I really need to re-organize the garage. I end up leaving tools where I used them last, which often means that it takes me too long to find them again when I need them next. Part of that is sheer laziness, but part of it is also bad organization. I'm not using the space and storage I do have in the right way. For example, I put a 8' wide by 3' high sheet of pegboard on the back of my workbench, but I'm not hanging many tools on it. I also built the workbench with two shelves under the benchtop, but I've got parts I'm not going to use for a long time cluttering those shelves. That stuff can go somewhere else. So I'd like to hear some HAMB suggestions on how to best organize a home garage. Like what what's on your pegboard, how did you lay it out, and what kind of hooks and bins did you use? (Or, is outlining your tools gay or cool? ) What do you use for all the fasteners you have? What goes in your toolbox drawers, and what gets stashed in a cabinet? I know it sounds basic, but I'd appreciate any clear-the-clutter suggestions. --Matt
I used old metal kitchen cabinets...toss the tools in the drawers...divided for sockets & socket wrenches on one side, open and box end wrenches on the other...screwdrivers in another drawer...phillips one side, straights on the other, next drawer down gets pliers, Vice Grips, Channel locks, wire cutters, etc., next drawer down gets Monkey wrenches, chisels, hammers, big stuff... Never have to worry about making it fit a pegboard (or the pegs staying attached to the board)...and they are always out of the way (IF you make a habit of replacing them when done)and OFF the countertop! That's just how it's done in my garage! R-
Don't buy more pegboard - it only encourages them to make more I have 3 4x8 sheeets headed for the woodpile - too bad you're not closer. I'm a big fan of the cheap used wall cabinet approach. We have a couple of stores in MN that recycle used house stuff (cabinets, doors and the like) that's pretty cheap. Another source for me has been apartment building remodels. They typically have a metric shitload of old kitchen cabinets when they go through and update the apartments and are more than happy to reduce the tonnage in the dunpster if someone wants a few. Wall cabinets get things off the floor and allow you to organize in somewhat related bite-sized pieces (this cabinet is nothing but hose and fittings, that one's full of crappy bicycle seats and leaky inner tubes, etc...). Not only that, having things in closed cabinets keeps them clean.
One of these days I'll save enough cash for one of those bigass tool sets. When that happens I may go for the tweaker/cleanroom/aircraft mechanic method of using foam with the cutouts for my wrenches and other handtools. I hate not knowing at a glance what's missing and I hate even more having tools slide about when I shut the drawers. Chris
[ QUOTE ] (Or, is outlining your tools gay or cool? ) [/ QUOTE ] Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor had his tools outlined. From the show Home Improvement. just thought I would pitch that in. for my shop, the only way I am organized it that i have a big ass cabinet that i put "everything with a cord" into (grinders, sawsall, drills...) I also have alot of drawers that I got for free for the little stuff.
hang your pegboard, arrange the tools on the pegboard, then spray paint the tools orange. that way, your tools will be orange.
I ran pegboard down the side of my 1 car garage. put up a full set of skrewdrivers and 2 sets each of standard and metric wrenches as well as some hammers and a hacksaw, air chucks, etc. I hang a dropcoard from there too. Paint the board white. It really helps spread the light when you're working on something. Now I just turn around and grab a wrench and hang them back when I'm done. They never seemed to make it back into the toolbox before. 1/2 and 9/16 still elope when I'm not looking tho. I keep stuff I use all the time on the pegboard. I've gotten used to hunting stuff up when it's not there. When it was in the toolbox I would constantly open the drawers and not find what I was looking for. Even the family puts shit back now because it shows that empty hook when it's gone and they know I'll notice it missing. I've even gotten into the habit of wiping the grease and oil off before I put stuff back up. Best investment I ever made. Only thing I've ever found that would organize me besides a beer and a blonde!
When I set up the shop in a friends barn we were tight on time and cash. But after some driving around behind office condos on a weekend we were pretty well set. Came back with tall double door cabinets, lockers, book shelves, industrial shelving and rails, and even some nice partial sheets of plywood. You would be amazed what some outfits throw away. It didnt take long to modify to our needs. This is the first time I could effectively organize and seperate stuff like air from electric tools, metric from SAE, discs, paper, boards, etc, and everything else that used to wind up in a jumble on horizontal benches or under them. Or in cardboard boxes and sliding drawer cabinets which never seemed to have the same ID label on them from one week to the next. If you have the time hit some industrial belly up auctions. Often tools, MIGs, roll a ways, shelving and cabinets are dirt cheap.
Here's a cheap easy tip for air tools. Buy a bunch of those cheap Chinese are chucks and mount em to the bottom of your bench or on the wall etc. Then you have a quick disconnect for all your air tools to hang from.
The way I keep electrical cords out of my way is to get two empty wire spools about 6"in diameter.Nail them to a 2x4 one above the other about 4 feet apart and wrap the cord around them.If you do it near an outlet,you can leave one end plugged in.
Pegboard sucks balls. Get some plywood and nails. And buy a couple of those magnetic strips then double them up for your most used tools....all of my shit is shoved in drawers and scattered on the floor though.
[ QUOTE ] hang your pegboard, arrange the tools on the pegboard, then spray paint the tools orange. that way, your tools will be orange. [/ QUOTE ] hahahaha....... I have three old metal file cabinets that I put all my air and power tools in, they are made to handle the weight, have ball bearing slides and have large drawers.I'd like to have a whole wall of them, for parts and papers too. One other favorite is my 3'x4' stainless steel table, like a comercial kitchen style, it moves around easily, like a portable work bench and cleans up easy too, nice to have when you tear something apart- dirty, wipe it down, then when you put your clean stuff back together it's like an operating table- clean! Paul
not to hijack the post, but where are you guys getting your metal work benchs.. Like 60's style has...Are you just building a bench and hammering the metal over it or having a shop bend it up?
If you don't like tools sliding around inside metal drawers, find yourself a carpet installer. High quality rubber crumb underlay makes great tool box liner. when you open the drawer the tools are where you left them, no need for cut-outs. mike
[ QUOTE ] hang your pegboard, arrange the tools on the pegboard, then spray paint the tools orange. that way, your tools will be orange. [/ QUOTE ] Mine were titty-pink when i was working on water plants, that way nobody would mess with my tools and it someone got one in there box i knew it . I used centari mis-match that i got for $2 (still don't why it was cheap). My truck was stolen with my tools except a hand sledge, now referred to in the shop as "pinky" Cruzer - love that yankee ingenuity! going to use that one. I got some of those cubical wall cabinets where door slides up and out of the way, and they usually have lights underneath. With all the downsizing some used furniture places should have some cheap.
Start collecting speaker magnets....mount a bunch of them behind a peice of sheet metal hanging on the wall....that way you can just throw your tools at it when your done using them
[ QUOTE ] Start collecting speaker magnets....mount a bunch of them behind a peice of sheet metal hanging on the wall....that way you can just throw your tools at it when your done using them [/ QUOTE ] great idea. I bolt old speaker drivers under shelves and hang tools from 'em. an old Black Widow bass driver should be capable of hanging a bench vise.
Smokin Joe is right on painting the pegboard white. I makes a big difference. Here's a pic of my workbench. Made from four of the Sears workbenches that have drawers similar to a rollaway. Just bolt em together, add a long top and you're in business. If you do this, spring for the charcoal colored workbenches as they have roller drawers instead of sliders. Works better with a load. They cost a little extra, but well worth the money. Getting four of the workbenches right up front can be expensive, but what you can do is what we did at bother-in-laws house. We bought two benches and put them on the ends of a 15'4" workbench top and when finances allow he can slide the additional benches under. Here's a pic.
[ QUOTE ] not to hijack the post, but where are you guys getting your metal work benchs.. Like 60's style has...Are you just building a bench and hammering the metal over it or having a shop bend it up? [/ QUOTE ] bones, try commercial kitchen suppliers, or auctions at universities, schools, hospitals and / or Restaurants. A new table as described above would be STUPID expensive! my father does stainless steel work for fast food restaurants so every now and then he has one.. I usually turn them down cause I dont have room.. however another alternative would be stainless trays like I have. Its about 3 feet square and has a 1 inch wall around the outside. I just throw it up on sawhorses when I wanna use it. in your area Keep an eye out for one with a built in sink.. they are pretty common.. and these make great parts washin tables.. another alternative would be to have one bent up.. Most of the table tops my pops makes are 18 ga stainless with 2 LAYERS OF 3/4 INCH PLYWOOD GLUED TO THE BOTTOM FOR RIGIDITY..