Rake, shovel, and other long handle tool storage question

[tuner4life]

As I'm sure most of you do, I have several rakes, shovels, and other misc long handled tools that need a place to go. They have always just been in a corner on top of eachother, and are always falling over and just a huge pain. I have been around to several home improvement stores and hardware stores and have yet to find a solution that I liked. I have seen everything from a metal rail with hooks to hang things, to an intricate setup with jaws held tight together with rubber bands to clamp the tools. I want a setup that doesn't require a handle on the tool (so it would be able to clamp tight enough onto the shaft to keep from sliding down), and wont drop tools easily when bumped.

Since I am planning in having this type of tool storage on a wall that is only a couple feet away from where I park my car, I want something of some considerable quality. On that same note, It's a rake/shovel holder so I don't need any multi-hundred dollar contraption either.

What are you guys using? Which ones do you like/dislike? Where did you find it? what did it cost? and most importantly, Pictures?

Thanks

 

[Nutty 5.0]

I'm using a very basic steel setup that you can tell they make them out of stamped steel and punch out sections that are bent away where the tools hang. I've used them since the beginning and they've been fine, but I do keep them up high so that I can still reach them but won't get bumped.

Working on some pics once I find them online...

 

[lowcountrygamecock]

I used gladiator gear track. Every couple weeks Sears runs a buy one get one free on the track. Where they get you is with the hooks as they are a little pricey. Still though it's a neat and clean way to do it and it's adjustable if you want to change your mind about arrangement. I ran two 4' pieces stacked on top of each other with about 18 inches clearance between them. I hang the shorter stuff like the ax and short shovel on the bottom row and the longer rakes and shovels on the top row. Makes for a clean solution, just a little pricey.

 

[Displaced Hokie]

First off, I can't say enough to get stuff like this out of the garage. It's always dirty, the risk of falling on the car, etc. We do a lot of landscaping, yard work, vegetable gardening and I don't have time to everything spotless before I put it away. But then again, I may be be the odd man out.


If you have to, this looks decent (and has rollers)

Suncast tool holder

I have one of those plastic racks where the tools go through the holes in the top. Works well, and I have it under my carport/shed. Holds all the tools (four shovels, hoes, cultivators, sling blade, etc) I have. In the winter I just hit the tools with some WD-40 to keep rust down. In one house, I actually mounted it horizontal under my deck which worked well. Tools got a little wet, but didn't damage them.

How about one of these?

 

[Falcon67]

Yard. Watch your step.

 

[WWIIjeep]

...I have seen everything from a metal rail with hooks to hang things, to an intricate setup with jaws held tight together with rubber bands to clamp the tools. I want a setup that doesn't require a handle on the tool (so it would be able to clamp tight enough onto the shaft to keep from sliding down), and wont drop tools easily when bumped.

I'm not sure I'd trust something with rubber bands, even "industrial strength" rubber bands.

The type of holders I like grip the handles by gravity and pressure from the weight of the tool.

One style as shown here:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/BASSICK-Hand-L-Hold-Storage-Device-6A111?Pid=search

Just mount a series of them on a 2x4 attached to the wall, and space them to match the tools.

Or you can get rail-mounted ones:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/TOUGH-GUY-Powder-Coated-FinishMop-And-Broom-22N326?Pid=search

Another is a hinged vinyl-coated S-hook. Set the tool handle in the lower part of the S, let go, and the hinged part drops down to pin the tool handle in the S by friction. I think the last ones we got of that style came from the local Ace Hardware. The S-hook style is a little more awkward to use than the cam style, but the nice thing about the S-hook is that even if you bump into whatever is hanging from them, it won't fall outward, where the cam style might, if hit hard enough.

There are also spring-clip style holders, but my experience with those has been that they work better for light stuff like brooms than they do for heavier tools.

 

[tuner4life]

The type of holders I like grip the handles by gravity and pressure from the weight of the tool.

One style as shown here:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/BASSICK-Hand-L-Hold-Storage-Device-6A111?Pid=search

Just mount a series of them on a 2x4 attached to the wall, and space them to match the tools.

These seem to be about the best option I can come up with. I am worried about the tools falling outward. I might rig up a little latch or something to cover the front once they are stored.. Thanks.

 

[whatuusay1]

Here's what I did - I have 2 of the Sams Seville rolling cabinets. one is for storage and one doesnt have any shelves and its for rakes, shovels etc. I put in a length of slatwall on the inside for hooks. This could be done cheaper of course with just wood and traditional hooks but i liked the look of the slatwall. I used 1x6 as backing on the rear of the cabinet for stability - and then 1x6 inside the cabinet on the left and right sides - small hooks for small hand yard tools / long levels etc. When closed it keeps all that mess out of sight. Ignore the rest of the mess in the garage.. its much better than when i started.

Sams Club Cabinet Link --> http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1490064&navAction=push

 

[JasonW]

In my 'garage' all my yard tools are jumbled together between two cabinets so no help there, but when I was a child my dad had a good system that held the tools through several earthquakes. I believe that it came from Sears. It consisted of a horizontal track attached to the wall. Every 4 inches or so there was a hinged wire hook (think inverted cloths hanger hook only more 'U' shaped) coated with rubber or vinyl. To hang a tool you would lift up the hook and place the tool within. As you let go, the tool dropped back against the wall secured by gravity between the upper and lower halves of the hook. I remember a chair falling out of the rafters and hitting my mom's car but never a tool getting loose.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I think I'd be tempted to glue a bunch of 36" long pieces of 2" ID PVC pipe together and make it self supporting. Easy to drop in any handle in any hole.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I use a piece of board and really big nails.

I concur with 'get them out of the garage'. While mine are secure and in the corner, they still have a way of getting in the way to clutter up that corner. They need to go in a shed.

 

[SCWOOD]

I drilled a hole in the end of the handle.Put a short piece of string in a loop in the handle then hang on a screw or nail.

 

[Steevo]

My wife's methodology is generally to store rakes in the yard, tines up, preferably covered by just enough leaves to render them invisible until you step on them. Shovels are kept half-shoved into the ground at various places around the property, but never where they can be seen from any vantage point you might normally occupy. This keeps them rusting continuously, the handles cracked and splintered, and makes them impossible to find when you need one.
Hedge clippers and garden shears should be left hanging from branches where they were last used, or set on top of walls just out of sight, but fully exposed to the elements.
I on the other hand think these should all be stored in the garden shed, not the garage, and hung on proper hooks to support them.

 

[gahrajmahal]

We did this on another post. Check out my version for shovels & stuff.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2219408#post2219408

Gahrajmahal

 

[theoldwizard1]

This works best on garages that do not have interior walls.

Simply nail some 2" finish nails part way in along the top plate, spaced between the studs. Drill holes in the handles. For "D" handle shovels, I just use a an 8d or 10d nail.

 

[Kevin54]

This is the style some of the others above are talking about. They hold a heavy item very well as long as the handle fits the hook.

 

[kartracer23]

I've got a few of the cam locks in a closet at my office. I don't trust them. I've actually hung things on them (mops & squeegees mainly) and gone in a week later & found them on the floor. I have the only key, so it wasn't someone messing with them.

 

[mdbeck1]

No pics but I think most of you can probably visualize the trashcan in the garden shed with most of the long handled tools stuck in handle first.

Once in a while SWMBFAO or the son will put one in upside down and bury it. Then of course when I need it I have to unload the tools from the trash can.


Subscribed.... maybe there's a better mouse trap.

 

[sberry]

Mine probably isnt for you.

 

[GTO]

Shed.
Those are things my wife uses. Her stuff goes in the shed. The lawn mower is in there too.

 

[bighouse01]

Shed. Build one and you will be shocked by how instantly uncluttered your garage becomes.

Mine is 9x12, yeah i know.. but thats how big the nice existing slab was!! was gonna do 8, but that extra foot is great.

 

[tuner4life]

Quick update, For now, putting them in the shed is not feasible (although this is the plan down the road).

I found this setup at menards (Nowhere else I have been to has anything like it):

Track: (I painted mine red, of course. It was meant to be red)

http://www.menards.com/main/storage...t-tap-mount-track-white/p-1656458-c-12657.htm

Attachments: (I just got some of the "S" hooks for now, but there are lots of different hangers.)

http://www.menards.com/main/storage...-handle-holder-platinum/p-1656579-c-12657.htm

Lot's of the attachments are on Menards website in the same section linked above.

It seems to be about the best quality for the money. It is a rail that bolts to the wall and there are a couple dozen different attachments that work with it, everything from small hooks, to trays, to brackets to add a shelf above it, etc... It looks like a really solid system and is pretty cheap considering it's versatility. My favorite part, the attachments lock into the rail. You use a hammer and one light "pop" and they are solidly attached, one "pop" the other way and they come off again. They don't seem like they will come off by just bumping though. It seems very solid.

Will post pictures of it mounted as soon as I can.

 

[Steroblan]

Good luck with the project. Maybe a better mousetrap has been found. In my garage, I found the mysterious gremlins too often found a way to lay waste to what ever was within the trajectory of my falling garden tools. The inevitable "i'm sorry" doesn't do body work. The 10 x 30 garden shed to the rescue.

 

[lsrx101]

Mine probably isnt for you.

Not for the OP, but variations of that are a familiar sight. That, and a hole in the handle to accept a nail. Storing long handled implements with widely different heads is a real PITA to do neatly, conveniently, and securely.
Pick 2 and it's pretty easy.

I'm a big fan of a separate shed for "yard and garden stuff", I'm just not there yet.

 

[tuner4life]

Here's a couple quick pictures of what I got. Only have a few hooks mounted for an example. I painted the track red (comes white). I only have "s" hooks for now, but do plan on picking up another rail and other various attachments very soon. I am really happy with it!

Like the ones shown, several of the attachments have set screws so they cant come off of the rail. It's a very good setup.


Don't mind my horrible walls.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I may have posted pics of this before.

Perfect thing to use up worthless space between the garage doors. I use a bungee as insurance to keep one from falling onto a vehicle. Once the garage shed is done, they will be getting moved out there.

 

[akdiesel]

Here's a couple quick pictures of what I got. Only have a few hooks mounted for an example. I painted the track red (comes white). I only have "s" hooks for now, but do plan on picking up another rail and other various attachments very soon. I am really happy with it!

Like the ones shown, several of the attachments have set screws so they cant come off of the rail. It's a very good setup.


Don't mind my horrible walls.

That is a really nice set up.

 

[Kevin54]

Here's a couple quick pictures of what I got. Only have a few hooks mounted for an example. I painted the track red (comes white). I only have "s" hooks for now, but do plan on picking up another rail and other various attachments very soon. I am really happy with it!

Like the ones shown, several of the attachments have set screws so they cant come off of the rail. It's a very good setup.


Don't mind my horrible walls.

Tuner...where did you get that at? I may pick one or two up for my shed.

 

[carhunter]

First off, I can't say enough to get stuff like this out of the garage. It's always dirty, the risk of falling on the car, etc.

This! I can't get my wife to understand that the garage is for cars, mechanics tools, and projects. Not to stack kids toys and gardening stuff.

So I built her a shed. Stuff still ends up in the garage!

 

[mdbeck1]

This! I can't get my wife to understand that the garage is for cars, mechanics tools, and projects. Not to stack kids toys and gardening stuff.

So I built her a shed. Stuff still ends up in the garage!

I used to have the same problem. Until I started putting it back in the HOUSE!

Of course a fight ensued but now she ASKS before just dumping it in the garage.

 

[tuner4life]

Tuner...where did you get that at? I may pick one or two up for my shed.

I got them at Menards. They really weren't very expensive either.

 

[Criss]

craftsman storage cabinet]Here's what I did - I have 2 of the Sams Seville rolling cabinets. one is for storage and one doesnt have any shelves and its for rakes, shovels etc. I put in a length of slatwall on the inside for hooks. This could be done cheaper of course with just wood and traditional hooks but i liked the look of the slatwall. I used 1x6 as backing on the rear of the cabinet for stability - and then 1x6 inside the cabinet on the left and right sides - small hooks for small hand yard tools / long levels etc. When closed it keeps all that mess out of sight. Ignore the rest of the mess in the garage.. its much better than when i started.

Sams Club Cabinet Link --> http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod1490064&navAction=push[/QUOTE]

Thats a sweet setup, how do the doors latch? I have been using craftsman cabinets you can see here.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166722

But they latch on the center shelf, I like as much as possible hidden behind the closed doors of the cabinets. Those sams club cabinets would be perfect (if they were red) to hide away all the long handled tools hanging on the wall.