Lump
Well-known member
I have been pulling my (thin!) hair out for several weeks and months, trying to find a way to sort out all of my extra USA-made sockets, wrenches, and other tools NEATLY. First I got some small cardboard boxes, and then later some of those cheap plastic shoeboxes. But since my computer is in the basement, I wanted the tools nearby. So the boxes and loose tools were stacked all over the place. Then when company was coming, and might be in the rec room in our basement, I had to put all those boxes and tools away. This meant that they were constantly being UNSORTED into messes again and again. 
Yesterday I went to Sam's club with the wife, and while we were there I spotted a pretty cool rack with bins, which I can now keep near me in my home office, while I am enjoying Garage Journal. And, when I need to find out if I have a particular wrench or socket, I can just spin my chair around and have a look. (Well, ideally speaking, anyway. You wouldn't BELIEVE how many brands of vintage USA-made mechanic's tools there are!)
Anyway, I really like this rolling bin, for this specific purpose. It cost me just about $140, but it was up and loaded with most of my loose tools in less than an hour.
Here is the view from my chair, as I sit at my computer.
It's not yet completely loaded; some bins are still empty. But I have lots of not-yet-sorted tools, and several brands which have not yet been assigned to a bin on the rack.
At bottom left you see one of the larger bins, with two dividers making it into 3 compartments. At left is SK Wayne, middle is Snap On, and right is Thorsen. Note how these bins tilt out nicely. They have slots cut into the bottom bracing, so the bins will tilt without falling at two locations, making them easy to access. The Mac bin, " the N-P" bin, and the Proto/Challenger bin are tilted out to the first notch, while the SK/Snap On/Thorsen bin is tilted out to the second (final) notch.
Not all my excess tools are yet loaded into the gray plastic bins, as you can see. Also note that I am not yet using the cardboard label blanks which fit into the slots provided on the fronts of the bins. I want to be SURE I have finally settled on what-goes-where, before I use the proper labels. Thus, for now I am merely using little pieces of paper inside each bin, to indentify the tools in that bin.
As you might expect, I still have a LOT of extra tools to be sorted and stored properly. Many of the tools on this computer station counter top are oddball brands, or branded only as "Made in USA", etc. Plus, I still have several tool boxes around the home sitting full of my extra tools. And I have my own collection of tools for my shop use. I intend to sort these personal tools a little better, and make sets out of my favorite tools, and fill in blanks from these "extra" tools. THEN I'll finally feel confident about trading or selling some of these old USA-made mechanic's tools. 
Yesterday I went to Sam's club with the wife, and while we were there I spotted a pretty cool rack with bins, which I can now keep near me in my home office, while I am enjoying Garage Journal. And, when I need to find out if I have a particular wrench or socket, I can just spin my chair around and have a look. (Well, ideally speaking, anyway. You wouldn't BELIEVE how many brands of vintage USA-made mechanic's tools there are!)
Anyway, I really like this rolling bin, for this specific purpose. It cost me just about $140, but it was up and loaded with most of my loose tools in less than an hour.
Here is the view from my chair, as I sit at my computer.
It's not yet completely loaded; some bins are still empty. But I have lots of not-yet-sorted tools, and several brands which have not yet been assigned to a bin on the rack.
At bottom left you see one of the larger bins, with two dividers making it into 3 compartments. At left is SK Wayne, middle is Snap On, and right is Thorsen. Note how these bins tilt out nicely. They have slots cut into the bottom bracing, so the bins will tilt without falling at two locations, making them easy to access. The Mac bin, " the N-P" bin, and the Proto/Challenger bin are tilted out to the first notch, while the SK/Snap On/Thorsen bin is tilted out to the second (final) notch.
Not all my excess tools are yet loaded into the gray plastic bins, as you can see. Also note that I am not yet using the cardboard label blanks which fit into the slots provided on the fronts of the bins. I want to be SURE I have finally settled on what-goes-where, before I use the proper labels. Thus, for now I am merely using little pieces of paper inside each bin, to indentify the tools in that bin.
As you might expect, I still have a LOT of extra tools to be sorted and stored properly. Many of the tools on this computer station counter top are oddball brands, or branded only as "Made in USA", etc. Plus, I still have several tool boxes around the home sitting full of my extra tools. And I have my own collection of tools for my shop use. I intend to sort these personal tools a little better, and make sets out of my favorite tools, and fill in blanks from these "extra" tools. THEN I'll finally feel confident about trading or selling some of these old USA-made mechanic's tools.
