Another "How do you store your cordless tools" Thread

[Bessy]

I know many threads exist on the subject, but I'm lazy and I'm purely looking to collect some empirical data on the subject for my own interest. Feel free to post pictures if you have them.

The question relates to tools having a home. Everyone knows the mantra "a place for every thing, and everything in its place", so I'm interested to know from those of you who do regularly or semi-regularly return the tool when you are finished with it, and even those who don't, but wish they did more often: "Do you generally store all of your cordless (and corded) power tools in one place? Or do you have separate "stations", or locations throughout your shop, i.e., drilling/driving, cutting, sanding, etc.?"

I can see benefits to both even beyond the purely esthetic reasons.

 

[bonneyman]

Since I've started accumulating Makita 9.6v drills I'm always on the lookout for OEM carry cases. Luckily I keep finding them reasonable. I put my refurbed drills and such in the cases and put a label on the outside so I know at a glance what's inside. Then store them under my work bench. if I need a drill, I know where they are. If someone needs to borrow one or wants to buy one they're all lined up ready to go.

 

[jsaw]

The ones that I use a lot are on A rack that I made on My cart. Less used ones are in a drarwer in My main box

 

[JWC86]

All of mine are together except my electric ratchets stay with the rest of the ratchets.

 

[bassJAM]

I have a metal wire shelf someone gave me long ago. Top is chargers and batteries. 2nd level is drills and drivers. 3rd level is saws. Bottom level is old corded tools collecting dust.

 

[Shocker]

Everything is in my Milwaukee packout stack. Or in the Ridgid stack for the 18v stuff.

In bags as needed on the shelf.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

It varies. Drills, impacts, and glue gun are hanging near the main toolbox and workbench. The chainsaw, weedwacker, and leaf blower are by the other outdoor equipment. The sawzall, die grinder, and angle grinders are in the welding bench. I have so many different lights they're all over the place. Impact wrench is in the truck toolbox. Vacuum is in the house.

 

[Built To Work]

cheap Chinese racks wife got me - but works

 

[LeeG]

Mostly on pegboard for me. The less commonly used stuff is in systainers.



Lee

 

[Beauregard]

What is the consensus on storing cordless tools with the battery inserted?
Should the new lithium batteries be stored out of the tool?
Thanks
Bo

 

[engineer2]

Most are stored on the top part of my tool chest. Impact driver, drill, 1/2 impact, tire inflator, jig saw, work light, two dual chargers, a bunch of batteries. Orbital sander and ratchet is in a drawer since they don't get used as much.
Outdoor power equipment and related are stored in the shed. Chain saw, leaf blower, lawn mower, string trimmer, recip saw, two dual chargers. Batteries are in the heated garage for the winter.

Makita says to remove the battery from the tool if it is stored for more than 6 months. No idea about other brands.

 

[sparky 1971]

Pretty much wherever they land on my service truck. The exception to that rule is the rotary hammers, which stay in the cases along with the bits. At the home shop they are piled on benches and stowed away in drawers and on shelves. The exception to that is the two impact wrenches and ratchets, all of which are supposed to go in the top of the big tool box.

 

[PhantomEB]

I need to get those tool holders for my drill and impacts which are The most used around here Then put them up on the ‘ceiling‘ of my battery compartment. This would free up room in the drawers.

 

[Bessy]

What is the consensus on storing cordless tools with the battery inserted?
Should the new lithium batteries be stored out of the tool?
Thanks
Bo

I tend to store tools with batteries attached, have been for my entire cordless tool owning period. Haven't killed one yet.

 

[Rounder]

Some of you are a better person than I am. I just have a shelf for cordless tool, with a pile of cordless tools.

 

[fishwatcher]

I only have a couple of cordless tools. The latest are Milwaukee Fuel M12 1/4” impact and 1/2” hammer drill. I hang them by their belt hooks on my workbench shelf.

My old dual source Skil drill and inflator sit on a the shelf behind them, but are pretty much retired. I have a Hitachi cordless screwdriver that’s kept in a toolbox nearby.

 

[FTWingRiders]

I have 3 platforms Makita, Milwaukee and a couple new craftsman.. my most used are on the shelf with the chargers..


Most M18 and M12 are in a slide out cabinet



My automotive makitas are in my toolbox by my lift.

 

[Nutria]

What is the consensus on storing cordless tools with the battery inserted?
Should the new lithium batteries be stored out of the tool?
Thanks
Bo

I doubt if there's a consensus, but I store mine with the batteries out and the chargers unplugged (now-- I used to stored batteries on the tools). There are some threads on this good question.

 

[Adrien]

My stuff is all over the place. Automotive type tools (impacts mostly) stay in my tool cart. Woodworking tools are stored randomly throughout the woodworking area in my shop. Lawn tools are mixed between the shop and the garage but will eventually all end up in the garden shed once I finish it. Contractor-type tools float around my boxes and belts as I need them. I do have all of my grinders in one drawer in my overflow toolbox, but I plan on moving those to a dedicated metal/welding box or getting a rack for them.

Adrien

 

[Bessy]

The ones that I use a lot are on A rack that I made on My cart. Less used ones are in a drarwer in My main box

I quite like your rack! I had been hanging my impacts off my HF 5 drawer, but I don't really like them knocking around when I move it.

How do you like that 12v 3/8" impact?

 

[RegeSullivan]

I keep 2 impact drivers, 2 drills, router, multi tool and a circular saw on a home built rack in my wood working space along with a dual battery charger and 6 batteries. Reciprocating saw, sheet metal circular saw and 4 1/2" grinder stay in a roll-around tool box (these are rarely used at home). Leaf blower and chainsaw stays in the garage. 2 USB chargers and a flashlight in my closet where I also keep a dual charger and 6 batteries for those rare times we lose power and these batteries get cycled for use in the leaf blower and chainsaw.

 

[jsaw]

I really Like the 3/8. It does not have as much power as My Air impact, but it does have a lot of power.

 

[JHForman]

This could be my OCD or my gloom and doom IDK, but my tools are stored on the bench. all batteries are sat on the concrete floor away from anything flammable just in case. I put the batteries on the floor when I leave the shop.

 

[Tactile]

I keep all my Bosch stuff in their L-Boxx system. This might change if I get a space of my own again, but for now it stores well in my apartment and easy to grab and go.

My 12V tools shown in a L-BOXX 136 (1 600 A01 2G0) with 50mm blue L-Boxx foam from Shadow Foam in the UK.

 

[richfinn]

I just hang my drill and impacts on the metal belt clips they came supplied with in the back of my van (which bounces around down rough country roads quite often) never had an issue, I do remove the screw and add loctite to stop them shaking loose.

Find this method takes up the least space.

I keep my M12 cordless ratchet in my tool bag with sockets (it doesn't come with a belt clip)

 

[vwpieces]

I went with PVC pipe that I sized to the tool and cut the slot in it to fit said tool.
I wanted my tools to be stored in upright and Ready position with battery attached... grab and Go.

 

[gahrajmahal]

This is what I built after many years of using a tool bag then loosing the tools while on the job site. The idea was to have a tool caddy that was padded on the bottom so I don’t scratch counter tops and floors and also have most of the accessories I use with the tools. Turns out it makes a great work bench or step stool too. Link:

Cordless Drill/Driver Dock Tote, Ditch your tool bag

First the photos, then the explanation (so you can avoid my boring dribble). The inspiration from the internet: What I made:

www.garagejournal.com

 

[engineer2]

Part of the collection. OPE is in the shed. They are dirty because they get used a lot.

 

[Houdini5150]

I keep them together for the most part. I have wooden storage shelf that I made hung up on the wall with my drills/drivers. I keep my Impact Wrench on my tool cart with the car stuff. My remaining tools sit on a bookshelf that I dedicated the bottom 2 rows for tool and larger hardware storage.

 

[BTL-A4]

I keep the cordless tools (I drink the Limeaide) in the top of my tool chest:


The batteries and vacuum are all on a shelf nearby, next to the plug:


I have one Milwaukee tool: a cordless rotary tool I keep in a drawer. I have an Ego lawnmower I keep in a garden shed, along with the rest of the cordless OPE (string trimmer, hedge trimmer and blower).

I keep everything near where I use it.

 

[mepstein]

Some of mine.
The drawer was always an odd size that I never knew what to do with until HF came out with their $30 tool organizer. It’s perfect for my needs.