where do you put your tools when you work?

[muibubbles]

Im curious where you guys put the tools youre using while working on stuff...

ex if youre working on a car and swapping back and for between sockets, wrenches, and screwdrivers.. do you put each of them back once youre done? do you take out/leave all the common tools you used until the job is finished? if so where do you put them?

i find myself leaving them all around the car, inside, on the work bench, on 2 different shelves, on my chair.. etc. thus i was thinking about getting a work table cart..
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_669145_669145

thoughts? please talk me out of buying more ****

ps i kinda wish i went for the magnetic tool trays do i can take em out and carry them if i need to vs the hansen trays.. =/

rant over.

 

[north]

Usually a tote tray or in my new Facom tote tool bag that is light enough to carry around. I have learned that I need to keep my tools in a designated and confined area or I'll spend half the time looking for stuff.

So in conclusion, you need a work table cart.

 

[DanCo]

So in conclusion, you need a work table cart.

 

[83diesel]

I use a two shelf rubbermaid cart at work and at the end of a job or at the end of the day I put stuff back. Gets old putting stuff back and getting it right back out. Magnetic trays are great for organizing the bolts and parts you take off the car also. At home I use a workbench for laying tools and parts on.

 

[Rockerbox1]

generaly in a nice circular pattern that seems to form a nice oval around whatever bike I happen to be working on. yeah, I need a lift and work table

 

[boseefus402]

Right now I have a stainless pan / tray thing that I throw my tools and screws / small parts of whatever I am working on at the moment. It works well to keep things from rolling away, but still has alot left to be desired. My goal for this year is to finally make a custom service cart.

For the amount of space the one in the link takes up, I would just get a 2 or 3 tier service cart instead, they have alot more storage space. The only advantage I see to the one in the link is the height is adjustable which would be nice if you are using it as a light duty bench at the same time.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Depends on the job:
At work, working at floor level, I use a shop cart which will basicly stay with the job. That might be a half day project and then clean up / put everything away , or it could be a week long deal.
Working off the floor - up on top of something - I usually take magnetic tray with me to put everything on - it saves trips climbing up and down after something not in my hand getting bumped and dropping to the floor.
There's always tons of interruption / tiny little jobs like pull a small assembly apart for a customer, that sort of thing - that goes on on the bench and tools pile up there.
I try to go over the entire shop and put everything away at least once a week.

At home, I try to keep an old top tray from a carry around tool box handy and keep all the tools in it while I work. It makes it easy to grab and switch positions as the work progresses -- and less time chasing a socket that fell down off the edge of the fender / firewall, etc.

 

[muibubbles]

when you guys refer to cart are you talking about a service cart separate from your tool box or are you referring to the service cart tool boxes?

 

[mrholeshot]

Working underhood I use a magnetic tray for tools and one for nuts and bolt. If working outside the car I use a mag tray sitting in an open drawer of the tool cart. I keep the trays as close to the working area as possible so I don't have to move to change tools. Every step burns precious time. Thats not a concern now but old habits are hard to break

 

[mrholeshot]

when you guys refer to cart are you talking about a service cart separate from your tool box or are you referring to the service cart tool boxes?

seperate cart

 

[lowbucktruck]

Ditto on the magenetic tray... I use that alot. very useful.
Like this one: http://www.searsoutlet.com/Magnetic-Tray-Stainless-Steel/d/product_details.jsp?stxt=tool tray&md=srh_md&pn=1&ps=10&pid=13536&mode=buyUsedOnly

Although I made my own version from a magnet salvaged from an old stereo speaker driver and one of my wife's steel baking pans that was getting a bit grungy (but fine for use in the shop). Stick that sucker right onto the fender and go to work!

 

[boseefus402]

Gotta have the seperate cart apart from the tool box. Sometimes tools can stay on that cart depending on the cart use and they permanantly live there in the open, or what is on the cart is specific for the job and gets put away at the end of the job or once a week.

 

[Gary S]

I simply roll my toolbox over by the car being worked on. That way, all my tools are at arm's length and everything is put away as I use it.

 

[route246]

At the end of the day or project I use a plastic tote tray or even a 2.5 gallon paint bucket, throw everything in there and then put everything away. I have a tool bag with essentials in it that I use everywhere but less seldom used tools get taken out of the chest as needed. I tried using a cart (Blue Point) but because of confined space I found it takes up and requires too much space sometimes.

 

[Chuckw]

Mine go on a two shelf SS wire cart I bought at SAM's. I also use magnetic trays for parts. I like to keep all my "working tools" on the cart until the job is done, after wards I wipe them all down prior to putting them in the toolbox they came out of.

 

[bart1]

I hope to use one of these one day...

In the meantime, I use the manetic trays for small parts, but honestly just keep the tools all together on the floor and then clean and put away after finished. I also have a workbench and covered pool table in my garage that things get sat on if I am not under the car.

 

[Djstorm100]

I have a service cart then I have a 2 tier roller cart with rubber mat in them. I put the tools I use in the 2 tier cart so my service cart doesnt get dirty. At the end of the day I'll clean the tools and put them back in the service cart.

 

[ajchien]

I put things in strategic locations so that I have the highest chance of stubbing my toe on it, or kicking it 15 feet away.

Seriously, smaller things go into a magnetic tray. I've wound up turning many screwdrivers into "magnetic screwdrivers" this way. Larger items get placed in a pile close by ( floor or workbench)

 

[airdale]

And you came here looking to be talked out of buying tool stuff? Yikes!

 

[Damian]

As others have said, depends on the job...

Underhood: I drape very thick blankets over the fenders of all the cars I work on, mainly due to most of them being very expensive race cars. The blankets make for nice little tool shelves all along the fender lines, so usually I set down what I need on the blankets.

Under car: Roll around, no other way to do it IMO. Walking back to your toolbox multiple times in the middle of a job is unacceptable. When I worked for GM our shop foreman would actually dock your time if he saw you making a million trips to your box to get a job done.

 

[canuckian]

I have a Snap On KRSC31 cart with a deep top storage area that can hold any small parts and whatever tools I'm using at the time. If i have to leave it unattended i can simply close the drawers and cover and lock it. Mind you, I don't work in a pro shop so most times I just leave it where it is and lock the door to my garage!

 

[Chris Adams]

Where do I put my tools, in my way, of course.
Half the fun is working under something and then rolling onto the sharpest tool on the floor...

Though this leads me to want to make a post on work carts, that won't be popular.

After all the work is done I spend anything from 5 minutes to 2 hours rounding up all the tools, parts trays, etc.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

Service cart. It is wear I store my hammers anyways (no room in toolbox --). And you always need a hammer.

Even when I work on my sled on the lift, the lift is about the same height (fully erect) as my cart. Even though my toolbox is 7 feet away, it just seems easier to grab a set of sockets and wrenches, put them in the cart and go to town! My cart holds my pneumatic stuff and lubes as well, so that is always there. I sometimes wonder why I put my stuff back in the toolbox.

 

[muibubbles]

I simply roll my toolbox over by the car being worked on. That way, all my tools are at arm's length and everything is put away as I use it.

my tool box is right in front of my car but still seems tedious to use going in and out of drawers back and forth..

And you came here looking to be talked out of buying tool stuff? Yikes!

bahhaha good point maybe what i really wantedd was people to convince me i need the work table thus i could justify buying it ahahah

does anyone use a work table like the one i posted?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Everywhere.. Tote tray, lift arms, work cart, pockets, floor.. wherever i'm working. Then dump them on the side box at the end of the day to clean them and put them back.

 

[ZenMoto]

I work mainly on motorcycles, so perhaps I have different needs than you, but I have an ancient Craftsman, rolling tool caddy that I've found to be perfect for most jobs.

It's kinda' like this one:

...I don't have a picture of mine,but it's similar, just ...different. It is basically a rolling tray, but mine has a back-splash and a cross bar above, which is handy for hanging things, shop towel, whatever. The sides have socket keepers in 1/4" & 3/8" built in, and there's a lower tray at the bottom which is handy for anything bulkier. I'll see if I can snap a pic later, but it's a handy little cart; I have no idea when Sears stopped making them, could be 10+ years ago! lol

 

[posaune]

does anyone use a work table like the one i posted?

I've been considering it. I hate having tools all over everything when I'm working on a car. That, and it is only a matter of time before I put a dent in the hood from closing it on a tool that I didn't see when cleaning up.

These are the ones I was looking at:

Craftsman

Sunex

ATD (Sunex without drawer)

 

[M-technik-3]

I use a two shelf rubbermaid cart at work and at the end of a job or at the end of the day I put stuff back.

Like mine as well, works good and cleans up with hose when it gets dirty and greasy.

 

[bczygan]

I'm thinking about this. I would first think of how I want to work. What specific tools I would most like to have close at hand. Where I would want to have them in relation to the work. Then put together a selection of trays, buckets, carts and holders as needed. I would pick equipment that would hold and not lose tools and parts (Magnetic, non slip or with tops or lids). Clear where needed to see what's inside. Made of material that would not mar the work item (Car, bike etc.) I would modify whatever items I bought to be more useful with racks, handles, extend-able arms, paper towel holders etc. There would be provision for magnifying and lighting help on positionable arms (I'm getting old and blind). Maybe a cushioned seat would be attached so I could take impromptu naps........and an insulated beverage holder. A wireless internet hookup and screen so I could ask questions of the guys on GJ..........and some tunes broadcast on portable speakers.......The mind boggles with the possibilities!

 

[lauver]

That adjustable work table/cart looks pretty handy and is priced at $40. Has room to store tools and small parts and everything is contained so things won't roll off. And it can be easily moved around as you move around the front of your car. What's not to like about that?

 

[jethro29]

while i'm working on a vehicle i keep my tools i'm using in my roll cart and keep it close.and i put them all away after each job.

 

[Coach James]

If I'm working on the ground, I use an old cookie sheet. If I'm standing up, I use a roller I made out of a furniture dolly, some galvanized pipe and a cookie tray. I also use a couple magnetic parts trays, one from Sears and one from HF.

Coach

 

[CBradio]

i start out every day like this. pics tomorrow of how i end up. anything i use gets put on top of the cart.

 

[crewchief888]

That adjustable work table/cart looks pretty handy and is priced at $40. Has room to store tools and small parts and everything is contained so things won't roll off. And it can be easily moved around as you move around the front of your car. What's not to like about that?

i work out of a service truck, out in the field i can usually carry what i need in a small mechanics bag, or my pocket. i have an adjustable table like pictured above at the shop, tools get tossed on it while i'm in the shop.

at home, a combination of magetic trays, and wherever i happen to be working at the time. most of the time projects stretch out days, weeks, or months. tools usually stay where i'm using them, if i have a lot of stuff out of my boxes, i have a SO 2 shelf cart. when that part of a project is finished, everything gets picked up and put away.
i usually move my s-10 around in the garage when i'm working, garage is only 19' deep, gets a little crowded sometimes.

 

[american lockpicker]

I hope to use one of these one day...

Thats on my wishlist.

 

[Tim Cowan]

I am like Route246, if working away from the shop I perfer using a 2 I/2 gal paint bucket with a bail handle to keep everything in one place until I reload the main box at the shop.

 

[stopdroplol]

Usually I just walk back and forth between my box. But if i'm doing a longer project on one of my bikes i'll slide over my creeper seat and use that. I rarely ever get to sit on it.

This thing http://www.harborfreight.com/mechanics-roller-seat-3338.html

That Hazet thing looks ****, but i'd probably die before I pay for it.

 

[fringeofinsanity]

It depends on the job and where I am.

In the garage, I used to have a cart, but found it usually ended up storing things and was still bumbling around with my tools anyway. So I now use a tray and a magnetc try for the small bolts etc.

In the workshop I have tools pretty much at hand right by the workbench.

In the yard I use a bucket to carry around all the tools I think I'll use for all the tasks I want to complete.

 

[bart1]

Thats on my wishlist.

It was on mine too, until last night. Stay tuned...

 

[kc-steve]

In the past, I have been just gathering a common set of tools that I am using and putting them in a pile where I was working.

But when I got my Miller Thunderbolt ac/dc welder, I decided to make some tool caddies. The first one I made is a creeper of sorts for crawling under a car with the tools I need and the other is a mobile peg board I call a "tool organizer." It has sloping sides, tool tray on the bottom and a tray on top. I still don't have a better pic of it yet because I haven't decided what tools I use the most yet.

But there is an added feeling of accomplishment that goes along with both of them.

Steve