OP
Heck, you should have seen the dust I swept up from the under the old boxes.
I did consider doing something to trim out the underneath.
Above 1200 Sq/FT Garage Refurb®
- Thread starter NUTTSGT
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
I did consider doing something to trim out the underneath.
OP
OP
No labels on the drawers for me. I'm the type of person who thinks, if you don't remember what is in what drawer, you should either learn or stay out of the box.
That's just me and no offense to anyone else.
OP
I don't do 3D printing...too much other stuff going to get into that.
I did buy some small parts bins and I make other stuff out of sheet metal.
OP
I'll be switching from older socket rails to Hansen trays. I bought 2 of each just in case.
Then here is some Performax bins from Menards to start. They were cheap enough on clearance. The magnetic rails will be for screwdriver organization. Some more Ernst wrench organizers and still waiting on another box from The Jungle.
On order is Ernst plier rack and lastly is a small lock box. That will hold a few things and be bolted in one of the drawers.
DAVE94LIGHTNING
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 24, 2024
- Messages
- 198
How do I navigate to the libraries?
XJSuperman
Well-known member
PM sent, sorry for the sidetrack Nuttsgt.
OP
OP
So I spent some time today making some caster blocks.
Starting with a search through the metal shirt bin. I found some 4" sq tube left over from the welding table build.
Definitely makes the purchase last Spring of the horizontal bandsaw.
Starting with a search through the metal shirt bin. I found some 4" sq tube left over from the welding table build.
Definitely makes the purchase last Spring of the horizontal bandsaw.
OP
After some welding, a coat of primer and paint, they were left to dry overnight.
OP
Blocks are in place and the 42" is sitting level.
OP
A couple of different views.
OP
Trying to figure out where everything is going to go before I handle it and move it several times. Gotta love the masking tape layout.
OP
These just arrived from The Jungle.
I'm not sure if they will work. They are pretty tall and that means a deep drawer.
I'm not sure if they will work. They are pretty tall and that means a deep drawer.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Those plier organizers are nice Eric. I see quite a few people using them. I wish my plier drawer was deep enough to be able to stand them on their sides, unfortunately, I find myself stacking mine with the most used on top and the lesser used ones on the lower layer. Not ideal, but it seems to work. Every time I tell myself I am done with buying tools, a new one comes out that will make a job easier. However, I'm starting to scrutinize and rethink tools before purchasing lately, trying to justify or rationalize and learning to just say no. 
OP
I didn't think they would work Mike, as they seemed too tall. It says on the package redesigned to work with 3" drawers.Those plier organizers are nice Eric. I see quite a few people using them. I wish my plier drawer was deep enough to be able to stand them on their sides, unfortunately, I find myself stacking mine with the most used on top and the lesser used ones on the lower layer. Not ideal, but it seems to work. Every time I tell myself I am done with buying tools, a new one comes out that will make a job easier. However, I'm starting to scrutinize and rethink tools before purchasing lately, trying to justify or rationalize and learning to just say no.
I measured the pliers drawer and it's 2 1/2" deep. Granted, not every pair is going to fit, like snap-ring pliers but most others do.
I went ahead and ordered another section from The Jungle and should be here tomorrow.
Filling all the pegs is only the start of the sickness. Organizers for the new boxes will welcome you to another level of insanity.
OP
I already know about the pegs, I'm still dealing with that in the other box.Filling all the pegs is only the start of the sickness. Organizers for the new boxes will welcome you to another level of insanity.
Still trying to organize the box, got called in to work for a structure fire so finishing the change over us going to be delayed.
It’s all good Eric. Just know it doesn’t become an problem until you dedicate one or two drawers to **** that didn’t work out
These just arrived from The Jungle.
I'm not sure if they will work. They are pretty tall and that means a deep drawer.
If you can find a drawer for them, I think you'll really like them. I had the PlyWorx wire version for a while and hated them as the pliers would fall over all the time. Then, I bought the Ernst. They really work well. I've been super pleased with them.
OP
Most of my sockets were on rails. I will be switching to the Hansen trays for all the regular 6/12 pt sockets. The rest will stay on the rails. So I will have a bunch of them to get rid of.It’s all good Eric. Just know it doesn’t become an problem until you dedicate one or two drawers to **** that didn’t work out
They will more than likely go with the old boxes when sold. I'm not sure if I will have any "open" drawers.
My plan is to take a few pictures of the new drawer layout when done.
OP
As I mentioned, the Ernst pliers organizers are in the drawer.
There's going to be another section (on order) on the left side of the drawer. Also going to pick up a set of Channellock 460 pliers. They will set beside the cheaper pair of T&G I bought years ago.
I put the smaller pliers in a bin. No reason to have them all laid out. The bin will work for them.
OP
The 1/2" drive sockets needed wiped. They were in the top of the box and covered in dust. A shop rag and WD-40 will go a long way in cleaning them up.
OP
Here's what started all this, the Ernst wrench organizers.
56" box has SAE wrenches. I have plenty of room to grow and want to add a second set of combination wrenches to the drawer.
The 42" on the left contains the metric wrenches. I have a second set of the smaller wrenches.
56" box has SAE wrenches. I have plenty of room to grow and want to add a second set of combination wrenches to the drawer.
The 42" on the left contains the metric wrenches. I have a second set of the smaller wrenches.
OP
The top of the boxes will house the sockets on Hansen trays. So yes, probably going to have some more empty pegs to fill here as well.
SAE on the right
Metric sockets on the left.
There's more sockets in the old boxes than just what is on the pegs. I got sidetracked last night with a call back to work. I'll get it finished hopefully on Sunday.
SAE on the right
Metric sockets on the left.
There's more sockets in the old boxes than just what is on the pegs. I got sidetracked last night with a call back to work. I'll get it finished hopefully on Sunday.
OP
A quick Sunday morning update. The third section of Ernst wrench organizers came in. I put them in place.
OP
Picked up a few sets of Channellocks to fill up the new drawer. The larger T&G pliers are GRIP brand and we're bought years ago when I was working on something. I had wanted to upgrade but lacked the space.
OP
One of the other items I picked up yesterday while out with the wife was a HF power tool drawer organizer.
Fairly straightforward assembly.
Smaller pocket on the left will hold the drill
Fairly straightforward assembly.
Smaller pocket on the left will hold the drill
OP
Once inside the bottom drawer, it fills it up quite nicely. As the directions says, it was designed for the US General Series 3 56" & 72" boxes.
For $30, it's a decent investment. I had considered building a wall unit to hang them up but I like this better as it's out of sight.
For $30, it's a decent investment. I had considered building a wall unit to hang them up but I like this better as it's out of sight.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Eric, my cheap gene sees eight nice [free] casters that could be used on other projects if you don't plan on moving these stacks around. Eight identical height legs, a shallow PT wood frame or indoor/outdoor carpet (to isolate the boxes from the concrete) would free up the casters and might make the top chambers on both top chests more accessible.Blocks are in place and the 42" is sitting level.
The top of the lid on my Costco stack is 5'. My eyes are at 5'7" (top of my head is 5'11") so I can see what's in the top of my stack reasonably well. The top of the lid on your 56" HF stack appears to be 70.25". That lid exposes five or six inches of the top chamber so I would probably need to stand on something to see what's in the back.
My cheap gene is donating these two cents to your thread.
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OP
I get it Bob, I really do. I don't have a dominant cheap gene as I believe my frugal gene is more dominant.
My original future plans were to build Steve-O style benches when I built a new shop at my parents house. However, that is off in the future after they pass.
I've been running out of room slowly over the years with a need to upgrade. Getting the first set of wrench organizers, actually pushed me to the edge.
I priced everything and had a talk with the wife about the purchase since it was a large purchase. She was with me when I bought the 27" top box and never blinked. She knew what I was replacing. When I caught the 27" bottom box on sale, I asked her to go with me to pick it up that morning, I even offered breakfast prior. She didn't want to go but she knows I research serious purchases. That bottom box was on sale, $100 off.
She knew I was checking out the boxes, she loves the color choice and knows I work the OT to easily pay for it. It also gave her something to buy me for Christmas...42"top box.
So what it boils down to us, the planets aligned and I bought the bottom boxes I wanted for the future and the top boxes to go with them.
Cliff notes...
For now, I need to keep the casters on them. I will still have to move them around for future transport as we will hopefully be going to a bigger shop some day. But yes, building a short frame, like I did in the enclosed trailer is a very viable option.
Prospecter
Well-known member
I get the appeal of a new, larger shop. . . But I love the character and quirkiness of your current set up. Very cool to be using a renovated old filling station garage.I get it Bob, I really do. I don't have a dominant cheap gene as I believe my frugal gene is more dominant.
My original future plans were to build Steve-O style benches when I built a new shop at my parents house. However, that is off in the future after they pass.
I've been running out of room slowly over the years with a need to upgrade. Getting the first set of wrench organizers, actually pushed me to the edge.
I priced everything and had a talk with the wife about the purchase since it was a large purchase. She was with me when I bought the 27" top box and never blinked. She knew what I was replacing. When I caught the 27" bottom box on sale, I asked her to go with me to pick it up that morning, I even offered breakfast prior. She didn't want to go but she knows I research serious purchases. That bottom box was on sale, $100 off.
She knew I was checking out the boxes, she loves the color choice and knows I work the OT to easily pay for it. It also gave her something to buy me for Christmas...42"top box.
So what it boils down to us, the planets aligned and I bought the bottom boxes I wanted for the future and the top boxes to go with them.
Cliff notes...
For now, I need to keep the casters on them. I will still have to move them around for future transport as we will hopefully be going to a bigger shop some day. But yes, building a short frame, like I did in the enclosed trailer is a very viable option.
OP
Ok so I have reached the point of done, or at least for the time being. I spent some time yesterday cleaning the dust off the old box and listing it for sale. It's on FBMP and here in the classifieds. I'm going to list it on CL today as well.
So with the new box in current order, I figured it's time to snap some pictures and share. Kind in mind, I bought two larger boxes so I would have room to grow. There's a few places with room in the drawers.
Top of the 56" box holds the SAE sockets. In case you haven't followed along, I switched from CMan rails to Hansen trays. I still have some doubles on rails though.
Top drawer on the right of the box. Some of my stuff my USMC days. That certificate is from the Parris Island Museum for a 3rd Bn brick. The old barracks I was in boot camp were tore down and they sell the bricks. My NAM in the case and a few extra ribbons.
This is my chemical drawer.
So with the new box in current order, I figured it's time to snap some pictures and share. Kind in mind, I bought two larger boxes so I would have room to grow. There's a few places with room in the drawers.
Top of the 56" box holds the SAE sockets. In case you haven't followed along, I switched from CMan rails to Hansen trays. I still have some doubles on rails though.
Top drawer on the right of the box. Some of my stuff my USMC days. That certificate is from the Parris Island Museum for a 3rd Bn brick. The old barracks I was in boot camp were tore down and they sell the bricks. My NAM in the case and a few extra ribbons.
This is my chemical drawer.
OP
I call this my plumbing drawer.
Next up is all my scotchbrites and sanding discs.
Next up is all my scotchbrites and sanding discs.
OP
Top drawer.
Punch and chisel drawer. and I cut off the right side of the drawer. . .
Pliers drawer.
Next two pictures are the Ratchets and extension drawer.
Punch and chisel drawer. and I cut off the right side of the drawer. . .
Pliers drawer.
Next two pictures are the Ratchets and extension drawer.
OP
The bottom drawer of the top box is my air tool drawer. Left side are the impact sockets, metric, SAE, both in 3/8" drive and 1/2" drive.
missing a die grinder
missing a die grinder
OP
Down to the bottom box.
SAE wrenches with the Ernst wrench organizers that started this money trail. . .
Hammer and prybar drawer.
SAE wrenches with the Ernst wrench organizers that started this money trail. . .
Hammer and prybar drawer.
OP
moving on down.
Drill bit drawer. Room to grow here.
Tap & Die drawer with porting accesories.
Electrical drawer. Not counting the weatherpack case, and both meters, the rest of that stuff was packed into one small side drawer in my Cman box.
My automotive drawer. Misc pieces for the Mustang or racing stuff.
Over to the smaller drawers, charging drawer. . getting more.
Dewalt drawer.
Drill bit drawer. Room to grow here.
Tap & Die drawer with porting accesories.
Electrical drawer. Not counting the weatherpack case, and both meters, the rest of that stuff was packed into one small side drawer in my Cman box.
My automotive drawer. Misc pieces for the Mustang or racing stuff.
Over to the smaller drawers, charging drawer. . getting more.
Dewalt drawer.
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OP
Moving over to the 42" box.
Top of the box is the Metric sockets.
Side drawer. Allen drawer.
Torx drawer. There's some double sockets on the rail. One thing I have learned over the years, if you need a Torx socket, you need a spare one.
Top of the box is the Metric sockets.
Side drawer. Allen drawer.
Torx drawer. There's some double sockets on the rail. One thing I have learned over the years, if you need a Torx socket, you need a spare one.
OP
Rivet drawer, plenty of room to grow.
Measuring drawer. One pair of calipers missing. .
Measuring drawer. One pair of calipers missing. .