Group workshop, tool chest, tools, and tool organization thread.

Just Jeff · Jan 4, 2023

FTWingRiders said:
Had an idea for a rolling bin tower for odds and ends. Originally was going to mount it on a rail to slide back and forth, then decide to K.I.S.S. it.
screwed to a HF furniture dolly with the wheels screwed straight… lol.
View attachment 2578854

I didn't make my own like you did, but I bought a Milwaukee Packout wheeled dolly, that I can put my Packout boxes on and wheel around in my shop. Stupid thing cost a hundred bucks though.

FTWingRiders · Jan 4, 2023

Just Jeff said:
I didn't make my own like you did, but I bought a Milwaukee Packout wheeled dolly, that I can put my Packout boxes on and wheel around in my shop. Stupid thing cost a hundred bucks though.

View attachment 2578859

View attachment 2578858

That rocks!! Those Pack outs are super sweet! I eyeball them every time I’m in HD.. been able to resist, so far, since I’m not going mobile very much.. lol. My son, on the other hand, is an electrician and has gone off the deep end with them.. much to the dismay of his young bride. 😆

Just Jeff · Jan 5, 2023

FTWingRiders said:
That rocks!! Those Pack outs are super sweet! I eyeball them every time I’m in HD.. been able to resist, so far, since I’m not going mobile very much.. lol. My son, on the other hand, is an electrician and has gone off the deep end with them.. much to the dismay of his young bride. 😆

You KEEP FIGHTING THAT FIGHT, just as long as you are able to! Because when you do delve into them, they're an expensive obsession for sure. I'm not necessarily that mobile either, but I like the option of being so when I need to be. But the Packout stuff I love for even just being in my shop. The one in the pictures for example. I had just bought when the picture was taken, but that one is strictly for all of my fasteners. I can put wood screws, sheet metal screws, deck screws, etc.....They'll all go in their own individual bin, and then stop taking up space on my shop shelves. And the really nice part is, that they can't migrate out of their own bins. Even if I tip the whole thing over on it's lid, they'll all still be in their correct bins. And just in that one Packout box, I've got 27 separate bins. Enough for almost all of my fasteners, except for strip nails for nail guns. And if I wanted to, I could take out a few of those dividers, and put the strip nails in there as well. They're really nice, but yes, too darned expensive!

FTWingRiders · Jan 5, 2023

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

MUST……. RESIST……I…… MUST……RESIST..

dang.. I’m in trouble now!!

PA318Guy · Jan 5, 2023

This thread could really cause some serious wallet deflation! 🤣

Just Jeff · Jan 5, 2023

PA318Guy said:
This thread could really cause some serious wallet deflation! 🤣

Absolutely no doubt. I'm fighting the urge to buy a Milwaukee green laser level right now! I have a lot of different things that I could use it for, but the problem is, right now Milwaukee is ONLY selling it as a kit, with batteries, charger etc...I only want the level. I don't need anymore batteries or chargers. So, I really don't want to pay for things that I don't need. And the kit is around 600 bones.

Mike514 · Jan 8, 2023

I bought pegboard accessories before Christmas for the garage. Haven't organized yet, but I figured I needed dedicated tools for the garage, inside and shed, so I'm waiting for an order to arrive.

I also will be doing a shed make over. I need to paint the floor as my Amish shed floor is slippery when wet. Will put down oil based paint with the anti-slip sprinkles. Didn't is for the front porch steps and worked well. Just need to decide if I'll do light peg board shelving, or, shoveling out of 2x3s. The shed stores the JD with 60" deck in the summer, plow in the winter, walk behind snow blower, wheel barrow and dump cart. Have to be very mindful, but maybe include a small fold down bench.

609745 · Jan 8, 2023

PA318Guy said:
This thread could really cause some serious wallet deflation! 🤣

good one and correct,

FTWingRiders · Jan 8, 2023

Mike514 said:
I bought pegboard accessories before Christmas for the garage. Haven't organized yet, but I figured I needed dedicated tools for the garage, inside and shed, so I'm waiting for an order to arrive.

After chasing back and forth to my tool box for tools, no matter how many I grabbed, I’ve given up and have a basic, but complete tool box in multiple locations.. Garage, shed, even on opposite sides of my shop. Just frustrating to have to keep walking back and forth.

Just Jeff · Jan 8, 2023

FTWingRiders said:
After chasing back and forth to my tool box for tools, no matter how many I grabbed, I’ve given up and have a basic, but complete tool box in multiple locations.. Garage, shed, even on opposite sides of my shop. Just frustrating to have to keep walking back and forth.

I agree to a point. I mean, really I AGREE. I have a lot of tool redundancy myself. But to me and for me, I really feel stupid buying some of the same tools over and over just for convenience (and laziness') sake. That was one of my reasons for buying the wheeled dolly for the Packout stuff. Instead of getting another tool set, I can just roll one of my current ones to where I'm working with the dolly. Granted, that's only convenient if you're not rolling it across your gravel driveway to go to your barn or something like that, but within the shop, I find it very handy. I'm sure a person could accomplish pretty much the same thing with a cheap HF wheeled tool cart as well.

PA318Guy · Jan 8, 2023

FTWingRiders said:
After chasing back and forth to my tool box for tools, no matter how many I grabbed, I’ve given up and have a basic, but complete tool box in multiple locations.. Garage, shed, even on opposite sides of my shop. Just frustrating to have to keep walking back and forth.

Same here, one in the basement, garage and workshop. One in the garage and workshop is on wheels so I can bring it close to where I'm working.

FTWingRiders · Jan 8, 2023

Just Jeff said:
I agree to a point. I mean, really I AGREE. I have a lot of tool redundancy myself. But to me and for me, I really feel stupid buying some of the same tools over and over just for convenience (and laziness') sake. That was one of my reasons for buying the wheeled dolly for the Packout stuff. Instead of getting another tool set, I can just roll one of my current ones to where I'm working with the dolly. Granted, that's only convenient if you're not rolling it across your gravel driveway to go to your barn or something like that, but within the shop, I find it very handy. I'm sure a person could accomplish pretty much the same thing with a cheap HF wheeled tool cart as well.

Mobile is definitely nice! Fortunately, or unfortunately if you ask my wife, I’ve been collecting tools for 40 years or so, and my first kits were small and cheap..(and all I could afford)..and I’ve upgraded a few times.. my last real hand tool upgrade was to USA Made Craftsman back in the day. But having enough of my Ol’Yankee Farmer of a Dad in me has kept me from actually getting rid of any such old tools, as long as they’re fully functional.. So I’ve accumulated a fair share.
Now that I’ve got a 100 yard walk down to my shop, I appreciate having duplicates. Up in the house garage is just a basic hand tool and socket set, along with a M12 drill and driver to cover any minor things around the house. Same for the shed where lawn equipment is stored, just a Bucket Buddy full, but it is handy when I’m out there. The shop is broken up into two parts.. the 2 bay woodworking/ big work bench area and the single bay with a small lift to get the motorcycle, tractors or atvs up so I don’t need to crawl anymore than necessary.. lol.
Each is tailored to the tasks in said areas..with only one set of say, electrical stuff or any specific tool, so if those are needed up at the house, I’m taking a stroll. Lol
I also will admit to getting bit by the Tekton bug and have been slowly acquiring new sets the past year.. as my craftsmen, tho they’ve perform admirably, are starting to show wear.. along with more than a few missing pieces. So I’m treating myself to a new box this spring and stock it with the new tools, which should be the last time.
I also have three boys, two which are very handy, and will be happy to take some duplicates off my hands.. lol.

Just Jeff · Jan 9, 2023

I've wondered about the Tekton and Gearwrench stuff. Are those supposed to be "good" tools? I see them popping up when I'm looking around at various tools, and the prices are always cheap, so I assumed both of those were just "throw away" brands, similar to HF stuff. Is that not the case though?

FTWingRiders · Jan 9, 2023

Just Jeff said:
I've wondered about the Tekton and Gearwrench stuff. Are those supposed to be "good" tools? I see them popping up when I'm looking around at various tools, and the prices are always cheap, so I assumed both of those were just "throw away" brands, similar to HF stuff. Is that not the case though?

Most feel is a very good median level of tools for the home owner/ budget conscious semopro.. a heck of a lot cheaper than the big boys, but still well made with a great warranty… mostly Taiwan, some USA manufactured.

About Us | TEKTON Hand Tools

We are a family-owned hand tool company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We work hard, think precisely, and question convention to provide you the hand tools we would want to use ourselves.

www.tekton.com

So far I’m very impressed with them. Plus with the 10% rewards with every purchase, 20% during the holidays.. I gotta stop opening their emails. Lol

FTWingRiders · Jan 9, 2023

Tackled another project today, I had made this outfeed/downdraft table few years ago. I never really used the downdraft portion so I felt it was time to remodel it for better storage. My bin tower was getting rather tall with everything on top of it. lol

Time to tear into it. Luckily I build with screws.. as I’m prone to change my mind, it helps with the dismantling. 😀

The only problem is is that I created a flat surface on my small part bin tower, and as I know, nature abhors a vacuum, I’ve got to figure out what to do with it before it becomes a vacuum of more crap!

lx176mainer · Jan 9, 2023

Completed assembly of a couple cart tops I have been working on here and there for about a month. I saw a video on Ewetube where the author built the chop saw cart top and I thought it would be perfect for my saw. That gave me the idea for a home for my mini lathe with drawer storage for the tooling and what not. Under storage of the carts also got numerous things a new home that can now roll out of the way.

The chop saw cart top is 90% made from this free piece of workout equipment I picked up on the side of the road

Grabbed a tool cart and a 5 drawer carts from Harbor Freight and got them assembled

You see the table the lathe used to sit on in the background above. That table became the source of the flat tops' sheets and the outer tube base for the rotating extendable material suuports on the saw top. I added a spot for the bandsaw while i was at it.

Bandsaw and chop saw location before:

And now:

And the lathe cart

More cleanup will happen down the road, but another project will be before that.

Adam

dave_r · Jan 9, 2023

I've got some gearwrench tools, Metric and SAE crowsfoot wrenches which work fine.

I also bought sets of M and SAE ratcheting wrenches (where the closed end can ratchet). That end works great, the open end "end" is botched, as they put on a gimmicky ratcheting mechanism there, which kinda works if the nut/bolt is perfect, you get the wrench lined up exactly right, and you are dripping blood on the ground. While it's not unusual for me to be dripping blood, the other two conditions rarely happen, so that end of the wrench doesn't get used.

FTWingRiders · Jan 9, 2023

lx176mainer said:
Completed assembly of a couple cart tops I have been working on here and there for about a month. I saw a video on Ewetube where the author built the chop saw cart top and I thought it would be perfect for my saw. That gave me the idea for a home for my mini lathe with drawer storage for the tooling and what not. Under storage of the carts also got numerous things a new home that can now roll out of the way.

The chop saw cart top is 90% made from this free piece of workout equipment I picked up on the side of the road

View attachment 2579404
View attachment 2579405

Grabbed a tool cart and a 5 drawer carts from Harbor Freight and got them assembled

View attachment 2579406
View attachment 2579407

You see the table the lathe used to sit on in the background above. That table became the source of the flat tops' sheets and the outer tube base for the rotating extendable material suuports on the saw top. I added a spot for the bandsaw while i was at it.

Bandsaw and chop saw location before:

View attachment 2579408
View attachment 2579409

And now:

View attachment 2579410
View attachment 2579411
View attachment 2579412

And the lathe cart

View attachment 2579413

More cleanup will happen down the road, but another project will be before that.

Adam

Those came out awesome!!! Love the white HF carts.. Gives mobility and storage!, and that extending, pivoting support is super cool!

It must make that bench feel wide open now.

And whats the deal with that beautiful green 57(?) chevy pickup in the background? I need more pictures...lol!!

FTWingRiders · Jan 9, 2023

dave_r said:
I've got some gearwrench tools, Metric and SAE crowsfoot wrenches which work fine.

I also bought sets of M and SAE ratcheting wrenches (where the closed end can ratchet). That end works great, the open end "end" is botched, as they put on a gimmicky ratcheting mechanism there, which kinda works if the nut/bolt is perfect, you get the wrench lined up exactly right, and you are dripping blood on the ground. While it's not unusual for me to be dripping blood, the other two conditions rarely happen, so that end of the wrench doesn't get used.

I just ordered a set of ratcheting wrenches from Tekton... I'm hoping they're a little more compact than the Craftsmen.. won't fit into tight spaces very well...

dave_r · Jan 9, 2023

I recently bought stubby Mastercraft Maximum ratcheting metric wrench, they only worked well for a couple spots, as the ratcheting stuff makes it a lot thicker than non-ratcheting box-ends. Had to switch back to using a regular box end and/or socket to finish the job (removing nuts/bolts between transfer case and transmission).

Group workshop, tool chest, tools, and tool organization thread.

Just Jeff

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Just Jeff

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