For the past few years tool organization has been easy: Cram tools in an overloaded toolbox wherever they fit, then spend 10 minutes looking for them every time you need to use one.
That wasn't ideal, so I splurged and bought a much bigger toolbox:
Before I get moved in... what's everybody's single best piece of advice for organizing tools? Anything I should keep in mind?
Labels on the drawers.
As vague as "screwdrivers" or specific as "1/4" drive metric left handed sockets 2-9mm"
Helps you get stuffs roughly where it belongs, but makes it considerably easier when you have help around for them to find stuff.
Label one of the toolbox drawers 'Label Maker'!
+1 to labeling drawers
Blow molded cases need to be thrown away for anything but specific tools with a lot of little hardware, like slide hammer sets.
Sockets go in rails on top of the toolbox, not in a drawer. The little metal socket trays are best but I have not seen one of those in over 20 years. I have probably a hundred sockets right there, easy to put away, easy to see if it was put away or is still out.
Wrenches go in rails in a drawer, not in a case.
Blow molded cases are, to repeat, the devil. They are why new toolboxes are so huge yet hold so little.
Anchor it to the wall and/or NEVER open up more than a few drawers at once. People have had very bad days when they opened one too many drawers.
get the little thin foam liners
i don't endorse my system for any reason but my drawers are divided into:
pliers
sae wrenches
metric wrenches
screw drivers
clamps
pullers/splitters/separators
crescent wrenches
vise grips
tin snips
Measuring things
cutting things
electrical basics
ball peen hammers
Medium hammers
Big hammers
punches
files
air tools
saws
prying tools
specialty tools
thread makers
bolt removers
torque wrenches
extra tools
allens
torx
1/4 3/8 1/2 extensions swivels adapters etc in their own little drawer each
my sockets are in the top of their own tool boxes where I can get them easily
Many tool drawer organizers succeed in making the drawer look full and tidy, at the expense of efficiency. Ain't nobody got a big enough tool box for that nonsense.
The other recommendation I'd make is to avoid "whole drawer" solutions like foam cut-outs - your tool inventory and needs will change over time. Make allowances to re-shuffle drawer prioritization as time passes.
I keep my 1/4" drive, 3/8" drive and 1/2" drive stuff in separate drawers and use socket holders. I also use my wrench bags and rolls. Everything needs to have a place. If you leave it out and don't put it back your system will fail. It's worth the few minutes to put everything away after each day or job. I found a tool I left out yesterday on the workbench. I immediately put it in its correct spot.
Having a system or correct place works for lots of things. I have a system at home for my keys, wallet, belts, shoes etc. I can be ready to go quickly that way. I also have a work system for storing personal stuff and changing into my safety gear each day. Always stick to the system. I even put my wedding ring in my desk but have it on everyday when I leave work. Discipline and following your plan is the key.
More space and storage always helps but not having a plan or system, and that just leads to a bigger mess.
Inexpensive, thin Yoga mats are my drawer liner of choice.
The Snap-on KRA15A wrench rails are my favorite. I know lots of folks prefer Ernst though.
For socket organizers I am using Westling Machine billet rails. I was feeling fancy and splashed out on the expensive anodized aluminum drawer bling. Honestly they offer no benefits over the Hansen or HF style and have the drawback of not being able to take the whole set with you. Their layout simply means I can add new trays for universal/allen/torx sockets as needed.
A magnetic strip knife holder is an inexpensive and handy tool for keeping screwdrivers and ratchets in somewhat of an order, although I am using loop organizers these days.
Pliers are in a long Pliersrack. Storing them vertically really reduces their footprint.
I still contend that a large tool box is more about organization than massive amounts of storage. Do it right so you can see at a glance if something is missing and you won't lose tools ever again. I went from piles of wrenches and sockets in drawers to organized 15 years ago and have yet to loose any tool I did this with.
Someday I will go full aircraft mechanic and Keizen foam the entire box.
Doesn't matter how big, it's never big enough.
Is the toolbox shared or a single owner? If shared, label drawers but don't bother on foam cutouts. Tragedy of the commons, or something, like that.
If single owner, I'd definitely splurge for some foam cutouts for stuff you know won't change. Things like sockets, filter wrenches, box wrenches. I'd also still label the drawers.
Again. Labels on the drawers. Use a label maker and stick them on old magnets. That way you can rearrange them quickly. Nothing is better than having a helper find things quickly and easily because of the labels.
In reply to Streetwiseguy :
And that is why I like the sockets on top of the toolbox. In a drawer the rails have to be oriented that way to keep them from flopping over. On top, you can orient them across so you can read the socket sizes.
Not that one doesn't instinctively KNOW after a while where the 12mm is, or count back from where the 8 and 10 are (most worn) or where the 16 is (least worn)...
Only downside is that the presence of the swivel spark plug sockets prevents the lid from ever being closed.
I'll echo what everyone else has been saying, organize by type. I'll make one exception - for one of the large drawers, top of the bottom cabinet or bottom of the top cabinet, put the tools you use most often in it, unless you have a separate cart that already has commonly used duplicates.
I picked this up from a thread I started in the shop forum, and from watching some YouTube videos. The top of my tool cart has the following:
Your preferred setup may vary (as will mine depending on what projects are at the forefront), but with this area, and a drawer with some combo wrenches, I don't need to touch the rest of the toolbox the vast majority of the time I am working on something.
This speeds up getting going, and cleaning up, since almost everything goes in the same drawer. I am using a cheap kitchen utensil tray to help keep things organized.
Clean off a 2' wide area on the workbench right next to the toolbox. Then as you use tools you lay them there, and it makes wiping them off and putting them away easier. I put a small table next to my box for that reason.
Those plastic socket trays with the pegs that stick up with sizes on them are really nice if you have plenty of room, but they arent a very efficient use of space if you dont.
Put the stuff you use all the time toward the top, and the stuff you dont use very much toward the bottom. That way dont have to bend over so much.
Wax it at least once a year so it's easy to wipe dirt off.
If your old box is a 26" x18" red/black craftsman let me know.
I'm in the market for a middle/intermediate box to complete my set.
For normal sockets, instead of the clip-on rails I prefer the little plastic holders with posts that go up through the socket and have the size number on them. Easy to tell which socket is which at a glance, and easy to tell when you're missing one. They're also faster/less fiddly to pick up and put away because you don't need to clip them on/off. There are a bunch of different brands, but here's one example:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B8MCDHV5/
They're a little bit less space-efficient than the rails, but I'm willing to lose a bit of space for the convenience.
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
My setup uses both. I have a lot of sockets in the Hansen trays, but one rail with some of the most commonly used sockets, so I can just grab the whole rail and take it with me to where I am working on the car, for fewer return trips to the toolbox.
I like to put these cheap plastic baskets inside drawers to keep things organized.
Im not a canoe Cheap baskets not a canoe
eastsideTim said:In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
My setup uses both. I have a lot of sockets in the Hansen trays, but one rail with some of the most commonly used sockets, so I can just grab the whole rail and take it with me to where I am working on the car, for fewer return trips to the toolbox.
Yeah, the right answer depends on your use pattern. I have problems with "tool explosion" where I've got so many tools over by the car that I can't find anything, and I need to stop and spend 5-10 minutes putting everything away before continuing. So for me, making it harder to take out more than one tool at once is a good thing. :)
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:+1 to labeling drawers
I'm an idiot and always mixed up which was SAE or Metric. Labels x 3
This is great advice so far everybody... thank you! I'll post some after photos once I'm moved in but so far so good.
CrustyRedXpress said:If your old box is a 26" x18" red/black craftsman let me know.
I'm in the market for a middle/intermediate box to complete my set.
Are you psychic? Here's a photo of what I'm replacing. I don't think I'm going to have room to keep any of the old boxes.
In reply to Tom Suddard :
Wishful thinking =P
I think I'll have to pass though. Pretty sure that you midbox is a 26 wide by 12 deep, and I need a 26 wide by 18 deep.
Congrats on the new one!
jimbob_racing said:Again. Labels on the drawers. Use a label maker and stick them on old magnets. That way you can rearrange them quickly. Nothing is better than having a helper find things quickly and easily because of the labels.
Great idea putting the labels on magnets - I'll be stealing that!
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