Organizing tools

[Whiskeymike]

I have a new shop and working on organizing things. I have one two story tool cabinet with drawers, two 4 x 8 peg boards, and plastic bins I store larger parts etc. in. My question is how do I determine what goes in the drawers and what goes on pegboards?

Many tools aren't specific to a type of work like sockets or pliers. How do you sort your tools so your keyhole saw doesn't wind up in your sockets.

 

[crewchief888]

mechanics hand tools, air tools, grinders, fabrication stuff stays in the garage.

woodworking stuff stays in my reloading room in the basement.

i have a few drawers underneath the woodworking bench that i keep a few pairs of pliers and screwdrivers in.
portable power tools on a heavy duty wire shelf unit.

one piece of pegboard in back of the bench to hang saws and odd shaped things on.


house and garage aren't that far aprt so it's easy to get something from the garage i need in the house for a project, and visa-versa

 

[Aberdale]

Really?

 

[Whiskeymike]

Really?

Sorry, I'm new to having a shop. Previously I've had a 3 square foot area in my garage for a tool box and a jack. Now I've got 20x30 of space and as I start to try to organize it, it seems like multiple tools pertain to auto, wood working, electrical, house repair, etc... So before I set it up and hate it, I figured I would ask what belongs in drawers vs. Pegboard, etc...

I know, small problem to have, but wasn't looking to waste your time.

 

[Whiskeymike]

mechanics hand tools, air tools, grinders, fabrication stuff stays in the garage.

woodworking stuff stays in my reloading room in the basement.

i have a few drawers underneath the woodworking bench that i keep a few pairs of pliers and screwdrivers in.
portable power tools on a heavy duty wire shelf unit.

one piece of pegboard in back of the bench to hang saws and odd shaped things on.


house and garage aren't that far aprt so it's easy to get something from the garage i need in the house for a project, and visa-versa

I guess the biggest thing is that the pegboard gets the odd shaped things that don't fit in drawers or have a group of tools they belong to.

 

[crewchief888]

I guess the biggest thing is that the pegboard gets the odd shaped things that don't fit in drawers or have a group of tools they belong to.

as much a i dislike pegboard, it was put up by the previous owner of the house. it works for what it is.

 

[captain14]

Try putting the saws And other long objects ( oil filtered wrench and caulk gun) on the pegboard Try to put like tools together in your boxes. Some tools you use together on a project put those together. You may want to get a small carrier to place tools in to take to the job like the bathroom sink. Remember to put them back in the same spot after finishing The job.

 

[Aberdale]

Sorry, I'm new to having a shop. Previously I've had a 3 square foot area in my garage for a tool box and a jack. Now I've got 20x30 of space and as I start to try to organize it, it seems like multiple tools pertain to auto, wood working, electrical, house repair, etc... So before I set it up and hate it, I figured I would ask what belongs in drawers vs. Pegboard, etc...

I know, small problem to have, but wasn't looking to waste your time.

I'm not trying to be a smartass, but no one on this forum knows how you will use your space as well as you do. I say take your best shot at placing things where you logically think they should go. If it's not working out, move them. No big deal. Over time, most of us end up reorganizing work areas to make them better. It's an evolutionary process, and there's no right or wrong answer.

'dale

 

[gungatim]

You can use some lean six-sigma tools to help stimulate your thoughts such as:

5S - sort tools, remove non value added items, store like items together, frequently used tools on top or on pegboard, etc.

8 wastes - one of them is wasted motion, meaning put things close by so you don't grab a socket from one drawer, but walk 5 ft. for the ratchet on a pegboard, etc.

Quick changeover/SMED - create "flow" in your work processes. ie. if you change oil, locate oil, filters, grease gun, filter wrench in a central location in the order of use.

And don't be afraid to change it up after a while. I have re-organized my shop more times than I can count, always making it more efficient. As time goes on it will become apparent when you need more/different storage and locations of tools...

 

[JoeFin]

The tools I use frequently are in draws or shelves under the work bench. The tools I use infrequently are on shelves 7' high, 24" deep along the perimeter of the back wall

It kind of messy right now as I'm in the middle of construction for an addition but you can see the shelves on the back wall

and here you can see the first crude work bench I slapped together

Eventually I did a work trade with the owner of a cabinet shop. I repaired a 6" pulley for an industrial edge sander and he built me a proper cabinet with 150 lb roller slides.

Here is the contents of 1 of the draws

That is how I handle it and I am of limited space

 

[justanengineer]

JMHO, but a good use of peg board is holding an assortment of cheap tools very close to the toolbox with your good tools. The logic - gives HER something that is easily seen and used by HER before she breaks into the good stuff, even if something gets abused or lost its no biggie.

Personally, I keep my plumbing, electrical, woodworking, and small'ish "house construction" tools on the pegboard in the basement utility room as thats where 99% of the house's infrastructure is. I keep my auto and metalworking tools in the garage, rarely do they mix as I dont enjoy the "mud" on tools that oil + sawdust combined produce.

 

[Hornman]

I have a detached shop about fifty steps from the back door, so I keep a small projects toolbox in the house. Contents: hammers, screw drivers, pliers, tape measure, outlet tester, phone jack tester, digital VOM, razor blade scrapers, utility knives, several types of glue, electrical tape, masking tape, paint can opener, paint stirring sticks, a rubber mallet for closing paint cans, and an extensive supply of picture framing supplies.

 

[williammcneely]

This ^^^

You can use some lean six-sigma tools to help stimulate your thoughts such as:

5S - sort tools, remove non value added items, store like items together, frequently used tools on top or on pegboard, etc.

8 wastes - one of them is wasted motion, meaning put things close by so you don't grab a socket from one drawer, but walk 5 ft. for the ratchet on a pegboard, etc.

Quick changeover/SMED - create "flow" in your work processes. ie. if you change oil, locate oil, filters, grease gun, filter wrench in a central location in the order of use.

And don't be afraid to change it up after a while. I have re-organized my shop more times than I can count, always making it more efficient. As time goes on it will become apparent when you need more/different storage and locations of tools...

No one can tell you what will work for you. And as your projects and interests change your layout will change. Especially if you have a working shop and not a storage shop.

A storage shop is static. A working shop is dynamic.

 

[williammcneely]

I agree with gungatim

You can use some lean six-sigma tools to help stimulate your thoughts such as:

5S - sort tools, remove non value added items, store like items together, frequently used tools on top or on pegboard, etc.

8 wastes - one of them is wasted motion, meaning put things close by so you don't grab a socket from one drawer, but walk 5 ft. for the ratchet on a pegboard, etc.

Quick changeover/SMED - create "flow" in your work processes. ie. if you change oil, locate oil, filters, grease gun, filter wrench in a central location in the order of use.

And don't be afraid to change it up after a while. I have re-organized my shop more times than I can count, always making it more efficient. As time goes on it will become apparent when you need more/different storage and locations of tools...

No one can tell you what will work for you. And as your projects and interests change your layout will change. Especially if you have a working shop and not a storage shop.

A storage shop is static. A working shop is dynamic.

 

[taumac]

I have areas in my garage. Storage, Sink, desk/ entertainment/ my twin 44 ans workbench wall. That's what works for me but I like a clean look and much rather have stuff in bins, cabinets, old tool boxes I use. I have space issues so tend to nest stuff or have multi uses for tools and everything is on casters to move work and put back. I can say make a plan of how you want to work in the space and go from there.

The 5 Stitches Garage part 1 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142100

The 5 Stitches Garage part2 http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

 

[Whiskeymike]

Thanks folks, it's very helpful. My main question was why put stuff in drawers vs. Pegboard, and your responses have been helpful.

I think I'll put odd shaped tools on peg board like saws, hammers, and things you have to grab, then put away, etc. and put sockets, wrenches, specialty pliars, air tools, bits in the drawers. As I get more experience, I'll change it up.

 

[justanengineer]

Thanks folks, it's very helpful. My main question was why put stuff in drawers vs. Pegboard, and your responses have been helpful.

Dust control can be a problem with pegboard. Its not such a big deal in most garages, but if you do a lot of wood or metalworking it can be a PITA. The other issue I have with pegboard is simply that it takes up a lot of room. You can fit a helluva lot more tools in a box that isnt taking up a big chunk of wall space.

 

[LeeG]

It doesn't matter where you start, you will change it. Drawers are about the highest density storage there is. You can build trays in them to split a deep drawer into shallower ones so there is less wasted verticle space. Pegboard is handy, but inefficient use if space. I use pegboard on the outside of cabinet doors to give me quick access to commonly used tools.

 

[coyotejake]

HEY! Look up 'printers drawer' on E-BAY! Old drawers from the early 20th century built specifically for the printing industry, with dividers built in. I bought two for a workbench project to hold all my taps and end mills.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Like with like, commonly used tools on the pegboard, arraigned for symmetry.

There are good pegboard threads here.