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Tool Box Organization
- Thread starter BADB0Y
- Start date
You should check out garage journal. Lots of this stuff over there
I finally got a toolbox well a big toolbox 4 years or so ago have rearranged it 3 times with a 4th coming. I think I finally know how I want it
I put the most useful on the top and keep going down. I have had my tool cart the same for 6 years. I finally broke down and bought a tool box and 're arranged it only to take it home.
I just had to move all three of my big Snappy boxes to the shop. GOD DAMN these are HEAAAVY sob's. We yanked 90% the drawers and stacked them on a cart with blankets or padding inbetween the drawers to keep from hammering then paint. Got them all moved but we had to empty the full width top drawers to even remove them. Just too heavy to remove with tools in them. Thank god I tool complete tool box pictures for insurance purposes so now I know how eveything fits back in. It's a freakin jigsaw puzzle and a nightmare to get it all to go back in the same place if you don't. HIGHLY recommend taking pictures of ALLLL your drawers once it's situated like you want for the final satisfied setup. Here are just a few drawers of my boxes.
Hammer drawer and a couple others. I think my big box is a 23 drawer and the smaller two are 11 drawer. So 40+ some odd drawers to remember is WAAAAY too much. Take pitures. And organize organize organize!!!! Makes your life SOOO much easier.
While I'm not as much of a tool-ho as Rob (got enough Vise-grips?
) I *am* a big fan of dividers and holders. Nothing wrong with being a little OCD with your tools. At the very least, the foam liners for pliers or big wrenches.
Now, the what-goes-in-what-drawer may be driven more by what drawers you have than ergonomics. In a perfect world, yeah, you want the most-used stuff where it's easiest to get at, prolly about waist level. For me that's the SAE wrenches and sockets. For others that might be metric or flare wrenches or something.
I tend to group by type, rather than function. All the metric wrenches go together (long, stubby, flare nut, ratcheting) and then in another drawer/set of drawers, all the SAE. This way if you're working and tool (x) is too long or too short, then you can grab the next appropriate one in the same size from the same drawer.
Don't forget that a flat surface (the top of the box) will gather crap if you're not careful, so make a rule about only using it for e.g. the charger and batteries for your cordless stuff, your radio, whatever. There's a discussion in Scott's new box thread about using a hutch to protect the top from the elements and sticky fingers.
-- A
) I *am* a big fan of dividers and holders. Nothing wrong with being a little OCD with your tools. At the very least, the foam liners for pliers or big wrenches. Now, the what-goes-in-what-drawer may be driven more by what drawers you have than ergonomics. In a perfect world, yeah, you want the most-used stuff where it's easiest to get at, prolly about waist level. For me that's the SAE wrenches and sockets. For others that might be metric or flare wrenches or something.
I tend to group by type, rather than function. All the metric wrenches go together (long, stubby, flare nut, ratcheting) and then in another drawer/set of drawers, all the SAE. This way if you're working and tool (x) is too long or too short, then you can grab the next appropriate one in the same size from the same drawer.
Don't forget that a flat surface (the top of the box) will gather crap if you're not careful, so make a rule about only using it for e.g. the charger and batteries for your cordless stuff, your radio, whatever. There's a discussion in Scott's new box thread about using a hutch to protect the top from the elements and sticky fingers.
-- A
FYI, you can NEVER have enough vise grips... or c-clamps...
This. The last time I counted I had 39 Vise Grips in my tool box. I need more. A lot more.
Martin
The Vise-grips for welding, that I could believe. C-clamps, same thing. But the regular plier ones, meh.
-- A
agreed.. I have a full assortment of body visegrips.. 18" jaw ones, 6"s, etc that are 30+ yr's old and kill it daily in the Lab™..... I'd actually like another full set, but the new ones wont be as good.. and no, I don't want plastic parts on the handles, thank you very little...
and I do have a full assortment of plier style, needle nose, etc..
but it's certainly a last resort tool.... a "hack" tool IMO for regular wrenching.. I'm sure the next mechanic will be hating my guts for destroying the fastener...
now c-clamps? another story.. bar slide, etc can't have enough quality c-clamps.. I need more.. greg's pics make me drool for more good c-clamps..
and I do have a full assortment of plier style, needle nose, etc..
but it's certainly a last resort tool.... a "hack" tool IMO for regular wrenching.. I'm sure the next mechanic will be hating my guts for destroying the fastener...
now c-clamps? another story.. bar slide, etc can't have enough quality c-clamps.. I need more.. greg's pics make me drool for more good c-clamps..
Vice Grips are far less "hack" than adjustable (crescent...) wrenches. Those things should be outlawed.
Martin
Martin
yeah, you've said that before, not a friggin chance.. a well-built, quality, adjustable grabs a fastener/nut on the proper flat surfaces flush.... heck, most marina's use a large adjustable for prop work, common practice..
a godsend in my biz, the widejaw, thin snappy's for NPT stuff, jamb-nut's, etc....
a visegrip mauls and put's teeth marks in a fastener, every time, plain and simple... it's inherent in the design.. granted, stripped brakeline, it's a good choice. but it's just destroying it that much more.. never to be properly tightened/loosened by a wrench again.. sure, it get's the job done... once...
a godsend in my biz, the widejaw, thin snappy's for NPT stuff, jamb-nut's, etc....
a visegrip mauls and put's teeth marks in a fastener, every time, plain and simple... it's inherent in the design.. granted, stripped brakeline, it's a good choice. but it's just destroying it that much more.. never to be properly tightened/loosened by a wrench again.. sure, it get's the job done... once...
I never meant to use on (intact) fasteners. However, I used a variable selection of 5 different styles/sizes this weekend to remove broken bolts from my little Kubota I bought last summer (supposed to do work for me, turned into a project of it's own). 9 x 12mm bolts (out of 24) holding the front sub-frame (axle pivot and forward loader cradle) to the engine block, all broken below the surface. I built up a weld dong on each one, and managed to get all but 4 out using weld+vise grips. Try that with ANYTHING else.
But yeah, the "can't have enough" is intended for welding. The big welding clamps are great, but I use all styles a LOT. And old school c-clamps, can't twist, Bessy's, pipe clamps, scrap welded to or stacked on the table, rocks, bags of sand, an old rim, and anything else I can find that will hold things while I get it welded.
I also use adjustable wrenches, when appropriate, and turned the right way (90% turn them wrong); haven't damaged a fastener with them within my (flawed) memory.
But yeah, the "can't have enough" is intended for welding. The big welding clamps are great, but I use all styles a LOT. And old school c-clamps, can't twist, Bessy's, pipe clamps, scrap welded to or stacked on the table, rocks, bags of sand, an old rim, and anything else I can find that will hold things while I get it welded.
I also use adjustable wrenches, when appropriate, and turned the right way (90% turn them wrong); haven't damaged a fastener with them within my (flawed) memory.
well, that was my point...taking a perfectly good fastener apart with visegrips is friggin hack.... it's not hack with a quality adjustable.. thus, a visegrip is certainly "hack" compared to an adjustable for professional wrenchturning... I can't even see how this is a question for a pro wrench.. 
I wasn't questioning their value overall in a toolbox..
a fubar'd fastener? sure, have at it, it's f*cked already.. but your certainly not gonna take a clean motor apart with a visegrip.. whereas, it's feasible to use a decent adjustable on some of the fasteners...
I wasn't questioning their value overall in a toolbox..
a fubar'd fastener? sure, have at it, it's f*cked already.. but your certainly not gonna take a clean motor apart with a visegrip.. whereas, it's feasible to use a decent adjustable on some of the fasteners...
I could not agree more.
I know I have A LOT of tools. Been collecting since 13. I will NEVER have enough 
. HUUUUGE PROUD TOOL WHORE RIGHT HERE 
. This is what my ex is trying like hell to get me to lose. AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN PERIOD MOTHER F*****. I want my son to get it all when I go.
. HUUUUGE PROUD TOOL WHORE RIGHT HERE . This is what my ex is trying like hell to get me to lose. AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN PERIOD MOTHER F*****. I want my son to get it all when I go.
Vice grips are used on fubar fasteners, and bolts you can hold on one side and tighten the other. I have never seen anyone take an engine apart with a pair of vicegrips.
I have seen lots of fasteners that were not ****ed up at all, destroyed by adjustable wrenches. Buy the right tool.
Martin
I have seen lots of fasteners that were not ****ed up at all, destroyed by adjustable wrenches. Buy the right tool.
Martin
yeah, ok... visegrips on the backside bolt, yeah, that's not hack... how about 2 wrenches?
When you can't reach it to hold it in place? It is also not going to destroy the fastener.
Martin
Martin
