How do you store your tools?

[Modeler]

I'm going to be organizing and rearranging my garage this winter and I'm curious how other do things. Basically, I'm wondering if you prefer to:

1. Store all your tools in a somewhat stationary fashion in the shop (hanging on the wall or in a large immobile tool cabinet)

-or-

2. Store all your tools in small toolboxes organized by job type (plumbing, electrical, carpentry)

For instance, should I hang all my plumbing tools (pipe wrenches, basin wrench, pipe cutter) on the wall or should I put them all in a tool box labeled "plumbing"? Should I put all my electrical tools (soldering iron, butane torch, pliers/crimpers, wire stripper, test lights, etc) in a large stationary cabinet or should I put them in a tool box labeled "electrical"? What has worked well for you?

 

[Steevo]

Option # 1, large, immobile tool cabinet(s).
However, home maintenance tools such as pipe wrenches are in another chest/cabinet combo in another location.

 

[dandan111]

I started moving hammers and levels/squares and other odd ball stuff to my peg board. Just getting the hammers on the wall made a big difference for me.

 

[scaron]

i tend to do more (2) just because i have a bunch of hand-me-down smaller toolboxes from my dad. i've always had an electrical bag separate because that stuff sometimes goes to work with me and i like to keep it all together, then i have one toolbox for my mechanic's tools (ratchets, sockets, wrenches, pullers, special tools, stuff that gets greasy), then i have another for general "around the house" tools, power tools just go on a shelf in their own cases and bags (or not), some stuff just lays around on my work benches, lol. i'll probably always keep my electrical bag separate but my dad keeps hinting that someday he'll hand down his two old 70s-era craftsman stationary top+bottom chest combos once he gets something to replace them, once that happens i'll probably shift more to strategy (1) and keep the smaller boxes for portable kits and such.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

I'm a tech... I have mine stored in a Matco triple bank and a snapon KRA6210 roadbox.

 

[oldtools]

Número dos

 

[JRock10]

I'm more of number...three? I have most of my stuff in a stationary box, but carry enough tools in a bag to install a car stereo just about anywhere I am. I keep that bag, my drill and impact, and a small socket set in my truck almost always.

Tapatalk...my downtime occupier

 

[arms1970]

I hate peg boards, my opinion. I got metal cabinets, snap on rollaways and matco. But i do have my plumbing bag and electrical bag, so i can just grab that and not worry about it.

 

[jeffmoss26]

The majority of my tools are in my Craftsman chest and rollaway.
The rest are in bags...one for voice/data, one for audio/CCTV, and one for Cable TV.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Work tools are at work in my toolbox.

At home, I have most of my home-repair / construction tools in bags and carry around boxes to take to the work. I have a general tools box that goes to any project, bagged sets of battery tools, and a separate bucket with all the plumbing oddities in it - assorted fittings and supplies and special stuff like a faucet wrench stay in it.

 

[SlappyWhite]

In theory, in two tool chests in a well organized fashion.

In practice, in a pile on the work bench....

 

[mrjaw14]

I keep most of my tools in large imobile tool boxes locked up when not in use. I also have a peg board in front of the work bench that I keep wire brushes, el cheapo tools I use when in a hurry on something trivial, etc.

I keep power tool batteries in the house so they don't get too hot or too cold. I also keep my work bag I tote around to friends and family in the house. That mainly is ment for electical, plumbing, small mechanical, etc. That way I have a basic assortment of tools without having to go to the garage for the serious stuff.

I also keep a stocked toolbox in the trunk of my car for emergency repairs (mine or someone else's) that's paid dividends already.

 

[cburnscrx]

Well, it's not glamorous but it works... (for now)

HF 44 - Sockets, Screwdrivers, pliers, ect. It's full, well, past full.

Chest of Drawers (solid wood from Goodwill) - Nail guns, clamps, knee pads, paint supplies, larger stuff that doesn't fit in the tool chest. I am planning to upgrade to a vertical file cabinet soon.

Cabinet on casters - All my power tools (and there are a lot, I'll need to upgrade soon).

MasterMechanic 3 drawer box - For the travel tools, perfect for keeping stuff organized, but not to heavy to carry.

Tool bags - Love those for job projects. I have about 5

Bucket Bag - I have been using this for the outside projects because you can set it in the mud without much worry.

 

[nanofrog]

Mixed for me.

Some, such as automotive tools (wrenches, ratchets, ...) are in a toolbox that can be carried around (no shop/garage). I also have a bag I load up for field work (job). The rest sits on my electronics bench (wood cigar boxes or in cans <similar to pencils in a cup, as they stick out for easy ID>) or in plastic drawers.

 

[zkling]

Option #1 for me. As much as I like the little carry boxes. They take up quite a bit of space to store themselves. Maybe a box of boxes of tools.

I think in the end you are going to have to figure out what works best for you. Your setup and the type of work you do. Some folks on here do mostly on site work so to them portability is a big concern.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Power tools in lateral file cabinets, mechanical tools in 3 rollarounds, carpentry tools in a rollaround, precision machinist tools in a rollaround. Fabrication tools are wall hung at point of use around the welding table. A "toter" toolbox is in each vehicle I drive, one in the house, and another at the lake. A rollaround at work. Tools are involved in most every aspect of my life, and I am seldom very far out of reach of them.

 

[Moose97]

ALL 3! I've got the Craftsman/US General/Task Force combo box for my nice tools my wife and kids aren't allowed to touch. Small boxes and bags for other misc. tools. A metal cabinet for power tools and pegboard for the tools the wife and kids are allowed access to. I guess I'm kinda all over the place but I haven't been so organized in years! I have been thinking of the Big 56" HF with the new top box and a side cabinet or two and combine everything in it but since that's over a thousand bucks I guess I'll continue on as is. Good luck!

 

[crewchief888]

hand and air tools in the boxes, corded drills in the open bottom,
wall cabinet has electric grinders,
welder along the back wall chop saw and sawsall on the bench

woodworking/DIY house stuff is in the basement work/reloading room, bigger stuff like handsaws, squares hanging on pegboard,

corded and cordless stuff sitting on a wire heavy duty wire shelf unit,

misc hand tools in a drawer in the woodworking bench


as winter closes in, i move some stuff into the house, most of our renovations happen during the winter.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I keep the tools I use in the garage in fixed boxes in the garage.

I have a few dedicated boxes/bags for the tools that relate to a particular type of work I'd be doing outside of a garage. The race car has its own box, usually stored inside the race car. I've got one for lawn sprinkler and hose and gutter stuff. One is a larger box with general-use stuff that's ready to toss in the truck or a trunk on short notice.

 

[chrisa7164]

I keep my work tools in the big snap on box in the trailer. My home mechanic tools are in the craftsman stacked box. Power tools are in a cabinet. Carpentry tools are in a carpenters box and tool belt. Electrical tools are in a tool belt. painting tools are all in a plastic tool box. Welding equipment is in a job box in the shed.

 

[Modeler]

Wow, this board is a wealth of information for sure! Thanks everyone!

At the moment I have all my mechanic's tools in a stationary tool box and all the other hand tools waiting to be organized. I have all my door installation tools (jigs for door hinges and locksets) in one bag and it's seemed to work well. I was thinking of at least having my plumbing and electrical each in their own boxes and having all my drill stuff in it's own box. I own a couple rentals and once a year or so I end up having to take everything over there and do some work. It seems like it will work for what I need, but I was curious to see what others have done.