Organizing your Roller Toolbox? Auto vs shop?

[Vegaman_Dan]

My garage is for working in. Mostly metal work and automotive. I do have token wood working tools, but I'm a metal person by preference. With a pair of mismatched Husky base cabinets, I've got mostly my automotive stuff in the right spot, but there are files and drills that really should be with woodworking stuff.

I'm seriously considering replacing it all with a HF 44" roller base. I don't want a top cabinet because I'm short and I like having the work space on top. I've got one of the HF red tool carts that are awesome, but also isn't as useful with that top lid and limited storage. I might consider getting rid of that in favor of dedicated box for woodworking/house.

It's hard to decide how to split things up. Screwdrivers apply to both categories, for example. Hammers? I've got too many there, but I can at least separate them for wood and metal working. Files? Those can be used for both. Drills? I've got sets dedicated to metal work.

It's a hard question for me to answer. Dedicated separate boxes or combined? I don't have unlimited space, so... yeah.

What sorts of organization of your rollers do you use? Dedicated by tool type, purpose, or material?

 

[sberry]

I organize by duty cycle and location. Some of these tools are so cheap I stick an extra screwdriver where I need it if it means I aint got to go to a box regular for it. I take one or 2 sockets I need to use all the time ou of a set and store the rest out of the way a little so I aint got to open a drawer with every socket I own to get a 9/16 or 3/4 I use 50% of the time.

 

[sberry]

I got a bench to work on. I have an old Cman but wouldn't mind replacing it with a more common 44 and re do the whole layout.
At this point in the shop there is occasion I need a few other wrenches or sockets but can go to the drawer for them. This is the top where the hand tools are where they need to be. I have pecked at some organization and its all from junk I had. I have yet to set right down and build the Montezuma hutch top I really envision. I keep adjustables and pipe wrenches and hammers on the bench.
This box doesn't travel, it gets rotated on occasion. If its really in the way I can move it. I have a couple other boxed beside another automotive work station that hold items I wasn't to sort or use less,,, don't mind walking to a different chest for a special tubing wrench etc.
Its easier to go get it than to wade thru the more common items.
The trick isn't to have everything but to have common items in view and not to have things you don't use in this space.

I have since stripped out a few sockets but still havnt taken a 1/2 hr and a new board to re figure the wrench space. It isn't rocket science and I can gain some hangers, need a few more spaces. This board and box top are like batteries, there are 5 440 channelocks, half a dozen vise grips, half a dozen each driver that we need etc same for the combo wrenches. I try to limit the hook lencth,,, chances are if this rack is full then there is starvation a couple other places. These migrate and circulate.

 

[sberry]

If you are less frequent would tend to put things away better, in my case its a rare hour someone doesn't grab something up from here. Looking thru drawers is too tedious,

 

[kbs2244]

I separate by job type.
Automotive tools in one box.
Wood tools in another.
General mechanical tools in another.
(I do a lot of repair of my sons electric hand tools. Brushes, trigger switches, new cords, etc.)
Everything is on casters so it can be put away along the wall under the bottom shelf.
There is a fair amount of duplication of the small hand tools.
But screwdrivers and knives and such are cheap enough.

 

[zkling]

I'm with KBS. A 33" stack for general mechanics, a 33" stack for household/carpentry, a tall 27" stack for machinist tools, a 44/37" stack for power tools and measuring, machinist overflow. A small 26" stack for welding supplies, a cabinet for parts and bolts. Then a driveway/shop cart which is actually a large 26" bottom box with work surface that holds a little of everything. Most jobs can be completed with the cart. Works pretty well for me.

 

[dawg69]

For now my auto/general tools are in the toolboxes while carpentry/household tools are hanging on pegboard above the bench and on the wall. Eventually I will have a dedicated wood shop in the basement so that will settle the debate for me once and for all.

 

[crewchief888]

i keep all my mechanics type tools in the garage in multiple toolboxes.

woodworking stuff stays in the basement, i have a bench with several drawers, a pegboard for saws & hammers, and a wire rack shelf that i keep power tools on.

my machinst tools stay in a seperate box sitting on a roller cab with misc supplies.

in a drawer in the kitchen the old lady has a small hammer, ratcheting screwdriver, tape measure, and a cordless screwdriver.

that way she knows where her "stuff" is, and pretty much stays out of mine...

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I try to group kits together in separate hand boxes/bags I have a home electric box, automotive electric box, plumbing box, welding box, brake line bag, general carpentry box with tool belt, locksmith tool bag, even my road box is split up general tool kit, wheel socket bag, grab tool bag with pliers, adjustable wrenches, 6-in-1 screw driver just the stuff I grab for a quick fix soni don't have to get the big kit out.

 

[Tugboatguy]

Same idea here, although trying to streamline as I expand my collection.

I have a 44" box and 26" top loaded with mechanical stuff, metal drill bits, files, anything I would use on a car or other mechanical job. I have a big 18" bag that lives in my truck with the basics for common "handyman" **** I come across. I then have steel a cabinet with 5 shelves for power tools, blades, hole saws, pancake compressor, all that ****.

Finally a bin full of woodworking hand tools, the smaller ones In clear tackle box type organizers (chisels, countersink bits etc). I have a similar setup for plumbing tools/fittings/supplies. These fit on a shelf under my bench. One of these boxes and my everyday bag usually has what I need if not in the garage.


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