How many times did you organize your toolbox before being content?

[impactims]

A few months ago, I got a new toolbox. Snap on Master Series triple bank with hutch.

I still find myself making adjustments to the layout of the tools, what goes where etc. at least once per week.

I always find something that can be situated a little better.

Am I the only one that seems to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of toolbox organization?

Did you just throw everything in and call it a done deal? Did it take you many attempts? Is it never-ending for you?

 

[swsman]

Yes, with newly purchased tools I reconfigure as needed.

Everything has its place, I also have drawers labeled for ease of use, if friends are over it is easier for them to find what is needed...

 

[u2slow]

Every few years I do some juggling as my tool collection changes/grows and my shop evolves.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Sounds about normal. Then after a month or so, things settle down, til I get a new tool. Right now things are static. However, I've been finding that the arrangement, as it stands, in certain boxes is suboptimal. So, sometime late fall I'll be rearranging things again.

 

[Semi-hole mechanic]

Yes, with newly purchased tools I reconfigure as needed.

Everything has its place, I also have drawers labeled for ease of use, if friends are over it is easier for them to find what is needed...

I have everything labeled also, because my wife helps me and it makes it easier for her to find tools for me. I moved things around a few times when I got my new box back in November, but Right now I have it laid out to where I can add a few tools to each drawer without totally reorganizing the whole box. My old box has a few lesser used tools and it may change but as of right now I’m satisfied with the layout and also labeled it.

 

[rsanter]

836 times

 

[FigN⋅m]

What is this "being content" you speak of?

 

[fishwatcher]

I rearrange when I get a new tool. Mostly, it’s tools on my peg board that get rearranged, but this is definitely a thing for me.

Glad I’m not the only one.

 

[hobie18]

I’ll let you know...

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I have a 7 drawer Snap-On box. Rearranged it three times in a little more than ten years. First when I got it delivered to my storage unit and I had only ‘excess tools’ in it. Second when it came home and the primary goal was to simply get the most in it. Third when it was put in it’s final place.

#1 Sockets, Ratchets, Extensions, (…)
#2 Wrenches, Pliers
#3 Screwdrivers
#4 T-Handle stuff
#5 Torque wrench, Hammers, Inspection camera, Ratchet (cordless), Reciprocating saw (cordless).
#6 Wood working tools
#7 (the deep one) Bicycle tool box, ’Grab&Go-Toolbox’

Not a professional/commercial shop.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Buckaroo5]

Got some new Milwaukee Pack Out storage pieces and still trying to figure out how to redistribute my tools. I got started on the transition and then got dragged into a series of must-do jobs so now I am in between and totally disorganized. I need to take a day and get things set back right because this is driving me nuts.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I still do that. I find some things aren't as accessable as they could be. Especially as my requirements and jobs change.

 

[esben57]

Many.
And can still find nothing.

 

[Notgrownup]

Never ends.

 

[littlebean]

started my work one (and it's only a cantilever box) 35 years ago, reckon it will be done in about 12 1/2 years..........

 

[Sbusmech]

Just like Notgrownup stated, it never ends. I'd suggest after each reorganization is to use it for a month. Then reevaluate.

 

[Ran when parked]

Not really sure... It's like a never ending game of Tetris. Same with the rest of the garage.

 

[bassJAM]

When I get a new toolbox I normally think about it for an hour or so before moving my tools, but once it's done it's done. My first "real" toolbox was a 26" 3-tier craftsman and I used it for around 12 years without changing anything, although I did add a second smaller 22" box. Now I'm in a US general 44" and haven't changed anything for 4 years although I'm still using the other 2 smaller boxes and have a couple empty drawers in each that will get filled as needed.

 

[bonneyman]

Never ends.

10-4

Always adding, deleting, rearranging, repositioning. Then some new tool comes out, and you gotta make it fit somewhere.

 

[Skellyii]

I started out in the early 80's with a 26" Craftsman stack. After everything got filled, I don't think I reorged it in nearly 40 years, and that included two moves.

After I semi-retired, and was spending more time working in the home garage, I reorged it, and it stayed that way for a couple of years. After the last move, I bought a bigger box for the home garage, and a couple additional boxes for my leased space.

I'm somewhat satisfied with my wrench and socket drawers in my home garage. Everything else, especially in my shop, needs a massive reorg.

Hopefully I can get things settled before I'm displacing dirt.

 

[Bob Peach]

Not really sure... It's like a never ending game of Tetris. Same with the rest of the garage.

Exactly !!

 

[CoogarXR]

Just about every time I get a new tool. Hopefully it can fit with just a single-drawer rearrange... If not it becomes a cascading multi-drawer situation, lol.

That's why I attach my drawer labels with magnets.

 

[mikey03]

There’s plenty of time to be content when I’m dead

 

[larry_g]

Not often. I have tools that have been in the same drawer for 30 years or more. When twisting wrenches for a living I seldom rearranged tools. I'll lose a tool if the tool box is moved to a different place in the building. Most of the time if someone wants a tool I can say "That box over there, third drawer down, on the right side of the drawer". That is how my mind works. Also when loaning tools or some one is using my shop I ask that they return the tools to the top of the box and I will put them in the drawers. That allows me to clean, inspect for damage, and make sure they are in the correct drawer.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[micromind]

Maybe 3 or 4. Same boxes arranged the same way for more than 10 years.

 

[oldwino]

Got my current 72” box nine years ago. Set it up once and nothing changed. Some drawers are packed a little more dense after new arrivals but all is the same. the 42” stacker has been remodeled to now contain parts and consumables with power tools in bottom large drawers

 

[M.Brane]

What is this "being content" you speak of?

This^

 

[lolaetype]

Every so often I'll be in the garage and wind up staring at things, wondering if there is a better way to arrange things. About half the time that results in moving things around.

Tool boxes and peg boards? About every time I've bought a new tool.

 

[Outlier]

It's a good thing. It means you have space in your toolbox. When you stop doing it, that is when your problems start.

 

[M635_Guy]

Mine evolves, but I don't think I've ever done a wholesale reorganization of my boxes. Maybe once in 30+ years of having something like that.

 

[humber2]

After obtaining another rollcab and deciding to split allocations of tools I have found that a need for better socket and wrench organisers therein has arisen.

Who’d thunk that would be the case?

YMMV

 

[M.Brane]

It never ends you only take a break sometimes.

 

[CS454]

its in the pile, its fine

 

[ecotec]

I reorganize pretty regularly… but, it is too cold in my garage to do too much right now.

 

[NUTTSGT]

When I switched from the Cman 40" with 2 end boxes to the 42" & 56" boxes, I tried to lay it out similarly like I have the Cman box. Slightly different with a few tweaks but I marked everything with tape to see if it would work.

 

[shoggoth80]

I've reorganized about 3 times. Still not content Always trying to cram more efficiency outta my cart.

 

[bbbarracuda]

I did it once.
Couldn’t find anything then, still can’t.

 

[Beerhippie]

What is this "being content" you speak of?

Not only did you beat me to it, you used my exact words!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Not often. I have tools that have been in the same drawer for 30 years or more. When twisting wrenches for a living I seldom rearranged tools. I'll lose a tool if the tool box is moved to a different place in the building. Most of the time if someone wants a tool I can say "That box over there, third drawer down, on the right side of the drawer". That is how my mind works. Also when loaning tools or some one is using my shop I ask that they return the tools to the top of the box and I will put them in the drawers. That allows me to clean, inspect for damage, and make sure they are in the correct drawer.

lg
no neat sig line

Friend of mine "helped" by putting away tools. I cursed that girl for a month.

 

[LXCam]

Hummm, let’s see. I’ve got 59 drawers between one snappy and the rest all lista…

I’m happy with nine of them.

And of the remaining 50, 48 of them get reorganized every time I use them