If I Had A Hammer

November 13, 2007 12:36 PM

Nine drawers, two compartments in each drawer, and over a hundred miscellaneous tools. Help me organize my tool chest.

I have a nine-drawer tool chest, and each drawer has a divider, so I have eighteen compartments for tools. However, I have a wide array of tools, and I'd like to organize them in a logical fashion so I instinctively know where to find each tool. Currently, the tools are grouped in terms of jobs: all the automotive stuff is together, all the painting stuff is together, and so on--but what I'd prefer is some sort of organizational or categorial grouping system.

Here's a brief list of the tools:

eye goggles
ear plugs
respirators
gloves
magnetic pickup
drivers
pliers
vise grips
wire strippers & cutters
hex wrench sets
hacksaws
putty knives
files
soldering iron
glue guns
drill & bits
angle grinder
level
crescent wrench sets (mm/inch)
socket sets (mm/inch)
breaker bar
hammers
chisels
pry bar
grinding & buffing wheels
caulking gun
square
marking tools
micrometer
calipers & dial gauge

Caveat: Each drawer has a divider which can be moved so the drawer is one big compartment, but I can't remove the divider and add it to another drawer.

I'm looking for systems of tool organization, or ways in which other MeFites have organized their tool chests.

posted by fandango_matt to home & garden (9 comments total)

Are you left handed or right handed? Some tools lend themselves to be used in conjunction with another tool. Perhaps organize at least those ones according to your hand preference.
posted by ian1977 at 12:48 PM on November 13, 2007

Due to the fact that I am anal, and that when I am working from my toolbox it is usually at very high speed/under pressure, I always have my tools organised so I can lay my hands on things instantly (years of Motor Racing).

Also, because I am anal, I have a photo record of the contents for insurance purposes. It is in the following set (flickr guest pass):

http://www.flickr.com/gp/35237093706@N01/373db4

This will either give you some ideas, or send you into hysterics at how hideously precise I am with my tools...
posted by Brockles at 12:54 PM on November 13, 2007

My basic scheme like so:
Things that twist, screw drivers, nut drivers, etc.
Things that squeeze, pliers, channel locks, wire cutters, etc.
Things that mark, measure or aid in layout.
Things that cut, chisels, knives, files, rasps, etc.
Things that pound, hammers, mallets, etc.
Sockets and related
Wrenches and related.
Small electrical, meters, soldering iron, wire strippers, etc.
Drill bits and accessories.
Clamps etc.
Router stuff.
posted by mrleec at 1:13 PM on November 13, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

No matter what scheme you use, get a label maker and label the front of the drawers.

And it's kinda hard to organize your list because we don't know how many of each item you have -- do you have one hammer but fifty crescent wrenches? (We have a whole lot of sockets, spanning two drawers, but the micrometer doesn't need a drawer to itself.)

FWIW, at the auto shop, we use the following scheme, IIRC:
screwdrivers (+)
screwdrivers (-)
misc
crescent wrenches
ratchet tools
sockets
cutting tools (pliers, box cutters, dykes
hammer tools (mallets, chisels, etc.)
air tools (pneumatic stuff)

The smaller stuff, screwdrivers & wrenches, goes towards the top -- it happens to also be the more frequently used stuff. The bigger stuff, like the mallets and air tools, goes in the bottom drawers.

But those labels are a life-saver!
posted by LordSludge at 1:35 PM on November 13, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

At an old job we used to have someone whose job it was to organize and inventory toolkits. Having the toolkits use foam to have a place for everything made inventorying things so much easier - you knew where everything was at and just by glancing thru the drawers and seeing the missing spots you would be able to instantly realize if you have anything mising. You can form the foam with a dremmel tool and cut it to fit you toolbox. It looks really impressive as well.
posted by bigmusic at 2:31 PM on November 13, 2007

Take a look at Garage Journal and Tool Monger for ideas on organizing tools. Lots of talk about that in the forums.

For sockets, I'm a big fan of the Hansen organizers. Some examples here. But they are available at Sears/Lowes/etc.

There are also plastic tool tray liners that are molded to hold sockets or wrenches and work well. Cheap too.

I have three main tool boxes, a roll around tool cart with all the oft used misc stuff in the open top (pliers, measuring tools, multimeter, hex keys,files, goggles, gloves) and screwdrivers in the built in screwdriver racks on the side. The two drawers get the 1/4 and 3/8 sockets, and the common wrench sets.

In the big boxes I have drawers for +/- screwdrivers, pliers of all sorts, the rest of the wrenches, the 1/2 sockets, the electrical stuff, one for the other misc measuring stuff, etc. Small drawers for misc hex stuff, drill bits, bolt extractors, etc.

I have all the "sharp pointy stuff" in one drawer. This isn't a particular good idea, but it's the way I'm setup.

Heavy stuff goes towards the bottom (commonly used hammers for example, are in the bottom of the tool cart with the cordless drill).
posted by alikins at 2:52 PM on November 13, 2007

I like the "by jobs" meta-structure. It discourages using specialty tools for generalist tasks (e.g. insulated electrical screwdrivers for general screwing/poking). Beyond that I would group by task (measuring/layout, screwing, wrenching, drilling, sawing): "Ok, so today I am building a desk. What do I need next?"

This keeps you in a general region of the toolbox for the bulk of your project, but also makes it easy to switch between tools to get the right fit (got to go up to the next size chisel or whatever? Easy! Cuz that drawer is already open)
posted by misterbrandt at 8:40 PM on November 13, 2007

I have a big tool box that I kept all my tools in but it was impossible to move when it was full so I bought one of those canvas bags at Ace Hardware with big pockets all around it and put my most often used tools in it separated with all screwdrivers in one pocket, pliers in another, sharp razors and scrapers inside pockets and anything too big to fit in the outside pockets in the bag. It's a great timesaver and when I have a job to do now I only have to pick up the bag and go.
posted by any major dude at 8:45 PM on November 13, 2007

I use fairly general categories like Measurement, Cutters & Pliers, Blades, Power, Electrical, Wrenches, Sockets, Drivers. The labels aren't strictly sensible but because some categories are bulky or numerous, I split them out. There are logical overlaps and redundancies in the labels, but as long as I know how I applied my own logic as to whether a nut driver goes in with the screwdrivers or with the box wrenches and allen keys, it works for me. A category like electrical will have the multimeter as well as the solder, wire nuts, fuse puller, crimper, stripper, etc.
posted by cairnish at 4:06 PM on November 15, 2007