Small House Living - Tool Storage / Organization Options

[oldschoolcraft]

I've been living in an apartment for a while and am on the market for a small home. It will be pretty small, maybe 1200 sq feet, possibly no garage and just a carport or possibly a 1 car garage that only fits my car and that's it!

I have a few weeks off work since I built up vacation time that's use it or lose it! So I thought this is a great opportunity to take out all of my tools and figure out how I will organize things in my future house in the coming months. It's premature since I don't have the house, but once I close on it, my time will be tight plus playing with tools is fun so I'm messing around now with my stuff coming up with ideas.

Currently all of my tools fit in either my Snap On KRSC33 that I picked off Craigslist for a steal a while back. It's a small cart that has 3 drawers about 4" each, and a bottom open compartment.

The three drawers are:

1 - Socket Drawer
2 - Misc: Pliers, Hex Keys, 1/4" Bits, Measuring tools (tape measure, HVAC IR Thermometer, caliper, T-Square)
3 - Wrenches

My apartment is actually pretty small too so the future house will be an upgrade in size! But right now all of my tools can't fit in this cart so I have two large rubbermaids with least used tools in them. It's a hassle to get them because I have to take everything out, but it's stuff like a complete knipex snap ring pliers set (20 pieces) that I rarely need.

The bottom of the cart open area I keep the following power tools in their original blow molded cases: cordless drill, corded sawzall, corded rotary hammer. It's a bit messy down there and I'd like to organize it better but haven't found a low profile way.

I have a small toolbox that I keep drywall tools in that is separate from the cart because if I need to use that, it's better mobile and those tools are special purpose stand alone.

I thought about building a special purpose electrical, and also a plumbing bag, but those tools have a lot of overlap with general purpose stuff. So rather than duplicate tools (which I'd love to do, but have limited storage space), it seems to make more sense to keep them in the cart.

I'm not sure how I'll use the cart. Maybe I roll it through the house if I'm doing repair work, like roll it to the bathroom for plumbing. Or maybe I keep the cart in the corner of the garage (if I have one, and if there's room) or in a walk in closet, and I just grab whatever tools I need for the job. Since it will be a small house, it won't be too far to walk each time to grab a tool and it's not like I'll be fixing things 24/7.

I do regret not getting a KRC46, which I think is the same footprint as my cart but with extra drawers instead of the bottom area. Then I could have an electrical drawer with my multimeter, linesman headset, fox/hound, verious crimpers. And a plumbing drawer with plumbling wrenches, teflon tape, PVC glue/primer, etc.

One drawer for my snap ring pliers, etc. I've thought about selling my cart and looking for a 46, or maybe if there's room in my future house I buy a 46 as well, and keep both carts for different purposes. Or maybe if there's room I install some Lista or other high end cabinet drawer system.

For those of you with limited storage space in your house, how do you set things up for various projects and home repair?

 

[2oolhound]

If you don't find a place with a garage you can use a shipping container as a shop. Check youtube. Guys put 2 parallel side by side and build a roof spanning the distance between them which can be 20 - 30' so you end up with a great work space.

Just something to keep in mind.

 

[crewchief888]

I keep a lot of my tools separated, things I use in the house are kept separated from other stuff.

all my woodworking type tools are in the basement, I have a 2 drawer filing cabinet and a wire mesh shelf for all that stuff. I keep electrical, plumbing, and drywall tools in separate drawers in a woodworking bench. (an old dresser would work as well)
in the garage are mechanics tools, welding/fab stuff.
I have a small 2 car that fits the wifes car, and my Harley. lawn/garden type stuff gets crammed in an 8x10 shed behind the garage.

 

[Parrothead]

If you don't find a place with a garage you can use a shipping container as a shop. Check youtube. Guys put 2 parallel side by side and build a roof spanning the distance between them which can be 20 - 30' so you end up with a great work space.

Just something to keep in mind.

That’s a good solution, but since the OP is in the Bay Area, CA I highly doubt that would be allowed. I’m going to guess a shed might be tough to get approved.

 

[Citation]

Multiple small boxes. Something like a Craftsman rally box. Split your tools into the ones you are likely to use and the others (for example, metric sockets and wrenches if you work on cars). Put the less used tools in a separate box. Something like a 3 drawer rally box loaded with tools is heavy yet still something you can carry.

 

[RTM]

I am a fan of separate tool boxes for the trades. All my electrical specific stuff in one box for example. I used to keep cutters n strippers in there, but they would be in your cart, as they come out a lot more than the multi meter, ty wraps, wire nuts etc. small carry boxes work well for that. Similar for hacksaws and coping saws, or drills.

The small drill and impact driver would go in your cart, but the hole saws, grinding wheels, counterbores and countersinks would not, since they don’t get used regularly.

I try to keep most power tools in boxes, they stack nicer, not getting them out in a hurry tho.

Good luck buying, it’s rough here.

 

[spyerx]

I guess I'll post... been lurking here forever. Been browsing here a lot lately as I've been on a massive refactor on my tools, and this place has been a tremendous help.

I prioritized US SK, Snap On, and others for most used stuff. Picked up some Taiwan stuff for less used things. And mix of German for pliers. Although I have and have used VIM for a long time and love their bits.

I have a small house. 20's spanish bungalow near the beach in SoCal. 1100 sqft, 2400 sqft lot. A small 2 car garage off the back with easy access off the alley which is why we bought the place. 2 car garages around here are gold and rare.

First, my tools are 80% mechanics tools, i have only a small amount of construction stuff, I don't enjoy it, and I try not to do it. My cars, I do much of the work on them, but not all, space and time constraints mean I'm not pulling engines apart. But maintenance, chassis work, and various repairs I do.

My cars are all german, a few 911s and a couple SUVs. I have another garage where I park a couple cars, but it's just parking... SUVs park outside mostly, 911s on rotation between storage garage and house garage.

So space is a premium, and with that, you get savvy on what you keep, vs what you don't. We remodeled our house a couple years ago, but the the layout was the same. I took that opportunity to build in some cabinet space in the garage, mostly for tools.

Going clockwise:
towel and misc stuff on the cheap rack... this is a temp solution until I build in some wall mounts
Jacks on the floor

Big cabinet - a few garden tools like hedge shears, detail supplies, some misc car parts/oils/filters, etc. My battery power tools are also here, like drills and impact wrenches.

Top cabinets - wife storage holiday ****

Above worktop - Left is mostly cleaners, greases, lubes, and high up some tools like construction stuff I don't use much. Right is mostly electrical stuff, containers of screws and bolts, electrical test equipment, code readers, volt meters, etc

The lower cabinet Left - drawer is all my screwdrivers, bit sockets (i have a ton, german cars love bits, even old ones), small tools, stud extractors, line wrenches, misc old porsche tools. The cabinet has a couple bags full of "old" and not often used tools + some construction stuff

Lower cabinet right - top drawer is sockets and wrenches. next is pliers and a few misc things. Next is lots of electrical stuff, and a few misc things. And lower is "big stuff" like torque wrenches, hammers, and a few different tools for brake jobs.

I have a bunch of magnet rails that let me use the deep drawer sides to store stuff, which helps a lot with space.

Anyway, it works, but I have to prioritize. Like for sockets, I use SK, and ratchets are mostly Snap-on. But 1/2 I only have impacts which I don't use all that often.

And, it's not as organized as I'd like, but it works, and I can find stuff quick enough.

Favorite tool: Snap on ratchets & Koken aluminum impact sockets that I use on the alloy Fuchs lug nuts. It's fantastic! Doesn't mar the anodizing finish on the nuts.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Sweet setup spyerX! I'm in a bit opposite position. I tend to do little car work because my car doesn't need much other than oil and belt and brake pad change.

But, the house I'm buying will probably be old and need some plubming or electrical or drywall or wahtever repair. So I'm looking for a streamlined way to store house fixing tools. I like your idea and it's inspiring!!

 

[spyerx]

Sweet setup spyerX! I'm in a bit opposite position. I tend to do little car work because my car doesn't need much other than oil and belt and brake pad change.

But, the house I'm buying will probably be old and need some plubming or electrical or drywall or wahtever repair. So I'm looking for a streamlined way to store house fixing tools. I like your idea and it's inspiring!!

Yeah older car addiction keep me busy, they always need something, although they are all in running condition now which is a first in many years! Almost means I need another fixer... LOL

I know ALL about working on and fixing old houses... this last round we ripped it to the studs and replaced all systems and everything, surprisingly the near 100 year old studs, frame, and foundation only needed minimal work/earthquake retrofit.

I don't mind doing home electrical, and basic plumbing, that sort of detail work is more what I enjoy. Swinging a hammer, drywall, paint, yard work, etc not my thing...

Small houses are great, the downside is space for hobbies like cars!