Organizing tool boxes?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 14
From: Travelers Rest SC
Organizing tool boxes?
Like many here, I'm an amateur wrench turner. I have lots of tools, and lots of storage, but it is an unorganized mess! I'm curious how others have laid out their tool boxes and chests to try to keep it all under control.
I have two 42" Harbor Freight 13 drawer chests, plus a big 8 drawer top box. I also have a Kennedy chest, and a wooden Gerstner top box, but those are the tools of my trade as a tool and die maker.
Do you keep all of your wrenches, etc., in the tool boxes, or hang them on the wall? What about sockets? I've tried the clip-on rails, but they don't seem to work well over time. I have a rack that holds them upright, but it requires a fairly tall drawer- seems like a waste of space.
Let's see what you've done so that you don't spend half your time hunting for tools!
I have two 42" Harbor Freight 13 drawer chests, plus a big 8 drawer top box. I also have a Kennedy chest, and a wooden Gerstner top box, but those are the tools of my trade as a tool and die maker.
Do you keep all of your wrenches, etc., in the tool boxes, or hang them on the wall? What about sockets? I've tried the clip-on rails, but they don't seem to work well over time. I have a rack that holds them upright, but it requires a fairly tall drawer- seems like a waste of space.
Let's see what you've done so that you don't spend half your time hunting for tools!
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: The Golden State
If a tool set came with a storage container, I use it! Most of my sockets are in cases, and my large set of combination wrenches is in a tool roll. Since it sounds like that isn't an option for you, there's always foam. Find some foam that will fit in your tool chests, cut it to fit, organize your tools, trace a spot in a foam sheet for each tool, and cut that section of foam away. It can be time-consuming, and it doesn't always make for efficient use of space, but you can tell instantly if everything is in its place.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,922
Likes: 9
I'm interested in seeing how some of these are organized as well. Two things I have recently done that I hope will help me.. 1) Just because I have 35 screwdrivers doesn't mean I need to keep them all in the screwdriver drawer. Same for duplicate sockets, wrenches, pliers, etc. All the surplus, duplicates, might need on a rainy day, goes into a plastic bin stashed somewhere in the workshop and if I lose something, need to use it as a chisel/prybar, etc. I retrieve it out of the bin. My tool drawer stays nice and tidy and I can immediately put my hand on the correct tool without having to dig thru the entire tool drawer. 2) I got a bunch of small, low profile cigar boxes that I use to subdivide my tool drawers so that things don't get comingled.
Look forward to seeing some more ideas posted.
Look forward to seeing some more ideas posted.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,988
Likes: 14
From: Travelers Rest SC
I had a nice little 3/8 socket set in a metal box, but the plastic tray disintegrated after a few years. Same thing with the roll that came with my SK wrenches I bought almost 40 years ago.
I have a lot of duplicate tools, and I have weeded some out. I keep a fairly complete tool kit in the truck and for junkyard trips. If you have 'helpers' around the shop (kids, wives, or buddies) it is a good idea to keep a toolbox stocked with junkers, keeping the good stuff under wraps.
The foam sounds like a good idea, although greasy tools could attack some kinds of foam.
If you have all the goodies, it adds up to a lot. In sockets, you could have 6 and 12 point, regular and deep, metric and SAE, in three (or even 4) different drive sizes! That doesn't include impact sockets, or specialty sockets. I'm not really sure if 12 point sockets are needed. I generally reach for a 6 to prevent rounded heads.
I had some Sears wrench holders that worked OK, but they didn't cover enough range. I only use combination wrenches, but have them up to 1-1/4".
I have a lot of duplicate tools, and I have weeded some out. I keep a fairly complete tool kit in the truck and for junkyard trips. If you have 'helpers' around the shop (kids, wives, or buddies) it is a good idea to keep a toolbox stocked with junkers, keeping the good stuff under wraps.
The foam sounds like a good idea, although greasy tools could attack some kinds of foam.
If you have all the goodies, it adds up to a lot. In sockets, you could have 6 and 12 point, regular and deep, metric and SAE, in three (or even 4) different drive sizes! That doesn't include impact sockets, or specialty sockets. I'm not really sure if 12 point sockets are needed. I generally reach for a 6 to prevent rounded heads.
I had some Sears wrench holders that worked OK, but they didn't cover enough range. I only use combination wrenches, but have them up to 1-1/4".
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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As for the sockets I got a plastic insert doohickey (technical term) from Sears that slides in the drawer and has a hole labeled for each size socket. It's basically the size of the drawer so it doesn't slide around and holds everything in place. I can get 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 in standard and deep in 1 drawer. I've got the ratchets in the aforementioned cigar box in the same drawer. I keep mostly 6 pt for the same reason you do. Not really space with this setup to have both although it could be modified to work. I keep my torque wrenches in a separate drawer.
As for the wrenches I just have them laying flat in a drawer. They are sorted by size and there is a small rubber type mat I got from Sears, Lowes? that keeps everything from sliding around. It basically stays in place and I can easily find what I need.
I wish pictures weren't such a pain or I would try and post a few.
As for the wrenches I just have them laying flat in a drawer. They are sorted by size and there is a small rubber type mat I got from Sears, Lowes? that keeps everything from sliding around. It basically stays in place and I can easily find what I need.
I wish pictures weren't such a pain or I would try and post a few.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: The Golden State
I always wipe down my tools after use (and have even been known to Nevr-Dull them!), so that's never been an issue for me. (I also forgot to mention in my initial reply that the foam is pretty much mandatory when working in military aviation.)
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 432
Likes: 31
From: BC, Canada
I searched a long time for something to organize my tool chest as my socket set came in horrible plastic inserts that wasted so much space:
and my wrenches were bought loosely.
I found some so I organize those in a much shallower (1-1/2") draw than most rails allow. (website photo as I don't have any of mine)
As for sockets, this one I spend a long time on. I didn't want some cheap plastic holder and I didn't like the idea of foam cut out since if you added to your collection you have to redo or deal with loose additions.
I found a small US company called Westling Machine on another forum with some really awesome billet aluminum socket holders and bought the $100 set. It's color coded for metric (blue) and imperial (red) but I still use a 3" deep draw for each and the deep sockets clear; I couldn't get that with those plastic holders with the plastic "pins".
and my wrenches were bought loosely.
I found some so I organize those in a much shallower (1-1/2") draw than most rails allow. (website photo as I don't have any of mine)
As for sockets, this one I spend a long time on. I didn't want some cheap plastic holder and I didn't like the idea of foam cut out since if you added to your collection you have to redo or deal with loose additions.
I found a small US company called Westling Machine on another forum with some really awesome billet aluminum socket holders and bought the $100 set. It's color coded for metric (blue) and imperial (red) but I still use a 3" deep draw for each and the deep sockets clear; I couldn't get that with those plastic holders with the plastic "pins".
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,821
Likes: 93
From: Manteca,Ca
I'm in the trades too and keep most of those tools in the truck, with misc mechanical tools wrenches and sockets, what wont fit or not needed is in one spot in the Garage, as far as the Mechanics tools I keep metric Tools in separate drawers than standard , the rubber mat is a great Idea to keep things from sliding around I don't have any dividers just layed out large to small , and when I go to the box for a tool the size is always there ( UNLESS my wife was, then my box is upside down
, I have always wiped down my tools but lately its been a good thief catcher
All my Electrical tools are in separate drawers, torx drivers and sockets in another. rubber mallet , ball pins, and hammers together.
, I have always wiped down my tools but lately its been a good thief catcher All my Electrical tools are in separate drawers, torx drivers and sockets in another. rubber mallet , ball pins, and hammers together.
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