OVERWHELMED with tool organization

[PieFace]

Hey everyone!

I have a HUGE armstrong tool set, but have been so overwhelmed by trying to organize it that its just been a mess since i got it. Im not a mechanic, mind you, but I do live in the garage.

I have the 1165 PC master set, with the storage unit.

I need a road map to set this thing up! Also the mats that come with it are not enough to keep the tools stationary. The box is heavy duty, and beautiful, but the quality is so good that you have to really yank a drawer open, and the mats that came from it cannot stand up to the force. So each time I open it, I shake the drawer up.

So thats i guess where to start? Replacement mats?

Also, please tell me like i know nothing, the sockets go in the main center drawer, but I don't know what goes where else.

Thanks!

 

[dontlifttoshift]

I glue the liners down with spray glue, 3M super 77 or something like that. It doesn't take a lot to hold them in place.

What goes where is personal preference. I will recommend that all sockets, ratchets, extensions go in the same drawer.

 

[bcradio]

I glue the liners down with spray glue, 3M super 77 or something like that. It doesn't take a lot to hold them in place.

What goes where is personal preference. I will recommend that all sockets, ratchets, extensions go in the same drawer.

I don't. I just get mats with a tacky surface to hold all the tools in place and the mat to the drawer. I'd rather not have to deal with glue residue when it's time to replace.

I would start with getting new tackier mats for your box.

 

[dontlifttoshift]

Shrug..... I've never worn out a drawer liner.

 

[countryroad82]

First off I would highly recommend you look through the toolbox thread. That will give you ideas as to how most of us store our tools. As for how to set it up, it's all personal tastes. Some guys would want their wrenches accessible before their sockets, others vise versa. It might take a few times organizing and reorganizing your box to suit your needs/tastes. For myself, since my mainstay is paint and bodywork, my 'cart' is setup with my 1/4 and 3/8 sockets on the top, screwdrivers and extensions in the first drawer, metric wrenches in the second, SAE wrenches (which since I have pretty much cut out resto work these are rarely used) in the third, hammers and body hammers along with dollies in the fourth, pliers/channellocks/etc in the fifth, and on the bottom my impacts and impact sockets. Would that work for you? Maybe, but I'm sure you could make it work better for your application.

 

[slc97sr5]

The box looks very similar to the Matco 4S version.
Does it have adjustable detents?
The older style were a small tab at the front of the slider that accommodated a flat bladed driver. The newer style has a knurled, winged thumbwheel.

 

[Rileysan]

Hey everyone!

I have a HUGE armstrong tool set, but have been so overwhelmed by trying to organize it that its just been a mess since i got it. Im not a mechanic, mind you, but I do live in the garage.

I have the 1165 PC master set, with the storage unit.

I need a road map to set this thing up! Also the mats that come with it are not enough to keep the tools stationary. The box is heavy duty, and beautiful, but the quality is so good that you have to really yank a drawer open, and the mats that came from it cannot stand up to the force. So each time I open it, I shake the drawer up.

So thats i guess where to start? Replacement mats?

Also, please tell me like i know nothing, the sockets go in the main center drawer, but I don't know what goes where else.

Thanks!

I don't know that there are rules for how to setup your toolbox, but I have some un-written rules that I always follow.

1: You are correct - put all your socket sets in the large, center drawer.
2: Put the most used tools (Like screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches) directly above the center drawer - each in their own drawer. Separate metric and SAE wrenches into their own drawer, placing the type used most closer to the middle.
3: Start filling the bottom drawers with large, heavy, and least-used tools.
4: Choose a lower drawer for all your hammers
5: Use the Center/Right drawer for writing utencil, utility knives, scissors, and misc "smalls". Use drawer dividers to create compartments for each item type (available at Harbor Freight)
6: Fill top drawers with specialty tools that are used less often (brake tools, machinist tools, Electrical testers, guages, and so on.
7: Fill the upper/left drawers with allen wrenches, nut drivers, torx drivers, etc.
8: Fill lower/left drawers with pullers, bearing separators, bushing/bearings tools, and so on.

That's my setup in a nutshell. Hope this helps!

Brian

 

[DanInVA]

First off, congratulations on the box and the tools. I would love it if all of mine matched like that. Mine are somewhat.... assorted.

Anyway, I would also recommend you check out the toolbox thread for inspiration. With that box the first thing I would check if I were you is to see if your pry bars will fit in one of the standard length drawers. You may come to find that the longest prybars will only fit in your top (widest) drawer. Myself personally, I deal almost exclusively in metric, so I keep sae and metric seperate. Pretty much all of my go to metric tools are in a small roll cart for easy access and portability. You may also want to find the "Show us your Service Carts" thread, if you think you may want add a cart into the mix. Best of luck, please let us know what you come up with, maybe some drawer shots.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[PieFace]

Thanks everyone!

Im going to look at it again and see if I can figure out a way to stick own the liners, That would save a lot of time, then maybe put everything in order of importance and kind of work my way out from the center.

 

[lilxtra]

PieFace: do yourself a favor and go to Harbor Freight ( yes, I know ) but they have some of the stickiest liner mats around, they are identical to the ones that came with my Mac MB199UC cart. You will have to cut them to fit but they will stay in place and the tools stick like glue. It would get pricey doing all the drawers you have but I would just put it in the ones that are troublesome. You'll thank me later!

 

[Greg85mcss]

Wow that's a nice setup. Like you said in your last post I would start from the center & work your way out with most used tools. There are a bunch of threads on different types of organizers. Socket organization is probably your biggest decision & that's really up to you. Lowes has a nice wrench rack that you can stick to the drawer or wedge in place... Worth $7 to take a look at. Also after you're past the big stuff like sockets, wrenches, pliers & are combining more than one thing in a drawer I would think about what you'll use together so you're not going into multiple drawers to do one thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wamsutta]

So thats i guess where to start? Replacement mats?!

What you need is the PVC impregnated fabric drawer liners; they are very sticky and will hold your tools still. Use your original liners as a pattern and lay then on top of the liner roll. Use a box cutter and a straight edge to cut them to size.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOOL-BOX-DR...hash=item35d601c567:m:mjkJwmz3VJahgXoCJhC-C2A

 

[53chevy5]

I wish I could see your tools easier, I keep drooling on my phone screen making it hard to see

 

[bdelmar2]

Thanks everyone!

Im going to look at it again and see if I can figure out a way to stick own the liners, That would save a lot of time, then maybe put everything in order of importance and kind of work my way out from the center.

A strip of double sided tape in front and one in back works for me.

I use the foam stuff, not too bad to remove if you ever have to.

 

[NedNorton]

Wow, what a tool set! Getting that all in one shot falls into the "No screwing around" category, for sure. Well done! I'm sure there are a lot of guys wishing they had your problem.

That said, I would start with the massive amount of sockets. Metric on the right, SAE on the left for example; 1/4 and 3/8 up front, 1/2 in the back. You will want to stand them all up and use the depth of the drawer to your advantage. Then move to wrenches. I hate to tell you this but, even after spending all that money on the tools and the box, you now need to spend some more on socket and wrench holders.

I just got a new box not too long ago so I'm getting stuff moved over from my old one. These are shots from my old set-up. Maybe this can give you a jumping off point.




Here is my wrench drawer now in the new box.


Ratchets/Extensions


Look around the "Show me your toolbox" thread and PM the guys about the brand of organizers you see and like.

Lastly, I wouldn't worry about the liners yet. Armstrong is a good solid company and my guess is that once they are weighted down you won't have an issue.

Hope that this helps.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[PieFace]

Wow, what a tool set! Getting that all in one shot falls into the "No screwing around" category, for sure. Well done! I'm sure there are a lot of guys wishing they had your problem.

That said, I would start with the massive amount of sockets. Metric on the right, SAE on the left for example; 1/4 and 3/8 up front, 1/2 in the back. You will want to stand them all up and use the depth of the drawer to your advantage. Then move to wrenches. I hate to tell you this but, even after spending all that money on the tools and the box, you now need to spend some more on socket and wrench holders.

I just got a new box not too long ago so I'm getting stuff moved over from my old one. These are shots from my old set-up. Maybe this can give you a jumping off point.




Here is my wrench drawer now in the new box.


Ratchets/Extensions


Look around the "Show me your toolbox" thread and PM the guys about the brand of organizers you see and like.

Lastly, I wouldn't worry about the liners yet. Armstrong is a good solid company and my guess is that once they are weighted down you won't have an issue.

Hope that this helps.

Cheers,
Chris

WHOA! What is holding your sockets and wrenches? brand?

Thanks!

 

[NedNorton]

OK. Wrenches are a mix of Ernst and Snap-On. The Ernst are great for the larger sets and the Snap-On are better for the smaller wrenches. One thing that I like the most is that you can cut them up to fit the amount of wrenches in the set.

Ernst wrench rails
http://www.ernstmfg.com/Wrench-Rails.aspx

Snap-On Wrench Organizer
https://store.snapon.com/Wrench-Organizers-Wrench-Organizer-Red-For-smaller-wrenches--P646905.aspx

Sockets...
My favorite or the VIM Magrail TL's (They hold my bit sockets and 3/8 12pt)
They are completely adjustable for any socket layout and are just plain great. Bummer part is, they are expensive.
http://www.vimtools.com/store/page30.html

Cheapest place I have found to buy them is www.tooltopia.com They have a "Jobber pack" that is also a good deal.
http://www.tooltopia.com/vim-mr16r16c.aspx

My 1/4 is in Mechanics Time Savers. I would recommend these only for the 1/4 as they take up the least amount of room.
http://www.mechanicstimesavers.com/MTS720-Neon-Blue-Socket-Organizer.html
If you shop around on the net folks stock them in red/black/blue/yellow etc.

Most of my 3/8 are in the newer Snap-On magnetic trays that I upgraded to a few years ago. (Red and black) They are OK but if I were starting from scratch I would do the Magrail TL's instead.

If you want to go with a less expensive option that the VIM Magrail TL's these, or a version of them, are also a good choice.
http://www.ernstmfg.com/store/p/158-18-Socket-Organizer-w/-15-Twist-Lock-Clips-Red.aspx

I highly recommend that you layout the drawers before buying so you only buy what you need. Go slow and tackle one "category" at a time. Most of us have been building our tool collections over years. Some of us have been at it for decades so our's is an evolution. Give yourself some time to workout the placement of stuff. Ie... I like all my chrome sockets in the middle and my impacts on the outsides (I use more chrome than anything else). Some guys like all their 3/8 together, mixed.

Hope that this helps. Good luck and post up some pictures as you go. I'm sure we would all like to see the progress.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[TheEuronater]

Here is my wrench drawer now in the new box.

Is that a fan clutch tool thrown in with the wrenches? Guessing by the BMW emblem on the laptop haha

 

[NedNorton]

Yep, good eye. Fan clutch tool... Don't leave home without it.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[drink]

Wow! Nice set of tools! You gotta show us some pictures of it. Thanks for supporting made in USA tools! Have you figured out if the drawers have to be opened a few times to loosen them up? Maybe they will glide open and shut easier after a few uses. Try calling Armstrong and ask them what to do about the stiff drawers. It would be a shame not to use the factory drawer liners. I like my sets to match when possible.

I have a much cheaper tool chest and my drawer liners have an upside (for tools) and a non-slip downside to help prevent the contents of the drawers from sliding around.

Once again, show us some pictures.

 

[dodge610]

You can also get the wrench rail at sears they sell it at the store. Comes wth like 4 or 6 rails and double sided tape to hold them in place.

 

[PieFace]

Wow! Nice set of tools! You gotta show us some pictures of it. Thanks for supporting made in USA tools! Have you figured out if the drawers have to be opened a few times to loosen them up? Maybe they will glide open and shut easier after a few uses. Try calling Armstrong and ask them what to do about the stiff drawers. It would be a shame not to use the factory drawer liners. I like my sets to match when possible.

I have a much cheaper tool chest and my drawer liners have an upside (for tools) and a non-slip downside to help prevent the contents of the drawers from sliding around.

Once again, show us some pictures.

Ton of pics coming. Im keeping the liners, silly I didnt think to stick them down. big dummy.

 

[PieFace]

Im starting with the socket drawer. Ive got some Ernst MFG boss kits. How would you guys set these up? You have 2 or 3 rows you can insert. Deep sockets? short? ratchets? (yea the boss kit holds ratchets)

The drawer is too short to have the deep sockets stand up, so they wont work in the boss kits, but the short sockets fitt beautifully, and the boss kit also holds the ratchet.

I like the idea of lifting out the tray, and climbing under the jeep knowing whatever size the bolt is, I have the socket without having to get out again.

Im playing with different configurations now.

I almost forgot, the rails are magnetized also, so the whole tray sticks to the drawer.

 

[dodge610]

Im starting with the socket drawer. Ive got some Ernst MFG boss kits. How would you guys set these up? You have 2 or 3 rows you can insert. Deep sockets? short? ratchets? (yea the boss kit holds ratchets)

The drawer is too short to have the deep sockets stand up, so they wont work in the boss kits, but the short sockets fitt beautifully, and the boss kit also holds the ratchet.

I like the idea of lifting out the tray, and climbing under the jeep knowing whatever size the bolt is, I have the socket without having to get out again.

Im playing with different configurations now.

I almost forgot, the rails are magnetized also, so the whole tray sticks to the drawer.

Those boss kits are sweet guess i better visit the ernst website again. Better start putting together my order of ernst.

 

[PieFace]

Those boss kits are sweet guess i better visit the ernst website again. Better start putting together my order of ernst.

The quality of the Ernst gear was better than expected. The rails are magnetized, and the socket holders snap on hard, and stay put, You can move them when you want to, but other than that, they are not moving.

Their stuff is really well thought out.

 

[zkling]

Honestly, since you pretty much have a "complete" matching set, I would highly consider spending the time or money and get the box foam shadowed for each tool.

May I ask how you ended up with such a large set? Spending spree? Work? Used? Just curious, especially if bought new why Armstrong.

 

[dodge610]

The quality of the Ernst gear was better than expected. The rails are magnetized, and the socket holders snap on hard, and stay put, You can move them when you want to, but other than that, they are not moving.

Their stuff is really well thought out.

Last time i was on there website I do not remember seeing those. Oh well started a order list. And by the way nice tool purchase you got there bet that was a little pricey for the set you got.

 

[larryforce]

Wow nice set, I just looked up the prices and omg.

 

[FMC1959]

PieFace, a few months ago there was a deal on the Amazon Permathread, I can't remember if it was a Wright or Armstrong set that had the tool chest and full set of tools. It was something like regular price of $6500 and Amazon had one set for something in the $2500 range. A GJ member got it; was that you that bought it?

 

[PieFace]

Honestly, since you pretty much have a "complete" matching set, I would highly consider spending the time or money and get the box foam shadowed for each tool.

May I ask how you ended up with such a large set? Spending spree? Work? Used? Just curious, especially if bought new why Armstrong.

What is foam shadowing? I called the people who sell the custom foam kits, but they only had the lazer shapes for craftsman and others. They told me that I'd have to ship them the tools so they could lazer map the foam. If there was a way to do foam shadowing, without having to ship all this stuff, Id do it.

As to why I chose Armstrong, I have the military tool set and LOVE it. I took it cross country to moab and wheeled a jeep in some really nutty places, knowing that set had anything we could have needed. And all the things we'd never have thought of on our own. The quality was top notch, and the foam drawers kept everything in its place and we could tell if anything was missing.

 

[PieFace]

Wow nice set, I just looked up the prices and omg.

Do not go by the pricing on the Armstrong website. Go anywhere else. Armstrong jacks up the price to drive business to their distributers. I dont think they expect to sell direct.

If you shop around, you'll find Armstrong tools to be excellent quality for the prices you'll find at their distributers websites. At least thats been my experience.

I have some snap on stuff, and some Mac tools, small sets, and they are beautiful, And obviously work well. In comparison, I found Armstrong to be the sweet spot for american made tools at affordable prices.

Your money will go way farther with Armstrong than it will with snap on or mac. If american made tools are your cup of tea, your dollar goes the farthest with Armstrong, I researched the hell out of it.

 

[zkling]

What is foam shadowing? I called the people who sell the custom foam kits, but they only had the lazer shapes for craftsman and others. They told me that I'd have to ship them the tools so they could lazer map the foam. If there was a way to do foam shadowing, without having to ship all this stuff, Id do it.

As to why I chose Armstrong, I have the military tool set and LOVE it. I took it cross country to moab and wheeled a jeep in some really nutty places, knowing that set had anything we could have needed. And all the things we'd never have thought of on our own. The quality was top notch, and the foam drawers kept everything in its place and we could tell if anything was missing.

That is foam shadowing. You can do it yourself (lots of time) or there are a number of companies that will cut and ship to you based on a dimension layout you provide.

 

[Coolabah]

Thanks everyone!

Im going to look at it again and see if I can figure out a way to stick own the liners, That would save a lot of time, then maybe put everything in order of importance and kind of work my way out from the center.

Liners : I probably sound cheap but I use tape such as Gaffer's or Gorilla , cut off a few inches make it into a loop with sticky side out and call that double sided tape.
Organising : That's what I would do if it was me . By "center" I would consider the top drawer of the roll cabinet the center and work downwards and sideways, top chest lower drawer is "center" and work upwards and sideways. Top of the top chest is a unique location - I use this for transitional stuff eg most used current tools for a project, saves putting them away tonight if I am going to use them tomorrow, or else I would leave new tools there that I haven't had time to find their new home place , or else still need to read the instructions ( eg new meter, fancy crimping tool etc... )

 

[buckwheat_la]

Just going through this with my own tool box, amazing that as you get a bigger tool box, you still don't have enough room... I had a tough time finding what i wanted so I bought cheap socket organizers and glued magnets on it myself. Rails for all my wrenches, Metric in one drawer, SAE in another. I grabbed some 1/2 inch foam mat (stuff used in play rooms and work out rooms) and have made my own cut out, took some time, but am very happy with the product.

A couple of people have mentioned the "tool box organization thread" I went looking for it, and SEARCH failed miserably, anyone post a link?

 

[cheechi]

I would start with using the wrench rolls and laying them flat in drawers and see how much space is taken, but also that gets 1/3 of your tools to a safe home and partly organized so it's still functional. For this purpose I would start with the upper chest.

Now this is meant to give you more of a starting point than a destination, but looking at the photos of your tools (and drooling a bit) I am giving you a ballpark suggesting it should all fit in the lower chest without issue if you spend a decent bit of money on organization. I didn't notice how deep is the chest so some of this may be an assumption that doesn't get validated as you proceed.

 

[ryan20021982]

Don't forget plier racks, heres what I have, they are a little expensive compared to the wire racks but I had them and I don't know how many times I would go to grap a pair and it would get caught and pull the whole rack up and mess everything up.

http://www.mltools.com/ml-tools-pliers-cutters-organizer-pro-p8248

 

[dalehsc]

Don't forget plier racks, heres what I have, they are a little expensive compared to the wire racks but I had them and I don't know how many times I would go to grap a pair and it would get caught and pull the whole rack up and mess everything up.

http://www.mltools.com/ml-tools-pliers-cutters-organizer-pro-p8248

How do you make out with the pliers next to the front of the drawer? I cut my rack, and put the smaller pliers next to the front,and the drawer detent will "kick" them out of the rack, when I close the drawer. I haven't moved them around yet

 

[ryan20021982]

How do you make out with the pliers next to the front of the drawer? I cut my rack, and put the smaller pliers next to the front,and the drawer detent will "kick" them out of the rack, when I close the drawer. I haven't moved them around yet

Mine don't move at all not sure why yours would. Do you have these same racks?

 

[Strouty]

Ned has got me searching for those VIM rails now. They look awesome. I may have to order some ASAP. I will be measuring for them tomorrow!

 

[dalehsc]

Mine don't move at all not sure why yours would. Do you have these same racks?

Your mini's are at the back,those are the ones I'm talking about.