New tool box or move current box to new building?

[Maxcustody]

Update 1/29/2022 I have decided to go all in. Unfortunately, anything I get involved in I sometimes go overboard. All good though as I have never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.

Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments. As well as helping me spend my money.

I have asked a couple questions in regards to my new shop build. We will have a new 40 x 60 shop in April. I have a current detached Garage with all current tools, etc. It is an "L" shape, not small, but there is no way our F250 would even fit in there for any work. So obviously, I will use the new shop for all work on vehicles and will also have a 4 post lift.

So do I move my Large box out of current garage into the new one, or buy an additional tool box? My first thought is move it, why not...........then I second guess myself, will I still need the tools in the current garage for other projects? Even as I type this, I am thinking it would be dumb not to just move it, why spend additional money on a new box.

*Both old and new shop will be about 200 feet from each other.

I am sure there are many here with 2 (garage) or more shop locations. What are your thoughts?

 

[Old Man Roger]

You forget where you are lol Of course you should get a new box, of course it should be bigger, of course it should have bigger better tools in it lol

 

[grant00]

With the new larger shop and all vehicles in there, what would you be using the old shop for?

 

[Maxcustody]

You forget where you are lol Of course you should get a new box, of course it should be bigger, of course it should have bigger better tools in it lol

I know.................I have been looking at new tools the last few days, of course I need tools with a new cart.................LOL

 

[mrjaw14]

I would have a box in each with tools focused on the type of work I’d be doing. If I had two shops and one had a lift, I j ow where the auto focused tools would be vs the home maintenance type stuff.

 

[Maxcustody]

With the new larger shop and all vehicles in there, what would you be using the old shop for?

That is the $500 question........................Old owner used to have wood working tools, so it was set up for that with outlets in the floor, etc. It has a full air throughout and a "dust Gorilla" all plumbed.

Here is a pic when we first moved in................

 

[Sumboodie]

Alot of my tools were at the shop, which was a 5 min drive away.
I'd just go get stuff if needed. Sure I have duplicates, but not Daddy warbucks and could afford 2 welders, 2 sets of air tools, etc.

 

[CGarage]

Move your tool box. It helps to have tool boxes that are no more than 50-55 inches wide so that they are easier to move around as needed. Rather than a giant wall unit.
I have multiple standard 26” boxes to make them more “expeditionary”, when needed.
I prefer multiple smaller boxes to one large box.

 

[grant00]

That is the $500 question........................Old owner used to have wood working tools, so it was set up for that with outlets in the floor, etc. It has a full air throughout and a "dust Gorilla" all plumbed.

Here is a pic when we first moved in................

Wow, that is a pretty nice looking interior! That dust collection could all be moved though to the larger shop in a woodworking corner. Even though he did a bunch of woodworking doesn't mean you will haha. I'd personally move everything to the bigger shop and park your yard equipment and space sucking/storage items in the smaller shop.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

I ran into this dilemma when I had my new garage built several years ago.

Keep tools in both garages. You will need them. Doesn't have to be duplicates of everything, but your common stuff, ratchets, sockets, hammers, pliers, etc.

 

[CGarage]

I don’t see what the problem is. Looks like you have a woodshop. Keep woodshop tools there.
New shop will be for auto and metal work, etc...keep those tools there. Wood shop can have cabinets added for wood shop tool storage.

 

[35k0]

Get some big, off-road style pneumatic casters for the toolbox so it rolls easier on the gravel in case you need to move it from shop to shop.

 

[Maxcustody]

Move your tool box. It helps to have tool boxes that are no more than 50-55 inches wide so that they are easier to move around as needed. Rather than a giant wall unit.
I have multiple standard 26” boxes to make them more “expeditionary”, when needed.
I prefer multiple smaller boxes to one large box.

I have my large Milwaukee box with all my good tools and basically everything I use. This would be the box I move. I have 2 older craftsman with older tools, and a bunch of just mixed junk in those. If I got a new box I was thinking a nice tool "roller" box that would be able to move around entire 40 x 60 shop.

Current set up.................

 

[RTM]

If I had 2 shops, both would have tool boxes, with most appropriate tools in each building. No sense running for a ratchet, but a bigger power tool, or welder, sure.

 

[Maxcustody]

Wow, that is a pretty nice looking interior! That dust collection could all be moved though to the larger shop in a woodworking corner. Even though he did a bunch of woodworking doesn't mean you will haha. I'd personally move everything to the bigger shop and park your yard equipment and space sucking/storage items in the smaller shop.

Right on with the woodworking, LOL, I don't do much.

 

[NUTTSGT]

So do I move my Large box out of current garage into the new one, or buy an additional tool box?

This is Garage Journal. There is only only correct answer.

BOTH.



Off topic, slightly. Cut some of those trees back around that building so the roof gets some sunlight. Strip off those old nasty green shingles and have the building crew put new metal (matching new bldg) on the roof.

 

[Maxcustody]

So do I move my Large box out of current garage into the new one, or buy an additional tool box?

This is Garage Journal. There is only only correct answer.

BOTH.



Off topic, slightly. Cut some of those trees back around that building so the roof gets some sunlight. Strip off those old nasty green shingles and have the building crew put new metal (matching new bldg) on the roof.

Roof is on the list, not priority. This new building all in is costing me $100,000.

That picture is after trees were removed..................here is a couple before, I have a ton if you want to see how much they had to clear.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Roof is on the list, not priority. This new building all in is costing me $100,000.

That picture is after trees were removed..................here is a couple before, I have a ton if you want to see how much they had to clear.

A ton of pics ? Really ? You have a nice looking place now and going to make it better with a new building. I suggest going to the Garage Gallery section and starting a build thread. You already have a start with the current building and pics.

If the roof is still green, atleast get it sprayed this Spring to try and kill that green mold.

 

[Maxcustody]

A ton of pics ? Really ? You have a nice looking place now and going to make it better with a new building. I suggest going to the Garage Gallery section and starting a build thread. You already have a start with the current building and pics.

If the roof is still green, atleast get it sprayed this Spring to try and kill that green mold.

I did not mean it as a smart *** comment. It is always hard when typing a conversation, you can never accurately convey tone, emotions, etc.

I meant, I am documenting the whole process. I have been looking at a lot of threads on the garages here, this is why I joined. I did not want to start a thread with a bunch of before and during pics then have a several month lull before anything new.

Getting rid of a ton of trees should help with the roof this coming spring and summer it will get a lot more sun. I will definitely look into spraying it with something in the spring.

Thanks

 

[NUTTSGT]

I never took it that way.

Start a thread now, post up, what it looked like when you bought it, as you have worked on it and what you're doing in it. Take plenty of pics, sounds like you already have and be interactive. Guys will ask questions or make suggestions. Not much more discouraging is a guy starting a thread, posts pics and descriptions and ignores anybody replying to his posts.

I'd try Mold Armor when Spring rolls around.

 

[Maxcustody]

I never took it that way.

Start a thread now, post up, what it looked like when you bought it, as you have worked on it and what you're doing in it. Take plenty of pics, sounds like you already have and be interactive. Guys will ask questions or make suggestions. Not much more discouraging is a guy starting a thread, posts pics and descriptions and ignores anybody replying to his posts.

I'd try Mold Armor when Spring rolls around.

Thanks Eric I will start a thread. I am definitely interested in ideas, comments and suggestions. I am retired FED LEO, so I am a novice when it comes to about everything else.............

We have moved 10x in the last 23 years and this is our retirement place we bought in 2019. We have owned several nice homes and previous pole buildings, so it was nice to have a couple to compare when having this one built. This is also the first built from the ground up, the others were already on the properties we bought. We are very excited about it.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’d have the old box in the old shop. I don’t like changing things up haha. But either option would be good. As long as you have tools in both of course.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Max,

We don't care about guys being a novice. We all started somewhere.

 

[CGarage]

Figure out what activities are going on in each structure and then think about the tools needed for those activities. If the wood shop is repurposed for storage of toys / lawn care.....you will need tools and storage for the Polaris and the John Deere, etc

 

[FMB4]

Have boxes and tool sets in both locations. And a 3rd box/tool set just to keep up with the Garage Journal. JK, well sorta. Anyway, good luck with your new shop build!

 

[Maxcustody]

I’d have the old box in the old shop. I don’t like changing things up haha. But either option would be good. As long as you have tools in both of course.

The old boxes are definitely staying where they are now.

 

[Maxcustody]

Figure out what activities are going on in each structure and then think about the tools needed for those activities. If the wood shop is repurposed for storage of toys / lawn care.....you will need tools and storage for the Polaris and the John Deere, etc

Current garage is jammed with the Atv's, mowers, etc. My plan is to store all vehicles, mowers, wood splitter (large items) in new shop. This will give me room to move in the current garage for whatever I end up using it for.

 

[Maxcustody]

Have boxes and tool sets in both locations. And a 3rd box/tool set just to keep up with the Garage Journal. JK, well sorta. Anyway, good luck with your new shop build!

There is no way I can keep up with some of you guy's. I have seen some amazing tool boxes and tools!

 

[BarrelRoll]

I had a slightly different dilemma, 40x24 shop about 20 steps from my house with a 1 car attached "wife's garage. I work out of town and got sick of coming home to find my wife would bring tools into the house and not put them back. It also isn't a lot of fun to run out to the shop in the middle of a blizzard at 8pm for a screw driver.

I put up a pegboard in the wife's garage and bought her $400 of mostly husky stuff besides a m12 drill and impact driver. It solved the hidden tools and cut down on the trips to the shop. While it's not a complete set of tools or high dollar stuff it's enough to do most things.

Not buying a second tool box and putting stuff on a peg board would pay for a decent basic set of tools for the other garage.


I have a policy at work if I borrow something twice I buy it. You could have the policy if you walk to the other shop twice for something you buy it.

 

[tez929rr]

I ran into this dilemma when I had my new garage built several years ago.

Keep tools in both garages. You will need them. Doesn't have to be duplicates of everything, but your common stuff, ratchets, sockets, hammers, pliers, etc.

This. It’s about 150 feet from my semi detached garage to the shop we built. It took me one day of shlepping tools back and forth to decide to buy another set. It also gives you an opportunity to build another set of tools in a different way, which was sort of interesting all by itself. We built another shop building 50 feet from the first one and I keep a tool cart with a minimal set of tools in there.

 

[Maxcustody]

This. It’s about 150 feet from my semi detached garage to the shop we built. It took me one day of shlepping tools back and forth to decide to buy another set. It also gives you an opportunity to build another set of tools in a different way, which was sort of interesting all by itself. We built another shop building 50 feet from the first one and I keep a tool cart with a minimal set of tools in there.

Thanks, I am thinking move the Milwaukee box as well as get a rolling tool cart to be able to roll around the large shop. I have been looking at new tools for days now! There are a lot of cool small roll carts as well with many different options.

 

[ForrestT]

I don’t see what the problem is. Looks like you have a woodshop. Keep woodshop tools there.
New shop will be for auto and metal work, etc...keep those tools there. Wood shop can have cabinets added for wood shop tool storage.

This is what I’d do. Small (old) shop for wood work. Everything else to new shop except common tools that are needed for wood work.

 

[crewchief888]

all my woodworking type stuff stays in the (unfinished) basement. i have a 26" roller/top with some misc hand tools, wife has a toolbag upstairs with the "essentials" for picture hanging, ect. 3 roll cab/top combos with multiple side boxes in the garage. all my "working" tools are in my service truck

 

[Maxcustody]

all my woodworking type stuff stays in the (unfinished) basement. i have a 26" roller/top with some misc hand tools, wife has a toolbag upstairs with the "essentials" for picture hanging, ect. 3 roll cab/top combos with multiple side boxes in the garage. all my "working" tools are in my service truck

Thanks. I think a roller top in that size would be perfect for most used tools in the new shop. I have a bag of tools in the house as well to be able to grab something for a project instead of having to go to the garage all the time.

 

[crewchief888]

Thanks. I think a roller top in that size would be perfect for most used tools in the new shop. I have a bag of tools in the house as well to be able to grab something for a project instead of having to go to the garage all the time.

i dont like to have to run out to the garage when it's cold, snowing, raining to get anything. i rarely have to.

 

[Maxcustody]

i dont like to have to run out to the garage when it's cold, snowing, raining to get anything. i rarely have to.

Exactly, plus it never ends running back and forth when you forgot something, especially in the pouring rain.

 

[tez929rr]

Thanks, I am thinking move the Milwaukee box as well as get a rolling tool cart to be able to roll around the large shop. I have been looking at new tools for days now! There are a lot of cool small roll carts as well with many different options.

In the big shop I have one big roller chest that rarely moves and a smaller one on the other side of the bays. I replaced a tool cart with a small HF roller chest as I needed more drawer space as well as having the top for a work surface. 40 by 60 steel building.

 

[Maxcustody]

In the big shop I have one big roller chest that rarely moves and a smaller one on the other side of the bays. I replaced a tool cart with a small HF roller chest as I needed more drawer space as well as having the top for a work surface. 40 by 60 steel building.

Thanks. I was thinking of a similar cart so I can utilize the top as well for a mobile table or work space. I would rather have the top slide then lift up because that way I don't lose the work space.

 

[CJM8515]

Id put all the non essential items in the small garage and outfit the new garage as your main one.

 

[Ohmthis]

That’s a nice shop (the small one as you call it). I unfortunately have three garage shop spaces. I say unfortunately because the developer when we built, wouldn’t let me build the shop I wanted (30x40x12). So we designed “space” into the house. I have a 16x28 “mechanic” shop attached Lshaled with the 2.5 car main garage. 14x35 downstairs “wood shop”, and 20x20 outdoor equipment/motorized toy garage. I have a toolbox (or multiples in the mechanic shop) in each one. My advice is to have the tools that are for the work in the areas they will be used in. You will definitely use some of the same tools everywhere.