DIY Sandpaper and Sander Storage Organizer Plans

Get your sandpaper and sanders organized with this DIY storage organizer. This sander storage rack is easy to make with a few pieces of wood and these simple plans.

Sander Storage Organizer

Is your sandpaper scattered across your workshop? Are your sanders taking up valuable space on your workbench? Get them organized with this DIY sandpaper and sander storage organizer. It’s easy to make with a few simple cuts and a few common woodworking tools.

The cabinet has space for organizing sandpaper, random orbit sanders, spindle sanders, sanding blocks, and more. Two adjustable shelves allow you to customize the rack for your storage needs.

The free plan includes all of the measurements and detailed step-by-step instructions. Get the free plan now and get your workshop organized today.

You may also enjoy this DIY drill holder, DIY circular saw holder, and this DIY saw blade storage rack.

Inspiration for This Project
What Can You Store in This Organizer?
Where Can You Use This Organizer?
What Tools Do You Need to Make a Sander Storage Organizer?
What Wood Should You Use?
How Do You Make Adjustable Shelves?
How Do You Finish the Organizer?
How to Make a DIY Sander Storage Organizer
- Tutorial
- Video
Get the Free Printed Plan

Inspiration for This Project

A while back I gave my small workshop a makeover. First, I built these DIY tool storage cabinets. Later on, I built some organizers like this drill holder, circular saw holder, screwdriver holder, and saw blade rack. And I used these five tips to help organize all of the tools in my shop.

Related: 9 Clever Ways to Make Your Small Workshop Feel Bigger

Recently, I bought this portable spindle sander. This thing is awesome! It makes quick work of smoothing any saw marks on curved cuts.

Hand removing a portable spindle from a DIY sander rack

I’ve been storing the spindle sander on the shelf with my orbital sander. But the shelf was starting to look a little cluttered, and it was becoming difficult to grab what I needed.

So I designed this sander storage organizer. It has space to organize sandpaper, orbital sanders and palm sanders, a spindle sander, sanding blocks, and more. It also has two adjustable shelves that allow you to customize the rack for your storage needs.

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What Can You Store in This Organizer?

Sandpaper, Sanding Discs, and Sanding Belts
Random Orbit Sander
Palm Sander
Spindle Sander
Sanding Blocks

In the past, I used this zippered accordion folder to organize my sandpaper. When I upgraded to this DIY sander organizer I also upgraded my accordion file.

Related: How to Organize Sandpaper in a Small Workshop

I added some additional grits to my original accordion file, and it was becoming difficult to close it. This expanding accordion file has more space for my sandpaper.

The accordion file is a great way to organize sandpaper. If I need to do a sanding project in my backyard or at a buddy’s house, I can just grab the accordion file and go.

Hand removing a sheet of sandpaper from a DIY sander organizer

There’s also a storage area for a router mat. I use a router mat to keep workpieces in place when using my random orbit sander.

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Where Can You Use This Organizer?

You could store this rack on a workbench or attach a French Cleat to the back of the rack and hang it on the wall.

Related: How to Make a French Cleat

📝 NOTE: I didn’t attach a back to the organizer because I planned to place it against a wall. You may want to attach a back if the organizer will be freestanding on a workbench, etc.

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What Tools Do You Need to Make a Sander Storage Organizer?

This organizer is a simple project that can be made using basic woodworking skills and just a few common woodworking tools.

Tools like a miter saw, pocket hole jig, and a drill.

Miter Saw

I used a miter saw to cut all of the parts to length for this project.

Pocket Hole Jig

We can use any pocket hole jig to drill the pocket holes for this project. I used the Kreg K5 to drill the pocket holes for my sander organizer. The Kreg K5 is no longer available and has been replaced by the Kreg 720PRO.

Drill

The drill was used to drill the pocket holes and to drill the shelf pin holes for the adjustable shelves. The drill was also used to drive the pocket screws that join the pieces together.

It’s handy to have a right angle drill attachment. The pocket hole locations that join the top and bottom of this project could be tricky to reach with a traditional driver.

A right angle drill attachment is the perfect tool to drill in a tight spot or to drive screws in hard-to-reach places.

Hand removing a sanding block from a shelf of a DIY sander cabinet

Additional Tool

A shelf pin jig was used to add adjustable shelves to this project. If you don’t have a shelf pin jig, you can build this organizer with fixed shelves instead.

Related: How to Use a Shelf Pin Jig

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What Wood Should You Use?

This sander cabinet can be made with just about any type of wood. I used common pine to build mine. Pine is easy to work with and relatively inexpensive compared to other types of wood. You could also build this project with plywood instead.

I purchased the pine 1×6s at my local home improvement store.

🔄 OPTIONAL: I didn’t attach a back to the organizer because I planned to place it against a wall. You may want to attach a piece of ⅛” hardboard to the back if the organizer will be freestanding on a workbench, etc. Hardboard is usually located near the plywood section in the home improvement store.

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How Do You Make Adjustable Shelves?

I used my Kreg Shelf Pin Jig to drill shelf pin holes in the sides of the cabinet. Then, shelf pins are installed in the holes to support the shelves.

Related: How to Use a Shelf Pin Jig

The jig is simple to use. Clamp the jig to the board and drill through the guides in the jig. It’s just that easy.

Related: How to Make DIY Shelf Brackets (with Scrap Wood)

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How Do You Finish the Organizer?

This sander organizer could be finished in a variety of ways. It could be left natural, painted, etc.

I used shellac to finish the shelves of my tool storage cabinets and this DIY drill holder, so I want to use shellac on this project too.

I haven’t applied the shellac yet, but when I do, I’ll apply three coats.

Hand removing a random orbit sander from a DIY sander organizer

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DIY Sandpaper and Sander Storage Organizer

Printed Plan

Get the FREE plan here (includes detailed instructions, measurements, and bonus tips)

Supplies

Wood (per printed plan)
1-¼” Pocket Screws
Wood Glue
Shelf Pins
⅝” Brad Nails (optional to attach back)

Tools

Tape Measure
Drill
Kreg Jig
Kreg Multi-Mark
Miter Saw
Shelf Pin Jig
Right Angle Drill Attachment
Hammer or Nail Gun (optional to attach back)
Table Saw or Circular Saw (optional to cut back)
- Kreg Rip-Cut (with Circular Saw)
- Kreg Accu-Cut(with Circular Saw)

Step 1. Make the Side Panels

Cut 10 pieces of wood to length for the side panels. Apply glue, and clamp to form 5 panels.

Gluing up side panels for a DIY sander organizer

Use the diagram in the printed plan to drill pocket holes in the top and bottom of each panel.

Related: How to Use a Kreg Jig

In 2 of the panels, I used a shelf pin jig to drill shelf pin holes for adjustable shelves.

First, I labeled the bottom of the 2 panels as “bottom”.

Using a pencil to label the bottom of a side panel for a DIY sandpaper cabinet

Next, I clamped a scrap piece of scrap wood to the bottom of the panel.

Clamping a piece of scrap wood to the side panel of a DIY sandpaper organizer

I set the fence on the jig to position the shelf pin holes 1″ from the edge of the board. Next, I clamped the jig on the edge of the board and against the scrap wood.

Drill shelf pin holes along each edge. Repeat for the second panel.

Using a jig to drill shelf pin holes in the side panel of a DIY sander organizer

Step 2. Attach the Stretchers

Cut 12 pieces of wood to length. 6 pieces will be attached to the back of the cabinet with pocket holes, and the other 6 pieces will be used in Step 3 to maintain the proper spacing at the front of the cabinet.

Apply glue to the ends of the stretchers, position at the top and bottom of the panels, and clamp. Attach using 1-¼” pocket screws.

❕ IMPORTANT: Join the panels with the shelf pin holes with the long stretchers. Be sure the shelf pin holes are facing inward with the end labeled “bottom” facing down.

Using a drill to join the side panels of a DIY sandpaper cabinet

Step 3. Attach the Top and Bottom

Cut 4 pieces of wood to length for the top and bottom. Apply glue, and clamp to form 2 panels.

I started by joining one end of the side panel assembly to the top and bottom.

Position the side panel assembly on the top and bottom and clamp. Attach using 1-¼” pocket screws.

💡 TIP: To help maintain the proper spacing, temporarily place the extra pieces from Step 2 in between the panels.

Using a drill to attach the top and bottom panel of a DIY sander cabinet

These pocket holes could be tricky to reach. It’s helpful to have a right angle drill attachment. Attach using 1-¼” pocket screws.

Using a right angle drill attachment to drive pocket screws inside of a

Position the remaining panel and clamp. Attach using 1-¼” pocket screws.

Attaching the last side panel for a DIY sander rack

Step 4. Make the Shelves

Cut 4 pieces of wood to length for the shelves. Apply glue to 2 pieces and clamp to form a shelf. Repeat for the remaining pieces.

Step 5. Attach the Back (optional)

Cut 1 piece of hardboard to size for the back. The back could be cut with a table saw or a circular saw.

Apply glue, center the back on the opening, and attach using ⅝” brad nails.

Step 6. Finish the Sander Storage Organizer

To give this project a finished look, you may want to fill the exposed pocket holes with pocket hole plugs.

Related: How to Make Pocket Hole Plugs

Insert shelf pins into the holes at the desired height and place the shelves.

See How Do You Finish the Sander Storage Organizer? for more information.

Video: How to Make a Sandpaper and Sander Organizer

Final Thoughts

Get your sandpaper, random orbit sanders, spindle sanders, sanding blocks, and more organized with this DIY sandpaper and sander storage organizer. It’s easy to make with a few simple cuts and a few common woodworking tools.

Get the free plan (including the detailed instructions and measurements) now!

Thank you for stopping by. If you enjoyed this tutorial, would you please take a moment and pin it to Pinterest? I’d really appreciate it!