How do you organize your tools?

[ka0tyk]

There’s some plastic things you can buy that organize by size but the problem is I have multiple of the same size (what if you have a 13mm bolt and a 13mm nut) and I have ratcheting ones in both long and stubby etc.

Do you have em all nicely laid out or is it just a big pile?

 

[sintax]

Kaizen Foam - FastCap

www.fastcap.com

 

[SoCalDave]

I was pretty much like @ka0tyk at one point then decided to sell my duplicates. I now keep my metric and gear-head wrenches in separate zip-up tool pouches in the same drawer as my standard stuff. I may have to rethink that soon as it seems I'm using my metric stuff more now than my standard ones.
@sintax that looks way to time consuming and I would have to double my storage space due to so much wasted areas.
@jones performance that looks more like my setup.

 

[Ol Man]

Throw them in the proper tray, but not organized. Screw drivers in the screw driver drawer, end wrenches in the end wrench drawer, etc. In my RV garage I have an SAE set and another is metric. The biggest problem I have is that I have a tool box in my:

* Main garage (rv, motorcycles and a car)
* Garage attached to house
* Boat tool set in boat
* Jeep, Bronco and rock crawler tool sets in each
* Motorhome tool set in motorhome

 

[sintax]

I was pretty much like @ka0tyk at one point then decided to sell my duplicates. I now keep my metric and gear-head wrenches in separate zip-up tool pouches in the same drawer as my standard stuff. I may have to rethink that soon as it seems I'm using my metric stuff more now than my standard ones.
@sintax that looks way to time consuming and I would have to double my storage space due to so much wasted areas.
@jones performance that looks more like my setup.

you can also run the long ways too, so they dont consume so much space. I was simply showing an example that looks good.

 

[ltbaney1]

i have a 5 gallon bucket, easy to find anything just dump it out
i have a couple of organizers from tool box widget, and couple drawers foamed out. im not sure which way i like better. the foam is nice but time consuming and im always worried about getting it greasy, and time consuming trying to figure out how to lay everything out.

ToolBox Widget: 100% Modular Tool Organizers for your Toolbox.

100% modular tool organizing system for your tool box. Our individual tool organizers allow the customer to add or subtract the amount of holders as needed, allowing for complete customization of their toolbox. Features include; strong magnets, missing tool indicators, changeable size labels and...

toolboxwidget.com

 

[scottchbrite]

Here you go

ToolBox Widget: 100% Modular Tool Organizers for your Toolbox.

100% modular tool organizing system for your tool box. Our individual tool organizers allow the customer to add or subtract the amount of holders as needed, allowing for complete customization of their toolbox. Features include; strong magnets, missing tool indicators, changeable size labels and...

toolboxwidget.com

or 3D print some stuff works good too.

I don’t have pics but I have pretty much 2 of every wrench and socket up to 1”, not counting the rest of the stuff to 2”. I have similar organizers like above.

 

[lbhsbz]

There’s some plastic things you can buy that organize by size but the problem is I have multiple of the same size (what if you have a 13mm bolt and a 13mm nut) and I have ratcheting ones in both long and stubby etc.

Do you have em all nicely laid out or is it just a big pile?

View attachment 1064566

For that, grab a 2x6 and fire up the table saw with a dado blade kicked over at about 10° or so...make as many slots as you need, then cut it into a wedge shape afterwards and you have a custom wrench holder that cost you $2

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

For that, grab a 2x6 and fire up the table saw with a dado blade kicked over at about 10° or so...make as many slots as you need, then cut it into a wedge shape afterwards and you have a custom wrench holder that cost you $2

That cost you $.20 2 years ago.

 

[blue wonder]

I just buy Snap-On, they all come in there own organized trays

 

[Your ad here]

Wrenches in my Snap On box are laid out nicely in the top drawer which is the width of the box and the only drawer that can fit them. As long as you don't slam the drawers shut the tools won't slide to the back of the drawer.
In the service truck the wrenches and screw drivers are in AWP bags.
I do separate the chinese hand tools from the made in USA tools. I don't want those chinese tools to touch the USA ones.

 

[JUSTWANNARACE]

Toss them in the tool box after they are wiped down. I thought that was the part of the fun of wrenching was searching threw the drawer to find the next tool you need gives me time to cool off from being pissed about what I am working on while I get pissed off about trying to find the tool I need. Once I find the tool I'm all smiles and ready to get pissed off again at what I'm working on!. It's a viscous cycle but works

 

[Moneypit]

It depends on what you are doing with the tools... Casual garage use, it isn't important. BUT, using them in the pits during a race environment it is critical to have tools well organized and knowledge of where each tool is... Looking around through a rollaway takes time. Time you sometimes don't have...
Ray

 

[RitcheyRch]

Harbor Freight has some decent drawer organizers.

 

[Outdrive1]

There’s some plastic things you can buy that organize by size but the problem is I have multiple of the same size (what if you have a 13mm bolt and a 13mm nut) and I have ratcheting ones in both long and stubby etc.

Do you have em all nicely laid out or is it just a big pile?

I use the plastic trays. I like everything organized. It’s a waste of time looking for shit plus I want to know if I left something wherever I was working, when I’m done. A quick glance and I can tell you what’s missing.

That drawer in that pic would give me anxiety. I’d rather not work on anything if I had to dig through that mess to find a wrench.

 

[DLC]

Wrench rack

google, Amazon etc

 

[cold_one]

There’s some plastic things you can buy that organize by size but the problem is I have multiple of the same size (what if you have a 13mm bolt and a 13mm nut) and I have ratcheting ones in both long and stubby etc.

Do you have em all nicely laid out or is it just a big pile?

View attachment 1064566

Both American and metric in one big drawer? That would drive me crazy trying to look for anything. And you don't know if you are missing anything. If you buy nice wrenches like snap-on you want to know right away if you are missing a wrench.

 

[HTTP404]

I can't fucking look at this thread.

My tool organization is FINE!

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Mine are just organized by type in certain drawers.

For those that want to get extra crazy, check this out. https://www.obsessedgarage.com/collections/tool-grid

 

[Backlash]

Never liked the aftermarket cheapo deluxe plastic trays for wrenches because they never seemed to fit. My sockets are all on magnetic billet trays, and I'll probably do the same for my wrenches when I find the time for that project. For now, they are just laid out on pads in each drawer.

 

[Shlbyntro]

You guys are funny. Id have to have 3 more full size tool boxes to organize my tools the way some of you do.

 

[HB2Havasu]

I have all my box wrenches in one of those plastic organizers for my home tool box. I’m not close to OCD about my tools as some guys are, but I don’t wrench for a living. In my off-road vehicle I use a 4” carabiner to keep the box wrenches together. It works amazingly well and it’s super cheap

 

[hman442]

You guys are funny. Id have to have 3 more full size tool boxes to organize my tools the way some of you do.

That's why Snap On sells the 20 foot long Tool Box, and takes trades, and they're only like the same money that I paid for my first house

 

[ElAzul]

Regardless of organization I still open at least 3 wrong drawers before finding what I need

 

[blue wonder]

The Snap-on trays are really nice for most of there stuff, I’ve been a big fan of the Westling Machine socket organizers, there billet aluminum, marked for standard and metric by color and engraving and you can get them engraved with socket sizes also, I just replaced all my old blue and red ones that weren’t marked with socket sizes for these orange and black ones that are…I’ll probably list my old ones for sale if anyone wants to clean there drawers up

 

[BigRedBryan]

Cart is somewhat organized...

Triple bank not so much...

 

[mjc]

I like to be able to take the full socket bar or rack of wrench to what I am working on.

 

[blue wonder]

$100 plus the ride if anyone wants to clean there socket drawer up

 

[Terminal Velocity]

View attachment 1064760
$100 plus the ride if anyone wants to clean there socket drawer up

heck yea, i'll do that. price to 84084 West Jordan Utah?

 

[Outdrive1]

View attachment 1064733
Cart is somewhat organized...
View attachment 1064734
Triple bank not so much...

I thought I had too many snap on ratchets. Holy shit.

 

[LHC Kirby]

Regardless of organization I still open at least 3 wrong drawers before finding what I need

I used my P-Touch label to mark the drawers..... so much easier.

BUT - HOW DO YOU GUYS NOT LOSE - OR HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR 10MM SOCKET/WRENCH

 

[TrollerDave]

BUT - HOW DO YOU GUYS NOT LOSE - OR HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR 10MM SOCKET/WRENCH

We don’t.
And yet we still spend 20 mins looking for it.

I have 1 drawer, nice and neat with wrenches and sockets.
Never use it.
Always go to the 2 drawers full of mis-matched multiples of wrenches and sockets.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Wrench rack

google, Amazon etc

View attachment 1064675 View attachment 1064676 View attachment 1064677

I just use the rack that the wrenches came on from Harbor Freight. Cut off the crappy handle though.

 

[BigRedBryan]

I thought I had too many snap on ratchets. Holy shit.

They make the best ratchets, everything else is shit.

 

[Your ad here]

They make the best ratchets, everything else is shit.

This is true. I can use a Snap On ratchet 24/7. After 15 minutes with a craftsman ratchet my hand is hurting. The profile of the Snap On's is really comfortable.

 

[bk2drvr]

My method is based on what is used frequently and what isn't. I use peg board for items I commonly grab and the less frequently grabbed items are put away in drawers that can easily be pulled out when needed. I've spent a lot of time determining what should be at my finger tips and what doesn't need to be and its worked great.

This pic is a little old and I've added items since but the peg board works great for me for most small/med jobs around the house. Both drawers are full with frequently accessed stuff and I've added a 1/4" and 3/8' drive ratchet and common sockets to the peg wall. Wish I had an updated pic but you get the idea.

 

[Willie B]

…Not a whole lot of organization to mine anymore… used to be on the road a lot so each type tool had it’s own separate Tupperware container…So that was one set of tools for boat towing. Etc…Had a set of tools for the lake Oroville property… Have a set of tools at my North Hollywood home…

 

[STV_Keith]

Like this...

 

[arch stanton]

my mechanic Roger and usually have more than one project going at a time and i find this to be the best way find what is needed and see what is already being used, Purple and Raspberry are standard and orange is metric

 

[Ace in the Hole]

View attachment 1064760
$100 plus the ride if anyone wants to clean there socket drawer up

I want them if you haven't sold them, can Venmo. They would go to havasu, idk where they are right now.

 

[jetboatperformance]

We work at a rapid pace 5 days a week , Josh and I share 4 big rollaways and a Matco tool cart , although never as neat and organized as some of your displays , ever tool is put away at the end of the day and every tool has a "place", I only wish our days allowed for such neat clean organization

 

[Orange Juice]

I keep my tools in the kitchen draw.

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

Top drawer, Going back to the parts industry and box is home for good!

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

My toolbox looks like y'all's for a bout 5 min then I start my next project. Haha! You guys have some nice setups.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Here you go for some visualization on Tool Grid.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

My method is based on what is used frequently and what isn't. I use peg board for items I commonly grab and the less frequently grabbed items are put away in drawers that can easily be pulled out when needed. I've spent a lot of time determining what should be at my finger tips and what doesn't need to be and its worked great.

This pic is a little old and I've added items since but the peg board works great for me for most small/med jobs around the house. Both drawers are full with frequently accessed stuff and I've added a 1/4" and 3/8' drive ratchet and common sockets to the peg wall. Wish I had an updated pic but you get the idea.

View attachment 1065049
View attachment 1065050

I like that idea and approach. I'd probably go with a socket rack for the drive sizes instead of individual sockets. That way you just grab the ratchet and rack if you have to work on something in place and no trips back and forth for a different size or what not.

 

[4Waters]

I organize my tools in a toolbox

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Here you go for some visualization on Tool Grid.

Average $120 per drawer! Jesus!

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Average $120 per drawer! Jesus!

Yah… I have a bit of OCD, but not enough money or patience to do that nonsense. It’s bad ass, but over the top for most.

 

[HB2Havasu]

The OCDness in this thread is impressive!!!