How do you organize your tools
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
From: Exiled Tampa Bay Misfit
How do you organize your tools
With 16 drawers between my three Craftsman boxes I am constanly putting tools in the wrong drawers and then having to look through them all to find the tools I want. As much as I WANt to be organized I never seem to pull it off.
I worked as a mechanic during college and have never found a good system to organize my tools. Sure I use the plastic tree things for combo wrenches but how about all of the ohter tools.
I recently bought one set (to try out) of the craftsman drawer inserts (see below). basically a sheet of foam in which you cut out the outline of the tool. That way you know where to put them back and where to find them next time. The problem with this is that it takes forever to trace and cut out the tools and then the edges are slightly ragged.
I thought I saw years ago a liquid that after you placed your tools in the drawer you could pour over them to make a "casting" of the tools. The liquid then hardened and you have perfect impressions where the tools set. Was I dreaming.
So to wrap up this long post, how do you organize your tools? Any nifty suggestions for this hopelessly disorganized wrencher?
Sears Tool Organizer Kit
Sean
[Modified by sdotson, 11:11 AM 10/31/2001]
I worked as a mechanic during college and have never found a good system to organize my tools. Sure I use the plastic tree things for combo wrenches but how about all of the ohter tools.
I recently bought one set (to try out) of the craftsman drawer inserts (see below). basically a sheet of foam in which you cut out the outline of the tool. That way you know where to put them back and where to find them next time. The problem with this is that it takes forever to trace and cut out the tools and then the edges are slightly ragged.
I thought I saw years ago a liquid that after you placed your tools in the drawer you could pour over them to make a "casting" of the tools. The liquid then hardened and you have perfect impressions where the tools set. Was I dreaming.
So to wrap up this long post, how do you organize your tools? Any nifty suggestions for this hopelessly disorganized wrencher?
Sears Tool Organizer Kit
Sean
[Modified by sdotson, 11:11 AM 10/31/2001]
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 2
From: St. Louis, Missouri
Re: How do you organize your tools (sdotson)
That's the way we inventoried tools in Navy aviation. Positive tool control is crucial there. Visually being able to identify where a tool belongs was part of the approach.
Unfortunately, "tools" and "organize" are an oxymoron for me. Mine are scattered :rolleyes:
Unfortunately, "tools" and "organize" are an oxymoron for me. Mine are scattered :rolleyes:
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,416
Likes: 1
From: NC,USA
Re: How do you organize your tools (Neo Fender)
i'm going to buy one of those carry handles for wrenches for my standards and metrics... my sockets are organized by here are the 9/16ths 6 point and twelve point 3/8 inchs, there are my 5/8s, and here are the rest, scattered
ZD :D
ZD :D
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, KS
Re: How do you organize your tools (sdotson)
Cutting out the foam is still the best way. The reason that you don't see the liquid anymore is because it didn't work very well.
When you get tired of fooling around with that Craftsman foam, check out the foam sleeping pads in the camping section of your local whichever-mart. They come in colors! Then you can really get fancy and have a contrasting color below the foam.
I worked on aircraft for years and all of my tools had to shadowed or in racks with no extra spaces. That meant a lot of extra work just to buy a tool sometimes.
The drawers need to have one type of tool only if you're going to memorize what goes where. Wrenches in this drawer, sockets there, screwdrivers here etc.
When you get tired of fooling around with that Craftsman foam, check out the foam sleeping pads in the camping section of your local whichever-mart. They come in colors! Then you can really get fancy and have a contrasting color below the foam.
I worked on aircraft for years and all of my tools had to shadowed or in racks with no extra spaces. That meant a lot of extra work just to buy a tool sometimes.
The drawers need to have one type of tool only if you're going to memorize what goes where. Wrenches in this drawer, sockets there, screwdrivers here etc.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
From: Exiled Tampa Bay Misfit
Re: How do you organize your tools (1979toy)
Cutting out the foam is still the best way.
As for cutting, the stupid little knife they give you is a joke. I threw it away and used an X-acto but getting around tight rounded corners is still a pain. Any suggestions?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,166
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From: Tulsa Ok
Re: How do you organize your tools (sdotson)
Blueline paper is getting harder to find as the reproduction industry is switching to digital (Xerox) style copying and inkjet output but it should still be around for a few more years. I work for a reproduction company and we still have lots of the stuff although we haven't had a Diazo machine for a couple of years. Check under Reproduction in the yellow pages for a source near you.
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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CI-VIII Burnout Champ
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: How do you organize your tools (Vetteboy)
i just leave mine all over the place :jester
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
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From: Wildwood IL
Re: How do you organize your tools (sdotson)
You'll never see my tool boxes on the cover of "Mechanics Illustrated", but I do keep them organized by designating a specific drawer for a specific catagory of tool. One large drawer for sockets of any type, one for screwdrivers, 1 for hammers prybars pickel forks etc in another, pliers, channel locks, vise grips together, etc. I keep all my sockets on a socket bar, that has a handel, and sliding clips that the ratchet end of the socket snaps onto. These are available to fit 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 inch sockets and you can keep them in order according to size. I know Grainger and Sears carry them. The extensions also fit onto the rod clips. I find it makes it easy to crawl under the car and bring all the socket sizes with you. Now get out in that garage and start organizing!!
:D :D :D :cheers:
:D :D :D :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Chattanooga TN
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Re: How do you organize your tools (wadew10)
Craftsman also makes a product that is basically a sheet of ABS plastic with holes in it. The kit comes with studs that insert into the holes to secure your sockets. Past that, I just have 'Screwdriver Drawer', 'Pliers Drawer', etc. And of course a special compartment for the most useful tool in my arsenal: Conan the BFS (Big F&^%#$ Screwdriver). :D
