How do you sort your tool chest?

[Jonus]

I finally treated myself to a huge 52 in Craftsman tool chest(both pieces)...but Im trying to figure out the most efficient way to sort them. I got all my new shelves lined w https://100001.onl/. liner already but now Im just trying to fill the thing so I can retake my garage. Any tips /products are appreciated.

 

[tyyost]

Usually in a tall stack you would put your most used tools at normal “bench height” and work out from there, trying to maximize your drawer layout. For me on most 52” that would mean sockets and ratchets at the top of the bottom chest and wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers close to the center of my normal reach. Some drawers dictate what fits depending on what you are storing, low deep drawers and blow mold cases come to mind.

 

[seber]

Similar to Tyyost but I keep drill accessories and tap and die stuff where I can see and sort easily without bending over. It can take a while to find what I need in crowded drawers.

 

[M635_Guy]

The stuff I use often is higher, and I group things. I have a drawer that I call "hit something with a hammer" for some reason, but I definitely remember which one it is - lol.

 

[m6z]

Spend some time looking at the show us your toolbox thread. I'm in the middle of a magrail switch.

 

[m6z]

Let's see your toolbox.

Is that Black Hawk I see on the emblem? Pretty awesome! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

www.garagejournal.com

 

[bassJAM]

I like to divide stuff up as much as possible (drawer for 1/4" drive, drawer for 3/8" drive, drawer for measurement tools, etc). I also don't like using 2 drawers for the same items so look at some of the tool organizers out there. I took some work to fit all my metric wrenches in a drawer and all my SAE wrenches in another drawer, but the wrench holders certainly helped.

Like others I place my least used tools in the bottom and top drawers (if you have a top chest).

Most importantly, if you plan on labeling give yourself some time with the layout before you put labels down. I've been using my new 44" box for 6 weeks now and just last week moved a few things around that weren't working well for me.

 

[Walkers]

This is the question I was searching when I redid my tool box that introduced me to GJ.

 

[bonneyman]

Lots of good advice in the previous posts.

It all depends what your main usage is. Everybody will have things in different places depending on what they grab for the most. I'd think sockets and ratchets and regular wrenches would be right in the middle for easy access for most guys. Then for me, specialty wrenches and screwdrivers would be the drawers below and above those. Heavy stuff like hammers and pry bars and the like would be in the bottom drawer. JMHO

 

[JradM]

With a toolbox that size you should be able to keep most tools of a certain type grouped together.

I realize some have such extensive socket collections, for example, that one drawer isn't enough - but then you can break out into sub-categories based on your usage (putting bit sockets elsewhere, or all the 3/4 stuff in one drawer.

I like to have sockets and ratchets in the same drawer so I don't have to open both to get the tools I need. I can't fit all of them together anymore though, so I just put one each of the three regular drive sizes in with my sockets now (and have a drawer for drive tools).

A little trick I use for extensions is to rivet a socket rail to the side of one of my drawers. That way I can have my extensions all laying down flat, but they don't move when I open and close the drawer. Do the same to the opposing side and you can oppose short and long extensions to maximize space.

I also like to "modularize", but my needs might be different than yours. I have my screwdrivers stored in a few gripper trays, all in the same drawer. That lets me grab a tray of Torx screwdrivers, for example, to go work away from my toolbox.

 

[Ralf11]

I do it by drive size with 3/8 at a easy to reach level; other drawers for wrenches (in organizers), screwdrivers, big stuff.

I put sockets on the top using the post type organizers tho - faced up for DIN which I use most often' face down (drive end up) for non-DIN which is used less often.

 

[Josh the IH guy]

I group. Top drawer is knives, putty knives, scissors
Next 3 drawers are wrenches. Sae/metric combos.
Then sae/mm ratcheting
Then specialty wrenches, like box end, starter, double open, strap, cresent
Then at mid torso height is my 3/8 and 1/4 socket and ratchet drawer.
Below that at waist is the screwdriver drawer
Then pliers
Then auto speciality that the next two drawers
Then I finally come to a drawer deep enough for my 1/2 and 3/4 drive stuff
Punches and chisels and hammers
More auto speciality
Large drawer on bottom holds power tools...

But like most guys, I have several boxes. I have another box that is for wood/construction tools. It holds measuring tools, prybars, claw hammers, saws, plumbing tools, etc...

And another that is my service cart...it has my most used tools

And then a peg board full of tools...

 

[plinker]

Wrench racks and other organizers can be very useful. There are probably a few threads like "show me your tool box" that may be helpful as well regarding where to put what.

A lot depends on what you are working with regarding drawer layout and how much of what you have and if it will all fit where you want it.
For example if I put all my sockets/ratchets, ete... in one drawer it wouldnt happen as they would not all fit. Therefore I separate bit sockets in one drawer, 1/4-3/8-1/2 each have their own drawers (not counting the stuff in the cart). Other drawers have drilling tools, another has extractors/bolt outs and such, pullers and misc. bolts for use with them. One drawer has mostly prying/striking tools & hammers, but also has "long" stuff that wont fit elsewhere like a 3/4 drive ratchet.

I prefer to have screwdrivers, pliers, vise grips, knives/scrapers & similar smaller tools in a top box. It can help free up space for other stuff that way. I had recently changed carts and the location of everything pretty much stayed the same. I did gain an extra drawer I'm using for battery tools & misc stuff. I wanted to switch some drawers around but couldnt due to box construction, not a big deal, but it would have been nice

One area that is a constant is adding more stuff and trying to figure out where to put it. Another is having say all the brake tools in one particular drawer except for the one or two items that wont fit in the same drawer.

 

[Badgerstate]

I finally treated myself to a huge 52 in Craftsman tool chest(both pieces)...but Im trying to figure out the most efficient way to sort them. I got all my new shelves lined w. liner already but now Im just trying to fill the thing so I can retake my garage. Any tips /products are appreciated.

I set mine up like this:
SAE wrenches
metric wrenches
sockets, ratchets and breaker bars
screwdrivers and allen wrenches
hammers, pry bars and other small hand tools
pliars and wire cutters
bit brace and egg beater drill
clamps
drill bits, impact driver bits, jig saw blades, Dremel attachements and other bits for things that spin
power drill, impact driver, orbital sander, Dremel, jig saw

 

[gatewaysysop]

I finally treated myself to a huge 52 in Craftsman tool chest(both pieces)...but Im trying to figure out the most efficient way to sort them. I got all my new shelves lined w. liner already but now Im just trying to fill the thing so I can retake my garage. Any tips /products are appreciated.

Others have mentioned organizers, and I will second that. Opinions vary, but I'm a fan of Hansen trays for sockets, and would not have a box without them, or at least something comparable. Likewise, wrench racks were a game changer for me and once I went through the trouble organize everything, I wondered how I managed without them. Very space efficient and easy to see when something is missing. I used the Ernst branded racks, but lots of options for these too.

As much as I like wrench racks, I'm not a fan of pliers racks. I've got enough Knipex and NWS and Channellock that it would be a pain to figure out what was what between all the look-a-like handles. I could tell if I was grabbing one brand over another, but that's about it. I prefer my pliers laying flat in a shallow drawer. No uncertainty about which ones you're grabbing, and you can see all the shapes/tips/configurations easily. If you're looking for bent needle nose pliers, there's no ambiguity about what your options are.

Another thing, and I'm not sure it makes sense for everyone's situation, but I split up my impact stuff from the rest of the sockets. Couple reasons for this: First, I just don't use them enough at home to need them taking up space in the main drawer. Second, I don't have nearly the variety in impact stuff, so I can fit them all in a narrow(er), deep side drawer. Last but not least, it makes more room in the main drawer for specialty sockets, ratchets and such, which probably still get more use than the impacts.

 

[Sdot]

This thread is worthless without pics. Don’t be ashamed

 

[William Payne]

Mine are organised to where I can grab tools just from memory. No foam inserts and only basic organisers or no organisers at all but I can open each drawer and from memory should be able to go straight to where the tool I’m after is.

 

[Sneezer]

I am still trying to figure out a good system for mine. i don’t have a 52 though, only twin 26” that are catty corner to each other. Thus I don’t have any super long drawers. I keep my sockets in 2 mid height drawers so the deep sockets can be upright and still allow the drawer to close. I need more socket rails, but the idea is to have metric in one and SAE in the other.

Ratchets are in 2 slim drawers. Regular ratchets in one, and all the specialty ones in the 2nd drawer (flex, bent, speeders, etc.)

Wrenches are in a combination of wrench rolls, some holders and loose. It is a mess.

Chisels, punches and other hitty stuff goes in a small drawer, allen wrenches in another, bit driver handles in one, big drawer full of screwdrivers, another with ratchet extensions.

I do have one drawer that has the auto tools in it. Prybars hang on magnetic holders on the back of one of the boxes.

I can never keep the top organized - I usually just toss **** there, and ever couple months it gets bad enough that I have to clean it out and find homes for everything again.

I **** at organizing and cleaning, but I am getting better. Old habits are really hard to break at my age, and I have only had actual cabinets for 2-3 years now. Before it took me half a day to find **** for a big project.

 

[Ralf11]

This thread is worthless without pics. Don’t be ashamed

 

[jeffmoss26]

piled in the drawer, lol

 

[iagsxr]

It also depends on how tall you are.

I have an 1850 Macsimizer with a 41" Mac top box on it. All my 1/2" drive stuff is in the top of the top box. The other day it dawned on me what a cluster it always was. Made a little step that slides under the main box so I can actually see what's up there rather than standing on my tip toes and feeling around.

 

[cvairwerks]

At work, all ours are grouped by function for the most part. Socket stuff, torque wrenches and torque drivers take up one box. Wrenches, crowsfeet, torque adapters, pry and striking tools take up another box. Third is electrical tools, allen wrenches, connector tools and pliers. Fourth box is everything else we keep in the hangar. Then we have two buildings of bigger tools and a tool crib for anything oddball, along with a dedicated engine change box and a hydraulic fitting box.

At home, socket stuff in one drawer, metric wrenches in one, SAE in another, measurement stuff in it's own, as well as doing pliers, screwdrivers and so in their own drawers. One drawer for air tools, another for battery and electric. Blowers, tire stuff and air adapters in it's own.

 

[Odd-job]

While I tried the dedicated socket drawer on top initially in part due to all of the pretty pics on GJ I ended up evolving away from it on my tool cart. In reality my most used stuff are lights, utility knife, tape measure, writing implements, misc small fluids (super lube, loctite) most used sockets, Milwaukee 1/4 fuel extended ratchet, and metric/sae ratcheting wrenches. Slightly below that was pliers then wrenches and lesser used sockets. All of the speciality stuff ended up in the tool box.

 

[regguy1]

I finally treated myself to a huge 52 in Craftsman tool chest(both pieces)...but Im trying to figure out the most efficient way to sort them. I got all my new shelves lined w https://100001.onl/. liner already but now Im just trying to fill the thing so I can retake my garage. Any tips /products are appreciated.

my tool box organization video:

 

[Xcursion88]

There's only one right way for a toolbox layout.
Whatever you feel most comfortable with is the best setup for you.

Example...
I had two drawers one with wrenches and one that wasnt. For some bizarre reason I'd always go for a wrench but I'd open the "next to" but wrong, drawer.
I switched that ****.

That said you don't want wasted space. In other words screwdrivers in a 3 inch deep drawer.

Some things aren't worthy of the tool box and perhaps you can get a cheap shelf or a shelf under a table.
My wheel bearing sockets are in a big case. They're already organized so I shelf those. I've got a nice set of snap ring pliers from SO...in a nice case. They get shelved. Also shelved, mitey vac, SUR&R fuel line kit, slide hammer kit, dremel, battery tester, and a few others I'm forgetting..
But the key is all those shelved have a decent case already and would just kill the space in my box which I'm jammed full as is.

You'll probably rearrage a few times until it just feels right for you.
Good luck.

 

[Blind1]

There's only one right way for a toolbox layout.
Whatever you feel most comfortable with is the best setup for you.

Example...
I had two drawers one with wrenches and one that wasnt. For some bizarre reason I'd always go for a wrench but I'd open the "next to" but wrong, drawer.
I switched that ****.

That said you don't want wasted space. In other words screwdrivers in a 3 inch deep drawer.

Some things aren't worthy of the tool box and perhaps you can get a cheap shelf or a shelf under a table.
My wheel bearing sockets are in a big case. They're already organized so I shelf those. I've got a nice set of snap ring pliers from SO...in a nice case. They get shelved. Also shelved, mitey vac, SUR&R fuel line kit, slide hammer kit, dremel, battery tester, and a few others I'm forgetting..
But the key is all those shelved have a decent case already and would just kill the space in my box which I'm jammed full as is.

You'll probably rearrage a few times until it just feels right for you.
Good luck.

I’ve done the “wrong drawer” thing a few times. The light bulb the first time was a “duh” moment.


I keep my most used individual sockets organized separately using Ernst rails and wrenches are either on a Mag strip on the lid or in a shallow tray lumped together to save space. No need for me to have wrenches I’ve rarely used perfectly organized in an organizer that just trades space for convenience. I’m not a flat rate tech. An extra 15 seconds finding a tool means nothing when I can reduce my tool storage footprint significantly. I really dislike the massive socket drawers - it always took me longer to find the right tool with that set up.

 

[Rickster]

Search YouTube for tool box tours, there’s hundreds of them!

 

[rayra]

Beyond the basic suite of mechanical tools, sockets etc, I try to group interrelated tools together. Various automotive specialty tools in a drawer. Hex / torx / security screw drivers in a drawer. A wide array of cutting tools, hole saws, forstner bits, wood chisels together. Filing / grinding / sandpapers. Hammers. Lots of hammers of all types and sizes.
Built a workbench for a friend that was overseas, surprise gift idea by his wife, put all his 'taking things apart' tools on the left side of a pegboard and all the tools for 'putting things together' on the other. He really liked it, it made sense to him. They were all in a jumble on a counter.

 

[showpump]

This is how I organize mine

 

[Ralf11]

I keep the SAE **** far away from my beautiful metric tools!

 

[Blind1]

Search YouTube for tool box tours, there’s hundreds of them!

Seems like if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all. I like different takes.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I added a middle box which put the top out of sight ! Ican reach in but not really see what I am grabbing. A short stool solves that.

Drawer for cutting/crimping tools
Drawer for gripping tools
Drawer for metric wrenches
Drawer for SAE wrenches
Drawer for screwdrivers
Drawer for hammers

The middle box is a mish-mash of odds and ends but I do use a very thin drawer for sandpaper, emery cloth and gasket material.

The bottom is mostly for heavy tools. One drawer for impact wrenches and other air tools. Also all of the impact socket. Another drawer for drills and bits and grinder.

The drawers that I didn't mention have various "other" tools and supplies.


Any DIYer just starting out needs to think twice about 1/2" driver sockets and ratchets. Except for loosening and tightening out nuts I think I used them ONCE in the past 20 years ! Oh well, my son will inherit a lot of gentley use sockets !

 

[JradM]

I keep the SAE **** far away from my beautiful metric tools!

Ha! That's a good point. I actually do the same. I keep my SAE sockets and wrenches in a separate, cheaper, smaller tool chest along with my low-grade pliers and other rarely used tools.

I still need them, but not often. I'd rather have easier access to my metric stuff without having to search through SAE.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

I go based on what I use the most often. I have a tool cart which holds my most common tools. It has two drawers on the top row, one wider drawer on the second, and one wide+deep drawer for the third.

Sockets in tool cart top left. Screwdriver (1 philips, 1 big flat head, 1 regular sized flat head), picks, magnets, flashlights, knife, basic pliers and other common hand tools in top right. Ratchets, extensions, wrenches in the wide middle drawer. Hammer, and whatever specialty tools the specific job I'm doing needs along with whatever screws/bolts etc that I take off organized in little labeled zip locks.

My main toolbox is 52" wide with full width drawers. I sort them roughly based off what I'd use them for. So electrical and diagnostic tools are all in one drawer. Precision stuff is in another drawer (torque wrenches, calipers etc). All the specialty stuff like odd pliers and whatever else in another. Cutting, abrading, drilling etc in another drawer. And the rest makes sense to me but I couldn't really explain any specific logic to it. Some SAE stuff is in those drawers but mostly I've just gotten rid of my SAE things. I also have one drawer for my nice stuff I only bring out on special occasions like my Nepros things. Bottom drawer is where I store the big heavy stuff like my impact wrenches etc when they aren't on my work bench.

I have a friend who occasionally works in my garage with me and keeps insisting on trying to 'organize' my tools but I've threatened to throw a hammer at him if he tries it. Yes I have wrenches in like 4 different drawers and maybe it makes sense to someone that all wrenches are in one place, and the same for my screw drivers. Even my sockets are split across 3 drawers but it all makes perfect sense to me and I don't want to mentally look past 20 different screw drivers every time I need a flat head. Heck - my layout is constantly changing depending on what I was doing last. The bottom drawer on my tool cart is pretty much reserved for whatever I'm working on and could have anything in there at any given time. If I'm doing a bunch of suspension work, you might find all my 1/4 stuff relegated to the 'specialty' drawer and my socket drawer full of pry bars and my torch head.

 

[FuzzyTiger]

Ha! That's a good point. I actually do the same. I keep my SAE sockets and wrenches in a separate, cheaper, smaller tool chest along with my low-grade pliers and other rarely used tools.

I still need them, but not often. I'd rather have easier access to my metric stuff without having to search through SAE.

I can't wait until I never have to deal with SAE again but that probably won't be in my life time. In automotive its getting rare but I had to find a 3/8 flare nut wrench the other day to break free a brake line fitting. Its all the other industries that refuse to move on though.

 

[dscheidt]

Seems like if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all. I like different takes.

The vast majority of tour box tours I've seen on youtube (I should note, I haven't gone searching for them) are people who are automotive techs, most of them flat rate. They're solving pretty much the same problem, so it's not terribly surprising the results are close.

If you're not an automotive tech, you are solving different problems, storing different tools. So your solution should be different. One important thing is that most of us at home don't have to secure everything in a toolbox, and big stuff can go on a shelf or in a cabinet, or be hung on a wall, or whatever. Depending on your tolerance for it, you can have drawers that a jumble, because spending a minute rooting through to find a rarely used chisel isn't a huge deal, but for a flat rate guy, it's money.

 

[Ralf11]

real question is how does the army sort a tool chest

 

[merkyworks]

Any DIYer just starting out needs to think twice about 1/2" driver sockets and ratchets. Except for loosening and tightening out nuts I think I used them ONCE in the past 20 years ! Oh well, my son will inherit a lot of gentley use sockets !

1/4” and 3/8” drive are a must for sure, but I use 1/2” drive just as much on drivetrain and suspension work.

 

[Blind1]

The vast majority of tour box tours I've seen on youtube (I should note, I haven't gone searching for them) are people who are automotive techs, most of them flat rate. They're solving pretty much the same problem, so it's not terribly surprising the results are close.

If you're not an automotive tech, you are solving different problems, storing different tools. So your solution should be different. One important thing is that most of us at home don't have to secure everything in a toolbox, and big stuff can go on a shelf or in a cabinet, or be hung on a wall, or whatever. Depending on your tolerance for it, you can have drawers that a jumble, because spending a minute rooting through to find a rarely used chisel isn't a huge deal, but for a flat rate guy, it's money.

oh I get it - but even on this forum, lots of home garages with perfectly coiffed collections of tools. Same same. if you aren’t using them every day, finding a socket in a 72” full length drawer of sockets isn’t exactly quick.

 

[Rickster]

Once you’ve watched several dozen YouTube toolbox tours you start to look for the different ones; diesel mechanics, small engine repair guys, fabrication guys, body guys. It really is quite interesting to see what tools the different techs put value in.…. And there are a lot of good & different tool storage ideas out there.