Tool Box vs under workbench drawers

[zimm17]

I'm retiring my old Craftsman 28" triple stack. I was going to upsize to a Milwaukee 40-something roll around box. But watching car/truck fix it shows, I see a lot of shops run work benches around a corner and load the bottoms with tool drawers. That might be a better use of floor space. I have no need to move my tool box once it's loaded and in the garage.

I have a 8 foot Gladiator work bench already, but it seems to fill up underneath with stuff like the welder, compressor, saw horses etc. Maybe another one and a few sets of tool drawers? Or is a stand alone tool box the best us of space for holding tools?

 

[Walkers]

To each his own. If you think the drawers would work for you, then go for it.

 

[Matt XYZ]

Check out the Let's See your Workbench thread. You can see hundreds of examples and ideas that may work for you.

 

[jmiller_2308]

I think it depends what you are storing, how often you use what you store, and where you use what you store.

Things you don't use often can sit just about anywhere but putting them in mobile storage might mean having to wheel around that weight for no good reason.

Things that you use a lot (wrenches for example) are nice to have close to where you are working so that you can get/put them away as you use them rather than collecting a pile of them while working on a project.

When I work on my motorcycle lift the big wrench box is steps away so I can keep the work area free of tools not currently in use yet get them quickly when I need them. The 4 post lift and walking around a vehicle on the lift are much further away and it would be nice to have the same convenient access but unfortunately the stacked tool cabinets are a big pain in the **** to roll around.

 

[rzims]

I've got both and am currently trying to figure out the best/most efficient use.
With the under bench drawers, I have to figure out a way to keep things organized inside the drawers. Currently stuff is thrown in there. Its organized by tool. sockets, pliers, scredrivers, etc. but I think I'd like to look at some foam liner wiht a spot for each piece or something.
I think because the toolbox drawers are not as deep it feels more organized.
I also have some of my more often used tools hanging on the wall.
I like being able to look at a space and see if something is missing...

 

[Renegade1LI]

Due mechanics tools I like the dedicated boxes, lots of drawers to keep things organized. If your don't need the top box go with the bottoms built in under your bench. As you said you can save some for space, I use drawers under my bench for woodworking. If you go under bench you could always add a service cart if you need mobility.

 

[tarmy]

This is Garage Journal, so the answer is always both…

My two benches…

 

[Bucko]

My current shop is pretty large so I decided to go the route of more basic over being flashy. The dedicated woodshop area is about 750sq' and walled off from the automotive and general purpose area.
It was pretty much a empty shell when I got it with exception of the wall dividing the woodshop area but it was only drywalled on the opposite side so I drywalled that off as well. I made simple benches with 2x6 that attach to the walls around 3 sides. I didn't want built in cabinets to the floor because the area around is wooded and didn't want to risk them becoming a home for wildlife.
I bought some 2 drawer lateral file cabinets used from Facebook for about $30 each and replaced the levelers with lockable wheels, gave them a quick scuff and paint to match and they fit right under the benches. The only real downside is you will get sawdust under them but the cordless blower takes care of that and they can be wheeled out for a deep cleaning if needed. I also figure if/when I move again they can just be wheeled on the truck like a tool box.

 

[gleman]

I've been picking up old Hon file cabinets at garage sales putting them on casters and painting them the same. Bulkier tools are the bane of my storage mess and I'm trying to be organized.



I did kinda the same thing in my basement shop with old Craftsman benches.



I found out, once the bulky stuff found a home, the hand tools could be organized much more densely in my small boxes.



They can roll out for wider jobs.

If I can't find reasonably priced lower carts or listas for under my workbench, I'll probably make banks of pullout drawers out of scrap oak boards I have a pile of.

 

[P51Mustang]

I have found that for me, I like a tool box that I can move around to where I am working (this goes back to the days that I worked in a shop as a mechanic and I moved around to different service bays a lot I am guessing). I have most of my hand tools in the box and it is very handy to have them close to the project. I have some stuff hanging on the wall near my vise and metal working/welding area (hammers and the such). I do have some suff that does not get used as much under the work benches. One thing that I came up with that has really been handy for me on doing fab work on my car projects is what I call a grinder tree. I built a storage rack on wheels that I hang my grinders, drills and impact tools on that I can roll around right to the project. I will have to get a couple of photos of it.

 

[CraigStu]

The advantage of most tool boxes is the thin drawers. If you have a 6inch tall drawer and put wrenches in it for instance, you end up wasting at least 3 inches of space. Most guys don't roll their boxes around much. 20+ years as a dealer tech I had something like this.

https://sunextools.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/8036.jpg

Plastic is the key because steel carts scratch cars horribly. Each AM I'd grab the tools I would most likely need and put them in the cart. One of these would allow you to go w/ cabinets if you can find some thin drawers or a large box that you don't want to drag around.

 

[m6z]

If I didn't insist on having the option to park two cars in the garage I'd have a toolbox with a workbench on top. Right now I've got a 42" top and bottom box in the garage, but no permanent space at the moment for a workbench. I'm using an old desk currently.

I need to build a shed..

 

[u2slow]

I have many large heavy things (engines, transmissions, welders) that are better suited to tucking under benches.

Stacked tool chests save me space.

 

[metalmagpie]

I have 4 Kennedy stacks and a 16' bench. My bench has 56 drawers underneath. But I also built that bench with 11" of free space below. I slide toolboxes underneath. Portaband, random orbital sander, electric die grinders, a toolbox for torch gear, another for Ridgid pipe threading tools. Oh, and a Lincoln floor jack. Probably six or seven things I forgot, too.

https://nwnative.us/Grant/shop articles/benches/workbenchProject.html

 

[Vintagenut]

I use both. The smaller hand tools are in the red toolboxes and the larger tools are in the white cabinet drawers that I found on Craigslist. The cabinets were all taken out a 1950’s house (I was told) and I had to do some cutting and rearranging to get them in this configuration, but there is plenty of storage space for stuff other than tools.

 

[rsparks64]

I use both. The smaller hand tools are in the red toolboxes and the larger tools are in the white cabinet drawers that I found on Craigslist. The cabinets were all taken out a 1950’s house (I was told) and I had to do some cutting and rearranging to get them in this configuration, but there is plenty of storage space for stuff other than tools.

How much can you store in that Coke machine?

 

[Vintagenut]

Lots of Diet Coke!

 

[rsparks64]

I've been picking up old Hon file cabinets at garage sales putting them on casters and painting them the same. Bulkier tools are the bane of my storage mess and I'm trying to be organized.



I did kinda the same thing in my basement shop with old Craftsman benches.



I found out, once the bulky stuff found a home, the hand tools could be organized much more densely in my small boxes.



They can roll out for wider jobs.

If I can't find reasonably priced lower carts or listas for under my workbench, I'll probably make banks of pullout drawers out of scrap oak boards I have a pile of.

That upper picture looks like an office set up with upper cabinets, file cabinets, desk, chair, coffee pot, espresso maker?, and pretty nice floor. Of course, the beer can may or may not be PC for the office, nor is the vise everyday office equipment.

What is that old bench/table on the far left? It seems to have a big door with latches.

 

[Vintagenut]

I've been picking up old Hon file cabinets at garage sales putting them on casters and painting them the same. Bulkier tools are the bane of my storage mess and I'm trying to be organized.

Your Hon cabinets look great. What color/brand is that green?

I’ve got some overhead Shaw Walker cabinets with lights underneath them that might look good with your cabinets. Let me know if you’re interested.

 

[housewolf]

I have found that for me, I like a tool box that I can move around to where I am working (this goes back to the days that I worked in a shop as a mechanic and I moved around to different service bays a lot I am guessing). I have most of my hand tools in the box and it is very handy to have them close to the project. I have some stuff hanging on the wall near my vise and metal working/welding area (hammers and the such). I do have some suff that does not get used as much under the work benches. One thing that I came up with that has really been handy for me on doing fab work on my car projects is what I call a grinder tree. I built a storage rack on wheels that I hang my grinders, drills and impact tools on that I can roll around right to the project. I will have to get a couple of photos of it.

Pretty much same here. I recently ran out of room in my stacked tool box(s) and was looking at wider ones to replace them when a cart caught my eye. I bought the cart and loaded it up with my most commonly used automotive tools. I had doubts that this would work for me but I’ve really taken to this concept and wish I’d gotten on board earlier. Occasionally I’ll work on a car outside the shop, I can wheel the cart right up to the bay door and have it near me. It’s also nice to have it under the lift near me too. I have a pretty small shop (20’x36’) so almost everything is on wheels and I can rearrange the stuff on wheels for any particular project I’m on.

 

[niget2002]

I have both.

I have the stacked toolbox that I've had since before I was married. It has most of my hand tools. Then I have drawers under my main workbench that has various bits and bobs. It's where I keep most of my drill bits, hammers, saws, etc. This bench is also used a lot for electronics, so I few drawers dedicated to the hand tools, wire, etc for that.

 

[HogDude]

I've been picking up old Hon file cabinets at garage sales putting them on casters and painting them the same. Bulkier tools are the bane of my storage mess and I'm trying to be organized.



I did kinda the same thing in my basement shop with old Craftsman benches.



I found out, once the bulky stuff found a home, the hand tools could be organized much more densely in my small boxes.



They can roll out for wider jobs.

If I can't find reasonably priced lower carts or listas for under my workbench, I'll probably make banks of pullout drawers out of scrap oak boards I have a pile of.

I love your approach and the results. Very well done!

 

[gleman]

Your Hon cabinets look great. What color/brand is that green?

I’ve got some overhead Shaw Walker cabinets with lights underneath them that might look good with your cabinets. Let me know if you’re interested.

It's Ace Hardware gloss enamel in Sage.





I used old osb for a saw cart/outfeed table/storage so I can work outside.

Im not happy with the color but it was excess interior paint and helped soak into the osb. I'll put a different color on when I get a chance.

 

[KSJeff]

I use both. The smaller hand tools are in the red toolboxes and the larger tools are in the white cabinet drawers that I found on Craigslist. The cabinets were all taken out a 1950’s house (I was told) and I had to do some cutting and rearranging to get them in this configuration, but there is plenty of storage space for stuff other than tools.

That setup hits just perfect for me. Fantastic!

 

[gleman]

I love your approach and the results. Very well done!

Thanks, the garage is a work in progress but I'm gaining ground this winter.

 

[P51Mustang]

I have found that for me, I like a tool box that I can move around to where I am working (this goes back to the days that I worked in a shop as a mechanic and I moved around to different service bays a lot I am guessing). I have most of my hand tools in the box and it is very handy to have them close to the project. I have some stuff hanging on the wall near my vise and metal working/welding area (hammers and the such). I do have some suff that does not get used as much under the work benches. One thing that I came up with that has really been handy for me on doing fab work on my car projects is what I call a grinder tree. I built a storage rack on wheels that I hang my grinders, drills and impact tools on that I can roll around right to the project. I will have to get a couple of photos of it.

Here are some photos of my grinder tree (I saw the basic idea on Project Binky). I had been working on a car restoration that required a lot of grinding and cutting work on the car. I found that it was a real pain to keep changing out my grinder between cutting/grinding discs and wire wheels. I picked up a cheap (under $20 at the time) ginder from the local big box store to have another grinder to cut down on disc change outs. I found that this was a nice time savings and that the cheap grinder did OK (6 months to a year of life under from pretty heavy work). Well I liked this enough to pick up several other cheap grinders so that I could keep different grinders loaded all the time with a cut off disc, a flap disc, a grinding wheel and a couple of different style of wire wheels. I did find that it was still a bit of a pain to walk back and forth to grab the grinder that I needed so I built a grinder tree on wheels based on what I had seen on Project Binky. I liked this so much that I did the Project Binky tree one better and added racks to the tree for my drills and impact tools, plus dics and other misc tool storage. This has been great as I can wheel it around the shop to where ever it is needed. I have been giving it quite the workout on the 65 Mustang race car build I am in the middle of and it has been great!