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How organized are your tools?

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Know the feeling jackq!, done a dub for myself, put 2 diff bits, together dual brake circuit, disks all round and had irs 10 yrs b4 ford and gm, better pwr than a 944 now!, doesnt outhandle a 944 on the bitumin, but doesnt get bogged on the beach!
 
Despite my occasional efforts my tools are a mess....mostly do to lack of space...I've got tons and tons of tools but only one small standup tool box and a couple other carry along metal boxes that I rarely use. The one standup box has it's drawers packed with smaller stuff and the top tray is overflowing with the bigger stuff. It also doubles as a step to get into the garage loft without getting down the ladder....First step: rear of MGTC frame, Second Step: top of tool box, Third Step: On top of the bench Vise, and then pull yourself up from there. Despite all the chaos and clutter in the garage I know exactly where all the tools are(parts are a different story) unless someone else touching them....then I am completely lost(this always happens in the middle of a frustrating job).
 
My tools are the one thing in my life I keep rigidly clean and organized. The only thing that holds me back right now is I have far too many tools to fit into my current chest & rollaway. I need to add a side box, an intermediate box, or both... or move up to a 40" wide rollaway.

I've definitely reached the satuation point with my current box. Whenever I get a new tool, I don't realyl have a place to put it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonod.gif

I also tend to work on the "put it away <u>NOW</u> " principle. As soon as I'm done for the night, the tools are cleaned and put away. It doesn't matter if the task itself is finished. It's too easy for things to get moved or buried otherwise.

All parts are bagged and tagged during disassembly. Especially if a project may take a few days. A few extra minutes now saves tons of time later staring at a pile of bolts saying, "where does THAT one go?" or, "what hardware held that tongether?"

I didn't always operate like this. This is a habit born from PAIN. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
So long as I can keep other people's mitts off my tools, they're organized enough to be easy to find & so that I can see if anything's missing...lots of white pegboard for hanging general purpose & household tools in clear view & a huge Craftsman tool box - read 6' tall - for my auto tools
 
I have an intermediate box on my 28" Craftsman rollaway. It's really handy and doesn't take up so much wall and floor space like a side box or wider unit does. But it also won't hold as much as the other options and getting into the top lid of the tool box is a stretch unless you're well over 6-feet tall, which I am not. I'd love a 46-inch rollaway but I just don't have the space for it.
 
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I have an intermediate box on my 28" Craftsman rollaway. It's really handy and doesn't take up so much wall and floor space like a side box or wider unit does. But it also won't hold as much as the other options and getting into the top lid of the tool box is a stretch unless you're well over 6-feet tall, which I am not. I'd love a 46-inch rollaway but I just don't have the space for it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've thought about adding an intermediate chest, but I already have a Craftsman 12 drawer, drop-front chest on the rollaway. I agree about it being tough to see what's i nthe top section. I keep a 4x10 under the box for when I really need to look for something up there. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

The space issue is another reason (besides cost) that prevents me from making the jump to a wider rollaway. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I've gotten into the habit of moving my box around the garage to where I'm working so it doesn't have any designated home against a wall.
 
Here is how my box was set up when floor space was not an issue. I had not added the intermediate section yet...

garage1.jpg


And here is how it is set up now to conserve space. I have removed the side cabinet and hung it on a nearby wall. (you can see it on the floor to the right waiting to be hung)...

IMG_5803.jpg
 
Steve - I've got that same roller bearing Craftsman tool box with the intermediate box also...but haven't gotten the side unit yet...is it worth the money?

Does it have roller bearings or are the shelves stationary?

Could I put it on the left side of my box?
 
My top and bottom are pre-roller bearings. They didn't offer them in anything but the big pro boxes back then. The intermediate box is roller bearing though.

The side cabinet is actually adjustable shelves inside, not drawers. It was really handy mounted on the rollaway but I just ran out of room. I'd love to have it back on there. The top had a large lip, probably 2" tall. It was a very handy spot for parts and tools I was currently using.

The only thing I really need to do is replace those plastic casters with some nice urethane full swivels. If you roll the toolbox around and hit a microscopic pebble, the whole thing grinds to a halt and scratches the crap out of the floor.
 
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