To label, or not to label (toolbox drawers)

[zc15]

What says the hive mind when it comes to toolbox and storage labelling?

On one hand, labels could be useful for when the wife helps out, or hopefully in the future when kids help out.

On the other, no labels looks so clean.

I've got a silhouette machine, so I can cut my own. I just haven't decided whether I want to or not yet


Pictures would be appreciated if you do have labelling

 

[svhamelly]

Labels for me.
The validation for me was when I toured Riley Technologies and all their pit toolboxes were labeled.
If it's good enough for Riley it's good enough for me!

CNC Machine Programmer/Waterjet Operator | website

Riley Technologies is a leading provider of engineering solutions to the motorsports industry, recognized for our innovative approach to racecar technology, design, and manufacturing. Join us and be part of an established, successful organization at the forefront of the motorsport industry.

www.rileytech.com

 

[zc15]

Labels for me.
The validation for me was when I toured Riley Technologies and all their pit toolboxes were labeled.
If it's good enough for Riley it's good enough for me!

CNC Machine Programmer/Waterjet Operator | website

Riley Technologies is a leading provider of engineering solutions to the motorsports industry, recognized for our innovative approach to racecar technology, design, and manufacturing. Join us and be part of an established, successful organization at the forefront of the motorsport industry.

www.rileytech.com

Have any pictures of your labels? I bought some magnetic sheets to put mine on

 

[PoorUB]

I don't bother, looks messy to me. Very few people are digging in my tool box any way.

 

[rancherbill]

I think I woul like to try this.

https://www.staples.ca/products/46771-en-avery-magnetic-printable-8-12-x-11-sheets-white-5pack-03270

 

[mervyn]

I've thought about it but only have one drawer labeled. It has a homemade divider with metric wrenches on one side and sae on the other.

 

[67CarGuy]

I've started labelling... helps with the drawers I don't go into as much, too. (Oh, that's where I've got the painting supplies!)
I use this tape because it was already on hand, it's easy to tear, and I can use a Sharpie to quickly label things. And if I mess up... it's only a couple inches of tape!

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I know where things are and sometimes I rearrange/reorganize.
I've worked in many shops where everything is labeled, no one reads them (some aren't correct anyway). One area had labels like "Long Tools", "Heavy tools", "Small Tools", "Other Small Tools", "More Small Tools", "Tools to Turn Things", "Tools to Squeeze Things", "Tools to Make Things Smaller", "Rarely used Tools", "Things Not Found in Other Drawers".

 

[Jeff]

I label so the wife can find tools when she's helping out.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I have never had labels in over 40 years, always had the same box and knew where everything was. Last year I got a new box, couldn’t find anything. I labeled the drawers and really like it now.

 

[CoogarXR]

I recently labeled mine. I had a roll of magnetic tape already, so I just used my postage printer to print labels. I cut them to fit on the magnetic tape. That way if I hate it or need to change it, I can pull the labels off the drawers with no residue to worry about.

I'll try to get a pic later.

I have no problems remembering where my tools are, I did it mostly for my wife. She works on stuff too, and she needs to know where stuff is. Plus, after dealing with her dad's death, and what a disorganized mess his life was, it made me think... What if I croak? She isn't going to want to figure out what all my **** is. At least it will help our friends or an auctioneer, whomever has the joy of sorting my mess.

 

[Mikeske]

I have labeled my toolbox in the past and after moving and rearranging I pulled the labels off and just realized that my memory is better. I rarely pull the wrong drawer. Since this is my at home shop it just easier for me to go sans labels

 

[Walkers]

I know where every tool in my box is, and they are laid out sensibly so 5gat other wouldn't have too much trouble finding things, though my son and I are usually the only ones using them. I tell anyone else not to put anything away if they don't know where it goes.

 

[evintho]

No labels. I know where everything is and no need for anyone else to be in my box! The only thing I have labeled is this nut and bolt holder where I keep spare/sharpened drill bits..............

 

[dmaxfireman]

I just bought a second hand snappy road chest and it had these on it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XPP9YHM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[no704]

I don’t label anything. But I know my work box. I might label my home box.

 

[ZRX61]

I did many years ago, but it only lasted a short while. 25 years later I still have trouble remembering if the plier drawer is above or below the screwdriver drawer...

 

[cvairwerks]

Ours have partial labels at work. Helps because the idiots that set the cabinets up didn't standardize the layouts. 30 sets of cabinets and at least 4 different layouts. Then they changed order of the cabinets in some of the hangars as well. Makes things a little frustrating when one switches hangars for the night.

 

[BarryWells]

What says the hive mind when it comes to toolbox and storage labelling?

On one hand, labels could be useful for when the wife helps out, or hopefully in the future when kids help out.

On the other, no labels looks so clean.

I've got a silhouette machine, so I can cut my own. I just haven't decided whether I want to or not yet


Pictures would be appreciated if you do have labelling

Employees ? YUP. Just you ? Seek a Dr for help !

 

[bbrins]

I label mine. I'm always moving things around to accommodate a new tool, or sometimes if I find that I am using something a lot, I'll move it to a more convenient drawer, which then makes me forget where I put whatever it displaced. I still find that I often pull open the wrong drawer though, then look at the labels, "duh! I moved the thingamajigs two drawers down to make room for the veeblefetzers". For labels, I use either my Brother P-Touch labeler with generic tz tape, or my old Dymo embossing label maker, just kinda depends on the mood, sometimes I enjoy the manual aspect of the Dymo, sometimes I want more detail or special characters, so I use the Brother label maker. I label all of my Plano boxes full of hardware too.

 

[Etchase]

I cut up magnetic black dry erase sheets into label sized pieces and hand write on them with white markers. I like to make it as easy as possible for people to help me. There’s 100 drawers, and stuff I haven’t used in a year or more.

 

[bugnut]

previous posts with images

Labeling toolbox drawers

I have been on a kick to get my garage **** organized lately. My sister got me a label maker for my birthday last month, and I put it to use in the garage recently. I am not done yet, but so far I really like where this is heading. I am just a home DIY person, so I am not in my boxes every...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[boyleged]

I started labeling about 4 years ago and never finished...until my 6 year old started reading two weeks ago. It pushed me to finish so we can read together

 

[Mike65]

I have contemplated labeling them but never did. I figured if my wife was helping me, she could find it but it would be easier for me to just tell her where it is then for her to read all the labels. I am using my tools often enough & they have been in the same drawer long enough for me to remember where they are.

 

[yellowbox]

ummm...no

 

[imagineer]

I prefer to label the toolbox drawers. Nothing fancy, just use a cheap Brother P-touch label maker.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Nope, I label, because it saves a boatload of time both finding what I need and putting stuff back where it belongs.

 

[WisJim]

After living at one place for over 30 years, we moved into town to a much smaller shop and garage area, so I have been sorting through things for over 3 years in preparation for moving and continuing now that we are moved and I am reorganizing my new shop and garage areas. I have lots of small (12 to 18 quart) covered bins on shelves covering most of one wall and parts of other areas, and I have been labeling them using Sharpie and masking or painters tape. A lot of these bins were filled and labeled at the old shop before moving them, and then put on a shelf in the new shop or garage, and it is really helpful to have a label on the rows of identical bins. I also have nuts, bolts, screws, and other small hardware in the small drawer cabinets, so I have usually labelled them with small paper labels. I am currently going through them and sorting hardware so that I have similar items next to each other. At the old place I "knew" where everything was, but I haven't figured it all out yet in the new space, so labels are a real time saver. Once I get better organized, I'll do nicer labels. My metal tool boxes have long had masking tape labels on the drawers so my wife or sons (and I) can find things easier. My paper or tape labels aren't the neatest or best, but they work for me.

 

[racecougar]

I went ~20 years before labeling my drawers. No idea what the heck took me so long.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Between tool boxes, cabinets, benches, etc etc, I got like 50 drawers. Every time I move it takes me forever to remember where stuff is, I should probably label, or down size..lol

 

[FTWingRiders]

Yup.. Just a weekend warrior and I seem to always grab the wrong drawer. After organizing my bench and small box, I labeled them with a P-touch label maker… after a week I did my big boxes in the other bay. Don’t know why I waited so long.


It’s also nice when my sons use the shop or my wife is helping with something.. especially the wife.. lol

 

[maxpower_hd]

I label. Mostly because I've worked out of three different boxes for over 10 years and they're all different. Plus it helps if someone is helping you.

 

[71goldss]

Not a fan of labels. Looks messy, and even with eight boxes in my garage, after a few uses it’s pretty easy to remember what drawers have what in them. Plus, I think it states something about the person that needs them. I’m not there yet, and hopefully will never be!

 

[HPRifleman]

I put labels on my tool chest 25 years ago. They were just strips of paper taped to the front of the drawer. Over time most have fallen off and those are the drawers where I don't remember what they contain. I've been too lazy to replace the labels. The labeling has sure helped me know which drawer I want to open as I'm walking up to the box.

Ideally I would have the printed magnet labels but I don't know what to use or how to get the magnets or the printer.

 

[zc15]

I think I'm going to start off labeling my Durham cabinet but just labeling the rows and columns, so not putting labels on each bin. Rows A-H with columns 1-6 with and embossing Dymo label maker to fit with the vibe I'm going for

 

[crewchief888]

I don't.
I'm not in the garage working that often, and I usually back my service truck up the driveway

 

[Grimpala]

I printed these on my 3D printer and added magnets so I could move them around if I rearranged. A year later I found a font I liked better and I hadn't rearranged like I thought I would so I cut them out of vinyl and stuck them on. It's nice when people are over helping, or if a friend needs to borrow/use a tool and I'm not there.

 

[Grimpala]

 

[Prospecter]

Reasons to Label:
1: In the processing of labeling, we impose order on our stuff.
2: It helps us find and put away stuff the same way every time, so we remember more quickly.
3: This goes double for re-organizing and relearning.
4: It helps people who are helping.

 

[Old tool guy]

Reason not to label. Looking at the second picture from ftwing in #31 you have a drawer marked measuring tools. What happens if you don’t have enough measuring tools to fill the drawer? Can you put other tools in there? Do you have to add a label?