Shop Organization Essentials?

[sberry]

Yes, I am not OCD nut made a method to "toss and clean" I don't care if its perfect just that its back in the general area I can find it and it isn't lost. A lot of the stuff I am not using continuous isn't highly organized.

 

[sberry]

I keep a lot of the big stuff on the truck and go get something if I need it.

 

[Strouty]

My truck was always my toolbox, when I scaled back and had to sell it, well that is probably what started my entire mess. I knew where everything was in the truck, now I am still sorting stuff that came out of the truck. Hopefully I will build another body and have a new toolbox someday. You remind me of my Dad, he loves it when I clean my shop, he takes almost anything that I don't want!

 

[sberry]

I have to have as I am the shop but we don't use all of it all of the time and I hate wading thru that stuff or opening a drawer to get a wrench I use several times a day. So much easier to keep track when I can see a rack and know I started out with 3 pairs of Channelocks, where did they go.

 

[Strouty]

I am thinking of making an A-frame on wheels, both sides will be tool boards, with some bins for small items. I figure I can store bulkier things in the middle. I want to make it with nice big wheels so it will roll on gravel easily. I need to just start making something, the perfectionist in me doesn't like anything half assed, but once I see it working, the perfectionists just complains a little.

 

[evildky]

Shelf height, I'm only 5-6 and I had bought and built 8" shelves and was constantly climbing to get to the stuff on the top shelf. I finally figured out what I now consider obvious. Make your top shelf a height that you can reach without a ladder (of course if you have 12 foot ceilings and you want to do deep storage then it's fine) for regular use stuff keep it where you can reach it. My next shelf down is eye height so I can see whats in the back, the lowest shelf is at work height and most of my shelves do not have a shelf this low because my welders, shop crane, parts washer, blast cabinet etc fill the space below that second shelf.

Workbench mounting. Bolt that thing to the floor and wall. a portable bench is great but it's nice to have a workstation that does NOT move no matter what!

 

[shooting4life]

I am thinking of making an aflame on wheels, both sides will be tool boards, with some bins for small items. I figure I can store bulkier things in the middle. I want to make it with nice big wheels so it will roll on gravel easily. I need to just start making something, the perfectionist in me doesn't like anything half assed, but once I see it working, the perfectionists just complains a little.

I am actually planning on doing something similar. In the pic I posted on the previous page you can see a kennedy tool box and a keenedy rolling cart in the background. The open 2/3 of the cart is going to end up being a storage area for bulky tools and the small box will act sort of like a service cart. I picked up a piece of bowling alley for the top, I plan to put some strut into the top of the bench like T track so I can mount or clamp various things like a vise or grinder or sander when needed and then roll it outside so I don't make a mess in the garage.

It is also going to double as an outfeed table for my small table saw that is going to have a removable mounting platform on the end of the work cart.

 

[Ecl09]

Yep, I definitely struggle with keeping an organized garage and workspace when everyone else's stuff seems to pile up -- this is especially bad right after Christmas in my home. I just got a few of those tall utility cabinets to put garden tools, car cleaning supplies, and other misc items in. Once that is done, I should finally have enough room to start chipping away on the New Year's "to-do" list!

 

[Johnson]

Shelf height, I'm only 5-6 and I had bought and built 8" shelves and was constantly climbing to get to the stuff on the top shelf. I finally figured out what I now consider obvious. Make your top shelf a height that you can reach without a ladder (of course if you have 12 foot ceilings and you want to do deep storage then it's fine) for regular use stuff keep it where you can reach it. My next shelf down is eye height so I can see whats in the back, the lowest shelf is at work height and most of my shelves do not have a shelf this low because my welders, shop crane, parts washer, blast cabinet etc fill the space below that second shelf.

Workbench mounting. Bolt that thing to the floor and wall. a portable bench is great but it's nice to have a workstation that does NOT move no matter what!

Ditto on the shelf height. I'm only 5'4 and I am constantly seeking something to stand on to reach items. I put up pegboard on two parts of my work area and I'm thinking about cutting it in half height wise, then adding a shelf above it that I can reach. This way I can store my drills, air tools, routers, saws, etc..up there and can reach them.

 

[May Pop]

Struoty
Those Dorman parts cabinets are available at Zoroas complete 4 drawer units with a rack to hold them. Only worth getting when there is a sale. Sadly I have never seen any on craigslist. I have pulled a few from the trash though.
Here is a couple of pics of my version of wrench storage.



Top is SAE
Bottom is Metric
These are in the HF 42"
These are in my new 36" Craftsman Pro boxes

 

[sberry]

I saw that wrench drawer before, I like that, super easy.

 

[67carl]

I see the OP is in Florida so maybe my idea for utilizing some normally unused space will help (not so cold that you need to insulate your garage). I took wire closet shelving and cut it down to fit between the studs. My garage reno is still in progress so the shelving isn't finished or organized.

djjsr: I love the idea of using those hollow core doors to build shallow cabinets! I'm definitely stealing that idea.

 

[Jack Olsen]

This is a great thread.

Some have mentioned this already, but I'll mention the benefits of a drawer or cabinet labeled 'projects.' It's a space for pieces of a project when it's still in-process or in the parts-collecing stage. It can be a big help with avoiding piles of stuff forming in the space where you do your work. I have two drawers and two high-up cabinets with space for this. If I've got some pieces of a job that I'm not going to get to right away, they go there.

 

[brentmc]

I would also look for something to organize smaller parts. I always had the hardest time keeping my hardware organized in a way that worked for me. I kept looking on CL for something on the cheap. Took about 6 months till I found this set up for $100 about a week ago.

Man--that was a steal of a deal

 

[ilovevocs]

I like to put tools away as I work. If I wait until I'm "done" it never happens. Done becomes quite undefined during the coarse of a project.

On the shelf vs cupboards. The reason the OP's storage is so effective, IMO, is that the cupboards Maintain visibility of the items on the shelves. I built shelves for cans and such at my cabin about 6" deep. Narrowest shelves I have ever made but the most effective. I prefer cupboards because of the clean appearance and they keep the dust off everything. My home garage is too small and sees to much work to keep a bunch of things on open shelves. Cupboards are easy to wipe down by comparison to their contents if kept on an open shelf.


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[Dragster Racer]

My shop often suffers from organization creep. It often starts with a project that is in limbo, and occupies a bench longer than it should. It isn't unusual to have three projects going on at once in my shop, but the ones that hang out are the killers.
Often I will keep wrenches I have out in the cart I am working from. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes when the project is done for the day, I am exhausted and not wanting to put everything away. And then there is the stuff that makes its way into the shop that I'm just not sure about getting rid of. So it hangs out for 4 months before I decide to toss it. Brilliant!
Great ideas in this thread to help keep things straight.

 

[Joe B.]

A U-shaped workbench area. This 22 ft of bench (8,6,8) but it only takes a couple of steps to get to any part of it.

View media item 14358

That is a really good idea. I have been around factories and have helped set up U-shaped production areas for year. It never occurred to me to do the same in my own place. Now I'll need to find some open space that I don't really have.

The only other thing I would add is that I have freed up a lot of space by putting things I don't use a lot in my basement. I know a lot of parts of the country don't have basements so I'm lucky to have a huge open basement. I have started putting things i don't need in the garage down there in a store room. I keep all the non-auto tools down there like orbital sanders, miter saws and house painting supplies. This frees up a ton of space and even if I don't really need the space, less stuff makes it easier to keep organized.

The only other thing I really need is a shed to keep the garden tools and kids bikes in.

For those of you with attached garages as your only garage, I'm curious what you have done with trash cans? I hate having them in the garage as they start to smell but it is also hard to keep them outside in the snow. If I were ever able to build a house from scratch, I would probably include a mini garage just for the trash cans.

 

[djjsr]

That is a really good idea. I have been around factories and have helped set up U-shaped production areas for year. It never occurred to me to do the same in my own place. Now I'll need to find some open space that I don't really have.

If you don't have the room for a U shaped bench, an L shaped in a corner works very well.

 

[wfopete]

Having a 30x50 two-story pole barn, I get too distracted wandering around bumping into forgotten stuff and getting off course. One minute I’m working on a motorcycle and the next I’m fussing with a lawn mower. I decided I needed to compartmentalize everything as much as reasonable. The lower floor is walled off in three sections roughly 15’ wide and 30 ‘ deep and each room has it’s purpose. Walls do a good job of keeping stuff from filtering over into another area. One room is for strictly motorcycle work (not motorcycle storage). The center section is for day-to-day activity: motorcycle parking/storage/powered lawn equipment and on going household projects. The third room is home for my ’67 Firebird convertible; again that space is dedicated just for that car's wants and needs. All gardening tools go in another building.

The thought process continues in each one of the above rooms. Each room has workbenches along the walls. Cabinets are underneath the benches and use roll out drawers with labeled plastic tubs. Above the workbenches are cabinets (not too deep for EZ access). Personally don’t want to see cans, bins and hardware filling up the place so sliding doors are in use for the cabinets below and above the workbenches. The top floor gets my 30x30 office and the remainder is for more storage (Christmas and other “acquired” wife stuff). A place for everything and everything in its place; that’s what I hope to achieve.

 

[littletoes]

Some great organizing tips guys!

 

[z50]

One of the best ideas I've had so far for storage on a shelf under a workbench is to build a full extension sliding tray. It allows you to use the entire space and easily access the stuff in the back.

For your parts/hardware bin. Use hot glue to glue a sample to the outside. Makes it quick and easy to find/reference. I want to get a storage bin system where I can do that. All nut bins will have a hole drilled in the front with the nut glued over it so I can test fit unknown hardware for size and thread pitch. For bolts I'll also have a hole but I'll hot glue a representative shorter version through to test fit and pitch, but also glue a full size one horizontally for a quick reference length.

Super strong rare earth magnets screwed to the front of each drawer and pin your sample up that way. Pull it off test it put it back

 

[69supercj]

A place for everything and everything in its place; that’s what I hope to achieve.

Good luck with that, tell us how it works out! lol

 

[Strouty]

Revisiting an older thread, thought the new year may have some new ideas. I am still mired in my mess, but I am starting to actually see some potential!

 

[72Anthony]

I haven't read through all the posts, but you should also be honest in comparing your space to your abilities: in terms of skills and productivity.

If you have a normal sized 2 car garage and have 3 project cars, you are bound for failure. You will be forever shuffling things around just to get to the current task at hand.

 

[gearhead1]

This is a great thread.

Some have mentioned this already, but I'll mention the benefits of a drawer or cabinet labeled 'projects.' It's a space for pieces of a project when it's still in-process or in the parts-collecing stage. It can be a big help with avoiding piles of stuff forming in the space where you do your work. I have two drawers and two high-up cabinets with space for this. If I've got some pieces of a job that I'm not going to get to right away, they go there.

Great idea, I'm going to use this! I should have thought of this before. I've bought hardware and other items for a project and forgot about it, put it somewhere else, then went later and bought that same hardware again.

I've learned a lot from GJ about organization and habits.

 

[mtnwalton]

Good ideas here; I like the two door shallow cabinets especially. Never stack items two deep. I'm using some horizontal file cabinets; each drawer has specific uses: sander / grinders / clamps / ext.cords outlet strips / routers and accessories / biscuit joining and pocket hole, etc.

I just wish I had more space. For the past three years I've been stuck with a two car garage using it for woodworking, gardening storage, zero turn, mechanic tools and supplies. Doesn't leave much choice but constantly shuffling stuff. Maybe soon...

 

[Jbullfrog]

I decided after reading this thread for a while I needed to build some couch brackets. I have a full size couch in the shop for tv viewing and napping while hiding from the wife. It gets in the way when I want to pull a big tractor in, so I decided to mount it on the wall where there was a bare spot. A few 2x's and some screws, and it's quickly out of the way. Now it just needs a dust cover.

 

[Leeroynakd]

if you nap with it up there she'll never find you!

 

[Strouty]

**** pattern!

 

[taumac]

I've seen many many things hung on walls but never a couch. You should let a buddy fall sleep on it and then hang it on the wall. That will be a good prank.

Have a good one Gerard

 

[Ainsley]

I wish I could afford enough of the metal organizers in the slide racks but they add up quickly so I've got into using plastic tackle boxes. I built a rack out of 1/2" Baltic birch ply and 1/8" hardboard and then mounted it on the wall using a frame made of 1" angle and flat bar.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I use all the same rules as you mentioned but i will suggest a couple more.

5) Take a hard look at your floor space. If there is something that can be relocated to a wall or cold storage do so. Floor space is a premium in any garage.
.......

Yeah man, I totally agree about the floor space issue. That's always the #1 consideration in my mind.....

 

[taumac]

I just saw why pic from a year ago and man things change.
Here's a few new ideas I came up with. I started collecting some machinist boxes and they are great for small stuff you don't want in your big box getting lost. I had them on bench top but took up valuable work area so I put them on a shelf above where I have a clear bench but accessible.

I also saw old pic of my bench and things have changed. What's changed is the the drill press is mobile on a roller chest with storage for the the drill press in the drawers. All the tool boxes under bench are mobile and can be used as mobile benches. I made a simple rack to hold a chest OFF the work bench which allows use of a vise and all my drill chargers in same spot.

Have a good one Gerard

 

[Olinrj]

Great thread. I'm in the process of sorting and packing my 14x22 garage as we are listing our house in a few weeks. I'm subscribing to this as i plan to make a fresh start once we sell and find the next house.

 

[buildyourown]

For power tool storage, I use cheap Cman 4 drawer boxes. The ball bearing ones.
Each power tool gets its own drawer and all accessories for said tool go in that drawer.
Need a router, its in the drawer and so are all the bits and wrenches, etc.
Works really well for me. Personally, it makes more sense to store the saw blades with the saw they go to rather than with the other saw blades...

 

[Cato]

View media item 14358

That's a nice set up...what kind of drill press is that?

 

[LaneRover]

I used to work as a Property Master in film and TV and we used a lot of the semi clear plastic bins with the folding tops. Even though you can see whats inside somewhat well we would still label the box because we worked strange hours and the lighting wasn't always 'optimum' and they are 'semi-clear' not clear.

Do not get the ones available at Home Depot they are **** and will crack and split in no time. The ones at Costco are much better.

We needed fast easy access and they are great for that. You don't have to pry the lid off and when empty they stack inside each other very well so they don't take up a lot of space empty. They are good for a project's small stuff (or small projects). You can put longer things in them, not close them and you don't lose the lid . . .

They also stack side by side easily on a furniture dolly as long as you have a piece of wood in the middle to level the surface. Then you can easily move 8 full ones around a shop with a decent floor. They also move easily with a hand truck.

The downside is that if there is a leak from above the water is going in and at about $9 or $10 each they aren't cheap when you need a bunch.

 

[cabin fever]

I'm getting ready to start replacing shelves with cabinets. 60ft worth. I hate looking at all the **** on the shelf. I'd rather it be hidden behind a door, makes it look cleaner. its mostly my sons and wife's **** up there anyway. Still not sure what I am going to do for the doors, but thinking about the hollow core closet doors, painted black, with diamond plate, to match what I have now. I'll take some pics once I get started this weekend.

 

[BearsFan315]

Main thing is to make EVERY INCH COUNT !!

 

[MattN03]

Lots of great ideals here!