What's in your drawers?

[Timpala]

Hmm, that doesn't sound right...

I am finally setting up shop in our garage after three years of procrastinating, etc. I have a couple of Gladiator roll arounds, a six foot upright cabinet and new bench that my much better half gave me for Christmas. So I intend to rearrange / store / put away / throw away a bunch of stuff.

How have you organized your drawers and cabinets? My main design plan is to have one half of the garage (24 x 30) for wood working and household projects, and the other half for automotive type puttering.

I know that once I start filling up drawers and shelves that's pretty much where the stuff will stay so I'd like to do it right.

 

[rburke65]

I thought this was a "Family" site.

 

[eldirector]

I've learned to organize my tools by type and/or job. Power tools, extension cords, and other wood-working tools are together. Automotive tools are together, electrical tools/wire/connectors together, car wash/wax/cleaners together with the bucket/sponges/towels. That way I don't have to drag everything out for every job.

My "big" toolbox has labeled drawers and lots of in-drawer organization.

I also have a junk box (well, it has overflowed to the bench) that is a catch-all for random stuff. I'll go through it now and then to find homes for whatever I have collected, and dump the rest in the trash/recycling. This keeps me from randomly shoving new tools and spare parts wherever they fit while I'm working.

 

[Timpala]

110 views and only one reply?
Apparently you're all pretty private about what's in your drawers.

I guess I'll just start filling them up and see how it works out.

TH

 

[pseudorealityx]

Actually, I'm interested in what people say. I have roughly the same plan... section for household/wood type stuff, and then an automotive section.

 

[Zrexxer]

What's in your drawers?

My Junk.

What? What?

Seriously, there's probably not a topic that's been more "done to death" on GJ... search a few threads and you'll be peeking into more drawers than you ever dreamed.

 

[SurgePGH]

I found that I tend to keep the tools together in 'familys' so to speak.... Wrenches with wrenches, ratchets with ratchets, impact sockets with each other, screwdrivers together, pliers and cutters are grouped sepratley in a fashion such as things that grip (pliers and clamps etc.) in one spot and things that cut (diagonal cutters, tin snips, scissors, razor knives) are in another. 'Kits' such as Mini Torx sets and Mini screwdriver sets are in another drawer. Drill bits, tap and dies, hole saws and such are all in their own drawer. Here at work we don't do any engine work or actual mechanic work, however, I do install communications equipment, prisoner partitions, warning lights, weapon racks, sirens and such into police, fire, ambulance vehicles and so forth (pretty much anytyhing with wheels on it) and do need a pretty diverse range of tools. One day when I get a bigger box i'm sure I will then be able to keep my Sawzall with my Saw Saws... lol

As far as my non work related tools I keep them seperate also. I have my electrical tools in their own tool bag, my plumbing tools in their own box and a seperate box for my plumbing fittings, my computer networking tools in their own tool bag etc. It makes it easier for me if I have to run out somewhere and do some work.... Got a leaky pipe? I'll grab the plumbing box, have to install an outlet? Grab the electrical bag.

 

[gatchel]

I keep my tool(s) in my drawers.

ba dump bump

 

[Auzivision]

Oh this should be fun!

I decided to try to add up how many drawers I have out in the garage; total count equals 139.

That is 50 in the nut bank, 27 later file drawers, 24 index card drawers, 23 in the tool boxes, 11 regular file drawers, 2 on the work bench, and 2 in the fridge. I’ll have to double check this when I get home tonight.

Now let’s see if I can remember what’s in them all. I’m not boring to bore you will all the details, but following is a good start:


1) Nuts, bolts, screws, washers, nails, staples etc is in various boxes
2) Porsche Parts brake pad, fluid, spark plugs, oil filters, lug nuts
3) GMC parts brake pads, oil filters, headlamps, wiper blades
4) Snapper parts, drive wheel belts, spindles, air filter
5) Plumbing pipe cutter, o rings, fixture part, Teflon tape, PVC glue
6) Electrical wire nuts, fuses, breakers, socket testers
7) Electronics soldering iron, solder, flux, fuses, contact cleaner
8) Computer Hardrive, mousse, cables, memory sticks, keyboards
9) Sprinkler drawer with all garden hose attachments & timers
10) Scrap metal drawer misc brackets, blades, angle iron
11) Moving blankets & packing materials
12) Office supplies, toner, staples, paper, hole punches
13) Golf shoes, hats, towels, balls, tees
14) Biking helmets, water bottles, gloves, pump
15) Camping tents, cooking gear, utensils, knives
16) Yard signs Turkey, Santa, Snowman, Shamrock, Bunny
17) Portable folding chairs
18) Towels and Rags
19) Exterior paint
20) Interior Paint
21) Spray paint
22) Cleaning supplies
23) Gloves, trash bags, brown paper bags
24) Paper towels, shop towels
25) Saws, circular, jig, sawsall, dremel, bits & blades


Most of these have labels on the outside so I can quickly find things. Maybe just a little OCD, ya think??? Pictures are more fun than words.


91 in this picture alone

33 in this one (some are a little tough to see):

Another 13 here (need to tidy up a little on this side)

Plus Everyone’s favorites... these two

 

[Timpala]

Ok, ok... I was feeling a little hurt this morning.
Now that I got a reply from you guys (including the infamous Beer Fridge Guy) I'm doing better.

Great information, thank you all very much. I searched the threads but really didn't see that much of real organization of cabinets etc.

For now I'm sticking to the wood vs cars theme and will subdivide from there.

TH

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Plus Everyone’s favorites... these two

Egad!! I'll be over in ten!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Everyone wants to know where you got that doormat?

 

[Auzivision]

My sister in-law gave me the mat for Christmas a few years ago. She's knows I like spending a lot of time in the garage. I'll ask her over the holidays if she remembers where she bought it. I haven’t been able to find one online.

 

[NUTTSGT]

1) Nuts, bolts, screws, washers, nails, staples etc is in various boxes
2) Porsche Parts brake pad, fluid, spark plugs, oil filters, lug nuts
3) GMC parts brake pads, oil filters, headlamps, wiper blades
4) Snapper parts, drive wheel belts, spindles, air filter
5) Plumbing pipe cutter, o rings, fixture part, Teflon tape, PVC glue
6) Electrical wire nuts, fuses, breakers, socket testers
7) Electronics soldering iron, solder, flux, fuses, contact cleaner
8) Computer Hardrive, mousse, cables, memory sticks, keyboards
9) Sprinkler drawer with all garden hose attachments & timers
10) Scrap metal drawer misc brackets, blades, angle iron
11) Moving blankets & packing materials
12) Office supplies, toner, staples, paper, hole punches
13) Golf shoes, hats, towels, balls, tees
14) Biking helmets, water bottles, gloves, pump
15) Camping tents, cooking gear, utensils, knives
16) Yard signs Turkey, Santa, Snowman, Shamrock, Bunny
17) Portable folding chairs
18) Towels and Rags
19) Exterior paint
20) Interior Paint
21) Spray paint
22) Cleaning supplies
23) Gloves, trash bags, brown paper bags
24) Paper towels, shop towels
25) Saws, circular, jig, sawsall, dremel, bits & blades

Would that be chocolate mousse or hair mousse ?

 

[JD in DFW]

I cut down and laid a black towel in the bottom of each drawer. I know you can get black foam mats for them, but the mats always seemed to get moved around and would hold moisture under them. The towels look better and dry out quickly, plus they keep all the wrenches and sockets in place when the drawers are opened and closed and when the whole box is rolled around the garage.

 

[Indycars]

Didn't find the floor matt, but you can get the T-Shirt on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.ph/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310151185348

Rick