Tool box or work bench?

[trackerxx]

Just moved into a new place and it has a few repairs needed all over the house.

I am using my tools all over the house. Should I keep tools in a tool box or hang them on the pegboard?

I know, I know. But I'm sure someone here will have a good way to help me organize.

Thanks.

 

[DIC]

Hang them on your tool belt

 

[trackerxx]

Tool belt an excellent solution. I am also thinking of having a small upstairs tool box so I don't have to go all the way into the workshop for a screwdriver, utility knife, etc.

 

[MadMechMaster]

Get a few 5 gallon buckets. Cheap and easy to move around. You can separate the tools out by task and have them all around the house.

To class it up, you can get one of those canvas bucket liners to hold everything in place.

 

[machine_punk]

When I am working on a larger project in the house, I usually put everything I need in a 5-gallon bucket and take it to the worksite, then put it up when done.

I REALLY like the little Husky soft tool bags at HD. They make several sizes, but I think the larger one (big enough to fit a power drill and a few other tools) would be nice for carrying 'project' tools through the house. When I had all of my tools set up to be moved around, I kept them in soft Husky tool bags.

Since I use screwdrivers and scissors and a couple of other small tools routinely, I keep a few sets of those stashed around the house (side table drawer in the living room, my desk in the den, bottom drawer in the bedside table in the bedroom, etc.), so I don't have to run to the garage just to get a simple screwdriver.

Kev

 

[Slickster76]

I keep a set of common tools in a toolbox in my attached garage for regular household repairs. The majority of my tools are in my detached garage where I do most of my work. If the project requires more than the general tooling I keep handy, I load up a spare toolbox from the garage and haul it in the house. The inexpensive bags/boxes you find on sale especially during the Christmas season are handy and easily stored when not in use. My friend broke down on the road not too long ago. Just loaded up the spare box with some traveling tools and had him up and running in no time.

 

[upndown]

I keep a HF black cart in what I call my Fishing Den at the cabin, usually sits next to my HF metal bench, Both were CL finds. It's mostly used for fishing repairs and maintenance.

I can wheel that anywhere it's needed for house repairs plus have a work bench if it's needed as well. Bigger projects get moved out to the shed.

 

[Exceller8]

Main tools on the pegboard, but a small toolbox with some basics is always nice to grab and go.

I have:

Toolbox in the office
Toolbox in the closet
shop with toolboxes and pegboard
Tools in every car
More tools in another shop/shed
Even more tools in a 20' container

Man, I could sure use some more space (for tools)!!

 

[ez-duzit]

Soft tool bags are the ticket for portability.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I prefer to keep my tools for household repairs either on the pegboard or in the cabinets under the bench. Mechanic tools are all in the tool box. There's also a screwdriver (6 in 1), hammer and pair of dykes in a drawer in the kitchen.

 

[Steevo]

I don't know about you, but when I am doing home repairs/improvement, tools I may need could be for electrical work, plumbing, painting, installing accessories (blinds, shelving, lights, TV mounts, etc.), repairs (toilets, sinks, appliances, door knobs, hinges, etc), and on and on.
All of those tools won't fit in one carry-box, and they don't all live in one place in the garage anyway, so I toss what I think I may need into a 5-gallon bucket and take it to the job location. By the time I am done, I often have fetched enough tools and parts that I need a second bucket for carrying it all back to the garage.
I have one of those bucket boss canvas organizers, but always find myself using a plain bucket instead.

 

[W_KY]

Another vote for the 5 gallon bucket method. I've got pegboard and toolboxes but I always go back to the 5 gallon bucket. Just pick and choose from the pegboard and toolbox (as well as from my portable power tools), fill up the bucket, and head to the task. I use one of those bucket organizers from HF.

http://www.harborfreight.com/52-pocket-bucket-organizer-94868.html

 

[KGB Pilot125]

you guys have it easy, I have a garage at my condo and right now I have a few things here but my main shop is 7 miles away! Talk about planning ahead for your project.

 

[92GreenYJ]

I personally never liked tool belts. Too bulky when trying to work in my opinion. I keep all my tools in the big roller chests in the garage. I have a black HF service cart I use for auto work. Basically load the tools and parts I need for the job at hand into that and wheel it out to the driveway. When working in the house I have a soft sided Husky tool bag I load up with what I need and take everything inside in that. When I'm done I out all the tools back in the chests

 

[John in OH]

I got way too tired of hauling miscellaneous tools from household job to household job so several years ago I bought a fairly large rolling tool box and equipped it with a broad range of tools that allow me to handle most tasks that arise around the house. I even cut down a framing square to fit in the box. It's a Taskforce box that I got from Lowes, unfortunately, I don't think they sell them anymore.



Occasionally, if only a few tools are required for a job, I use a small tool tote that my son made in shop class. Same idea as a 5 gal. bucket, but a lot nicer!



For more specialized jobs, I put together a separate tool box filled with electrical tools and a second loaded with plumbing tools.

Mechanics tools and other woodworking tools remain in the workshop or get placed in the tote as necessary.

 

[onewaydave]

For me:

Pegboard is for tools I display and never/seldom take down.

Tool chests are for storing tools between jobs, organization and a way to see when I need to buy a bigger system

I often use hand carry smaller boxes to take to a particular site/task. If the number of tools requires a larger box, I have/have made rollers for smaller chests (I like the C'man chests a little bigger than the ralley box).

5-7 gallon buckets are often cumbersome to get to what you need, requiring one to unload the whole thing to get the needed item. I occasionally use them but prefer a tool box. Unless I'm needing 5 gallons of plaster or paint, then the bucket is preferred. The canvas tool pouch liner is an improvement if you insist on putting tools in them, though.

Tool belts are for working aloft or on ladders.

But then again, if I wasn't so efficient I wouldn't be so over weight and out of shape.

Dave, sacrificing his health for the project!

 

[CharlestonJoe]

Tool belt an excellent solution. I am also thinking of having a small upstairs tool box so I don't have to go all the way into the workshop for a screwdriver, utility knife, etc.

That's what I did. I have a three story place with the garage/shop being the first floor. So I bought a tool box for the 3rd floor and keep a hammer, tape measure, screwdrivers, misc screws, wall anchors along with other little oddball things I may need.

 

[bad_idea]

Another vote for the bucket method. Get a tool chest and organize the tools into that. Load a bucket and haul it to the job site. Send the wife for any tools you need that you forgot. Send her back to get the right tool when she brings you the wrong one.