I completed enough of my vertical tool rack to show how it works.
toolrack.txt
toolrack1.jpg
toolrack2.jpg
toolrack3.jpg
toolrack4.jpg
toolrack5.jpg


Here's the contents of the text file:

Vertical tool storage rack. Frame is made from 2x4's mostly, with some
corner bracing here and there.
I've got some heavy casters rated for a several hundred pounds each, and I'm
glad, because this
thing is getting really heavy and they make for nice rolling! I made the
width and depth for a
spot I'm going to be fitting it into, otherwise it would be a lot
wider/heavier. I'm thinking
I should make a second one for all the tools that didn't make it into this
one. At the top and
bottom of each panel is are drawer slides rated for hundred or so pounds
apiece. The fixed part
of the slide is attached to a tee made of 2x4's and the top (or bottom, of
the top ones) rest on
a horizontal piece that allows the panel to be moved horizontally just by
removing the screws
securing it. I'm starting to think that I could have made some parts of
this lighter, but I won't
know for sure until I've used it a lot.

I came up with this design for several reasons. I needed tool storage that
fit a certain space, and
didn't want to spend a lot of money. A rollaway takes up a lot more real
estate, doesn't come with
four swivel casters, and won't hold much in the way of long or bulky tools.
If I need to change the
space needed, I can simply move the panels side to side by undoing four wood
screws and making the
change. Vertical space collects zero, and I mean zero, clutter contrasted
to a horizontal surface
or drawer space. That old line about a place for everything and everything
in its place. My tool
chest was getting way too full and I could barely close the drawers anymore,
must less be able to
find the particular tool I'm looking for. When I'm settled on the
arrangement, I'll draw lines
around the tools and identify the locations so I'll be putting things where
ought to be a little
easier and faster than the toss it in the drawer method. So far I've got
about $150 into this,
with the bulk of the cost being the drawer slides at $17 a set.

toolrack1.jpg Front view with all panels in.
You can see how close tools are in here. Some planned, some
not. I like it.
toolrack2.jpg Blurry picture of the left side. The panel that is out is
the far left
panel, into which I'm installing tools that are in cases that
will fit the
space between the post and the panel. The boards give me
maximum packaging.
The screwdrivers are just boards installed horizontally with
various sized
holes drilled for the drivers. The boards are staggered for
my longer screwdrivers
which I haven't put in just yet.
toolrack3.jpg The second panel to the right is the one pulled out here. At
the suggestion of someone
from RCM, I used a couple different sizes of PVC pipe for
most of my pliers and such.
Worked for my ratchets on another panel, too. The white
things at the top are
Harbor Freight magnetic pieces of junk, and hold little more
than light flat stuff.
I haven't found magnetic tool bar that I like anyway. None
of the hold the tools
shown on the packaging worth squat, and these slam around, so
they have to be strong.
My power tools are held on in assorted ways. My Skil saw is
held on with two screws
and the panel is cut out to let the blade guard fit through
the panel. It clears the
right post by a quarter of an inch!
toolrack4.jpg This is just an overall view with the panels staggered out.
It should be noted that
this thing is getting heavy, and there shouldn't be more than
one panel out at a
time or it will tip over!
toolrack5.jpg Another blurry photo that shows how close the tools are. I
had to drive the upper nails
holding the big wrenches in farther than I wanted to clear
the panel. If the
screwdrivers sit cockeyed in the hole then they can hang up
on the sockets, so I have to
keep an eye on it.