Where/how do you store tools?

[dr.girlfriend]

I feel like I have random tools scattered all over the house.  I'm not very handy, so if it's a minor repair I think I often end up rebuying what I need (e.g. handsaw, hammer) because I can't find it.  Recently I've kept the main picture-hanging kind of stuff in a cloth bin upstairs, but I'm cleaning out the scary basement and I'd like to have some more organized way to store tools that maybe I can keep in the mudroom or shed.  Any suggestions?  I think a traditional toolbox may be too heavy for me to carry around and therefore not so useful.

[momin2013]

If you’re thinking along the lines of a portable toolbox, DH has a fabric one that’s basically open in the middle with a divider, then a bunch of pockets and slots all around the sides, and a carrying handle. He keeps his frequently used stuff in there for odd jobs around the house.

It’s like this: www.homedepot.ca/product/husky-10-inch-all-purpose-tool-tote/1000668514?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D00%20-%20E-Comm_GGL_Shopping_PLA_EN_All%20Products_All%20Products__PRODUCT_GROUP_pla-294357661102&gclid=CjwKCAjwpJWoBhA8EiwAHZFzfmmbScfhASiGPsemvqvvbIkcN0rK_h7OsDMr5mw-AFQOKgpP9ovaCxoCpp4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[dr.girlfriend]

Sept 16, 2023 11:56:22 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

If you’re thinking along the lines of a portable toolbox, DH has a fabric one that’s basically open in the middle with a divider, then a bunch of pockets and slots all around the sides, and a carrying handle. He keeps his frequently used stuff in there for odd jobs around the house.

It’s like this: www.homedepot.ca/product/husky-10-inch-all-purpose-tool-tote/1000668514?eid=PS_GOOGLE_D00%20-%20E-Comm_GGL_Shopping_PLA_EN_All%20Products_All%20Products__PRODUCT_GROUP_pla-294357661102&gclid=CjwKCAjwpJWoBhA8EiwAHZFzfmmbScfhASiGPsemvqvvbIkcN0rK_h7OsDMr5mw-AFQOKgpP9ovaCxoCpp4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I think that would be better than the cloth bin for the smaller high-frequency tools, but I'm also trying to think of the best way to store bigger things like handsaw, tilecutter, etc.  A chest with drawers, maybe, or maybe I could fit a pegboard in the shed?  It would suck to have to go out to the shed to get something in the dark and cold but I guess I don't really need those things in an emergency situation?

[macmars45]

H has a giant heavy toolbox in the garage. He just grabs whatever he needs and then put it away when done. Except the damn screw driver. It's rare that puts that away after using it.

#not helpful

ETA: He also has a table with wheels in the garage specifically for tools & handy things.

[mrsukyankee]

We have a lot of tools/bits so we have a Stanley rolling toolbox which we keep in a closet. Best buy ever.

[aspentosh]

We have deep shelves that I hung in our garage and most of them first there except for the chop saw, table saw, sawsall, etc. Those are on one of those metal shelves (far left of second pic). These aren't great photos because we had just refinished our garage and we were trying to figure out what went where... But things like hand saw, routers, jig saw, circular saw, clamps, etc are on the wall in bins. 





We do also have a cloth tool bag inside for a small drill, hammer, wrenches, etc for the quick jobs.

[hbomdiggity]

We have a lot of tools as we are handy and done a lot of diy over the years. We store tools in multiple large rolling toolboxes and wall shelves in the garage.

[definitelyO]

poorly

We have a few tool boxes that are on a shelf in the garage - but the tool that I usually want is always in the 3rd one I look at. they are a variety of sizes - but would think you could find a smaller plastic one that will fit your commonly used tools (hammer, 2 screwdrivers, measuring tape, level)

[bee20]

A craigslist filing cabinet I keep in the garage. You need drawers that can handle weight. I put similar task supplies together (brushes plus masking tape, saw plus t square, PPE all together). Mine is pretty old so it has metal sliding separators which makes it nice.

[simpsongal]

Yeah, I could use a better system- we have a full wall pegboard in our garage. I like it b/c I can see what we have. Other than that, I'd probably get a small, light tool box w/most common tools (screw drivers, hammer, plyers, neednose, tape measure, stud finder, roll of painter's tape, etc.

[heygrey]

We have heavy duty shelves in an exterior storage room for the bigger, heavier stuff like saws. It’s annoying to go outside in the winter to get something, but using that stuff is usually a planned operation, not a surprise. I have a smaller toolbox with the basics that is easily portable for things like hanging photos.