How do you have stuff organized in your chest? (top to bottom)

[l_bilyk]

This is how I have it right now (mine is a 26" wide so only 1 row)

box

top - impact sockets, 3/8 12 points, flex sockets, favorite ratchet
empty drawer except for an o-ring kit, i think my torx bits and hex and all that stuff will go in here
steering wheels pullers, spreaders, inside bore gauge, calipers
screwdrivers, nut drivers
cutting pliers: end nippers, tin snips, side cutters
clamping pliers: channelocks, adjustable plers, vice grips
bottom - drive tools: ratchets, extensions, speeder handles, breaker bars, t-handles, etc.


rollcab

top - 6 hansen trays with most of my sokets, spark plug sockets, a few odds and ends
junk drawer: light bulbs, fittings, roloc disks, couplers, chisels, stethoscope, circuit tester + more junk
air tools
wrenches
bottom two - grinders, sanders, big 3-sided pullers, cordless drill, grease guns

should i move anything? ideally i would like to have all my sockets on the top, but all the hansen trays don't fit

 

[eschoendorff]

Ya know, it's really hard to answer a question like this because so much is personal preference. It also depends so much on what you spend your time doing (ie: if you were working on farm equipment or something, you would probably want your 1/2" drive stuff closer than your 3/8" stuff).

My own .02...

Start with what you have, and then move things around as needs change. As long as you know that you have the right tools and where they are located at any given time, you should be 75% of the way there. Label your drawers. I know it sounds cheesey, but it has helped me a little.

Once again, just my .02.

Ed

 

[l_bilyk]

Yeah i'm not totally happy with it... i would like to keep all my chrome sockets on top but they just don't fit because of the little dividers welded to the box
I was thinking of cutting them down, but don't want to butcher the box

 

[bmwpower]

Drawer 1 (3 partitions):
1/2" Metric sockets/ratchets
3/8" Metric sockets/ratchets
1/4" Metric sockets/ratchets

Drawer 2:
Metric wrenches

Drawer 3:
SAE wrenches/sockets

Drawer 4:
Screwdrivers/nutdrivers

Drawer 5:
Pliers

Drawer 6:
Hammers
allen keys
files

Drawer 7:
Special tools
Torque wrench
Soldering stuff
Meter

Drawer 8:
Goggles
Tape
Misc tubing
Spring compressor
etc

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Nice way to show off, eh?


I have 2 top boxes and 2 roll cabs


TOP BOX 1

Drawer 1

Miniture screw drivers
Air pressure gauges
Pick up tools
Tape measures

Drawer 2

Metric nut drivers
Rivit gun
Valve Lapping tool

Drawer 3

Tap and die set
Tin snips
Knives

Bottom Box

Drawer 1

Teflon tape
Electrical tape
JB Weld
Glue
Silicone gasket maker

Drawer 2

Files

Drawer 3

Carbide burs
Plastigauge
Screw extractors
Reading glasses

Drawer 4

Drill bits

Drawer 5

Channel lock pliers
Ring pliers
Stork needle nose pliers
Oil filter wrench

Drawer 6

Vice grips
Common pliers
Wire strippers
Radiator hose pliers

Drawer 7

Chisels
Punches
Adjustable wrenches
Pickle fork
Ball joint seperater
Lady feet pry bars
Pry bars
Scrappers
Cotter pin puller
Scribbers

Drawer 8

Ratchets
Extensions
Speed handles

Drawer 9

Micrometers in mm
Feeler gauges
Torque wreches
Caliper gauge

Drawer 10

Air tools (ratchets, impact gun, drill, die grinder, chisel)
Oil pump primer
Dial indicator
Crankshaft socket
Magnetic bridge

Drawer 11

Timing light
Radiator hose tools
Clutch alignment tools

Drawer 12

Coil spring compressors
Piston ring compressor
Piston ring installation pliers
Cam installation handle
Carb stand
Piston ring filer

Second Top Box

Drawer 1

Hose pinch pliers

Drawer 2

Spark testers
Gasket punches
Spark plug wire pullers

Drawer 3

Allen keys

Drawer 4

Older timing lights
Remote starter

Drawer 5

Compression gauges
Oil pressure gauge

Drawer 6

Multi meter

Drawer 7

Number punches
Letter punches
Air hose adaptors
Air pressure gauges

Drawer 8

Tubbing benders
Tubbing cutters

Drawer 9

Circut testors
Door trim tools

Drawer 10

Screwdrivers

Drawer 11

Metric combination wrenches
Metric line wrenches
Metric midget wrenches
Metric gear wrenches
Metric ignition wrenches

Drawer 12

SAE combination wrenches
SAE line wrenches
SAE midget wrenches
SAE gear wrenches
Distributor wrench

Second Roll Cab

Drawer 1

Hand sockets in all 3 drives
Torx sockets in male and female
Phillips sockets

Drawer 2

Impact sockets in 1/2" drive (Metric and SAE)
Swival sockets in 3/8" drive (Metric and SAE)
Battery terminal brushes

Drawer 3

Cooling system tester
Harmonic balancer installation/ puller tool
Spindle dies

Drawer 4

Brake tools
Brake caliper tools
Brake bleeder tools

Drawer 5

Micrometers in SAE
Gear pullers
Heat gun
Soldering iron
Wire wheels

 

[mikeyr]

In the order of what I use the most.

1st. drawer BSF and Witworth
2nd. drawer, metric, 3/8's and 1/2'
3rd. drawer, screwdrivers and pliers
4th. drawer misc tools
5th. drawer SAE tools (hardly ever use them)
6th. drawer, torque wrenches, timing light, VOM

second box, all the other just like pullers, brake tools, welding stuff, junk that is to bulky to go in drawers under workbench.

 

[Tim240Z]

No real method to what I put where, only that I put the heavier stuff as low down as possible so that the tool box isn't top heavy...makes it easier to roll around and less likely to fall over in an earthquake.

 

[SuperKid]

Organize your chest? BWAHAHAHAHA! Is this some sort of joke? J/K! I havn't really gotten around to organizing my tools yet. I still need to buy a larger box and some more tools. Then I'll organize them.

 

[ampegor]

Top of box 3/8 1/2 3/4 sockets. shallow/ deep/ impact / special etc

top left drawer 1/2 and 3/8 drive ratchets and extensions

Top right drawer all wrenches under 1" and 24 mm

second left screwdivers

second right pliers (all types)

third left 1/4 drive sockets and ratchets etc. standard and metric hex keys

third right misc stuff, scrapers, mirrors, magnets, knives, feeler guages etc

fourth left pipe wrenches and adjustables

fourth right prybars, punches etc

fifth left hammers

fifth right air tools


thats just my top box.
thye bottom box and the two wall cabinets are full too but not strictly organized

Andy

 

[OctaneMotorsports]

Top: Sockets. Deep drive, 1/4", 3/8", 1/2". Standard drive, 1/4", 3/8", 1/2".
Top left drawer: Timing equipment. AIM Multichron stopwatch, notepad, pens, etc.
Top middle drawer: Wallet, keys, phone, etc.
Top right drawer: Spare hardware, etc.
First drawer: Ratchets, extensions, speed handle, nut drivers, etc.
Second drawer: Wrenches. Metric and SAE. Standard, stubby, ratcheting etc.
Third drawer: Hex. T-handles, L-keys, hex sockets.
Fourth drawer: Screwdrivers. Standard, stubby, ratcheting, offset, prescision.
Fifth drawer: Pliers, pressure guage, hammer, mallet, cable luber, chain breaker and other karting specific, etc.

Bottom box:
First drawer: All my pneumatic tools.
Second: All my electric hand power tools.
Storage space: Fluids, chemicals, cleaners, etc.

 

[stimpy]

Hmmm , top of box ( lid area ) Mt trashmore , anything like booklets and gloves and parts that haven't found a home yet goes up there ,

Top Drawer : 1/4 inch drives, sockets and tool bits and electric 1/4 inch rachet
2nd drawer : 3/8 drives, and extensions and universals
3rd drawer , left side 3/8 metric 6&12 pt shallows , right side 6&12pt American Std.
front of drawer deep metric and Amer.stand. 6 &12Pts
4th drawer : left 6pt comb wrenches American standard , right 12pt comb wrench
front of drawer offset boxes A.S., along left side Lifter wrenches ,
along right side fuel pump wrench and hydraulic wrenches
5th drawer : metric wrenches set up as above and backup wrenches
6th drawer : screwdrivers too many to try to sort so hog pog.

upper right drawer: junk drawer ( lenses for welding , safety wire ,
pens , pencils , razorblades and carpet knives)
URD #2 : pliers , visegrips , channellocks , linemans pliers
URD #3 :HEX Key Sets, Torx Key sets , snap ring pliers

Middle Cab : Blue Knocker set , red rags , spring Hone , BFW ( 24 inch adjustable wrench )

Lower cabinet :
1st Drawer : 1/2 inch drives and sockets on rails, I barely use this drawer
2nd drawer: brake tools , line wrenches , flaring tools , special line tools ( ford fuel line removers)
3rd drawer: Pullers and hammers , chisels
4th drawer : saws and files
5th drawer : Air tools ( sold my compressor years ago haven't bought a new one.
6th drawer :impact sockets
7th drawer : electric die grinder , heatgun , electric wire and sheathing , zipties right drawers lower cabinet ( RDLC for short )
RDLC 1 : more junk like little plastic containers filled with fastners , ear plugs ,
RDLC#2 : scrapers ,brushes, and picks and other devices to stab yourself with .
RDLC#3 : oil filter wrenches
RDLC#4 : pipe wrenches and plumbing wrenches
RDLC #5: clamps
RDLC#6 : Rive guns and riv-nut tools
RDlC#7 : the big junk drawer ( air dryers, line oilers ,big pullers , extra drill bits in
coffee cans
side cabinet
drawer 1: safety wire tools
drawer 2: syringes
drawer 3: important papers ( snapon bills , owners manuals , porting templates ,
cubby hole top : VOM meters and analysers
cubbyhole bottom : extra welding wire spools , battery charger , extra cans of
safety wire ,

I am not going to list the other boxes as theres too much to list .

 

[RANDY SNYDER]

Man, I can't wait to really get started on this board and share my garage and projects. I'm right now putting together my tool chest. This is a great help. Thanks.

 

[davestlouis]

I'm a lot like Stimpy, 1/4 drive sockets and ratchets on top, 3/8 in the next drawer, 1/2 below that, the rest I'm still playing with, just got a big Matco ProFormance rolling cab with too much room for what I have right now...it'll fill up, I'm sure of it.

 

[tweety652]

pics please{aka TOOL ****} need it and need it NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[arkracing]

I'm sorry but:



I can't "read" about where your tools are, that's too much work

 

[Danglerb]

I have no sense over what should go where, but its slowly filling the box. Main trouble are all my screwdrivers and screwdriver type things.

I think I am hooked on the Mechanics Time Saver socket holders. The magnets have enough grip to hold it upside down, but easy release, and its obvious where stuff goes back. Only downside is the price since I want to try a couple styles, upright and sideways.

 

[toolfreak]

The mechanic time savers are nice until they fall off what you're working on. It takes forever to find all the sockets and put them back into the holder.

 

[comp]

I'm sorry but:



I can't "read" about where your tools are, that's too much work

i agree

 

[ultgar]

Here's a link to some pics..... http://www.ultimategarage.com/storage/mw900-fac1.htm .

SD

 

[OldCarGuy]

Here's a link to some pics..... http://www.ultimategarage.com/storage/mw900-fac1.htm .

SD

Incredible!

Quite a few Garage Junkie members have some nice tool collections..
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466&highlight=tool+storage

 

[caspian65]

Typically, you will want the most frequently used to be the easiest to access. Put the frequent use tools in the drawers that require the least movement of your arms and body to access. Pretty simple ergonomics rules apply here. Of course, the size of the cabinet drawers will also dictate, largely, where tools are placed.

My top big drawer on my SO KRL1003 is filled with sockets and ratchets, which is what the drawer is designed for. The next drawer is screwdrivers, followed by pliers, followed by wrenches.

http://www.early-mustang.com/charles/tools/

 

[sctattooer]

So I guess I'm the only guy in the forum who keeps a .45 in his tool chest?

 

[Uncle Buck]

Here's a link to some pics..... http://www.ultimategarage.com/storage/mw900-fac1.htm .

SD

Incredible!

I think I see a new tool storage system in your future Old Car Guy!

 

[TNToy]

The stuff you use most in the top, full-width, deep drawer.

Work your way down to stuff you rarely use, and bulky items like cases for compression testers, etc.

That lista cabinet is nice, but organized inefficiently: At least for a service tech, stuff I use a lot is 4 drawers down all the way at the back and it wastes a LOT spaces with those 'facom tool modules' - look at the pliers drawer, for example.

Where the heck are all the sockets?

 

[caspian65]

I'm glad someone else thinks that lista box is organized strangely!