Guys Without Lifts: Orginization of Tools on Floor While Working on Cars

Outlawmws · Mar 21, 2012

Crow Horse said:
Geez, another senior moment.......

Or it's the morning after the night before... I haven't done that in ages, but still remember what it's like... :ninja:

Crow Horse · Mar 21, 2012

You remember that feeling you had as a kid in school when you tipped your chair back and found that perfect balance.... and then the jolt when you lost that balance.... I get that all the time.......

steel 35 · Mar 21, 2012

This works pretty well for me; some days its not big enough.

http://www.harborfreight.com/mechanics-roller-seat-3338.html

ElectroLight · Mar 21, 2012

keithwvd said:
I throw all the parts I take off in a cardboard box, but that's about it. Somehow the ratchet/socket/extension I need always ends up on the complete opposite side of the car 100% of the time

...or under the creeper.

MoToys · Mar 21, 2012

StevenBiars said:
Ok, here goes....
Why didn't I think of that?

MXblur said:
Got any pics?

Nothing fancy but works nicely.

Outlawmws · Mar 21, 2012

MoToys said:
Nothing fancy but works nicely.

Nice!

You might consider button head screws with jam nuts on the bottom to keep the inside a bit "cleaner"

MoToys · Mar 22, 2012

Outlawmws said:
Nice!

You might consider button head screws with jam nuts on the bottom to keep the inside a bit "cleaner"

I had originally installed the first castor with the bolts the opposite way but the nuts interfered with the castor pivoting.

NJHandyGuy · Mar 22, 2012

i just use the wheels under my detailing bucket

Moose-LandTran · Mar 22, 2012

Organization..

Outlawmws · Mar 22, 2012

MoToys said:
I had originally installed the first castor with the bolts the opposite way but the nuts interfered with the castor pivoting.

That was why I suggested jam nuts. They are about 1/3 thinner...

NJHandyGuy · Mar 22, 2012

Moose-LandTran said:
Organization..

god that looks maddening

MoToys · Mar 22, 2012

Outlawmws said:
That was why I suggested jam nuts. They are about 1/3 thinner...

I just looked it up. I thought you were referring to nuts with nylon inside which is what I used. What is the intended purpose for jam nuts?

Outlawmws · Mar 22, 2012

Jam nuts are for locking a threaded (whatever) onto what it is screwed into. Example: Spherical rod ends into a control rod. It threads on and can be adjusted for length, then you need to lock it down. The jam nut does that and takes less space.

You should be able to find then at any decent hardware store.

MoToys · Mar 24, 2012

Outlawmws said:
Jam nuts are for locking a threaded (whatever) onto what it is screwed into. Example: Spherical rod ends into a control rod. It threads on and can be adjusted for length, then you need to lock it down. The jam nut does that and takes less space.

You should be able to find then at any decent hardware store.

Duh, like on the control arms on my jeep. Should have realized that.

keithwvd · Mar 31, 2012

I keep things super organized:

Tony N. · Apr 8, 2012

MoToys said:
Nothing fancy but works nicely.

Nice tray. I'm just wondering, since it's metal, why not just use JB weld?

MoToys · Apr 14, 2012

Tony N. said:
Nice tray. I'm just wondering, since it's metal, why not just use JB weld?

Didn't really think of that. Aesthetically I don't really mind the nuts on top.
I have had jb weld failures on other stuff over time. Once I jb welded a golf driver back to the shaft after I cut it down. Worked well for a few years until the head of the driver went flying at the range. :lol_hitti

Tony N. · Apr 15, 2012

haha. Definitely wouldn't use JB weld on moving objects that faces a lot of tension and force. Rolling on wheels should be ok unless your garage is laid down with pebbles.

steel 35 · Aug 27, 2012

Got started on a new one, here is the second tack together the first one was tig and I pushed it twice to square it up, broke into four pieces.

I may epoxy the castor's too it. Standard on the left, Metric on the right and ratchet's / extensions on the top just need a place for the wrenches. Another project I may finnish some day.

davesnothere · Aug 27, 2012

****** tool creepers!
You dudes has the smartness.

NC-Fordguy · Aug 28, 2012

The bad thing about a sheet of cardboard is welding underneath a car.

I use a sheet of homasote(flame retarded) It's dense enough that you can roll a ****** jack around. Also makes it a bit more pleasant during the winter months laying on a concrete slab.

otis66 · Aug 28, 2012

I use two roller seats. I also have a few magnetic trays that work nice for holding my tools and, parts off the ground.

egnorant · Aug 28, 2012

I use some baking trays. About 2 foot by 3 foot aluminum and usually cheap from the swap meet. Kick one under the car when I do about anything as it will catch that stray dropped nut or tool and you just reach under and slide the pan out to retrieve the item.
Set one across a couple of sawhorses and you have a portable tool cart.

Use smaller baking pans for smaller jobs. The 8x10 I got free from work.

I just finished cleaning out my 30 year accumulation of junk from my shop so I may get uppity now that I am not working on busted up asphalt and get fancy tool carts.

Bruce

buening · Aug 28, 2012

When I bought my Craftsman creeper about 10 years ago, it came with a tool creeper with a magnetic strip. Works pretty decent IMO. Below is a pic similar to it. Couldn't find anything like it though doing a search, so it much not be made any more. The one below is from Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Garage-Tool..._Automotive_Tools&hash=item2315b48828&vxp=mtr

MachYou · Aug 28, 2012

I use plastic food trays that you can get from McDonald's or the food court at any mall and I gorilla glued a old magnetic tray to it.

Provincial · Aug 28, 2012

I sort fasteners in the plastic trays from frozen entrees, like Stoffer's. They come in various sizes and shapes and all tend to have flat, stable bottoms. I like the various shapes (which makes them harder to store when not in use) because it is a memory aid when it comes to reassembly (let's see, was the round one the flywheel housing bolts or the pressure plate bolts, or was it the rectangular one?) and the various sizes are nice, too.

steel 35 · Sep 2, 2012

After a few day's pounding on it and a few other projects.

View media item 23512
A stub welded to the bottom that wasn't big enough so I cheated.

View media item 23509
And a couple of it hanging around.

View media item 23510
View media item 23511
Still have a few holes to fill but that's always a good thing :thumbup:

theoldwizard1 · Sep 3, 2012

Outlawmws said:
This, and lay down some large cardboard for you to slide in and out on, this is actually easier at times than a creeper...

Got to agree ! Creeper wheels get caught in expansion joints/cracks.

Down side of cardboard is it gets dirty and then you have to find another big piece !

DanCo · Sep 3, 2012

When I worked at my old truck shop. I took a steel drawer that the parts room was gonna throw out, added some low profile swivel casters, an oversized drawer pull, undercoated the inside and painted the outside to match my box. I think the drawer was 12"x20"x6", served me great, I later put in a long handle on the inside to make it more of a tool tote.

Dan

bluechevy94 · Sep 3, 2012

After seeing this thread I decided I needed something for when working under a car instead of having the tools layed out on concrete.This is what I came up with.Cheap and easy to make.I started with an old cookie sheet some 1/2" plywood and 4 2" swivel casters.I screwed the cookie sheet to a scrap piece of plywood to make it more ridgid.Then mounted the 4 2" swivel casters to the bottom.I also added a drawer organizer to it I got from Dollar Tree for nuts and bolts.All total I think I have $6.00 invested.So here it is my home made Tool Creeper.

Provincial · Sep 3, 2012

Very cool, bluechevy! I like how you put together a unit from everyday parts.

I would make the nut & bolt tray removable so I could take it over to the parts washer.

Outlawmws · Sep 3, 2012

steel 35 said:
After a few day's pounding on it and a few other projects.

View media item 23512
A stub welded to the bottom that wasn't big enough so I cheated.

View media item 23509
And a couple of it hanging around.

View media item 23510
View media item 23511
Still have a few holes to fill but that's always a good thing

That's clever Steel 35! high for lift work, and low w/casters for under a rig! I like it! My one suggestion is to add a "drawer pull" to the top, centered for the center of /gravity, so yo can carry it in a handy way. Maybe a cool old wrench that has little/no collector value fabed into the drawer pull? :dunno:

EDIT just noticed the "Hand hold" in the top! Never mind...

Man, you gave me an idea for something I've been tripping over in my garage for at least 5 years, Its a three wheel book stand (Cast iron stand, wood top) or maybe a dentists tool tray, adjustable for height, and with a small "bread board" built into it. Make something like your tray/tote to set on top, and use it to hold the current tools out on a rig, so I don't have to always find a "flat spot, some where, and just lift it off when I need it under a rig! :rocker:

Thanks!

steel 35 · Sep 3, 2012

The handle was nearly forgotten as you noticed! Glad it gave you an Idea, and post a picture if you think of it....

BullfrogJohnson · Sep 3, 2012

I use a piece of linoleum flooring that I got from my buddy when he was doing home renovations. Easy to slide around on and cleans up nicely to use on the next job. For tools and hardware, I saved all the glad tupperware containers that my wife threw away when they wouldnt come clean. I also make my wife save all the bins that baby wipes come in.

Provincial · Sep 3, 2012

I used to use the baby wipe containers. Even before the kids got too big for them, Costco changed their packaging and you only got one container and a bunch of plastic-wrapped refills instead of individual tubs. I was bummed.

P.S. I use the tubs from frozen entrees (like Stoeffer's) for small parts. Back when I was a bachelor, I had a steady supply. Now that I'm married, they are much less common.

Outlawmws · Sep 3, 2012

steel 35 said:
The handle was nearly forgotten as you noticed! Glad it gave you an Idea, and post a picture if you think of it....

I will!

Provincial said:
I used to use the baby wipe containers. Even before the kids got too big for them, Costco changed their packaging and you only got one container and a bunch of plastic-wrapped refills instead of individual tubs. I was bummed.

P.S. I use the tubs from frozen entrees (like Stoeffer's) for small parts. Back when I was a bachelor, I had a steady supply. Now that I'm married, they are much less common.

The boxes lunch meats come in these days work well for a lot of things...

richfinn · Sep 4, 2012

I like the look of these for working off a jack and stands on the floor.

http://www.tooljack.com/main.htm

Guys Without Lifts: Orginization of Tools on Floor While Working on Cars

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