Garage Shop: Tools

yea why would you want to play music, or have a background movie playing, or watch a how-to on what you're trying to accomplish, or put something on for your kids and spend some time hanging out, etc, while working?

 

i wouldn’t consider a TV hanging up 8’ on a garage wall clutter

 

Here’s the situation. I do a considerable amount of woodworking. Right now I work in my garage. I have plans to ‘21 to build a detached garage to be the new shop and want to go into it organized (I know - promises, promises).

What is your favorite box/organization solution and why. I’m thinking Milwaukee Packout, Craftsman Veristack, Systainer, Bosch LBOXX, etc.

 

I gotta agree on the no TV in the garage, don't really care what others do though. I just wouldn't have one myself, or kids in the garage.

 

There’s a lot of drivers who don’t know what a shop manual is, let alone a greasy version.

I don’t watch TV, but my computer setup in the garage is primarily my jukebox when I’m working, an easy way to pull up info as needed whether it’s a large scale wiring diagram (not a small diagram I have to pinch zoom to view on iPhone), YouTube reference, forum DIY reference, etc.

Some people definitely go into the garage or shop or solace and solitude, and want to sit under a dark lamp at an oil stained bench and do whatever.
Others yet maybe slightly less curmudgeon and find efficiency in resources. A screen is a tool for the latter type and connectivity is the greatest resource for repair or maintenance tasks besides the person actually doing the work. But, a close second.

Hands only get shit done when they know what to do.

 

For tools and the such....I went with the Dewalt Toughsystem. All my stuff is the 1.0 though there are some more options for the 2.0 stuff. But i rather like that they offer a van storage solution that also works great just in the garage. I keep all the tools I dont use that often and its nice to grab and have it all there. i actually just got one of my two "racks" up today, though it needs some adjusting spacing wise.


As for the small parts stuff. I use the harbor Freight storage bins. Both the small 20 bin and the larger 8 bin. Not the sturdiest and not something I'd haul around to job sites but for the garage and home they are great.

 

I dig the Rigid boxes at Home Dump, they're affordable and they weather seal. They get throw around hard in the shop and in the truck and haven't even cracked one yet

 

Depends on your needs. I have a tool box with a stainless top in the garage and Packout for my electrican's tools and consumables. When I'm home I don't even use the tools in my Packout because its easier to pull them out of a drawer than to unstack the damn thing to get a screwdriver or something. What I'm saying is if you need portability as in job site to job site a mobile system is going to be better. If all of this is going to stay in your garage you will get frustrated with a mobile system and buy a roller box or cart anyways.

For example, my electrician's tools (commercial/industrial motor control) are in Packouts, my mechanical tools, power tools, and layout tools are in a 72" Homak triple bank with stainless top, I'm getting a US General 26" box for my drill press which will hold all the bits, drivers, router bits, forsener bits, and specific woodworking (chisels, Japanese hand saws, etc.). I have cheap Channellock versions of all my Klein stuff in my Packouts for my garage use. I use the Packouts for my home kit because almost everything I need is in there for general home bs.

The best system is the one that doesn't frustrate the user. Everybody has a different idea of organization and what works for you might not work for me or somebody else.

 

I had not thought about Harbor Freight for things that don’t leave the shop.

I have looked at these boxes but they require quite a bit of printer time. https://www.alch.shop/shop/p/assortment-bins-v2-and-case-bundle

 

Hmmmm. Valid point. All these boxes may not be best for in shop use. I do a good bit of work at friends’ houses and the mobile boxes would shine there. Maybe I need a combination of mobile and stationary...

 

Affordable is a good thing. I’m bad about going for the “best” when it comes to these things. Sometimes accessible (Home Depot) and affordable are better than the best.

 

That's what I have. I try to do most work at home and specialty stuff I refuse to do elsewhere. But brakes, fluid flushes, basic maintenance, I'll travel for that. And some hearty boxes help

 

I have a 55 inch wall mounted monitor in my garage. I use it to display schematics/ manuals when working on my motorcycles and other projects. It comes in super handy. Much easier to see from 10ft away than a laptop or phone screen. I suppose I could hook the firestick up to it and watch sports/ TV as well, but I don't use it for that.

No kids allowed? How will they learn their way around a garage if they're not allowed in? My daughter is only 2 but has already expressed interest in hanging out with me in the garage. I love having her by my side, asking what each tool does. Wouldn't have it any other way.

 

I'm that way when it comes to common use tools, I've found with plastic things though... Cost doesn't often equal value, and with storage, which is high travel and heavy use... You might find yourself breaking "the best" like the average or even the cheap.

 

I have a shitty laptop that I keep for manuals that I don't use often enough to print. But most of the time I have an audiobook going in the garage and I'm well aware of what I'm doing (lots of fabrication stuff that doesn't require a book). In a normal garage, yeah kids would be fine. Mine is all sharp metal, dangerous tools, expensive parts, and heavy things. Not exactly kid friendly, and I'm in there to get things done, not to babysit. Plus, no kids for me, I'd maybe make an exception for my own once it was old enough to understand that things hurt and that entering the garage carries that risk. But TBH, while I like kids well enough, I really don't want any.

 

That makes sense. I definitely wouldn't want my neighbor's or anyone else's kids running around my garage.

 

Maybe like a 26 or 44 US General box for the garage and some Packout like system that you have a purpose sized shelf for each piece so you can easily grab a box and set it on your bench or toolbox to get what you need but all the mobile boxes stay packed for your road work. That would make them more user friendly in the garage but still ready to roll when needed.



Something like this with a tool box for the garage wouldn't be a bad start.

 

Theres no clutter at all with it, its out of the way on the wall. Nothing else will go on that side of the wall. Like most people mentioned, i like to have music on, a movie/show on the background, youtube. Im very organized, stuff in bins on baker rack, tools neatly in my box, black cabinet full of cleaning supplies, paint, yard tools on the wall, etc. I have a 3 car garage and can park my truck and 2 other cars in there no problem.

 

what kind of tools ?

 

The stuff I carry out is mostly Makita LXT plus the requisite PPE/screws/glues/paint/etc.

Stuff the I need to get better organized in the shop is more like table saw/router/jointer/etc. parts and accessories. These would potentially do better in a rolling bench with storage boxes in individual cubbies but I’m not convinced yet.

I already have a mechanic style rolling toolbox with most of my hand tools in it.