cone that ‘pulls’ the bit through the wood with limited effort. If you need the hole a little larger for the plug, you can move the bit side to side to ream the hole a little larger for the plug.
Attach the power strip to the wood where convenient. I measure where the keyholes are on the back of the power strip and put small screws in the back piece where the keyholes will go.
A bit kit like this Ryobi 70 piece bit set. This kit of bits are impact rated bits with hex shank for impact drivers or drills. It includes the handy magnetic screw guide, socket adapters, nut drivers and super handy storage case.
Then run the plug through the hole and install the power strip on the small screws.
Step 3 – Finish
Sand the custom drill storage station smooth. Stain the wood as desired. Then when the stain dries add a top coat as desired.
To mount the custom drill storage and charging station to the wall, drill holes through the back piece into studs in the wall. If studs are not available, you can use heavy duty drywall anchors.
Snap a pic of your finished organizer and tag me @hertoolbelt on instagram. I’d love to see your creation!
$100 Christmas Cash Giveaway
The giveaway ends Dec 20, 2019 at 12am MST.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
“I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the Tool Review Program. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.”
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I remember making cookies for santa on Christmas eve
My favorite Christmas memory was my first holiday with my daughter many, many years ago with my husband as a family.
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Going to my grandmothers house
my christmas memory is when my grandparents were still alive. we had good times then.
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Decorating the tree with my sisters
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Continue your great work!! You are an inspiration
Im so gratefull for finding you on IG . I used your design to build a charging station and a hanging rack for my camera tripods and mono pods. Thanks for helping us all get creative. I shared your site with my co workers who are also doing projects
I can’t download spreadsheet! Please help!
Are you on a Mac or a PC? If you are on a Mac, check your downloads folder arranged by “date added”. If you are on a PC check the Mac equivalent of a downloads folder.
Joseph
Have you had any issues with the stall supports being screwed into the end grain of the stall dividers? Seems like the easiest way to build something like this, but I don’t want durability issues. Thanks!
Hi Jenn,
I’ve build a few of these and haven’t had an issue.
The measurements are incorrect. For a 4 bay drill storage, it should be 16 inches wide not 14.25. Very frustrating to find out after cutting, that’s what I get for trusting free plans
Sorry for the frustration. However my 4 stall holder (shelves and back) are 14 1/4″ long. What stall width did you put in?
I am trying to build a 10 slot one for my husbands milwaukee tools, when i plugged in 10 in the spreadsheet it says that I need 18 1ft boards???? That seems like A LOT.. Any help?
That doesn’t seem right. When I plug 10 stalls in, it says I need 16′ of 1×10″ boards (so 2 8′ boards).
Ma’am this was one of my first projects completed after starting the process of building my own workshop. The challenges I encountered mostly were my limitations, knowledge, and skill level. The rest were do to the limitation of equipment and tools. The only thing I would recommend would be adding a small piece of wood behind the battery chargers. Once installed, if I were grab or pull a battery out of the charger, the charger has the ability to slide out/off of the screws. The block prevents movement. I just simply slid it behind the chargers, no nails, screws or glue. I used birch plywood which was awesome but I think solid wood would be much better in the future. Thank you for the free plans as well.
Hello,
I just ( 01/08/2021) found this site and I really like this project. I will be checking out your other projects as well.
I like to make my own spreadsheet project. I downloaded yours (great job!) but I could not see the formulas you used to obtain the cut list.
If its not too much trouble, would you be able to show me the formulas. I can only see (for example) =Sheet!C6 etc for the formulas. Looking forward to hearing from you and to exploring the rest of your site.
Thank you
Hello,
I figured it out. I am all set. Still looking forward to exploring the rest of your site.
Thanks again.
Wanted to say thank you for sharing these plans. The excel chart is amazing. Can’t wait to make this for our house.