Tool Chest Organization

[rmaynard 15,610]

I just recently got a new rolling tool chest, 9 drawers, 46 inches wide.

I have 2 other small ones in the garage, but this one is exclusively for my Wheel Horse shop. Before I start loading in all my tools, I thought I'd ask how you organize your tools. 

 

[WHX?? 49,180]

I love those little stand up socket holder thingys...

[Mickwhitt 4,720]

Good question. I've had all kinds of tool chests and boxes over the years. 

With the size of beast you have there remembering where everything is will be the problem. It takes a good while for muscle memory to learn the locations of the main tool groups; spanners, sockets, drivers etc.

I bought myself a labeling machine, prints waterproof labels on different sized of tape. 

Now I label my drawers to assist the ageing grey matter.

I hate having spanners and tools rolling round in drawers so I prefer foam inserts with cut outs. You lose a bit of room obviously but my power tools will stay in good shape longer now they are snug in their cut outs. 

 

 

 

My boxes need to travel with me to do home repairs and servicing mowers etc. So weight is an issue, if your chest is likely to stay in the shop you probably won't want to do the foam inserts and weight shouldn't be a problem. 

Mick. 

[rmaynard 15,610]

57 minutes ago, Mickwhitt said:

My boxes need to travel with me...

Mick. 

When I was in the home improvement business, my truck was loaded. Plus I had a go bag with most used tools. That's the same now at home. I have probably 4 of every tool. Some in the garage, some in the wife's shed, and most in the WH pole shed. When I work on a car in the driveway, I have my tray with most of the common tools used on Subarus and Toyotas, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, & 17mm.

The large roller chest will also hold tire irons, hub & flywheel pullers, etc.

[squonk 41,380]

I think this topic has been covered a year or 2 ago. 

 

 

[DET 107]

I have the same box, I think you are really going to like it 

[Pullstart 63,100]

4 hours ago, rmaynard said:

I thought I'd ask how you organize your tools. 

 

[WHX?? 49,180]

Yah well let's not see any un- shall we Kev?!?

? @Mickwhitt ...guessing you cut out that foam? Care to tell us how and your source on the foam? I could see doing that on my drill drawer. 

[Mickwhitt 4,720]

The tool box is from the Milwaukee Packout range. 

 

Storage that clips together so I can take plumbing or woodworking tools to a job site as needed.

 

The foam inserts come from Milwaukee too, they are cut to fit the drawers bit I cut out the tool silhouettes as required.

 

The foam is a lamination of three thinner sheets glued together. So you can cut through just one layer for flat tools, like the scissors or levels. But you cut down through the second layer for the power tools etc. 

 

I just use a sharp craft knife to cut the foam, after drawing round the outline of the tool. Depth is a bit of trial and error but I'm happy with the result.

 

I'll post some pics of the tool silhouettes when I get home. 

[Mickwhitt 4,720]

This is the foam as it arrives as a slab.a its just under 2 inches thick.

You need to think about the best way to lay things out before you start cutting.

 

 

 

I wanted the power tools secure, but that left gaps where I could fit in smaller tools.

By using the foam it keeps weight down too, it would be easy to stuff the drawers full of loose tools and not be able to lift it. 

[Wheel-N-It 2,969]

Here is a couple of pics to hopefully help with that first step to getting all your tools organized.

@Maynard Bob, the impact sockets, and impact wrenches are in the top drawer of a box similar to the one you now have. In other drawers you can put the air tools you don't use as much (air ratchet for example), but normally when I need an impact socket I either need an air impact wrench or a battery impact tool which I keep in a different drawer. It can be a little frustrating to organize your box from scratch if you don't know exactly how you want to set it up, but hopefully in this thread you'll have enough pics to have fun setting your up. 

[ebinmaine 68,452]

23 hours ago, rmaynard said:

10mm, 12mm, 14mm, & 17mm.

Plus 2 dozen extra 10mm. 

 

Wait nevermind. You're not @Pullstart   

 

 

@rmaynard I really like @Mickwhitt 's labeling idea. 

 

My memory has never been amazing.  A few years ago my short term memm...

🙄

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,974]

10 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Plus 2 dozen extra 10mm. 

 

Wait nevermind. You're not @Pullstart   

 

Trail cam by @Pullstart's place:

 

 

[The Freightliner Guy 1,331]

23 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

 

Trail cam by @Pullstart's place: