I need help with some organization in my shop!

[HankRHill]

Hello all!

So I had this old 1950's shed that was used to store junk, and I decided to make it my new shop. My shop used to be a metal shed from Lowe's, but I finally swapped them around. I have been moved into my new shop for about a month, and as the pictures will tell, I have a lot of stuff. Tools everywhere. Toolboxes crammed full! I am a small engine mechanic, and I like to do it as a hobby. I also want to start doing more woodworking as well. I built a solid bench, and have an old dresser drawer as a secondary but there are drawers stacked on top of that. I need some help with organization ideas. I will be buying a table saw soon, so I will need to figure something out with that as well. Hope you guys can help!

Thanks!

Spencer Bell.

 

[cheechi]

vertical. You need to look at the walls and decide how best to store things. some walls may get shelves, others a rack to store the yard tools vertically. how high are the ceilings?

I would start out by making a pile/section for each category of things. Seeing it all together gives you an idea how much space it's going to take up when it's stored properly.

make a big mess, clean it up one section at a time. Before adding anything new.

 

[HankRHill]

vertical. You need to look at the walls and decide how best to store things. some walls may get shelves, others a rack to store the yard tools vertically. how high are the ceilings?

I would start out by making a pile/section for each category of things. Seeing it all together gives you an idea how much space it's going to take up when it's stored properly.

make a big mess, clean it up one section at a time. Before adding anything new.

Ceilings are about 9 foot high.

 

[apollo11]

buy some milk crates and sort things

 

[ScottsGT]

I see many tool boxes. Consolidate into one bigger box to eliminate clutter.
Assess needs of stored items vs. valuable space.
Think locking casters for benches and boxes that can be rearranged for space needs at the time.
Big empty shelf against wall, try to eliminate for more room vs. filling it with tools, junk, etc.
Once you start doing wood working, you're going to need more room to store lumber scraps and project wood.

 

[Bigbandguy]

It would probably help to post the dimensions of the building. e.g. 12 x 16, etc. Agree that vertical may be your friend. If you have a Habitat "Re-Store" in your area you can sometimes pick up second hand kitchen cabinets. These work well to hold small items off the floor... good luck !

 

[vavet]

Two things:
1. Figure out what you really need to keep. Throw it away if you don't need it. If you have $100 worth of stuff that you're keeping because you might need it someday, but that day is years into the future, it's just not worth it. Buy those things again when you need them. Yes, you're spending money twice, but you get your space back.
2. Sort and compartmentalize. Box similar things together - all the plumbing supplies go in this box. All the paint brushes, rollers, paint can keys, etc go in that box. If you have a row of similar shaped, label boxes/totes on a shelf, it reinforces the idea that this is an organized space. I use a lot of the Lowe's small moving boxes in my garage. They all go on shelves. When I need a can of spray paint, I open up that box. If I didn't have a box for it, they would inevitably migrate around on the shelf and even around the garage.

 

[Eslader]

Why not make one shed the wood shop and the other shed the small engine shop? I'm cramming woodworking stuff into a 3 car garage that's outfitted for engine work, and it's a challenge. I don't know where I'd start if I was trying to do it in a shed.

The suggestion about consolidating tool boxes is a good one. Get a big upper/lower roller and empty all those hand tool boxes into it, then get the little boxes out of the shop.

Another option if the two sheds are close to each other is to make a solid-surface path between the two and put your big tools on rolling carts. Leave the stuff you aren't using right now in the storage shed and roll what you need into the workshop. There are some cool plans online for flip-top tool carts. You can put, say, a planer on one side and a sander on the other, then just spin the top to get at the thing you need.

 

[Toomanytools?]

I'm with you Spencer, I like to think I'm organized but I'm not. Being a contractor I have way to many tools (hence the name) and I don't get rid of stuff "because someday I'll use it".
But first off be honest with what you need if you haven't used something in years maybe time to let it go. Like said above group stuff together, painting, plumbing and so on. Try and get stuff off the floor but still accessible, maybe put the weed wacker away for the winter. The old dresser is it being used? Toss it? Biggest thing I have found is I just have too much stuff I don't use so I'm trying to sell or donate things I have no need for.
Good Luck

 

[michaelwolson]

I hate to say it, but I think the other guys on here are right. You're going to have to get rid of some stuff.

I would also follow their advice of sorting everything.

I really can't talk though. I've got everything shoved into half a two car garage and half a carport...

 

[bczygan]

The more stuff you have, the more space(s) you need.

Sort out:

Trash.

Woodworking stuff

Mechanic stuff

Yard tools

Kids stuff

Other seasonal and stored things

Other categories that might apply.


Now, toss the trash.

Then go through each pile and divide it into essentials and non essentials. Non essentials include things you won't use for a long time, if ever, unneeded duplicates and projects you'll never get to.

Sell or give away the non essentials.

Then create spaces large enough for each function. One space for woodworking, one for mechanic stuff, etc.

Depending on what you have, plus what you intend to acquire, this may require you to actually add space by building new space.

If so, we can help you plan it.

Bill