Imagine working on a project and having all the tools and parts you need right there. That’s what you strive for when you storing and organizing your tool collection. Your tool storage equipment should provide you with these three important elements: Security from theft and loss. Protection from damage. Organization that allows for easy, fast access and mobility.
If you are building a bench or table that won’t be used for off-feed support for materials being processed, some general height recommendations include either 34-in. high, knuckle high, or hip-pocket high.
Over the coarse of a few projects, you can accumulate quite a collection of small screws, nails, and other small parts. There are several ways you can store these items; baby food jars, small paper bags, soup cans, or even a multi-drawer small parts organizer. The trick is to be able to quickly see what is inside each container without having to waste time searching. Using your hot glue gun, attach a sample of the small piece on the outside of the container. This will give you a quick, visual reminder of what’s inside.
Generally allow about 2-in. from the back of the tool to the wall, but be sure to leave space for any sawdust collection equipment you plan to install, including the ductwork and any attachments to it or to the tool.
You can use several plastic 5-gal. buckets fitted with tough nylon tool holders to help organize your shop. When not being used they can be hung up neatly on screw hooks to the side of your workbench or inside a special cabinet. Using several buckets will allow you to organize in various ways, like inside work, outside work, plumbing work or electrical work.
When making repairs or taking apart equipment, be prepared for the occasional dropped part. Clean off a section of your workbench and spread out a smooth shop or dish towel. The towel will keep errant small parts from rolling around on the floor and getting lost. For small jobs, even square shop rags will work; for larger jobs cover the bench with salvaged carpeting.
You can improve the visibility inside your workshop just by painting the walls and floors white. If your workshop is in the basement paint the sides of the window wells white too.
Accessories available can turn your plastic 5-gallon buckets into handy tool carriers. Another way to put them to use is for storing extension cords. Cut a hole near the bottom. Feed the female end just through the hole from the inside. Then coil the cord into the bucket for easy carrying. You can also put small project parts inside of recycled plastic peanut butter jars and store them in a bucket. The jars are easy to carry around, won’t break, and let you easily see inside.
Once a small part gets lost in grass or on floors, you can waste a lot of time looking for it. To find it quickly, put a nylon stocking over the end of your shop vacuum hose and fasten it with a rubber binder. Turn on the vac and play it over the area where it might have gone. If the part is there the vac will suck it up and hold it on the nylon so you can just pick it off.
Small cabinets with plastic drawers are easier to use if you mount them at eye level in your shop. That way items are easier to see without pulling out all of the drawers to get what you need.
