wrench storage multiples

[jniolon]

I've got a question for your organizationally **** guys. I like keeping my stuff straight and neat, but some of you guys make my cabinet ... well feelings of inadaquacy are large.

I've got the socket storage covered, but when it comes to wrenches I'm in a quandry. I've bought most of my tools at flea markets, auctions, estate sales and it's mostly Craftsman, Proto and a little snap-on. I'd buy what was a good deal regardless of dups... you always need more than one at more than one place. Putting two kids through parochial grammar and high school then college put a hard low ceiling on the tool budget over the years... ya know ? anyway

I see all the nice v-shaped wrench racks with the shiny wrenches all lined up by size... but only one of each size ??? hell, I've got 12 1/2" combo wrenches... and probably at least 3 of every size up to 3/4". How do you store your dups without buying another box for all the wrench racks. I could fill up one rack with 1/2s only !!! this is one drawer, there are two more. I'm open to any good suggestions... the same holds true for boxed end, offset boxed ends etc. BTW ?? will a snap-on wrench even let itself be placed in a rack with other brand wrenches ???

thanks
John

 

[eschoendorff]

 

[Fedwrench]

I can't remember who makes them right now but, there is an wrench organizer that resembles a siverware holder for a kitchen drawer. It's basically a rectangular plastic or metal tray with diagonal sections to hold mutiples of the same size wrenches. I've seen them in pit boxes and once or twice on Ebay. They work great when you have a community box and several of the same size wrench.

 

[strizzy]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00965223000P?vName=Tools&cName=Garage+%26+Tool+Storage&sName=Tool+Storage+Accessories

Although I thought there was a different one...

 

[rsanter]

do you have at least 2 or 3 'matching' sets

I have my wrenches in foam cutouts and have found that they take the least room by stacking them.

one drawer has the combo wrenches with 2-3 or each stacked in order along the front edge and then the shorties are along the back edge in opposite order.

the next drawer has the 'special' wrenches like the ratcheting, line, box end, etc
and the next drawer has the open end wrenches

another drawer just for the metrics

all other 'spares' are kept in an older 'spares' toolbox

bob

 

[Fedwrench]

http://wrenchboss.com/home.asp

this is a variation of another model I've seen.

 

[jniolon]

Thanks guys...

the wrench boss is a little pricy at 25 bucks a tray & 9 bucks shipping

The Sears tray might do the trick... I haven't seen those in the stores but will probably order one this weekend..

now how 'bout the big boys ??? these are 1-1/8" and up ...combo/boxes/open/angled open end all in one drawer. Any ideas there

john

 

[Jbullfrog]

Try marking the ones you actually use, and then sorting the rest into a container to be sold. I have 4 or 5 full sets, but they are in different toolboxes at different locations. My main toolbox has a set of Craftsman standard, stubby, and polished in metric and SAE with Mac wrencehs from 1-3/16 to 2-1/2". My truck box has a 2 full sets of John Deere wrenches metric and SAE in roll-up pouches and S-K 1-3/6 to 2" in a seperate bag. At the house I have a set of Mac salstus from 1/4 to 1-1/4 and a small set of metric. The rest of my wrenches are in flats for sale.

 

[wilbilt]

Very nice tool boards, eschoendorff.

We all like them, no need to gloat.

Please put them away and save them for special occasions. Also, please refrain from using a camera when there are polished objects nearby.

 

[wythors]

Also, please refrain from using a camera when there are polished objects nearby.

Oh, what long memories we have around here.

I have a metric drawer and an SAE drawer. Each has a rack with a set of wrenches, then a Gearwrench set and a set of old school Mac ratcheting box end wrenches. These are all kept neat and tidy. Behind these, I keep a couple of duplicates and other assorted wrenches that are used regularly, just sort of stacked against the back wall of the drawer. Any extra or over sized stuff gets pitched in the extra rollaway.

 

[number9]

I've got 2 of the Sears trays and like them a lot.

..

 

[Merkava_4]

 

[eschoendorff]

My goodness! That is some serious man-jewelry there. Now you just gotta go get them dirty....

 

[83diesel]

Ernst manufacturing has wrench organizers that any size wrench can be organized, Snapon and Mac sell them for more money. I have seen several guys in the shop use these and they have multiple wrenches. They just sort them as 4 1/2" wrenches then 3 9/16", 2 5/8" etc. they work real well for short, deep box and large wreches as long as your drawer is tall enough.

http://www.ernstmfg.com/products_wrenches_rail.php

Most guys do not have them at an angle like you see in the pics. They usually have them about 3 to 4 inches apart and are parallel, so any size/ configuration wrench can be organized. Good luck

 

[wilbilt]

Ernst manufacturing has wrench organizers that any size wrench can be organized, Snapon and Mac sell them for more money. I have seen several guys in the shop use these and they have multiple wrenches. They just sort them as 4 1/2" wrenches then 3 9/16", 2 5/8" etc. they work real well for short, deep box and large wreches as long as your drawer is tall enough.

http://www.ernstmfg.com/products_wrenches_rail.php

Most guys do not have them at an angle like you see in the pics. They usually have them about 3 to 4 inches apart and are parallel, so any size/ configuration wrench can be organized. Good luck

I used to use those (the self-stick ones). They are customizable and can be cut to any length. Drawer depth does become a factor for wrenches over 1".

Now I have too many wrenches and not enough drawer space.

I guess I could hang some of the old dogs on the wall, although I really don't like doing that.

 

[jniolon]

Merkava ???

what brand are those you show..... Ernst ?? Craftsman ??


the Ernst look to be the most adaptable and cheap too... I might just order a half a dozen and cut them up as needed...

thanks

John

 

[Merkava_4]

Merkava ???

what brand are those you show..... Ernst ?? Craftsman ??

They're 12 slot Wrench Racks made by Protoco Enterprises. In the picture of my post above you'll see 2 forward racks and 2 reverse racks. You'll always have a forward rack next to a reverse rack to save drawer space. The big 4 tool truck distributors will have them, or you can order them directly from Snap-on. I noticed that the price has gone up considerably since I bought them though; they used to be only about $5.00 a piece.

I'm still waiting for them to come out with a flare nut wrench version though.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...03&group_ID=76&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...06&group_ID=76&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[musgofasta]

I'm using the Sort-A-Tool trays also. They're great for standard box wrenches, but they're a little tight on my rachet-heads that pivot. They're just a bit too thick.

No Complaints so far, but I really like the Ernst mfg ones above. Once I expand to a bigger box, I might spring for those.

 

[Rickster]

I kind of got this organized mess thing going on....

 

[colmiller]

I just can't believe how neat and clean you guys are.
Your toolboxes look as though they would belong in an operating theatre.

Do they ever get used on a real car ???

 

[Merkava_4]

Do they ever get used on a real car ???

I use the ones in the front; the ones in the back are duplicates and they just collect dust.

Rickster, is that a Kennedy box?

 

[Vicegrip]

hang them on pins and you can go 2 or 3 deep. You can se when one is not "home" after cleaning up for the day and can go fish it out of the engine bay. Yes they get used. They just get wiped down and put away between projects.

 

[dxdexter]

I just can't believe how neat and clean you guys are.
Your toolboxes look as though they would belong in an operating theatre.

Do they ever get used on a real car ???

I can imagine some board members tools are more of an expensive decoration rather than a functioning possession. Maybe I'm wrong??????

Heres a couple pics of my spare drawer and the other "organized" drawer with limited duplicates (the shiny pretty ones). I don' think there is any reason to have special wrench holders for the wrenches that are not used on a daily basis. They take up way to much space. The plastic trays that come with the wrenches are especially wasteful of space for the benefit they provide and usually break after limited use.

 

[rsanter]

expensive decorations? not my tools, mine get used or there is not point in me owning them. Its like building a car with 500hp and lots of chrome, I could never keep myself from burning up the tires. if you dont drive it then half the fun goes unrealized.

the reason for multiples are to have 2 to use when you need to use them together. the third one is so when you drop it and it goes under the middle of the car you can grab another and keep working. any more than 3 is so you have 'spares' for when you break one.

bob

 

[Rickster]

Rickster, is that a Kennedy box?

Yes, it is! Here's a pic of it when I first got it. It has a modular drawer system, so I got rid of the bin door and added several new drawers with roller slides since this pic.

Do the wrenches ever get used? Yes, they do....

 

[arthur1920]

I've got a question for your organizationally **** guys. I like keeping my stuff straight and neat, but some of you guys make my cabinet ... well feelings of inadaquacy are large.

I've got the socket storage covered, but when it comes to wrenches I'm in a quandry. I've bought most of my tools at flea markets, auctions, estate sales and it's mostly Craftsman, Proto and a little snap-on. I'd buy what was a good deal regardless of dups... you always need more than one at more than one place. Putting two kids through parochial grammar and high school then college put a hard low ceiling on the tool budget over the years... ya know ? anyway

I see all the nice v-shaped wrench racks with the shiny wrenches all lined up by size... but only one of each size ??? hell, I've got 12 1/2" combo wrenches... and probably at least 3 of every size up to 3/4". How do you store your dups without buying another box for all the wrench racks. I could fill up one rack with 1/2s only !!! this is one drawer, there are two more. I'm open to any good suggestions... the same holds true for boxed end, offset boxed ends etc. BTW ?? will a snap-on wrench even let itself be placed in a rack with other brand wrenches ???

thanks
John

STUPID SEARS CRAFTSMAN....BAD INDUSTRIAL DESIGN.
Ya know, they have to *want* there stuff not to work in the real world. A little tiny thing (among 100's of others I have noticed) would make their stuff much more useful...I am talking about horizontal draw dividers that will go the full width of their drawers. And you need horizontal because STUPID tool chest is not deep enough. So do you think they will make those? Haven't seen em yet and it's been 40 years. Other people don't make them because they make deeper tool boxes.

But here is a solution for you. Go to the kitchen store. I think it is a Rubbermaid product. Plastic bins for forks and spoons about 10 inches long. They have a lip on one side so that you can overlap them and they stay loosely connected. Use as many as you want. Put the wrenches in them. For high polish snapons though I would get the little red saw tooth thingies, they are not a permanent V you can set them up parallel, so the snapons don't rattle against themselves and cause scratches.

If that doesn't work for you I have thought about getting some thin Aluminum angle and just pop riveting it into the drawers to divide them. But i am too lazy to follow up on that.

If you insist on spreading them all out, you got to buy more boxes.

 

[arthur1920]

My goodness! That is some serious man-jewelry there. Now you just gotta go get them dirty....

see I told you S.O. won't associate with the other wrenches.

 

[arthur1920]

does anyone know which tool truck those shiny wrenches that wipe themseles off and put themselves away come from?

 

[edl]

if you are not wed to having them in drawers, i use peg board with the 4 inch pins - some have 6 or 7 ...not many dups...but amazing how they vary...some stubby, some stubby with ratchet...reversible ratchet, flip over to reverse, angled, etc., etc., and then the same in a couple of other lengths...obviously, if there is no hole anywhere on the wrench, that is not going to work...good luck...ed

 

[LeadDoggy]

I've got a question for your organizationally **** guys. I like keeping my stuff straight and neat, but some of you guys make my cabinet ... well feelings of inadaquacy are large.

I've got the socket storage covered, but when it comes to wrenches I'm in a quandry. I've bought most of my tools at flea markets, auctions, estate sales and it's mostly Craftsman, Proto and a little snap-on. I'd buy what was a good deal regardless of dups... you always need more than one at more than one place. Putting two kids through parochial grammar and high school then college put a hard low ceiling on the tool budget over the years... ya know ? anyway

I see all the nice v-shaped wrench racks with the shiny wrenches all lined up by size... but only one of each size ??? hell, I've got 12 1/2" combo wrenches... and probably at least 3 of every size up to 3/4". How do you store your dups without buying another box for all the wrench racks. I could fill up one rack with 1/2s only !!! this is one drawer, there are two more. I'm open to any good suggestions... the same holds true for boxed end, offset boxed ends etc. BTW ?? will a snap-on wrench even let itself be placed in a rack with other brand wrenches ???

thanks
John

Now what's the problem with the way you have them stored. That's the way mine are stored too, but I have only two drawers full.

May favorite of all of what I saw was this one.....

I kind of got this organized mess thing going on....