Hi guys,
Here is another option for pliers neat at the bench.
http://toolsforjewels.com/goods_detail.php?gid=128334&cid=301
Regards,
Mark
toolsforjewels
Sally, I love that you asked this question - there have been a lot of
really creative ways discussed. I have used various things over the
past few years, from a lazy susan that spins to a small wooden box
that had slats - all ‘things’ that sit on top of my bench. I wanted
to get away from having things on TOP of my bench and so, currently I
have them ‘sitting’ on a slightly opened drawer under my bench (or
two drawers). They are at a great height, I can look down and see the
tops, and I can use different drawers at different times. Its odd,
but right now it really works for me!
In addition, my hammer storage has taken an interesting turn. I have
a small selection of my hammers (the mallets and such) sticking up
out of a small ‘rubbermaid’ round wastebasket. I also have a ring
mandrel or two sticking out of it. For some reason, this also just
‘works’ for me right now.
Good luck getting organized!
Janice
Being an avid re-user and recycler has advantages… although does
lead to clutter 
I kept the utensil baskets from the dishwashers
that wore out. One is mounted to the back of the dungeon door, where
it is about eye height. Pliers hang over the sides. The other is
free-standing with a handle. There are six compartments for buffing
sticks and so forth, plus all the sides to hang pliers.
Completely off topic, but those rolling baskets from the dishwashers
are also very useful. When you bend down or cut off the wires used
to hold plates, you have an empty “box” on rollers. It easily rolls
under beds, into closets… you get the idea.
Judy in Kansas, who plans to clean up the garden tomorrow.
I hang my pliers over the lowest edge.
Since I use chain nose pliers 70% of the time, cutters 20% of the
time and round nose 5% of the time, I keep those in my tray in front
of me. All the rest go in a drawer until I need them. One drawer is
everything setting, including setting pliers…
apart from the pile of often-used stuff that lives in front of me (I
can be hugely mess), I have a row of tacks down the side of the
shelves at the back of my bench, which each have a pair of pliers/
snips/a saw hanging from them.
very cheap, takes up no bench space and works for me.
sophie
www.duckduckgoosetuff.co.uk
Here is another option for pliers neat at the bench. http://toolsforjewels.com/goods_detail.php?gid=128334&cid=301
This works pretty much like the dowel CD racks turned upside
down…same basic concept.
Jeanne
jeannius.com
If you have a wall next to your bench you can use a white wire
laundry shelf. The front edge is bent at 90 degrees and the openings
fit the handle of a pair of pliers nicely and a bonus shelf for more
stuff.
have a good one, Jim
A jeweller friend built my bench for me. the frame is of square
steel tubing, which is extended above the top of the bench, then
angled forward to hold the long fluorescent light which is just at
the right height above the bench. (The electric wiring runs up inside
the tubing). To support this extension is a crossbar of the same
steel tubing, at an easy arms reach from my chair.
I tried balancing all my pliers across this, but they slipped off
until I had the bright idea of sticking strips of that non-slip
rubber matting across the entire length of the crossbar. Works pretty
much a treat except when I’m in a hurry and still have my eyes on my
work instead of glancing up to see where I’m putting the pliers. It
also means I can arrange the pliers more or less in their order of
popularity.
My bench also has a raised back and sides so stones and fiddly bits
can’t jump off the bench. I fixed magnetic knife racks to the back
and use the left hand rack for large files and the right hand for my
needle files.
I’m a shockingly untidy worker, and this set up definitely helps me
to keep a bit of clutter off my bench and off the shelf underneath
that catches all my filings.
Jane Walker
I have to put my two cents worth in. In front of the wall I face at
the bench I mounted two bell shaped “stand-offs” like plumbers use
for plumbing. I used the 1/2" diameter pipe about 16" long. it holds
about 20 pairs of pliers at his point and is expandable. All of about
three dollars and satisfied my “copper” fix. The nice thing about the
system, or any system, is it reinforces in me the desire to “put it
back where I found it” as my general pattern is an "organized clutter
and chaos "approach.
What can you recommend as a good "home-made" system to store pliers at my bench so that they are within easy reach?
Here’s a really high-tech and high-priced solution. 
Find a couple
pieces coardboard, like the kind on the back of a pad of letter-sized
paper. Take one & fold it in half, then fold a flap along each
outside edge, about an inch wide. It’ll look sort of like this _/_
Tape those flaps down onto your second piece of cardboard. Done! If
you fold the first piece lengthwise you’ll have a shorter stand
that’ll hold more pliers and if you fold it the other way you’ll have
a taller one that’ll hold fewer pliers. I made one of these 10+ years
ago and it’s holding up great, and I’ve added a second width to it as
I’ve added more pliers to my collection, as well as a mini version
for another work table.
Lisa
Designs by Lisa Gallagher
I use a heavy duty magnetic strip I bought at a local hardware store. It holds pliers, files, tweezers, even un-used ring mandrels until I need them. The strip is in a mounted frame and has holes pre-drilled on ends so one could mount it on a wall or somewhere else.
Steve, do the tools become magnetized over time? Do you have any iron
filings adhering to your tools?
Jason
They are at a great height, I can look down and see the tops,
That’s a really good point Janice. It is a pain when you want
something that’s stored on top of the bench and you have to stand up
every time to be able to select the correct tool.
Helen
UK
Steve, do the tools become magnetized over time? Do you have any iron filings adhering to your tools?
I have had trouble with that on my bench. I accidentally magnetized
my favorite pliers and now they pick up bits of iron that fell off my
tripod mesh - or worse, they’ll get furry after I’ve used steel
wool. I constantly clean them off but always run the risk of
contamination if I’m not very careful.
Please don’t use magnetic strips and save yourself the trouble I’ve
had. It’s not worth the headache.
Jeni
Find a couple pieces coardboard, like the kind on the back of a pad of letter- sized paper. Take one & fold it in half, then fold a flap along each outside edge, about an inch wide. It'll look sort of like this _/\_ Tape those flaps down onto your second piece of cardboard. Done!
I loved your cardboard storage solution Lisa! And the fact that it’s
lasted more than 10 years.
Helen
UK
I took a length of 1x2 and cut two 2’’ lengths and a 12" and a 14"
length. I drilled holes at the ends of the 12" and simultaneously
though the blocks at each end and screwed them into the 14". Then I
drilled holes in the ends of the 14" and mounted the object to a
shelf above my workspace. My pliers rest on the 12" section, (only 8"
available for pliers). Also, I drilled holes in 3" x 12" plywood
about an inch apart from one another and screwed it into the plier
rack and the shelf bottom. I put my gravers, markers and bezel pusher
in the holes.
Without a picture, it’s sort of hard to describe. I made a plier
rack and added a graver shelf. lol
TL Goodwin
Lapidary/Metalsmith
The Pacifik Image
http://thepacifikimagestore.com
Alright, I am revising my description or adding further notes. First
of all I was recalling my rack from a faulty memory. Where I did make
it from 1x2 lengths, it’s longer than described and the 2" blocks
that separate the longer pieces are much smaller than said. And the
Graver rack is not attached to the plier rack. Anyway, I was asked to
post a picture so I made a page.
http://thepacifikimage.com/main/p_rack.html
Also is a picture at the bottom of my workspace as it was at the
moment I took the picture.
TL Goodwin
Lapidary/Metalsmith
http://thepacifikimagestore.com
I have a standard jewelers bench and solved some of my storage
problems by using an old plexi-glass brochure holder that my old boss
used out front in the jewelery store until it got scratched up. The
solid front wall of the pocket keeps the return springs and leafs on
the pliers from catching, the high back wall of the pocket works
great for tweezers and some cardboard paper towel cores stuffed
upright in the pocket itself keeps pencils, picks, scissors, etc.,
upright and organized. It also had a slightly larger foot to prevent
falling on the counter that works well to stabilize it on the bench.
If my job requires benchtop space I just pick up the whole assembly
and set it to one side with no problem. I see these plexiglass units
in similar configurations pretty often. Should be easy to get an old
one or two as needed. Lasts for years.
Yvonne