Labeling toolbox drawers

[Gigem]

I have been on a kick to get my garage **** organized lately. My sister got me a label maker for my birthday last month, and I put it to use in the garage recently.

I am not done yet, but so far I really like where this is heading. I am just a home DIY person, so I am not in my boxes every day. I forget where stuff is sometimes. I might grab the drawer above or below the one I need. Not anymore I think.

Also, if I ever need one of my helpers/tax dependents to grab something for me, I now have a much better chance of success.

The other big breakthrough I had was taking out all the extra and redundant tools out of the main boxes. In addition to tools I have owned since high school, I have had three major "tool hauls" in my life. I inherited my dad's stuff and twice I have purchased a guy's whole box with all their tools in it. There is no way to "neatly organize" all of this, as this is really 4 people's tools. So I cherry picked the best stuff that I want to have handy, and put all the extras in boxes on a shelf. Not ready to sell them yet, but these will be my "throw down" tools, loaners, abusers, etc.

I think this paring down will allow me to use most of my smaller Mac box for hardware. So coning up with an efficient way to utilize this box space for the hardware I have will be a future project.

I like having my **** organized!

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, what you have is"A work in progress".

 

[Gigem]

IMHO, what you have is"A work in progress".

No doubt about that!

 

[bri_man57]

I just reference the random stickers on the box. " That tool is in the Edelbrock drawer" ha ha ha.

I like what you're saying about the tool organization, I recently got a replacement lower box for 26$ box and have been organizing a little realizing I have way too much redundancy. My 3/8 extension collection is out of control lol. Might be time to do the same, ditch the redundancy.

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[Gigem]

I just reference the random stickers on the box. " That tool is in the Edelbrock drawer" ha ha ha.

I like what you're saying about the tool organization, I recently got a replacement lower box for 26$ box and have been organizing a little realizing I have way too much redundancy. My 3/8 extension collection is out of control lol. Might be time to do the same, ditch the redundancy.

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Not ditching, that is too hard. I view it as identifying the A team and putting them in the box, and then putting the B team in less convenient, less organized, more compacted deep storage. If there is a C team, ditch that. Maybe after a while a member of the B team gets demoted to the C team and ditched if I never need to bring them in to pinch hit for something.

It was hard to "get rid" of tools, but damn easy to pick the A team...

 

[Meursault74]

I My sister got me a label maker for my birthday last month, and I put it to use in the garage recently.

Hopefully that label maker wasn't "regifted" or you may have problems in the future

If you're a fan of the show Seinfeld, you'll know what I mean...... otherwise...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Label_Maker

 

[Gigem]

Hopefully that label maker wasn't "regifted" or you may have problems in the future



If you're a fan of the show Seinfeld, you'll know what I mean...... otherwise...



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Label_Maker

Not a regifted Label Baby Junior!

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[EricS]

A suggestion although possibly a bit late for you. Buy a roll of magnetic flexible strip( comes in rolls). By putting the labels on magnetic strips I can easily relocate labels as things change

 

[LMS]

A suggestion although possibly a bit late for you. Buy a roll of magnetic flexible strip( comes in rolls). By putting the labels on magnetic strips I can easily relocate labels as things change

Great idea. I'll throw another suggestion out there. Get the clear tape with white letters. Looks a lot nicer.

 

[gunguy]

A suggestion although possibly a bit late for you. Buy a roll of magnetic flexible strip( comes in rolls). By putting the labels on magnetic strips I can easily relocate labels as things change

I did something similar only I used business card magnets from Amazon.

Jim

 

[jmiller_2308]

I did this but used clear tape with black letters to stand out against the silver handles of my boxes. The two issues I've had is that the tape eventually lets go and looks tacky.. The other is that I do sometimes rearrange and that means making new labels. I think the suggestion by EricS is brilliant and it would likely solve both of those issues.

I also agree with GigeM. Like the op, I had gathered several different sets of tools over time. I've found that I have my "go to" tools and those are the ones that are most prominent in my boxes. At some point you don't need several tools that are either the same or do roughly the same thing. Those tools get moved to other areas so they aren't in the way of tools I use everyday.

Finally, for duplicate tools or tools that may only be used in certain places (wood, metal, mechanical, plumbing, electric, etc.) look at making satellite boxes. For example, I have a small collection of tools in the kitchen and several collections of other tools in the lower level. All are labeled! It is really helpful to be able to walk 20' for a tool instead of 100' or more when I need something in a different part of the house.

BTW: Op, I like the wrench drawer. I've done similar and it is great to be able to grab the wrench you want without digging through a pile of them. I'm still working on my buddy to fix his box that way so that I don't get frustrated when I'm working with him on a project.

 

[Jazz1]

I labeled some drawers early on when the Beach chest was given to me as I was overwhelmed going from a 3 drawer chest.

 

[CraigStu]

I did the same thing.

 

[16again]

My box is fully labeled.

 

[madgrey]

I've been working on some organizing / labeling using an Epson LW-PX700PCD. I like the black label option and you can go 1" wide (as shown). I used a similar label maker for my last bin system which I recently retired. Even though it had 10-15 year old labels, they peeled right off the bins with no issues. I've got couple large rolling tool organizers that I'm thinking of doing next, probably with 1/2" labels.

 

[Meursault74]

A suggestion although possibly a bit late for you. Buy a roll of magnetic flexible strip( comes in rolls). By putting the labels on magnetic strips I can easily relocate labels as things change

Good Idea. I've seen this before, but in a different application.

We have steel gas cylinders (Hydrogen, Helium, Argon, Nitrogen, etc) at work. The spare and empty ones are secured up against a wall. "Empty" was printed out on a label maker and then attached to the magnetic strips. Makes it easy to identify which are empty and need to be ordered and are ready to swap out for the cylinder delivery worker. When the swap is made, the empty labels are stuck to an adjacent cabinet. The guy I worked with who started this label system, no longer works there.....he didn't contribute much, but this was/is a good contribution and I think of him when I see it.

 

[Gigem]

A suggestion although possibly a bit late for you. Buy a roll of magnetic flexible strip( comes in rolls). By putting the labels on magnetic strips I can easily relocate labels as things change

Never too late, I like it. Do these have decent magnet power in them? Do they stick pretty well? I am just using the tape that came with my labeler, I will look into the magnetic tape. Thanks!

 

[Metal-Marc]

Lots of great ideas here. Thanks!

 

[Meursault74]

Never too late, I like it. Do these have decent magnet power in them? Do they stick pretty well? I am just using the tape that came with my labeler, I will look into the magnetic tape. Thanks!

They do stick magnetically well. If they come in a roll, they'll have some of that roll memory and be curved a little when you cut off pieces.. You'll need to put them between some flat surfaces and something heavy to flatten them out. Overnight is usually enough. I've used these strips for other applications besides labels.

 

[unslow1]

A suggestion although possibly a bit late for you. Buy a roll of magnetic flexible strip( comes in rolls). By putting the labels on magnetic strips I can easily relocate labels as things change

I did this with the magnet floor register covers and pair of scissors.

 

[ooba tooba]

Von Dutch

 

[PhantomEB]

One thing I need to do is label my drawers. Will steal the magnetic strip idea as **** gets moved around enough.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

A suggestion although possibly a bit late for you. Buy a roll of magnetic flexible strip( comes in rolls). By putting the labels on magnetic strips I can easily relocate labels as things change

I have this awesome box. It is an ER pediatric crash cart. Front of each drawer is a different color. Apparently there is a color code for when seconds count.
Thing is that it is all aluminum.

 

[tmshort]

I've been working on some organizing / labeling using an Epson LW-PX700PCD. I like the black label option and you can go 1" wide (as shown). I used a similar label maker for my last bin system which I recently retired. Even though it had 10-15 year old labels, they peeled right off the bins with no issues. I've got couple large rolling tool organizers that I'm thinking of doing next, probably with 1/2" labels.

Madgrey- those are nice looking boxes, what kind are they?

 

[EricS]

Never too late, I like it. Do these have decent magnet power in them? Do they stick pretty well? I am just using the tape that came with my labeler, I will look into the magnetic tape. Thanks!

I buy the magnetic strips in rolls, I use 1/2" but other widths available. I make the label, add to strip and cut to length.

They stick pretty good, like good fridge magnet

 

[atch]

I'm liking this idea.

1. I went to Amazon and looked. These label makers run from cheap to very expensive.

What specific brand/model are you folks using?

2. DYMO LetraTag LT-100H Handheld Label Maker seems to be the big seller. At $15.95 it is about the least expensive one on Amazon

Have any of you used this one?

3. Magnetic labels are available for these. The reviews run from "worthless pos; don't buy" to "you'll love these"

Have any of you used these and what do you think of them?


4. I didn't look at the "old fashioned" label makers that emboss onto plastic strips. If they aren't any better than they used to be I'm not interested.



.

 

[atch]

As an alternative I'm wondering about just buying magnetic strip and printing "labels" on white paper on the computer printer (just 8 1/2 x 11 paper); cutting these into 1/2" wide strips using a paper cutter; and affixing these "labels" to the adhesive backed magnetic strips.

Any comments?

 

[EricS]

I'm liking this idea.

1. I went to Amazon and looked. These label makers run from cheap to very expensive.

What specific brand/model are you folks using?

2. DYMO LetraTag LT-100H Handheld Label Maker seems to be the big seller. At $15.95 it is about the least expensive one on Amazon

Have any of you used this one?

3. Magnetic labels are available for these. The reviews run from "worthless pos; don't buy" to "you'll love these"

Have any of you used these and what do you think of them?


4. I didn't look at the "old fashioned" label makers that emboss onto plastic strips. If they aren't any better than they used to be I'm not interested.



.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=474763&highlight=label+maker

I have a Brady BMP21-plus in the work truck and just ordered the Dymo 5200 kit for home( got a deal, seems cartridges are cheaper and more variety)

 

[gearhead1]

I bought 3/4” wide magnetic tape (comes on a dispenser just like scotch tape), and put on a label from a Dymo Rhino 5200 label maker.

There are labels for it that will stick on textured plastic, like hard cases and totes. I don’t remember if they’re polyester or nylon, but it’s one of the two. I got both and whichever one I used will stick to a DeWalt plastic hardware case.

 

[speed88]

I'm liking this idea.

1. I went to Amazon and looked. These label makers run from cheap to very expensive.

What specific brand/model are you folks using?

2. DYMO LetraTag LT-100H Handheld Label Maker seems to be the big seller. At $15.95 it is about the least expensive one on Amazon

Have any of you used this one?

3. Magnetic labels are available for these. The reviews run from "worthless pos; don't buy" to "you'll love these"

Have any of you used these and what do you think of them?


4. I didn't look at the "old fashioned" label makers that emboss onto plastic strips. If they aren't any better than they used to be I'm not interested.



.

I just picked up a Brady bmp 21- plus kit from zoro with a 20% off coupon. So far I’m totally loving it! I didn’t realize how handy and convenient it could be. Been very impressed.

 

[speed88]

I even printed out a little test strip and stuck it in the shower to see how it would hold up to water and so far it has done well.

 

[speed88]

I’m enjoying this too much.

 

[Dmsr87]

Loving the ideas here! I found Craftsman had sheets of magnetic toolbox labels in store years ago. Just did a search on Amazon on magnetic toolbox labels and found some for as little as $15.

 

[Ralf11]

I just use different colored Sharpies to write on white magnetic labels.

I should have every drawer's contents memorized...

 

[unslow1]

I just use different colored Sharpies to write on white magnetic labels.

I should have every drawer's contents memorized...

That's what I did except all black Sharpie on white label.

 

[Meursault74]

As an alternative I'm wondering about just buying magnetic strip and printing "labels" on white paper on the computer printer (just 8 1/2 x 11 paper); cutting these into 1/2" wide strips using a paper cutter; and affixing these "labels" to the adhesive backed magnetic strips.

Any comments?

This could work ok if you covered the paper with some clear tape or laminate. I don't think the paper alone would hold up well.

I've only had experience with "Brother" label makers. The labels made are kind of "laminated" and quite durable.

 

[bri_man57]

I use one of those brady label makers at work and they are top notch for sure!!! I want one, but they are a little spendy lol.

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[skulldrinker]

Label them sockets lol

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[bugnut]

I use this one
Brother P-touch Label Maker, Versatile Easy-to-Use Labeler, PTD400AD
it will do upto 3/4 (18mm) tape, easy on the old eyes. Roll of magnetic tape from amazon, in 1/2 or 3/4 width.

The idea of printing your own and placing on adhesive backed is interesting and it could easily be covered with scotch tape.

I like the labelmaker as I I can label plastic containers I store other items in.

 

[speed88]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BNDQTGW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I ordered these magnetic label 1x6” strips off Amazon and plan to print out the labels and stick them to the paper backing and use packaging/ shipping tape to laminate over them. Will post pics if it comes out well lol.