Garage and tool box organization 101 . . .

[IRQVET]

So I’m on a garage organization kick as of late, as my garage has been is a constant state of total FUBAR with stuff everywhere, no organization, and hobo paths to get from one side of the garage to the other. It also doesn’t help that my wife can’t turn down anything listed for “free” with her usual “I’ll do something with it one day.” I digress, happy wife- happy life.

So I’m looking to get organized. I noticed a few threads with tool box organization from people who seem to heavily into auto mechanics, either semi pro or pro. So it got me thinking (wondering) what other mere mortals (DIY types) are doing to get organized in their garage.

My pitiful first step/ attempt to get organized was to build this box and install modular shelves.

Whats everyone else doing?

 

[kbeefy]

I have some 7' metal racking from costco on one side, and toolboxes and repurposed cabinets on the other side.



You can barely see them in this picture, but I have some metal trays above my toolboxes for an assortment of garage chemicals.



As you can see I also like mounting battery chargers on the wall.

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

Hang on there’s a really long thread about this that I was just reading a few months ago, let me try to dig that up for ya.

Edit: Bingo! I think this is the one, 54 pages of awesome ideas!

What's on your walls? Neat storage ideas!

Ok, I did a search for air tool storage several different ways, but all I came up with was a bunch of cabinets and shelving. I would like to see those trick solutions you came up with. Simple and cheap are always better. Those really troublesome items are great, too. Here are a few of mine...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Ricky Joe]

The hell with it. Buy a six pack and head on down to that **** beach. If it worked yesterday, it will be fine tomorrow, too!

 

[no704]

Take a page from industrial osha flammable storage.

 

[bb29510]

i oranize my shop by pushing everthing in far enough so the door will close

 

[MushCreek]

My problem is too many projects. I have most of a disassembled full-sized pick-up in my shop, a couple disassembled garden tractors in there, as well as several small projects scattered around. I can't put everything away, as there simply isn't enough 'away' to put it all. I do have room for my 18' rowboat (hanging from the ceiling) and I park my '92 Miata in there. It's a pretty good game of Tetris to jockey things around when I have major work to do. I have a pretty good amount of wood working equipment, along with a full machine shop, so not a lot of extra room. BTW- 'hobo paths' is a great description!

 

[619DioFan]

The proper GJ reply is " sell your home , move to a larger property and build a 10,000 square foot shop "

 

[66HertzClone]

So I’m on a garage organization kick as of late, as my garage has been is a constant state of total FUBAR with stuff everywhere, no organization, and hobo paths to get from one side of the garage to the other. It also doesn’t help that my wife can’t turn down anything listed for “free” with her usual “I’ll do something with it one day.” I digress, happy wife- happy life.

So I’m looking to get organized. I noticed a few threads with tool box organization from people who seem to heavily into auto mechanics, either semi pro or pro. So it got me thinking (wondering) what other mere mortals (DIY types) are doing to get organized in their garage.

My pitiful first step/ attempt to get organized was to build this box and install modular shelves.

Whats everyone else doing?

Looks great but those paint cans where the labels are not straight and centered are causing my OCD to be triggered, the top row is perfect but the rest of them.....

 

[zmotorsports]

My last shop was quite a bit smaller than my new one so I routinely performed 5S events at least twice a year. This kept those tools and equipment that were more frequently used front and center and those less used were stored either behind the others, on the overhead shelving or in the house garage or house's basement as a last resort.

My new shop has been much more conducive to keeping a clean working area due to the larger space but it still requires thorough thinking through at times. I have found it useful to put those fabrication tools that don't get used as often on wheels and store them in the next bay over and when needed wheel them into the shop for use, then back into storage once done. This keeps the shop area clean and organized as well as my mind clutter free.

 

[niget2002]

All my stuff is organized by the date it was received.

The older the item, the closer to the back wall it is.

Just kidding. I have no organization. I have shelves, and stuff gets lost on them.

 

[rayra]

I made the best progress when I tried to organize by grouping like materials and making things easy to find and easy to put back where they go. I also tried to have dedicated work spaces with the most frequent items kept near to hand for better efficiency. I hated rooting around all over trying to find a few things for whatever project was at hand.
I also put a lot of stuff on wheel so I could rearrange my work space as needed. Furniture building, I have a large rolling work table. IT's docked to the wall under some hanging cabinets when not needed in the middle of my garage workspace.
Likewise some rolling shelf racks, chock full of automotive-related materials.
I also used a lot of semi-clear totes to organize project-specific stuff. All my irrigation stuff is in a tote. All the home plumbing stuff in a tote. Electrical, in a tote. When I'm off to a friend or relation's place to fix something, I grab the relevant tote and tool bag and I have everything I might need for basic repairs or installations.

I've also got a black rolling cabinet that I want to modify into a mobile cutting station, with a sort of materials rack on its back side. It's in the background of this pic, which is where that big work table usually parks when not in use.
With much of the stuff on wheels, I can collapse or expand the work space as needed.

 

[rayra]

Looks great but those paint cans where the labels are not straight and centered are causing my OCD to be triggered, the top row is perfect but the rest of them.....

 

[pelletman]

My problem is too many projects. I have most of a disassembled full-sized pick-up in my shop, a couple disassembled garden tractors in there, as well as several small projects scattered around. I can't put everything away, as there simply isn't enough 'away' to put it all. I do have room for my 18' rowboat (hanging from the ceiling) and I park my '92 Miata in there. It's a pretty good game of Tetris to jockey things around when I have major work to do. I have a pretty good amount of wood working equipment, along with a full machine shop, so not a lot of extra room. BTW- 'hobo paths' is a great description!

I'm really good at taking things apart!

 

[pelletman]

The proper GJ reply is " sell your home , move to a larger property and build a 10,000 square foot shop "

Why so small?!

 

[Bucko]

The proper GJ reply is " sell your home , move to a larger property and build a 10,000 square foot shop "

The problem with going bigger is eventually you will have to downsize.
We moved to another state and I had lost my detached workshop of about 600 sq' and a couple of sheds. The new house had a very shallow 3 car garage and when I was done building cabinets and dividing the 1 and 2 car part and adding cabinets on that I literally did not have room to hang a dartboard.
We have since moved again and I now have the largest shop I have ever had and I know the next move I will be downsizing. The new shop has had many new additions and is quickly filling up.
In short you never have enough space.....

 

[LWB]

I will never want more then a 2 car. More room more stuff. Okay, maybe a 3 car

 

[IRQVET]

The new house had a very shallow 3 car garage and when I was done building cabinets and dividing the 1 and 2 car part and adding cabinets on that I literally did not have room to hang a dartboard.

THIS!!!

This is part of my struggle. Every garage I’ve ever owned had 3 feet of either side of the garage door opening. So you could tuck in or build a work bench and get storage that way. My house by comparision isn’t shallow, but its narrow with maybe 18-19 inches from the edge of the garage door to the finished wall. Which also adds to my frustration cause what I’ve traditionally done, isn’t going to work here. I did make a dent and organized some tool draws, but I still have ALOT more to do to tame this beast.

 

[MushCreek]

My shop is about 850 square feet, the most space I've ever had at home. It's full, despite being about twice what I had at the last house. At 70, I need to start downsizing- now. I'll be lucky to live long enough to see all of my projects through to completion.

 

[bb29510]

THIS!!!

This is part of my struggle. Every garage I’ve ever owned had 3 feet of either side of the garage door opening. So you could tuck in or build a work bench and get storage that way. My house by comparision isn’t shallow, but its narrow with maybe 18-19 inches from the edge of the garage door to the finished wall. Which also adds to my frustration cause what I’ve traditionally done, isn’t going to work here. I did make a dent and organized some tool draws, but I still have ALOT more to do to tame this beast.

i got the same jeep, mines a 46

 

[LWB]

18" bench in a shed. Might be 19". How much depth do you have?

 

[Zeke]

I like that box in post #1.

 

[1Garageman]

I built some stuff in my small area to store my tools, Milwaukee Battery Powered Tools, and some other things. Air guns, angles, chisels, etc... Nothing fancy, scrap wood, but it keeps things a little organized and I know where it is stored.

 

[48windsor]

My last shop was quite a bit smaller than my new one so I routinely performed 5S events at least twice a year. This kept those tools and equipment that were more frequently used front and center and those less used were stored either behind the others, on the overhead shelving or in the house garage or house's basement as a last resort.

My new shop has been much more conducive to keeping a clean working area due to the larger space but it still requires thorough thinking through at times. I have found it useful to put those fabrication tools that don't get used as often on wheels and store them in the next bay over and when needed wheel them into the shop for use, then back into storage once done. This keeps the shop area clean and organized as well as my mind clutter free.

I like the way u think

 

[zmotorsports]

I like the way u think

Thank you.