A different cordless tool organization question

[jives]

Much has been threaded about cordless tool organization, mostly about storage cabinets, shelves, and brackets and charging stations. My question is a bit different, and that is, do you separate the tools based on function or do you store them together?

I've just picked up my first large cordless tool set (Makita) and have been waiting to build an over-the-counter wall hung tool cabinet for convenient access to the most used tools while working at the counter. This unit will hold mostly woodworker's tools -- hammers, chisels, screwdrivers, pliers, saws, squares, etc. Having the cordless drill, impact drill, and perhaps even the circular saw right at hand would be helpful (along with the charging station), but other tools would rarely get used at the counter and would only take up prized space. If I included the reciprocating saw, oscillating saw, and foreseeable other tools, there won't be any room for the non-powered hand tools. These tools would stored elsewhere in drawers.

My alternate plan would be to turn an old AV cart into the cordless tool center. The one below is very much like the one I have. It has its own built-in extension cord and is easily mobile. I would need to add shelving and brackets and a hanging system.

So, keep all the Makitas together in a mobile cart, or split them up based on convenience, function, and need?

BTW, the tool choice was in large part due to my son sharing my garage space and he has some Makita tools. By sharing we can maximize our tool dollars and simplicity of battery usage. So, I've become a Makita guy. . .I'm okay with that even though I grew up in my dad's construction business where only Milwaukee corded tools were used. Fond spot for Milwaukee.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Utility and good use of space depend completely on you, your space and how you use it, but that looks like a big space user for a very small volume of tools.

I have my drill and driver up overhead with a HF bar magnet for bit storage above them. No floor space used, and I can grab or store either of them without moving from my primary work spot. The other cordless tools tend to almost 100% move to the job so they stay in tool bags under a bench. The cart you have looks like it would be ideal as a charging station for batteries and storage for the less used tools.

 

[LXCam]

I vote for everything in one spot. It makes for an easy identification if something is amiss and convenient to grab a fresh battery or dedicated accessories. In my case I have all my cordless Milwaukee stuff in one drawer with the exception of my grinder that lives with all his corded buddies in another box because I'm out of space in the other. The chargers are in another location away from any potential damage. It drives me nuts that everything isn't in one location even though everything is within 20ft of each other. It's just very handy IMO to go to one location knowing the entire collection is right there.

Btw, I like the idea of the cart. I think you should run with it.