Workbench Organization and What to Do with Oddball Stuff

[-Brent-]

I'm nearing the end of my garage organization/clean-up and would like a little advice.

The story goes: I remodeled my house over a span of 18 months and not only was the garage host to all my tools and hot rod project items, it was also storage for all the contents of the house for the duration of the remodel.

We've been in the house since April and I've slowly been chipping away at getting everything the way I want it, when time permits. I'm down to the workbench and two other flat surfaces that have collected stuff without homes. My plan is to attack that this weekend.

I'd love to see what the membership here does for organization to keep the clean, flat surfaces from collecting stuff.

I've got an organizer on top of my workbench but it's nearly full with more commonly used but random stuff.

Thanks in advance.

 

[D rock]

I'm subscribing to this thread...I need all the help I can get...my shop looks like a CAT 5 hurricane has gone through it...

 

[Ocho]

You have to have a place for everything and put everything in its place when you are finished. It's a mindset and it takes practice. I go through phases where I am better about it than others. I am currently not in a "good" phase.

For me, it's the small projects that build up clutter. On my workbench right now I have a battery charger, sawzall, two baseball gloves and some car wash supplies. All of these items have a place and I was simply too lazy to put them away when I was finished using them after their respective uses.

BUT...I remain forever hopeful and have a thorough garage cleansing planned for this weekend....yeah! That's the ticket!

 

[1/2 Cup]

I don't do clutter on the benches, call me ****, but every thing has a place and every thing is in its place. I clean up and put things away on a daily basis.
Pics to follow.

 

[Grayguy]

You guys would hate me. Chaos that only makes sense to me, and even then only sometimes is my method.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

 

[longlivepunk]

As has been said before, everything has to have it's place. I tend to build a little clutter on a work-bench then put it all away at once, then repeat over and over. I typically do the clean-up at the end of every work-day, so I'm tired and the fact that everything has a very specific place where it belongs makes it so that I don't have to think about it. Just grab a handfull of items and put them where they belong, repeat.

Edit: what exactly do you have causing clutter? People might have better specific storage solutions if they know what you're trying to sort through.

 

[sgs]

Im ADD...or is it ADHD...can't concentrate long enough to remember. Anyway. ..as hard as I try when I get going on a project the bench (like my mind) become a f-ing mess. If the shop and bench is neat and clean there is no project on the go. If somone can come up with a fix for that...I'm in.
Also how to find mt glasses. ..car keys and wallet please.

Gordon S.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Brent, what kind of stuff? Is it stuff you use everyday? Projects? Fluids/pastes? Tools? Boxes of parts or maintenance items?

 

[Primer1]

My work space is currently a mess. So take this for what it is worth.

I have started giving each project a box or container of some sort. When I am working on that project I put everything in the box when I finish. The box is usually sitting out, but it looks a lot better than having all the stuff spread out. When I do that it my workspace looks much less cluttered. The other nice thing is that i can find stuff. When there is a tool missing, I usually know what I was working on with it last - and I can find it in that box.

 

[mmhouse]

I put this row of bins up on the wall just over my bench. They're very handy for holding stuff I want to keep handy or don't have other places for. They hang on a plastic track that screws to the wall (board on the wall in my case) and can be re-positioned or removed. I think I got them at Home Depot or maybe Lowe's.

 

[kbeefy]

drawers, totes, organizers, closets, pegboard, track shelving etc...

In my experience the best way to reduce clutter is to get rid of stuff.

I do shelving and totes with projects in them like Primer1 does with boxes. Buy 20 cheap matching totes and it makes things look pretty organized!

 

[spotco2]

There is a place for everything and everything has it's place.

Unfortunately in my life and twisted mind, that place is a pile and next to it is another pile. Everything just goes into a pile. The scary thing is the piles are sorted in my head and make sense to me. Ask for any random object and I know what pile to dig in and usually exactly how deep it is and what is laying on top of it.

 

[1/2 Cup]

You guys would hate me. Chaos that only makes sense to me, and even then only sometimes is my method.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk

No we don't hate here, its called reprogramming!!

 

[-Brent-]

Brent, what kind of stuff? Is it stuff you use everyday? Projects? Fluids/pastes? Tools? Boxes of parts or maintenance items?

I'll snap a pic before work and post it up.

 

[sgs]

Hopefully the picture comes through...sending this via the phone app.

So...all the small bins each labeled was a hand down from my dad. Tobacco containers which suggest why he's no longer with us.

Its a great idea but unfortunately I tend to just put whatever in any bin.

Gordon S.

 

[zmotorsports]

I cannot have anything on my benches other than what I am working on and the tools required for that particular job. I am that way at work or at home. Work is a little more troublesome because I have such a small work area/bay. However, at home when working on a large project with a lot of components to remove I usually will end up raising up one of my motorcycle lift tables and use that as a place to set parts/components on which keeps the work benches free from clutter to be used for working.

Small parts go into parts boxes for cleaning and then reassembly. I have found that I can work faster being this **** than having parts in different areas and trying to gather them together for reassembly.

I am curious as to what others do though for not only storage around the bench but also keeping the clutter to a minimum and keeping things organized. It seems as though the more full my shop gets the harder it is to keep the thing organized/clean.

Mike.

 

[-Brent-]

I'm actually embarrassed to post these because this isn't the way I operate in the garage. However, after the last round of organization, this is the stuff that's landed on the bench tops. Some stuff will go where it belongs like aerosol cans and some assorted tools. However, I just don't have a place for light bulbs, wire staples, strapping, etc.

I've considered putting stuff for the electrical upgrade in a box and putting up in the "attic" area of the garage until I begin the job.

As well, there's some stuff that's got to be donated/given away. Like the tools that have landed on the bench that are duplicates. I've got some tools that came to me that I don't want to keep because I have better quality ones already. So those will get donated.

Then there are tools I haven't allotted space for, like mudding tools and such. As well, I don't know what to do with various sand paper sizes. I've got some paper in an auto-body drawer but I'm a little OCD and wouldn't put the sheet-rock screens or low grit paper (of which there's just a few sheets left) in that drawer.

 

[donthelegend]

The key is making a place for all that stuff, like everyone has said, and you seem to understand. I've found that in general, if it's in my garage, someone has already figured out a clever way to store that item and posted about it here on GJ. So tackle each item/category on its own, and do some searching for it here. (Ex: "storing sandpaper" then move onto "storing drywall tools" etc)

For things that are part of a future project, I grab an appropriate size cardboard box (I'm order quite a few things online, so there is nor shortage of cardboard boxes in my house), toss everything in it, and label it. Boxes stack nicely on my shelves or in storage someplace, random bits and pieces don't. How soon I plan on getting around to tackling the project determines if the box stays in the garage on a shelf or goes in a corner in storage where it's not as readily available.

If you've got tools to donate, donate them! That pile is the easiest to get rid of, so do it already and stop letting that stuff take up space (I recently had a similar situation, and waited a couple months to take tools to their new home. Afterwards, I was asking myself why the hell I didn't do it a lot sooner).

Not sure what to tell you about the sandpaper... I keep all my sandpaper together regardless of purpose or specific classification. If you don't want to do that, you'll have to figure out your own way to store it.

Mudding tools and such could go in a small toolbox on their own if you've got one... I keep mine in a toolbox I still have from before I got my own garage and roll-around box that works nicely for tools like that.

Anyway, hope that helps and good luck getting everything sorted!

 

[shooting4life]

I ended up keeping my task specific tools together in 5 gallon buckets. Most of my electrical stuff is in one bucket, another bucket has drywall stuff, another plumbing and so on. When I do a specific task I take out that specific bucket and have most of the things I need. When do it all goes back into the bucket and put onto the shelf.

Things that are multi task tools are in the tool box.

I also keep a 5 gallon bucket with one of the organizers on my bench and I keep that small every day tools in that so they are easy to reach. Things like tape measure, box cutter, flash lights, a couple of screw drivers, gloves, speed square, scissors, etc.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I'm actually embarrassed to post these because this isn't the way I operate in the garage. However, after the last round of organization, this is the stuff that's landed on the bench tops. Some stuff will go where it belongs like aerosol cans and some assorted tools. However, I just don't have a place for light bulbs, wire staples, strapping, etc.

Aerosol cans, spray paints I keep on a shelf. Everything aerosol is there. I align them by use and type.

For staples (I'm assuming you mean the refill that go in a staple gun) I keep in it's own drawer on the 18 drawer unit.

I've considered putting stuff for the electrical upgrade in a box and putting up in the "attic" area of the garage until I begin the job.

For my electrical tools and small pieces and parts I assigned one hand held tool box. Everything electrical goes in there- crimpers, testers, connectors small hardware, rolls of wire. That toolbox is kept on the self of my workbench. I can grab and go to any electrical job I need to do, be it in the house or on the vehicles. I have a plubming box as well.

If you have larger electrical items that will only be used once for a large project get an office box and put them in there. Label and store out of the way. You mentioned the attic. If this is a place that works for you, do it.

As well, there's some stuff that's got to be donated/given away. Like the tools that have landed on the bench that are duplicates. I've got some tools that came to me that I don't want to keep because I have better quality ones already. So those will get donated.

Again, use an office box, label and put all the Donate items in and set aside near the exit door so it is easy to grab on a Saturday morning.

Then there are tools I haven't allotted space for, like mudding tools and such.

I have a bucket like that. It is a bucket that the last easy mix cement came in from where I repaired the outside bricke on the house from an ugly cat door the POs put in. The bucket contains all the "wall fixing stuff". I set it on a shelf.

I also have a paint box in a larger rubbermaid tote that holds the brush handles, refills, pans, tape - everything paint is in there. Also on a shelf.

As well, I don't know what to do with various sand paper sizes. I've got some paper in an auto-body drawer but I'm a little OCD and wouldn't put the sheet-rock screens or low grit paper (of which there's just a few sheets left) in that drawer.

Currently I have a tool box drawer committed to sand papers. I also put the sand papers that go on my orbital in there. The sanding discs from the grinder are in a large baggie with the pad and kept with the grinder on the shelf


Don't let it overwhelm you. Take the easy stuff on the workbench and give it a place. That will make a dent. All the questionable items, if it takes longer than 10 seconds to decide, toss.

 

[ckucia]

I'm kind of in the same boat. Started a garage reorg about 3 weeks ago. All the easy stuff is done, but the whole rest of the garage is a disaster area.

I'm resisting the temptation to just put everything away somewhere - I'm trying to go through it all and evaluate - keep/pitch/donate. But it takes time.

One thing I've found helpful is to just put the stuff you know you're going to keep somewhere. Doesn't have to be the final destination, but get it off the floor/bench. Unless you have a huge garage, you'll be able to find it. Once you get some space cleared, then you can reorganize areas that might not be optimal - far easier than having no space to work.

The rest of the stuff - get rid of it as quickly as possible.

I usually start off labelling things with a Sharpie. I've found laquer thinner will take it off most surfaces. That way, if I put something in a small drawer, and it ends up overfilling, I just wipe off the marker, move the stuff to a larger drawer and away I go. When everything's pretty much finalized, then I either use a paint pen or make labels.

I've got a pegboard cabinet for tools - the outside are for very common tools (tape measure, ruler, etc.) The inside are for odd-size tools and infrequently used. The in-between and mechanics tools go in the toolbox. I've just been hanging stuff up in the pegboard cabinet and tossing like tools in the drawers as best I can, knowing that once the dust is cleared, I'll do more finish reorganizing to maximize the space.

 

[taumac]

I've used pegboard, small bins, and cans to keep stuff neat while working but I don't hang stuff there permanently. I just use it to hold tool nuts and bolts while in middle of project. I try also to have the least amount of bench as possible at all times. Although in theory its great to clean up each day but I usually clean up after each project.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I agree mindset is a part of it.

After several years of wanting better organization but not readily achieving it, I've come to the conclusion that it takes equipment and the right pieces can help ease the accompishment of the mindset.

In my case, I have a temporary bench area where I'm tearing down a trans. The little stuff and dirty tools that cannot be confused (for going in another part of the trans) goes in a bin I pulled out of a shelf of bins. They'll get dumped into a parts washer or drain pan for cleaning. The bigger parts that don't fit and parts I want laid out as-assembled are taking up some flat space right now.

But, I have enough space I can still use the bench and could put the big parts into a drain pan to get them out of the way.

When the tools get cleaned up, I'll put them away once dry.

Realistically after writing this out, I have to say I need a better bench and easier to access / better located tool storage.

So think of the foundation (drawers, bins, shelves, cabinets) and build it; your habits can follow suit.

 

[LeeG]

For me, lots of shallow drawers. I build cabinets following Tom Clark's "practical shop cabinets". Oddball things that I don't want to pitch, but don't get used all that often get stored a plastic tote on a high shelf. Each tote is labeled, and I use the camera on my phone to take a picture of each tote and it's contents. Then searching for something is as easy as flipping through photos on my phone or tablet.

 

[nicksnothereman]

I'm nearing the end of my garage organization/clean-up and would like a little advice.

The story goes: I remodeled my house over a span of 18 months and not only was the garage host to all my tools and hot rod project items, it was also storage for all the contents of the house for the duration of the remodel.

We've been in the house since April and I've slowly been chipping away at getting everything the way I want it, when time permits. I'm down to the workbench and two other flat surfaces that have collected stuff without homes. My plan is to attack that this weekend.

I'd love to see what the membership here does for organization to keep the clean, flat surfaces from collecting stuff.

I've got an organizer on top of my workbench but it's nearly full with more commonly used but random stuff.

Thanks in advance.

For random stuff I generally use a "stack on" organizer and/or just throw it in a document bag. Still a "mess" though, but I know where everything is...I think.

I'm the cheapest person on here so I know all about doing stuff for free or nearly free. If you want free organizers (within your organizer) take some paperboard packaging (from food packaging or other packaging) and make box trays out of it then staple it together; I use these for screws and bolts because they absorb liquids (good for mechanical work) then just toss them out. Easy sleazy!

Oh right, professional solutions. Go to lowe's/home depot and see what they have storage wise is the best bet for something that doesn't look hillbilly. Trays on the wall...I have to get wall trays. Old timer solution.

 

[Mattlt]

I have a real problem with clutter on my bench tops as well. It must be a sickness.

One thing I've found is using the shoebox size Rubbermaid containers. Try to keep all containers a uniform size. Fill them up with small parts as you see fit - one for plumbing, one for electrical, etc. When the electrical one fills up, split it into a new container by some logical separation. 12V electrical and house electrical, for example. The plumbing box could get split into iron pipe and plastic pipe. You get the idea.

A couple more things I use are 2-quart juice containers (the more rectangular shaped ones) Cut them off at a given height to fit in a drawer to use as organizers. Shotgun shell boxes also work well. Again, cut them off at the necessary height. They fit very nicely in a drawer.

 

[Fyrme]

I'm actually embarrassed to post these because this isn't the way I operate in the garage. However, after the last round of organization, this is the stuff that's landed on the bench tops. Some stuff will go where it belongs like aerosol cans and some assorted tools. However, I just don't have a place for light bulbs, wire staples, strapping, etc.

I've considered putting stuff for the electrical upgrade in a box and putting up in the "attic" area of the garage until I begin the job.

As well, there's some stuff that's got to be donated/given away. Like the tools that have landed on the bench that are duplicates. I've got some tools that came to me that I don't want to keep because I have better quality ones already. So those will get donated.

Then there are tools I haven't allotted space for, like mudding tools and such. As well, I don't know what to do with various sand paper sizes. I've got some paper in an auto-body drawer but I'm a little OCD and wouldn't put the sheet-rock screens or low grit paper (of which there's just a few sheets left) in that drawer.

One thing I've started doing is buying clear totes with good lids from WalMart. Categorize parts and materials. I have a small tote full of just light bulbs. When I need a bulb, I know where to go. When I need one I don't have, I go buy some, and the extra go in the tote. Trade materials also have their own totes. Electrical, plumbing, irrigation, etc.... I've even had to take it a step further with my small engine stuff in the shed. I have totes for mufflers, carburetors, deck parts, etc... The key is to have a home for stuff. And to remember where that home is. Drill bits, screw tips, and stuff all go in one drawer on my work bench, not multiple locations. However, this all only works if you are disciplined to keep at it. My garage at the moment looks like a bomb went off. But I have been dealing with my deceased stepdads estate and Nothing has a home. UGH!

 

[venturesomerite]

Personally, I've tried to be clean and organized, however life and work get in the way. At the end of the day, I'd rather work on my car, than organize my bench. As a result, stuff gets pilled up, and eventually I put it away. My largest problem is that both my shop and garage are the old 10#s in a 5#hat. Too much ****, no where to put it. I have bins and shelves to the ceiling, and litterally build a small loft Ontop of the loft in my shop to hold just my car parts for the car I am restoring.

When you don't have the room, you don't have the room.



But as far as organizing random bits, look for used file cabinets (especially lateral ones) card catalogs, hell even some christmas decoration storage bins. Just label everything (container wise) to cut down on looking for the home.

Another Idea that has worked for me in the past is to pick up a small cheapie HF work cart (just a simple two tray $30 cart) and put everything on it that you are using/needs to be put away. Do not leave your garage for the day until it is put away. You will avoid piling on the contertops, and it will kinda get you in the habbit of just cleaning up. Ya gotta stay on top of it.

You'll stay clean if you make the time for it, but otherwise, you won't.


Also, with limited space, when you organize, you need to be a little more leanient with catagorizing.

For instance, I have some milk crates one is 12V auto (includes lights, switches, relays, etc) all lumped together or my sand paper ( wood sandpaper, auto body, drywall etc)

 

[-Brent-]

Here's the bench, now. I spent a couple hours cleaning/organizing/mounting the vices. There's still a bunch of stuff without a home and now I've got a bunch of misc. nuts and bolts sitting in a plastic container with no sort of organization.

So, I'm going to do some homework on organizers for nuts and bolts and work on finding a smart way to utilize the space I've got.

I'm the type of person that's continually purging and donating and I'm really down to just consumable items that need homes. Ideally I'd like to sort everything so I'm not digging around trying to find what I want. I'd rather be efficient about it.

 

[boiler7904]

At my last house, the workbench was too close to the door to the house so stuff tended to land there. Once we unpack our storage unit (or the life-size 3D game of Tetris as I've been calling it) this coming weekend, the workbench is going as far away from the door to the house as possible - Hoping that inconvenient flat surfaces collect less **** than convenient flat surfaces. Then we'll be aiming to create places for everything. Fortunately I now have a shed for all things yard / garden related as well as bikes and all of my wife's stuff is headed to the basement.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Here's the bench, now.

Brent you made a real nice dent in that task. Made your work top useable. It seems you can use this arrangement as a default mode. Of course as you go along you might find you'd rather not have xyz where you have it now and can appropriate a location as you see fit, but the timeline is much less critical. You don't have to do it now just to do a project.

It'll keep evolving as you evolve with tasks and projects.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

At my last house, the workbench was too close to the door to the house so stuff tended to land there. Once we unpack our storage unit (or the life-size 3D game of Tetris as I've been calling it) this coming weekend, the workbench is going as far away from the door to the house as possible - Hoping that inconvenient flat surfaces collect less **** than convenient flat surfaces. Then we'll be aiming to create places for everything. Fortunately I now have a shed for all things yard / garden related as well as bikes and all of my wife's stuff is headed to the basement.

An accurate observation, to a point. One must be vigilant with a crafty/lazy spouse. I found no matter how inconvenient, if the space was flat and open it collected ****

If you'd like to find out how much I dislike improper stuff on my sorted shelves leave a coffee travel on it

 

[storeWALL]

A great option if you are looking to keep small items and project tools off your work surface is to hang them on the wall. This keeps your surface clean and provides the flexibility of changing the items you have at hand as each new project demands. Best of all plastic slatwall can hold up to the environment of a garage workspace and be wiped clean with water or simple cleaning products.

Tip-out parts bins come in a variety of sizes to hold small parts:

A tool shelf can hold project specific tools and help keep loose items together while you are working on multiple projects:


For common tools, or just those that are not currently in your hand, a magnetic tool holder prevents items from getting lost among your project:


Open bins can be a quick place to hold the balance of a parts packet or multiples while assembling:

 

[92GreenYJ]

I set my new sectional workbench up so each section is wrapped in pegboard, each has one of those multiple drawer storage units, and a set of bins.

Pardon the mess in this picture. This was while I was still building and setting stuff up