I spend my working life writing software and generally staring at computer screens. When I’m done with the computer for the day, I feel compelled to do something “real world”, like cook or build something. Cooking is easy, satisfying and relatively self-contained. Other types of projects require not only space, but an organized space where you can find the right tool or the right size bolt before you have to stop because it’s bed time.
Such has been the problem with my garage since I’ve had a garage. My tools have traditionally been stored in a pile next to the last thing I worked on. At best, they were all jumbled up in a toolbox. After seeing how Jaime Hyneman keeps his tools organized, I was kind of inspired. So long as everything has a place and you know where that place is, the amount of time you spend looking for something in particular can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.
I started by declaring a number of functional areas for the space. I would have one bench for small projects, like electronics and another for larger stuff, like woodworking. Bike repair would have its own area. Tool storage would be centrally located.
I decided that I what I really wanted was a way to have my tools all out and accessible at all times, but not all jumbled up. I’ve seen this done effectively with peg boards, but those get pricey by the time you’ve got a hook for every tool. I also don’t love how much actual wall space pegboards take up. I decided I wanted something that would come out from the wall a bit that had a horizontal surface with holes in it. This could be used to store all manner of commonly used hand tools, like screwdrivers, hammers, pliers and so on. I was just about to make something when I saw this milk crate in the corner of the garage. It was an older one that had this heavy metal band around the top. I turned it upside down, bolted it to the wall and started putting tools in the holes in the bottom. If a tool wouldn’t fit, I cut some of the plastic bars to accomodate it. I probably fit two pegboards worth of tools in a quarter of the space. Here’s a picture of it:
For things that wouldn’t fit in the rack, I just put a finishing nail in the wall and hung it. Another thing I’m kind of proud of is this quick but useful drill bit holder I made:
It has hooks so it can hang on the wall but can also be moved where it needs to go.
Now that everything has a spot, I waste no time looking for stuff. I can spend the hour or two at a time I might have for projects actually working on projects instead of looking for my sh*t. Yay! Here’s more pictures of the finished reorganization.
On March 27th, 2009 at 10:55 pm Morgan said:
Everything in *its* right place. No apostrophe for the possessive.
On March 30th, 2009 at 12:36 pm Jaybill McCarthy said:
@Morgan – Good catch, fixed. Also: I hate you.
On May 12th, 2009 at 5:06 am Kate said:
Yea! Brilliant. Did you have a moment of “gee, I might be a little like Dad” at any point? He would definitely be impressed by the milk crate.