Garage Organization: The little stuff

[chicane]

I hate to hit on something that may have been hit on before but I am in dire need of organizing in my garage. I cannot find anything. I have all of the usual bins but it always seems as though they are inaccessible or I just cannot find what I am looking for. I need some ideas either for something custom or a set of drawers with bins. Any ideas are appreciated as are pics. Thanks.

 

[birdman1]

I am still trying to get my shop in order. I have a buddy Mr. Organized, I call him. He has paint rattle cans in an on the door shoe holder. It has clear plastic so you can see just which can to choose. Now that's only part of what he organizes. I am trying to get him to join us an send some pics.
Mike

 

[rickairmedic]

Chicane one thing that has helped me to organise is Labels . I am still knee deep in the process but most of the bins and drawers in my shop have labels on them so I can remember what the heck is behind door number 3 .


Rick

 

[Jack Olsen]

You've got to go way overboard at first -- then it's easy to maintain.

 

[chicane]

You've got to go way overboard at first -- then it's easy to maintain.

SWEET. Where did you get the cabinets with the bin slots?

 

[rickairmedic]

Here Chicane this will take up several hours of your time and give you a full tour of the Olsen Shrine and also give you answers on Jacks cabinets .

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55006&highlight=guage


Rick

 

[TLCDino]

Read Jack's thread.... So awesome!

 

[RoarkIndustrialSolutions]

Akro and Quantum are good fits for small parts storage. For dividable containers, I also represent Flambeau (http://www.flambeaucases.com)

There are multiple sources for the hinged door cabinets like Jack has. However, he was able to pick up some Stronghold ones that are exactly that. Tanks of the industry. All welded construction.

If I can help with any other questions, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at [email protected]. I've worked with multiple GJ members.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Yes, mine are made by Strong Hold and I picked them up second-hand.

(Well, 'picked them up' is overstating it. They weigh 800 pounds each. I could only move them with dowel rods and a come-along.)

The bins are cheap ones from Harbor Freight -- but they do the trick.

 

[bczygan]

I admire all those like Jack, who are able to put everything behind closed doors. That is the ultimate organization. But I wonder how much work it is each time they need to do a project. For a general purpose space, this is probably the best way to approach organizing.
If I was going to set up a space to do a particular task, I would start by considering all the tools and the materials required and plan to have them right at hand and in plain view. Create specific work centers with all the associated tools and materials. A combination of this is to have a general purpose work area, with machines stored on rolling bases, that you move into this area when needed. Fold down work surfaces, like Jack has are a good idea. Also consider your ceiling and attic space as places where things can drop down for access. I like racks that swing out or drop down for access to tools, with doors that cover them to keep off dust. I would put tools in multiple rolling carts to easily move them to the work as needed. Open hand totes and small hand carried tool boxes help here too. Portable lighting is a useful tool. Automatic reels for air and power and light hoses help organize a space. Lighting is a critical element in defining spaces and putting task lighting exactly where it is needed in work areas. Color codes can be used to specify work areas and also to define storage items. Signage and labels are a good way to show what is in a particular storage unit. Texture and color can also define and separate work spaces. They can also be an element that creates a unifying theme like the green color on all the cabinets in Jacks garage. Think about all the surfaces and how they need to vary to suit their purposes. Think about reflective surfaces near lighting sources. Think of glossy surfaces for easy cleanup. Think of matt finish surfaces for traction. Think of mats for work areas to reduce fatigue.

 

[ChristopherLutz]

Personally,

I'm impressed you guys can KEEP your stuff organized. I'm the king of getting everything cleaned up only to work until the very last minute on the next project leaving zero time (or energy) to clean up.

Repeat that process above about 10 times....then I dedicate a whole weekend to "getting organized" again. <sigh>

Now...when I am organized...here's what I do with the little stuff:

I used clear fishing tackle boxes from Bass Pro Shops ($2.99) and blue masking tape to make labels. I've got a box for wood screws, a seperate one for washers, a seperate one for bolts, nuts, etc. In all, I have about 20.

They stack very nicely and it's easy to grab the one or two i need for a project and bring them out.

If you do the "open bin" route (like Jack's above) - I strongly suggest you put them behind closed doors - (like Jack). I had open bins in pegboard for a while and they collected all sorts of dust and dirt in them.

As you search the threads, I think you'll notice "organization within organization". This helps too. In Jack's example above, he can quickly pull a red bin out to the work bench do a project and then just put the red bin back. If you make it too hard to put stuff away, it will never get done.

TRUST ME

 

[ddawg16]

One of the keys to oganization is to first clean up.

If you have moved it 6 times, don't have a planned use for it yet....time to let it go...sell it or throw it away......

That was the case with a cabinet we had out on the back patio...we planned to clean it up and use it...but for what? It wouldn't hold tools...It's really made for hanging fiile folders...(I have plenty of space for those already)....so it's going by by.

I would suggest that the next full Sat you have...pull everything out of the garage....if it can hang...hang it on the wall....otherwise it goes into one of two bins....keep bin or trash bin....

Good chance you can get rid of 20% of your stuff....once you see what you really have, then it gets easier....

 

[chicane]

Yes, mine are made by Strong Hold and I picked them up second-hand.

(Well, 'picked them up' is overstating it. They weigh 800 pounds each. I could only move them with dowel rods and a come-along.)

The bins are cheap ones from Harbor Freight -- but they do the trick.

I love the idea but I'm going to have to pass. 800 pounds each, yikes. I would have a hernia by the time I finished moving those bad boys in my garage.

 

[lowbucktruck]

I love the idea but I'm going to have to pass. 800 pounds each, yikes. I would have a hernia by the time I finished moving those bad boys in my garage.

Best suggestion would be to keep watching your local craigslist ads for deals on used cabinets. I picked up two cabinets not long ago from a used office furniture store for cheap; both have doors and roll-out shelves on glides. Those two cabinets now serve as the home for the majority of my power tools. (and I even put a workbench top on them).

Find a good deal on metal cabinets, then get your bins. I would recommend measuring the space (width and depth) where you plan to place the cabinet first, so you are shopping for the appropriate cabinet size for your space.

 

[Quint]

Cabinets
Garage Sale
Shed
Overhead Shelving
Bins (or just use empty Jelly jars or something creative)
Large toolbox
Pegboard/Slatwall
Or just follow Jack's ideas. Seems to be the way to go!

Hardest part is getting started. Best of luck to you!

 

[Mattlt]

Something that's worked pretty well for me... I use the shoebox sized clear plastic boxes and stack them on shelves, no more than 3 high. Labels on both ends of the box.

I fill them with related stuff. One for plumbing, one for electrical, one for misc hardware, etc. When a box gets too full, I split it up into two boxes. The one electrical box may become a box for low-voltage electrical and another box for 120 Volt stuff. The plumbing box may be split into a copper/brass box and an iron pipe box. You get the idea.

 

[rickycobra]

Bins would great take a look around at like a big lots or even the container store. Additional don't over look the idea of using a jar.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

I have posted this in other threads, but some of you may not have seen it. I found a couple of old card file cabinets that work extremely well for me. The drawers are very heavy duty. Inside I have a bunch of plastic oil quarts, and antifreeze jugs with the tops cut off, to organize my bolts and such.

View media item 5188
View media item 5189
Hope this helps - Breeze

 

[Don 18]

I picked up 3 Gorilla racks from Sams Club:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=179153&navAction=
Using 3 units allowed me to make 2 sets of 2 shelves. One wall is long enough for a 3 unit, but I need to clean more to get things out of the way.

Anyone in Buffalo want to split one? I could use another set of legs

Got some clear plastic flip-top totes (look for them to be on sale) and went to town. Put a bunch of the small stuff in those to at least consolidate. Wound up with a tote for each motorcycle, the tractor, garage maintenance supplies (drywall screws brakets etc... )
Wrote the contents on a peice of paper and taped it inside the tote so you can read it from the outside to find what you are looking for.

Don

 

[GTOGreg]

Ooh, ooh, ooh, this pic just gave me an idea. Thanks Jack. Does anyone sell just the panels to hold the bins? I have existing cabinets I could put them in. Looks awesome.

*Edit* Found this place that sells the panelsbins only if you want to retrofit an old set of cabinet doors... http://www.uline.com/BL_8779/Bench-And-Panel-Racks?keywords=storage bins

 

[csp]

The same bins that Jack used in his cabinets come with mounting brackets.

 

[shopnut]

Check out my city garage for inexpensive approaches to storage solutions. Or see the ASYLUM for a slightly different approach to things. Links are in my sig line.

Good luck in your quest for organization.

 

[Mattlt]

Ooh, ooh, ooh, this pic just gave me an idea. Thanks Jack. Does anyone sell just the panels to hold the bins? I have existing cabinets I could put them in. Looks awesome.

*Edit* Found this place that sells the panelsbins only if you want to retrofit an old set of cabinet doors... http://www.uline.com/BL_8779/Bench-And-Panel-Racks?keywords=storage bins

Something that works really cheap for hanging bins on is the wire shelving material they sell for closets. You might have to do some trimming and fabricate your own hangers, though.

 

[Otts's Garage]

good to see that I am not the only one that had an issue with finding a place for all my small stuff. I thought I would share what I built for my stuff. I have a lot of small stuff too. I decided to build a cabinet that would house not only my bolts, nuts, nails, screws, etc, I also made space for thing like sand paper, sand blocks even my smaller spray guns and other stuff. I build this as a wall cabinet that is split in half so to speak. I also put in in a place in the garage that I could not really use for anything else. I had a small dead space where I have a diamond plate door in the floor that covers the steps to my basement and this area is where the door rested. it now rests against the cabinet when I have the door open. specs on it are as follows.

height 90"
width 48"
depth 10"

the back is framed with 1x6's
the front is framed with 1x4's
the front is split making 2 24" wide doors

All the shelves are 3/4" plywood the back is OSB and the front is luan. I used a 2x4 layed flat and screwed in to the roof joists and then the top of the cabinet was screwed into the 2x4. the back is screwed in to the wall studs and is suspended off the floor so I could clean under it and woudl not get wet when I wash stuff and have water on the floor. I bought a bunch of the organizer bins from Harbor freight and hung them in side as well. I have yet to fill it but I am trying! I posted a couple of pics. Hope you like.

 

[santagary]

Yes, mine are made by Strong Hold and I picked them up second-hand.

(Well, 'picked them up' is overstating it. They weigh 800 pounds each. I could only move them with dowel rods and a come-along.)

The bins are cheap ones from Harbor Freight -- but they do the trick.

Thanks Jack for the pic...I can change my computer wallpaper now.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ott, What are those bins hanging on? Some look to be setting on shelves but others look to be hanging.

Years ago in college we had very similar cabinets but the frame was 2x8's so it was very deep and they had specially made wood brackets to hold power an assortment of power tools.

 

[Otts's Garage]

Dan,

All of the bins are infact hanging, I just set the bottomones close to the shelf. They are hung on the strip provided with the bins. I just screwed them in to the back of the cabinet and hung them up. I did make some "adjust ments" just to get them the number to hang they way I wanted. that was as easy as cutting down the bracket to the right length, nothing huge.

 

[cowchaser]

Like some of the ideas you guys are using to organize. I seem to have an orgization problem myself. What to use, how to use it and where to use it. I hate building my own stuff because it never comes out right.