Tools put away, or out, and what ideas for having tools out?

[Rounder]

For years, I kept all my tools in drawers. Now I have been thinking more about storing them around garage, I am not worried about people grabbing them. Pocked up magnet strip from harbor freight $5. Put ratchet wrenches that didn't fit in wrench drawer on it, and some common sockets that i have duplicate of.

Them I bough some magnetic socket organizers. The press that takes up a lot of room, and doesn't get used a lot is great place to stick them. My tool chest drawers are kinda shallow and not good for standing socket organizers. My goal is to either have them next to me or in something I can pick up and take. Less running around. I am sure like most of us, we got duplicate sets. 6 and 12 point ect.

At my camp, I built wood shelf. The chest at chest height, I put OSB on back wall, for hanging tools, and such. Them put two strips along front to fit socket organizers between and loose stuff. Sort of shelf and work bench. I really like this design, no pics. Also good place to write sizes and such on, for common stuff.

I got pole barns, and thinking those walls would be good for magnetic strips and socket holders.

So do you like your shop neat, or tools out and what interesting ways are you doing it?

Friend of mine who is pro, takes out socket sets and puts them back. But again my drawers are not deep enough. And I can't bring myself to use another chest since these drawers have sockets and these drawers have been wrenches for 25 years. Plus I am just tired of running around and want things close.

 

[theoldwizard1]

At my age, I HAVE TO PUT THEM AWAY or I will never find them again. Lost a pair of needle nose pliers. Found them almost 2 weeks later on the desk where I was using them, under some papers.

 

[Jacko264]

Mine just get thrown on the bench now a days and clean up on a weekend

 

[rancherbill]

Mine are put away, except the common core tools that are in a hand tote.

 

[BTL-A4]

I don't let the storage option limitations dictate how I store my tools. If the drawers are not deep enough, get deeper drawers. Sounds like you have something that works, for you, and that's what's most important; we could give you ideas all day long, but you need to decide what work for you.

I'd love to see pictures of what you've described.

I'm constantly reorganizing my storage. I have all my clamps on a pegboard, but they used to be in a drawer. I'd like to put them away so the garage looks neater, but don't have a good space at the moment.

I get out what I need to use, and place everything on two fold-up work tables, my workbench or wherever. I clean up when I'm done.

 

[PoorUB]

All my tools have a spot for them. Many of the commonly used tools are hung on a pegboard, combination wrenches, screw drivers, nut drivers, gasket scrapers, pliers, and some others. Socket sets are in drawers along with the rest of the tools. When I get a serious project going I have a tool cart I roll out and keep my tools on it until the project is over, then the tools go back.

 

[LopezBart]

I find that the most commonly used hand tools work best on a peg board. For me, that is screwdrivers, files, hacksaw, pliers of various sorts, etc. Toolbox gets the ratchets + all the things that go on them, plus more specialized tools. Really specialized tools go in bags w/ others of their ilk - a tool bag has my Clecos, rivet hammer, backstop, etc for body work on Airstream, for example. I find that if it's easy to put things away and everything has a place, then my work area stays cleaner. Horizontal Surface Disease is a terrible affliction.

 

[imagineer]

For me, it’s an end of day ritual . . . put all tools away where they belong. Even if I’m not done with a project and will be returning the next day to continue, I still put away all the tools. I’ve found it’s much easier to retrieve a tool from where it’s usually stored, than to have to look around for where I left it last.

Granted, by the time I’m ready to call it a day and head inside, my workshop looks like a tornado hit a yard sale, but it doesn’t take that much time to put tools away and do some cleanup.

 

[Houdini5150]

I don't have a lot of room for tools. I have a small back well/corner of the garage to store my stuff. It consists of my toolbox, power tools, and car detailing stuff. I store hardware and other small tools on a re purposed bookshelf. The power tools are in their storage bags or boxes on the bottom of the shelf or tucked under my toolbox.

My toolcart I use for oil changes and tire rotations, I store my impact, jack stands, funnels, on the cart and the rest are contained in the drawer.

 

[bigredcornhead]

Always cleaned and put away, last part of the job. I always leave some small tools at hand or close to bench, but mostly always back in their spots.

 

[MovingAlong]

Autoshop in high school, had a peg board with every tool outlined. Didn't take two seconds at the end of the day to see what was missing...

My "shop" is now just a small part of the garage though, don't have a hanger to work in like we did at school. Everything goes into a drawer or cabinet when "put away". But when I'm in the middle of a project, the tools stay with me until finished... Yes, it's messy...

 

[kbeefy]

If I have a tool that only has one job I try to store it at that job.

I have toolboxes in all my work areas, typically for smaller and easier to misplace tools.
Some bigger tools live 'in the wild', standing on the floor or hanging on a wall or shelf somewhere.

 

[rayra]

Too much sawdust and sanding dust to leave everything out. I literally periodically blow my garage out with a leaf-blower.

So most are in drawers or closed cabinets or in their cases. But one useful thing for 'tools in active use' has been Ron Paulk's (YouTube) trussed-box workbench designs. My big workbench is a sort of double-decker design, with the tools etc shoved in the lower deck, leaving the top surface free and clear for my big projects (lately been building a lot of furniture.

 

[RMERR]

I don't have a rigid system. Mostly I clean when things are getting too crowded on my work areas. But if I'm going to use the same tools tomorrow, I'll leave them there. Occasionally things will get out of hand and I'll say "that's enough, time for a put-away session" and do nothing but put things away for 30 minutes. Doubt that I'll live long enough to see it, but wouldn't a robot shop assistant be great for this. Imagine just saying "Makita212 put everything away, sweep the floor and turn yourself off when you're done".

 

[Axehandle2]

My tools are in the tool boxes, in buckets, laying in the floor, on tables, on roll around cart, on tool tray of shop stool, under the hood of project, kicked under tables, in tote bags, on shelves, and occasionally in the house because they were in my pocket when I went in. I have multiples of most tools because I had to buy a new one when I couldn't find the one I needed.
If you look up disorganized in the dictionary you will probably see a picture of my shop!

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Unless it is a task-specific tools (lathe tools, drill press chuck key, etc) it goes back into it's drawer, box, or pegboard spot. Put it back when you're done and you'll have it ready when you need it again.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Movingalong has the right idea if the tools are out. I have some on pegboards and these are the only ones that are organized, especially when I am working on a job. I usually go at it full bore, so when I get the job finished I’m too pooped to clean up and put away then. I’ll usually just pile everything up and put it away another day. Except that pegboard. I almost always grab that handful of tools and hang them back up.

Another said keep tools with the main tool. So my corded Milwaukee drill box has its own drill index and a set of drivers if I’m using that on the job. That’s the same for every power tool. Those I can usually put away at the end of the day too.

 

[brandonsmash]

Tools go away when they're not in use. Once I'm in a project, though, all manner of stuff finds its way out. I just plan on having a solid cleanup day when I'm done with the project, that's all.

 

[goldtang]

I don’t like having tools out when not in use , boxes or cupboards depending on the tool and clean up when I am finished for the day ,

 

[70staged]

Put away at end of day or end of job, which ever comes first. They all get wiped down with towels and put in the correct location in my toolbox. This gives me a chance to inspect tools for cracks or issues and to see if I'm missing anything. But I wrench on vehicles in my spare time.
Although this engine/ trans pull and rebuild I haven't put them away yet and it's driving me crazy

 

[Rounder]

You mistaken cleaning with proper place. I have decided to dedicate spaces to store stuff outside of drawers, where I have access to where I am working.

I put a magnetic rail for common some tools. Bought magnetic socket organizer, and it will live stuck to my floor press.

Its mostly duplicate sockets at this point, and ratchets. But I don't want to walk back and forth to my chest all the time. Similar to years ago putting sets of some common tools in basement, barn and house.

I don't have kids or others in my shop, it is private. So I think I am going to move more to storing things where they are used, with dedicated spots. Still going to have my tool chests, and maybe I won't be able to break myself of going the long way for tools.

My goal is more shelves, and magnetic holders in the areas I am working, rather than walking to get tools. Again these will probably be duplicate sets of common items.

I took a shelf and rail system out of side by side fridge, thinking of place to put that. In my barn at camp, I put small shelf for cordless chargers. I may do that at home too. The magnetic strips I think will work good in pole barns


I am less interested in hiding everything, but still having spot for it, where I need it and exposed. You can't have to many cabinets or chests, but I want the tools where they are used.

 

[Rounder]

Front of my garage is chests and organized tools, but I am also thinking of more organization and storage where I use them, at the work bench, and other side of garage, is maybe better way to put it. And moving away from locked up and out of site design. Less walking around to get tools.

 

[PassnThru]

Even if you could prove to me that storing my hand tools on the wall or here and there and everywhere would be more 'efficient' while working or save me steps it wouldn't matter to me at all. I simply have no space on my walls or here and there and everywhere to store all of the hand tools that currently reside in drawers.
Drawers are extremely efficient for storage - especially tool box drawers that are full extension and come in different depths for organizing.
If you have a lot of free space and few tools then go for it.

 

[Rounder]

Even if you could prove to me that storing my hand tools on the wall or here and there and everywhere would be more 'efficient' while working or save me steps it wouldn't matter to me at all. I simply have no space on my walls or here and there and everywhere to store all of the hand tools that currently reside in drawers.
Drawers are extremely efficient for storage - especially tool box drawers that are full extension and come in different depths for organizing.
If you have a lot of free space and few tools then go for it.

I never said I wanted to get rid of tool chests or store all of my tools on the walls.

I just want to store common items where I use the, mostly duplicates.

Not sure where you got anything in your post.

 

[Rounder]

Even if you could prove to me that storing my hand tools on the wall or here and there and everywhere would be more 'efficient' while working or save me steps it

I don't need to prove anything to you. I am sure you own a yardstick or tape measure.

 

[Mikeske]

I have tool boxes and they in my shop and those toolboxes have a purpose and that is what I do is take out the required tools for the tasks I am doing. When I finish or stop for the day the tools are always cleaned wiped off and returned to their proper place in the toolbox. I spent 30 plus years in aviation and tools were always inventoried several times a day.

Now retired I retained the same habits. If my neighbor is using my shop either he uses his tools and does not use mine or his tools remain in his vehicle and only my tools are used and there is never any mixing of tools.

All my tools are organized and when tools are in use I have a cart next to the item being worked on and the tools are always set on the cart then put back away. Just the way I always worked my tools are kept organized and clean frequently.

 

[bcradio]

I don't need to prove anything to you. I am sure you own a yardstick or tape measure.

He didn't say you did chief, chill out

 

[speed bump]

I embraced putting tools where I work a while ago. Every welder gets an 1-1/8" wrench and welpers. Above the workbench is a hammer, tape measure, square, combo screwdriver, scraper, and pair of pliers. Fence tools next to the door.

Basically anywhere I use a tool a lot I put that tool there if I can. Still have boxes full of tools but I walk back to the boxes way less often now.

 

[VolvoRyan]

I used to be a mess. No greater frustration than looking for missing tools in the heat of battle.

Now? Tool box. Everything has a place, and everything in its place. Basically aviation FOD rules for me. Tools go away after every job, and before I begin a new. Sometimes tools go away during a job if I need to zero out the scene after a job went slightly sideways. I have not lost the proverbial 10mm socket since I started working this way.

Doesn't matter what you do. Have a system and live by the system. Frustration happens when things migrate.

-Ryan

 

[VolvoRyan]

Horizontal Surface Disease is a terrible affliction.

That's a hilarious way to put it! I have two wagons with ol' fashioned luggage racks that winter in the garage when the road salt is out. Come spring, have the battle of getting them ready for the road is cleaning off all the boxes on their roofs.

-Ryan

 

[CoogarXR]

I am also in the "clean up, put away all tools each night" camp. I don't like leaving anything out.

The only exception being, working under a car. I'll leave everything under there until the job is done, because getting up off the floor a hundred times ***** when you're old and fat.

Even my common tools are put away. But my bench is set up so that I have drawers under it, and on the sides, so I can reach all my common stuff without moving a whole lot.

 

[richfinn]

All my tools have a specific place in the van (no toolbox as that would be too heavy), I do use a Veto Pro-Pac Tool Tote for the stuff I use all the time general hand tools and basic diagnostics), everything else is stored in cases on shelves inside the van.

Tools that are used specifically with certain parts I tend to keep in plastic boxes with the parts themselves so I can just bring a box to the job and have those tools easily to hand (for example all my exhaust related tools live in a tub with brackets/mountings/repair sleeves/sealing paste so I can take them under the car in one hit).

 

[Callelle]

If I'm in the middle of a job that I'm running behind on, things just get thrown into the top of the cart / hutch at the end of the day. Otherwise, where I work, we're allowed a good 20-30 minutes to clean up / finish paper work at the end of the day, so I almost always wipe down / put away my tools where they belong.

 

[Jduke]

Adam Savage from myth busters does some shop organization videos that I like.

I get to use my tools enough to have a bunch of them, but not enough to know the location of everyone’s place within a millimeter like my Father did.

So I don’t like having to open three drawers looking for every tool.

I have an open top service cart from harbor freight and the sockets live in the top where you can see all of them, a set of metric and SAE wrenches (that used to be Dads) are magneticly attached to the lid of this cart so in clear view.

Pliers and anything with a handle that can hang over a dowel rod are hanging out the in open on tool organizers that I bought off amazon for a few dollars and attached to the cart with magnets.

I like stuff out where you can see it and aren’t opening multiple drawers to find it.

 

[SBAG]

I am trying to get my **** completely and utterly organized. I will put them away. After decades of moving around with the Army, having **** in boxes for years, **** on literally three different continents, buying duplicates of various things…I will be organized with the ability to find ****…or die in the process. I can’t take it anymore.

I won’t be going shadow foam due to the insane amount of space it takes; but everything up to it (and mighg us some sparingly).

 

[Beerhippie]

I went with "keep it at hand" for years, and this was the result:



I was down to about 3 sqft of usable benchtop and maybe 30 sqft of bare floor. Sure, I could lay a hand on anything I needed without thinking about it, but I share this shop at work and I was the only one who could find most things. If anything was five inches from where I usually put it, it could be lost for days or more. If I needed to work on anything over about a foot long, I had to clear space to do so.

I finally got fed up up and fixed it:





The shop is nowhere as large as that ultra-wide angle lens makes it look--the main shop area is 16 X 18', including benches and racks.

~3 sqft of usable bench space to 14 sqft--and it only took most of the winter to do it!

Now the majority of tools I use every day are still within easy reach--but not in piles. Several vintage machinist's chests provide the drawers and were cheap at local junk shops. A few more toolboxes hold dedicated tools and parts (soldering, electrical, etc) so can be hauled to the job. Every large tool--welders, drill press, cut-off saw, etc, is on locking casters, so can be used where it is or just rolled to where I need it.

We even have room for an employee break area in the center of the shop where there used to be chaos and clutter!

I still need to figure out a few things like sockets. I've never found a solution for sockets that satisfies me, but it is out there.

 

[Rounder]

I have tool boxes and they in my shop and those toolboxes have a purpose and that is what I do is take out the required tools for the tasks I am doing. When I finish or stop for the day the tools are always cleaned wiped off and returned to their proper place in the toolbox. I spent 30 plus years in aviation and tools were always inventoried several times a day.

Now retired I retained the same habits. If my neighbor is using my shop either he uses his tools and does not use mine or his tools remain in his vehicle and only my tools are used and there is never any mixing of tools.

All my tools are organized and when tools are in use I have a cart next to the item being worked on and the tools are always set on the cart then put back away. Just the way I always worked my tools are kept organized and clean frequently.

I think for many it is a carry over from work. But I am not worried about kids or people stealing or misplacing my stuff. I suspect if I was your neighbor, I would rather not work at your place. To much stress. Granted though if I go to some ones garage, I tend to use their tools so never really worried about mixing up. But anyone who has rules, is best just avoided, to reduce stress.


I think I am moving more towards organized but in the open. Designated spots I still want more chests for stuff that is not used much.

I thought about top mount tool chest on my workbench, but don't want to give up the room. A 4 foot deep work bench with chests on the back might be cool for some.

What I want on hand is 3/8 and 1/4 drive sockets, ratchets, and few screw drivers on hand. The magnetic strip works good for wrenches, and even just a few sockets.

I have thought about a narrow shelf above bench for rows of sockets. Maybe something that folded down.

 

[Madjik Man]

I need to put stuff away. Same place every time so I know where it is.

Clutter makes me anxious (part of my OCD). Neatly organized, evenly spaced, logically place, etc brings balance to my brain.

I know a lot of people mock or chastise when they see tool box drawers like that but it literally has to do with my brain chemistry.

 

[BlindViper]

I went from a 2 car garage to a 40x50 building. All I did was create larger areas for stuff to be missing in. I normally clean up when done working on a project. I made mental note yesterday I couldn't find the hammer I wanted. Went to the tool box and the 44" drawer was empty. This AM I spent time cleaning all the "convenient flat surfaces" and just like magic my drawer was full again. Though there tends to be a small army of tools always on my work bench. Only so I don't have to walk 50ft to get something normal.

 

[Beerhippie]

I need to put stuff away. Same place every time so I know where it is.

Clutter makes me anxious (part of my OCD). Neatly organized, evenly spaced, logically place, etc brings balance to my brain.

I know a lot of people mock or chastise when they see tool box drawers like that but it literally has to do with my brain chemistry.

The most organized drawer in my shop:



Is that pleasing? I think so--that's why I took the picture. But squares are square....