Tool Cart Reorganization Time

[Dankotaru]

Well, the office is closed and I've got some extra time on my hands, so I decided to get around to organizing my tool cart.

I have a 26" and 40" Craftsman GripLatch I got used back in 2002 while working as the ASM of Home Improvement (Tools, Paint, Sporting Goods, Lawn and Garden) down at the (now closed) local Sears store. In both cases, the carts were in good shape, the buyers just didn't like them for one reason or another. Small dent in the back, etc.. so I got to mark them down cheap, and then bought them. I stocked them full of Craftsman Professional tools I also got fairly cheap by stacking discounts, coupons, markdowns, etc.. back when a lot of those tools were made by SK and Armstrong.

Anyhow, I had my tools stored in drawer foam for many years (also bought from Sears) and that worked well enough. But as I got more tools and replaced older or broken ones, I got tired of re-arranging and cutting the foam. I also realized that I could put all the tools from both carts into the 40" if I got creative and ditched the foam sheets.

So now I have them organized using aluminum angle. I had a bunch left over from a project I did years ago using the angle as corner trim in a buddy's garage, but not enough. So I bought two more 8' pieces. It costs double now what it did 10 years ago, but it turned out nice. I used some smaller angle to make some trays for my extensions and bits, and I also made a tray with handles for my cleaning brushes. It works well when I'm cleaning the motorcycle to just take the whole tray over and get the chain and engine cleaned off.

I'm happy with how it all turned out, and thought some others might like to see how it worked, so pics are attached.

Socket Drawer:
View media item 102388
Ratchets and Driver Drawer with Tray for Extensions:
View media item 102389
Metric Wrenches Drawer:
View media item 102390
Limited Access Wrenches Drawer:
View media item 102391
SAE Wrenches Drawer:
View media item 102392
Screwdrivers Drawer with Bit Driver Tray:
View media item 102393
My next project is to organize the 26" cart to hold all my measuring tools (torque wrenches, camber gauges, feelers, etc...), testing tools (compression tester, DMM, vacuum gauge, etc..) and the other drawers to organize all my loose hardware (bolts, clips, springs, etc...). Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have the time to do it over the next few weeks.

 

[bherren]

I really like the tray. Did you put aluminum plate on the bottom? Also, did you weld, braze? I can't quite tell from the pictures. The pictures are fine. My eyesight and computer are to blame. lol
Anyway, respect for such a creative idea. I sometimes stumble upon deals on aluminum angle and very well might do some of my drawers like this. For sure I can never get enough trays and may do this asap. Thank you for posting it.

 

[Dankotaru]

My follow-up pics got deleted, so here's the rest.

Pliers and Cutters Drawer:
View media item 102394
Hex and Torx Drawer:
View media item 102395
Clamps and Clips Pliers Drawer:
View media item 102396
Specialty Wrenches Drawer:
View media item 102397
Prybars, Pullers, Picks, and Disconnect Tools Drawer:
View media item 102398
Scraping, Cleaning, Extracting drawer has a removable tray with handles to hold my brushes. I like to just take the whole tray over to the motorcycle when I clean the chain and engine:
View media item 102400
And the bottom drawer has some plastic bins I got at the craft shop to hold all my slide hammer attachments, bearing and seal drivers, impact driver, pickle forks, etc... everything in that drawer needs a hammer to use, and the hammers are stored in some mdf I cut and glued together to hold the hammer heads. The hammer holster is screwed to the bottom of the drawer:
View media item 102401

 

[Dankotaru]

The last drawer is a tall narrow drawer, and I use it to hold all my fluid tools and rags. The brake bleeder, funnels, transfer pump, grease gun, etc... The grease gun holster was made from PVC, as was the bleeder bottle holster. Magnets and some bent aluminum angle attached to the drawer side hold tubes and extensions in easy reach but out of the way.
View media item 102399

 

[Dankotaru]

I really like the tray. Did you put aluminum plate on the bottom? Also, did you weld, braze? I can't quite tell from the pictures. The pictures are fine. My eyesight and computer are to blame. lol
Anyway, respect for such a creative idea. I sometimes stumble upon deals on aluminum angle and very well might do some of my drawers like this. For sure I can never get enough trays and may do this asap. Thank you for posting it.

I made three trays, and they are all made differently. The first one holds my ratchet extensions, and was brazed. I painted it black to match the box, but wish I had just left it sanded aluminum like the other ones. It sits on two aluminum angles I 3M taped to the sides of the drawer, mounted as high as I could while allowing the drawer to shut.

The bits tray in my screwdriver drawer is glued together using some Loctite metal glue. It works well for light duty like this. I wouldn't use the glue for the extensions tray, I think it would be too heavy. In the picture I'm holding it up with one hand by the edge and it's fine for the bits and drivers in there. You can see the same aluminum I used as a ledge for the extension tray is used to make guides on the bottom of the bit tray. The tray simply slides front to back along the top of the aluminum dividers in that drawer.

The cleaning tray is glued and bolted together. The handle is just bent steel rod, threaded for nuts on the end. The rod goes through the aluminum angle used to make the tray, and is locktited with nuts. I put a close up of the underside. I take it out for cleaning tasks regularly and it's held up perfect.

 

[ptgarcia]

Nice work on the trays!

When you're done posting pics of the box, post some of the motorcycles!

 

[Dankotaru]

Thanks! I only have the one right now, a Honda CBR650. I call it my social distancing tool.

 

[jeffmoss26]

looks good!

 

[bherren]

I made three trays, and they are all made differently. The first one holds my ratchet extensions, and was brazed. I painted it black to match the box, but wish I had just left it sanded aluminum like the other ones. It sits on two aluminum angles I 3M taped to the sides of the drawer, mounted as high as I could while allowing the drawer to shut.

The bits tray in my screwdriver drawer is glued together using some Loctite metal glue. It works well for light duty like this. I wouldn't use the glue for the extensions tray, I think it would be too heavy. In the picture I'm holding it up with one hand by the edge and it's fine for the bits and drivers in there. You can see the same aluminum I used as a ledge for the extension tray is used to make guides on the bottom of the bit tray. The tray simply slides front to back along the top of the aluminum dividers in that drawer.

The cleaning tray is glued and bolted together. The handle is just bent steel rod, threaded for nuts on the end. The rod goes through the aluminum angle used to make the tray, and is locktited with nuts. I put a close up of the underside. I take it out for cleaning tasks regularly and it's held up perfect.

I very much appreciate the detailed follow up. You gave me some good ideas to try.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Looks good.....

I may steal some of your ideas, as my boxes are getting to look a little cluttered.

At the same time, my lovely wife tells me that I ave enough tools. She doesn't understand