Semi Portable Tool Organization Suggestions

[j.robinson389]

Just a pesky Millennial looking for some ideas here. Maybe I am just trying to justify being lazy, but after being in our house almost 8 years I still can't get my garage organized. A little background... I live in a regular mid-western subdivision house with a 2-car garage. I have quite a bit of tools, jack of all trades style, but with heavy emphasis on carpentry. I see a lot of you guys that have these pristine garages, I know that will never be me, but I have to get better than what I am now. Here is the scenario that makes mine a little different, in my eyes at least. I rarely do work at my house, it seems I am always at my parents or a buddy's house doing work for/with them, except mechanic work, I do that at home.

I would like ideas on how to store tools in groups, so that when i need to grab them for a job, I can grab what I need and go. So if I do a plumbing job or electrical or interior trim job I can grab what I need and go.

I am thinking some sort of plywood grid shelving hung on the wall with crates or totes that fit in the spaces, but also can be made smaller or larger to fit a miter saw, circular saw, or blow-mold cases.

Two more notes that might influence your ideas.
1. I am cheapskate, so DIY would be preferred.
2. I still need to get two cars in garage, so it needs to be on the perimeter of garage.

Thanks for the help!

 

[techieman33]

What I did was build a 12" deep shelving unit. And it sits on a 36" deep work bench. The narrow unit has shelves at 3 different heights that work well to fit a lot of my power tools tools. Then each tool has a separate divider. So my circ saw has a spot, my crown stapler has a spot, etc. Then depending on the accessories they can either go in the cubbie with the tool, or they go in a plastic tote that lives on top of the shelves. I found some little totes at HD that cost about a $1. I have one that my rivet tool and rivets live in, one for grinder stuff, a couple for different kinds of sandpaper, small clamps, etc. I must have 25 of those things. Then there are shelves on the bottom of the bench to hold bigger stuff. I also keep some empty tool bags and a couple bigger totes sitting right there. It's not a super elegant system, but I find it to be versatile. Everything is right there waiting for me if I'm working at home, or just as ready to grab off the shelf and take it somewhere else.


Here's the totes
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sterilite-6-Qt-Storage-Box-16426A60/308820126

 

[gahrajmahal]

My situation is the same (except for the millennial part, ha, ha). It seems about once a year I get suckered into a big remodeling project and many of my tools go to the job site. Many here on the board tell of their dislike for the plastic tool cases that most tools come in, but because of all the off site work I end up doing I find they work out great for me. What I do is chop up the insides so I can add all the accessories that tool typically would use. So do for instance my cordless drill / impact combo has room for the charger, a full set of drill bits in an index, a full set of impact bits and nut drivers. Since there are about 20 different kinds of drill bits, spade, Forstner, hole saw, brad point etc. I do have a tool drawer for all types of dril bits. My sawzall and jigsaw have space for every blade I use with them. No separate place in the home garage.
When I leave for a job I create a tools list and check it off when I load the truck. I take a photo with my phone so when I loose the list, I can check back when leaving the job.

We still have two cars in the garage, so organized it is not. It is a fluid space meant for work and I don’t apologize for when it gets messy. The thing is to occasionally clean it up, then add or delete storage as it evolves. If you think about it the jobs you are working on change, so the stuff changes too. Two years ago it was full of paint cans, rollers, brushes and stuff that allowed me to paint the outside of the house. Now, there are sacks of mortar, air hammers, trowels and muddy foot prints every day even though it is swept frequently as I repair the stone walls around the house. Oh, and 60% of my tools are 15 miles away at a job site where I am adding a bath and doing a kitchen.

Good luck with your garage, but don’t sweat the organize thing. It will constantly change if you are someone who “works” from their garage.

 

[Bessy]

As another millennial in a similar situation (living in a condo, 95% of my tools reside at my parents place, in a closet in the condo or the back of my car) who also does many tasks offsite, here's my solution(s):

- my 80/20 bag. 10×10" electrician's style tool bag with the most used tools, so that I can take care of approximately 80% regular household maintenance and light construction work.
- small 12v drill driver set in a 8×12" ish tool bag.
- Dremel three tool set in kit bag (this doesn't go many places unless I need it specifically)
- small belt pouch with Quick draw tools (knife, pliers, multi screwdriver, tape measure) goes on my belt if I'm into a larger project but don't want to be weighed down by a full on carpenter's belt.
- I also keep a 16" open top tool tote/bag that gets filled with larger power tools or specific items as needed for a specific task/project.
- Hardware gets stored in those Stanley sortmaster trays that clip together to carry around. They slide into rails under my bench on the left, but will eventually move to my rolling assembly table which I have designed to hold 20 of those totes in grab and go fashion.

Anything else that isn't in those bags gets pulled into service for a specific project, then put back where it came from afterwards. Right now my other frequently used tools are hung at the bench, again in grab and go fashion. Lesser used power tools and accessories reside at the bottom of a 26" craftsman roller cab. Large format tools (i.e. tile saw that was cheaper to buy than to rent) reside in a storage room off the back of my parents garage on shelving.

If I need larger items or misc parts, wood, brackets, etc, go in milk crates I have around the shop, as needed or directly into the box of the pickup depending on size.

Totes like Techie mentioned there are a good option for stuff like misc plumbing or electrical fittings/tools, that are used less often and only for specific purposes, so they are easily grouped together.

Remember, it doesn't have to be done all at once, you just have to start somewhere. Each time you complete a job offsite, take stock of what you brought, used, didn't use or what you wish you had with you to make the job easier. Take that info back and revise as you move forward to the next project. There will be items you will use for different jobs, i.e. power tools. I tend to rack my drill, driver, impact and circ saw and toss them into the large tool bag or a milk crate as needed.

Keep an eye on Craigslist and scope garage sales for used metal frame shelving 12-16" deep, set that up along a wall In the garage and get your label maker (or masking tape and sharpie) out and have some fun. The shelving in my parent's shed is adjustable and holds everything from lawn games to chainsaws to fluids for yard equipment, etc.

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[rayra]

Like Bessy my principal tool bunches are in tool bags, medium and large, covers most of my 'handyman' sort of stuff.
I have a high shelf over my workbench that holds most of my boxed power tools.
I have a small rolling tool box for most of my mechanics and automotive tools.
And under my work bench are some clear totes, one full of plumbing stuff, one full of paintnig stuff, one with household hardware and a bucket full of nail containers. and I use a couple 5gal buckets for my concrete/masonry hand tools and my tiling tools and spacers.
So I can get most 'away' projects accomplished by grabbing a couple containers / buckets / bags. My medium 'handyman' bag has all manner of stuff in it. hand tools, various home repair items, screws, nails wire nuts, drill bits, spade bits, chisels, scrapers, couple hammers, square, speed square, string / bob, electricity meter, small / copper pipe cutter, etc etc etc. Multi-bit screwdrivers, awl, carpet knife, compass / scribe, gloves, safety glasses.
I can do about 80% of most home repair / handyman fixes with what's in that bag. For the other projects I bring reinforcements.

 

[taumac]

Since you what to go DIY way a shelving unit can be build simple. As for the tools totes or milk crates work. Again going DIY I would custom make some tool boxes to fit those tools you want. I small hand truck or folding style one can be used transport it around from vehicle to job.

This guy had a good idea and could work for you.

 

[cderalow]

I bought several of the large contractor tool bags that frequently come with cordless tool kits.

Keep them in a bin in my garage. Night before going off to a project, grab cordless tools, batteries, accessories and toss them in however many bags are required. grab whatever hardware I might need and put it all together.

normally 2-3 bags and maybe 2-3 hardware organizers. I use a little folding garden wagon to haul it once on site.

 

[j.robinson389]

Thanks for the great ideas, I really like the milk crate cart idea as well, also very nice bench Bessy, I will be borrowing some ideas from that bench as well.

It may be slow, but I will try and post some pics of my progress.

 

[Mattlt]

Not so much for tools, but for extra supplies. I use the shoebox sized plastic storage containers. Fill them with like materials and label them with stick-on labels: plumbing, electrical, nails, screws, etc. When one fills up, split it logically into two containers. Electrical then becomes 12V electrical and 120V electrical; plumbing becomes copper and threaded boxes. Nails may get split into common, finish, etc. And so on.

I have several dozen of these containers. Easy to stack 3-4 high on a shelf, the ends are labeled so it's easy to find the one you want.

YMMV but it works well for me.

 

[Jacko264]

Hi all
I have a work bench with two vices one for metal and one for wood.
But I also have. A Trailer that is 36,, x48,, by 24,,high
The trailer has a plywood removable top this trailer is fantastic for storing parts ,tools etc and cutting wood ply etc on
Or I empty it so I can use it as a trailer
Graham

 

[andyvh1959]

I have been on a lot of mobile equipment assembly lines, skid steers to combines, excavators and rock drills, and I see a lot of people using heavy duty 4-wheel carts, to which they mount pegs all around the top lip, and then hang all the hand tools and wrenches around the tray. Lower tray contains all the heavy stuff and power tools. Upper tray (with the tools hung around it) is a work surface or parts area.

This image is the cart style I see most often. Most people just drill a hole pattern around the top flange for long 1/4" bolts. Then install the bolts from inside the tray facing out, so the tools hang down around the perimeter. All the tools are visible, easy to see/grab what you need. Also easy to put tools back in the right position.

 

[Bessy]

Another idea I had last night was french cleats. If you have some plywood hanging around, do a wall up in 3-4" tall strips and make some tool hangers and maybe some small and medium sized totes that you can organize for various jobs. Hang those totes using the French cleat, and they can take up very little room, I would think.

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[rayra]

part of my messes, my primary 'do all' bag is very similar to that of Bessy. Just a bunch of the most-used tools -

Big rolling work / project table of a Paulk-influenced design above those tool bags and another large workbench used for hobbies and reloading and finer machine work, not pictured.

 

[A**holes Garage]

My fix is not cheap, but practical, and functional for years.

Purchase a wire shelving unit or two, etc. and place against one wall. Ditch the idea of DIY wooden shelves, they are bulky and take up to much space.

Purchase as many plastic or steel tool boxes to hold your hand tools as needed. All the same so they can stack on one another if needed. Label them on the outside.
Bulkier tools can go into tubs or retain their original cases. Label them on the outside.

I worked between different trucks for years and often had to move from one to another quickly and efficiently. Grab and go. Worked for me, but before the era of the bags, which could work as well.

 

[LeeG]

If I were looking for a flexible, DIY tool storage, I'd seriously consider copying the idea behind the Tanos (Festool) Systainer. The idea is to make all of your storage boxes have the same footprint (Length and Width), but vary the height to store different types of tools.

It doesn't have to be all fancy blow molded plastic, you can accomplish pretty much the same using 1/2 plywood (I'd use baltic birch). You could spend as much or as little time on the boxes as you want. I'd imagine that glue and 18ga nails or staples would be plenty strong. Buy some lengths of piano hinge to cut to length, and put a hasp on it. You'd want to have the bottom not set directly on the ground so when you stack them, you'd have room for the handle of the one below it.

Now that I'd had the idea, I am going to have to make some time to build some for myself.

 

[mc4life27]

Just a pesky Millennial looking for some ideas here. Maybe I am just trying to justify being lazy, but after being in our house almost 8 years I still can't get my garage organized. A little background... I live in a regular mid-western subdivision house with a 2-car garage. I have quite a bit of tools, jack of all trades style, but with heavy emphasis on carpentry. I see a lot of you guys that have these pristine garages, I know that will never be me, but I have to get better than what I am now. Here is the scenario that makes mine a little different, in my eyes at least. I rarely do work at my house, it seems I am always at my parents or a buddy's house doing work for/with them, except mechanic work, I do that at home.



I would like ideas on how to store tools in groups, so that when i need to grab them for a job, I can grab what I need and go. So if I do a plumbing job or electrical or interior trim job I can grab what I need and go.



I am thinking some sort of plywood grid shelving hung on the wall with crates or totes that fit in the spaces, but also can be made smaller or larger to fit a miter saw, circular saw, or blow-mold cases.



Two more notes that might influence your ideas.

1. I am cheapskate, so DIY would be preferred.

2. I still need to get two cars in garage, so it needs to be on the perimeter of garage.



Thanks for the help!

In a similar situation but I work construction and for some reason I’m the only one who always has the tools that are needed. Plus if I don’t have one or have to borrow one I go out and buy it the night. So mine collection is always growing and to the point to where my scion Xb is filled to the point to where only a driver can ride in the car. Plus I have a bunch still at home. But I also need to be able to remove mine from my car at night at times. So what I do is I have a full pack out set with many other boxes plus have a rigid box set with 2 or 3 more boxes and I have two packing crates and other random storage boxes all in my car but so far as long as I keep things in the boxes where they go I can get to my tool quickly and transport them. Now I mainly use the boxes for storage in the car then I use the 20 and or the 15 inch pack out tool bag with the tools that I’m using on the current job. I also have a occidental vest bags rig that I put in an open bucket to make sure. Nothing falls out in the car. But with the set up I have I can get to most tools easy quickly and able to work effectively with out loosing my tools. I really need to get a truck since with just the weight alone I’m pushing my car to the limits. But I can say the bigger Scion xB sure can hold a lot of ****. The guys I work with call it the mini Home Depot since 99% of the time I have whatever tool and even some supply’s in my car ready to go at any given time. Now I do try and pull everything out at least once a week and put things in there cases and clean it up a bit because if I do it quickly because a mess.

 

[510ebl]

Hopefully the image attached... I used the Craftsman sit/stand/tote for many years when working “out of the truck” Also avail from Waterloo.

I had two...one for mechanic tools and one for carpenter tools. They worked great until I stopped doing “road work” for the most part.