Toolbox Drawer Heights - Recommendations/Feedback

[ItsNemo]

Might be picking up a new box soon for a new workshop space and potentially going with a box that I can pick the drawer layout and heights and such.

What does everyone find most useful for drawer heights? layouts? I have a 56" SPG International in the garage now with a variety of heights and sizes of drawers and it works ok, new box would be a similar size (probably 60"), so should I just go with a variety? This won't replace my garage box (for now) so this is new storage in a new space.

Some thoughts, do I want really tall drawers for "misc" stuff, or just keep them all idealized for sockets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, etc....I don't tend to store my power tools or blow molded cases in these things, so no space for that seems needed. Do I want one or two big top drawers full width, or better to have more half width drawers? Do I want any dividers or compartment bins in it?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I would take into consideration if you are using any drawer organizers like Ernst. Will the wrenches be laying flat or on edge ? Same with pliers.

 

[CraigStu]

Don't forget deep, and flex/deep sockets stored standing on end. I'd go for most in the 3" deep range w/ a few at 4-5". Thinking of my boxes, I'd love a lot of the 4-5" replaced w/ two 2-3". In a 60" box I don't think I'd want a full width as once filled that is a heavy dang drawer to open to grab one tool.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Also check how far the drawers open. I have a few boxes with drawers that leave about two inches recessed when fully open. With shallow drawers, that back area is limited with the type of items stored.
Drawer height - I love having a variety pack. It also depends on how much or many drawers. With smaller drawer count, I would put power tools on shelf storage. That cuts down on the number of deep drawers needed.
Another factor is misc bolts, nuts, and fasteners. Are you putting those in the new tool box? It's often easier to have a separate organizer setup for those in my case. That cuts down on the number of shallow drawers needed.

 

[Black300zx]

Most important question (which only you can answer) is what are you putting in it?

If you already have the stuff that will go in it, measure up the height/thickness of some items and use that to make sure you can effectively store stuff without wasting volume. If you’re buying new stuff, look up dimension online if you can and figure out what arrangement of drawer heights will match

 

[Ohio Andy]

2.5" feels like a nice standard height, but, sometimes i want to spread shallow things out in an organized way (like screw drivers) and unless I drop in 2" tall separators and stack the drivers, I usually do not need 2.5" (or even 2") of height for a single level of screw drivers, small pry bars, or tape measure; but I do have tape measures that are easily 1.5" thick, maybe a bit more....

But then I take my sockets, and if I want them to stand on end, well, you really need to measure your sockets to see how tall they are. And add in the height of your socket holders.

Even screwdriver bits can take some height to them. I have bits in holders that will stand just a bit over 2" tall.

So I always like to have a few deeper than 2.5", and I have one drawer that is 6", but for me 2.5" to 3" is the sweet spot.

 

[ItsNemo]

Yup, opting for a bunch of drawer sizes, it's a 24/36 split bottom with 2 big drawers on top and putting in a variety of 2", 3", 4" and one 8". Sounds like from what you guys have said I should be covered. This will be mostly hand tools and sockets and such, I don't have everything for it yet but had a look through sizes in my current big box to get an idea of what will fit where. My big box is all those sizes plus one 12" drawer that just collects junk, so isn't ideal anyway.

I should have cabinets above for cordless tools and shelving elsewhere for all the blow molded case type stuff, so I don't think I'm at much risk of not having enough storage. For small fasteners I'm going to order a couple of the smaller drawers with bin cups to fit, don't have to use them but gives me the option if I want to throw small stuff in there. I have a pile of the Durham compartment bins out in the garage that aren't even all full yet that has a lot of the small stuff already, so I can also use those for this space.

 

[tez929rr]

I had one of those aluminum boxes from Costco and it had a bunch of shallow drawers. They were easy to load and organize with tools laying flat. I later went to a 56 inch HF box. At first it was annoying as I had to get holder to put wrenches and pliers in the taller drawers, but ultimately I have a lot more tools per drawer and I’m not opening nearly as many drawers while working,

One must have is a big deep drawer on top for sockets, ratchets, etc.

 

[ItsNemo]

I had one of those aluminum boxes from Costco and it had a bunch of shallow drawers. They were easy to load and organize with tools laying flat. I later went to a 56 inch HF box. At first it was annoying as I had to get holder to put wrenches and pliers in the taller drawers, but ultimately I have a lot more tools per drawer and I’m not opening nearly as many drawers while working,

One must have is a big deep drawer on top for sockets, ratchets, etc.

I've definitely opted for a big deep drawer (5") for sockets.

How does more tools per drawer mean less opening? I usually open, grab tool I need, close...so whether that's one drawer 10 times or 10 drawers 1 time, it's the same amount?

 

[u2slow]

Many ways to set up....

My combo wrenches are hanging - not in drawers.

Then I split my ratchets/sockets into 3 main drawers by drive size.

 

[tez929rr]

I've definitely opted for a big deep drawer (5") for sockets.

How does more tools per drawer mean less opening? I usually open, grab tool I need, close...so whether that's one drawer 10 times or 10 drawers 1 time, it's the same amount?

Imagine all your tools in one drawer. Open it and get out everything you need at once.

 

[ItsNemo]

Imagine all your tools in one drawer. Open it and get out everything you need at once.

Sounds like I should just leave them all on the bench top then lol

 

[Ohio Andy]

Sounds like I should just leave them all on the bench top then lol

In some situations, yes(ish) for those highly used tools in a properly safe environment; meaning they won't walk away or similar.

 

[Tchicken]

Ok, YMMV I get that & can't find the actual boxes within driving distance to test sizes. I'm in search of a new, last box that's bigger than my old 27" Craftsman (like 1980s old). Looking around, I see a HD Husky brand 42" box that is overall sized right but the second drawer is specc'ed at 2" only. Anybody have one? Or opinions on whether that drawer would work for wrenches? I know that it would hold 'em flat ok? But there's more here than it would carry flat ..

 

[pcmeiners]

One must have is a big deep drawer on top for sockets, ratchets, etc.

Be careful with a socket drawer height, you longest socket plus the height of the organizer plus leeway. Smaller drawers are most useful, for me very large (height) drawers are totally useless.

 

[Ultradog MN]

I don't know what all you want to keep in your drawers but...
Most of my drawers are 3 1/2" deep but I do have a couple that are 4" a couple 4 1/2" and one that is 8" deep.
I like uniformity of the 3 1/2s but also like the deeper ones for oddball stuff like the case for my Dremel tool, heat gun, oxy/ acetyline guages, a couple of angle grinders and things like small cases of crimp connectors, cotter keys, grease zerks and orings that stack easily

 

[cpakalolo]

Might be picking up a new box soon for a new workshop space and potentially going with a box that I can pick the drawer layout and heights and such.

What does everyone find most useful for drawer heights? layouts? I have a 56" SPG International in the garage now with a variety of heights and sizes of drawers and it works ok, new box would be a similar size (probably 60"), so should I just go with a variety? This won't replace my garage box (for now) so this is new storage in a new space.

Some thoughts, do I want really tall drawers for "misc" stuff, or just keep them all idealized for sockets, wrenches, pliers, screwdrivers, etc....I don't tend to store my power tools or blow molded cases in these things, so no space for that seems needed. Do I want one or two big top drawers full width, or better to have more half width drawers? Do I want any dividers or compartment bins in it?

It is easy to get cabinets with drawers for sockets. You need to store a whole drawer of pullers, a drawer for hammers, grease guns impact wrenches and compact battery electric wrenches (which you will have many of once you buy one). Meters and scanners is a whole drawer. My deeper drawers fill up the fastest.

 

[ItsNemo]

It is easy to get cabinets with drawers for sockets. You need to store a whole drawer of pullers, a drawer for hammers, grease guns impact wrenches and compact battery electric wrenches (which you will have many of once you buy one). Meters and scanners is a whole drawer. My deeper drawers fill up the fastest.

Already got the new box

Rousseau Tool Cabinets

I just bought some :) Part of finishing my basement is setting up a new "lab" space for working on electronics, computers, audio stuff, whatever...just things that are cleaner than what I usually do in the garage. So I wanted some tool storage for the space and something a little nicer than...

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