The "Overall Handyman" Garage...

[liquidmx]

Hi everyone, I am long time lurker here. First thanks for the great references and research functionality. I have used the search function probably 100x and never needed to create a thread.

In short I am curious if anyone has an unique or creative ways of storing things for the "overall do it yourself-er" garage. For example I have everything from electrical materials, painting stuff, lumber, plumbing, gardening tools, etc. in my garage (plus all my stuff for classic car restoration). I have yet to really find a way to efficiently organize this stuff in an accessible yet organized manner. Right now all my tools stay in my toolbox and the specialized ones go in one separate drawer (basin wrenches, etc.). I try and use storage bins to store various other items in their general categories (outlets, sockets, wiring together) etc. Other than those little tricks I cannot think of any other way to create a "better organized" garage so I am turning to you guys to see what suggestions or ideas may be out there.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[Jhoff310]

I am just like you...there isnt much I cant do. I bought decent sized tool boxes at garage/estate sales/ flea markets etc.. and used the boxes for 1 "project". my electrial tool box has everything it from outlets, sockets, wire nuts, electrical tape, crimpers, strippers etc..Plumbing box has all the plumbing necessities ( copper pipe fittings, valves, solder, pipe dope, basin wrench etc..) My big Harbor freight box is strictly everyday tools minus the bottom drawers which are "specialty tool" impact wrench, metabo, etc..
I have found this to be very easy and simple at keeping everything organized. I just grab the box and go.

Jeff

 

[crewchief888]

i have a smallish 19x22 garage, that has to have 2 vehicles, 1 DD, an unregistered trail truck, and my harley parked in it.

generator, pressure washer, snowblower, various "yardscaping" tools,
and of course 2 set of toolboxes, chopsaw, welder, bench grinder, hardware bins, and various spare parts for the trail truck.

luckily i have a full basement, one side has an enclosed room that the previous owner had set up as a woodworking shop, i have my reloading bench, another set of boxes, in there

anything wood related, 'round the house DIY, paint, electrical and plumbing supplies, all in drawers under the woodworking bench. hammers, hand saws, planes, plumbing tools hanging on pegboard, and a drawer with misc hand tools. power tools found their way onto a steel shelving unit next to the bench.

i couldnt cram all that stuff into the garage, and still be able to move around, right now my trail truck is sitting 19" away from my tool boxes, just enough room to open a drawer if i need to.

 

[starquestMM]

I'm in the same boat and I've looked for ways to line the walls efficiently using pegboard and shallow storage shelves.

For the small stuff I've bought a bunch of the cheapy plastic storage organizers. If I lay out all of them it looks like a compressed Western Auto... everything from sparkplugs to wall trim plates.

 

[regguy1]

I have pegboard on the walls and and overhead storage area.
Check the photos and videos here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140674

PS: Check the soffit storage build link

 

[cburnscrx]

Second post for me, but this hits home. I am trying to organize a two car garage that has way too much stuff too. I've found the clear Sterilite 16qt tubs to be invaluable. I use them for everything. They're big enough to hold more than two of something, but not so big that you can't pick them up with one hand (provided you don't fill it full of nuts and bolts). For example, I have one that's filled with nothing but various tape...duct, gorilla, electrical, packing ect. I probably have about thirty holding various things like gloves, rags, auto body supplies, ect. I've thought about building a shelving unit that fits them specifically, but haven't had the time yet. I use a lable maker on them for quick reference.

If somebody has a great idea for organizing all this stuff, please let us all in on the secret. I have a portable table saw, compound mitre saw and stand, drill press, pressure washer, 8 gallon air compressor, wet tile saw and stand, floor jacks, ramps, air tools and a whole lot of 18v tools and their corded brothers. Then we get into the lawn tools, leaf blower, lawn mower, snow blower, edger, ect. That's not even counting the welder I plan on getting in the near future.

To this point it's just thrown in the garage in a disorganize mess...Yikes!

 

[Lkdelta]

I am just like you...there isnt much I cant do.

I bought decent sized tool boxes at garage/estate sales/ flea markets etc.. and used the boxes for 1 "project".
My electrial tool box has everything it from outlets, sockets, wire nuts, electrical tape, crimpers, strippers etc..
Plumbing box has all the plumbing necessities ( copper pipe fittings, valves, solder, pipe dope, basin wrench etc..)


I have found this to be very easy and simple at keeping everything organized. I just grab the box and go.

Jeff

This is what I do.

 

[Lkdelta]

I've found the clear Sterilite 16qt tubs to be invaluable. I use them for everything. They're big enough to hold more than two of something, but not so big that you can't pick them up with one hand.

For example, I have one that's filled with nothing but various tape...duct, gorilla, electrical, packing ect. I probably have about thirty holding various things like gloves, rags, auto body supplies, ect. I've thought about building a shelving unit that fits them specifically


If somebody has a great idea for organizing all this stuff, please let us all in on the secret.

All different sizes of storage
http://www.quantumstorage.com/bins-and-systems


I bought the crates and then designed the shelves to match
Here's the crates on the shelf below..but they got really expensive lately
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BDTEWE/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Here's the rugged crates..
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005D5GREA/?tag=atomicindus08-20