Earlier today I came across a Craftsman 3pc parts retrieval tool set that looked to be a great buy.
In the process of posting about it, I convinced myself I could use a set for my own tool kit, and so I purchased one.
Look what I found when cleaning up – a Craftsman magnetic pickup tool exactly like the one I just ordered.
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*Facepalm.*
It’s the end of the year, and I’m looking at a list of all of the projects I wanted to complete but didn’t.
“2024 is going to be better.” I tell myself something similar every year, but this year I mean it.
If I didn’t use something in the past 2 years, and I don’t plan to use it in the next 6 months, and it can’t fit in a portable tool box or single tool chest drawer, it’s got to go.
I like to hold onto tools, whether for comparison purposes, further editorial consideration, or nostalgia.
For example, I have a pair of Bessey pipe clamps, and they’re attached to silver-finish threaded pipe. I ordered the pipes from a woodworking supplier, under the pretense that they’ll be nicer to handle than iron pipe from the home center. They were right!
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But I haven’t used those clamps ever since I started building a collection of Bessey parallel clamps.
So, they’ve got to go.
Back when my workshop was a spare bedroom in a 2-bedroom apartment, I stored the clamps under my bed. They’re great clamps. But why am I holding onto them?
I might need it!!
Isn’t that the reason we buy certain tools on occasion, or why we buy sets?
A lot of tool users are packrats – we hold onto things we don’t want to have to buy again, or might need for some impromptu task or project need.
I don’t want to have to buy the same tool twice. That’s part of what led to ToolGuyd’s creation – I wanted to make the right purchase the first time, to stretch limited funds as much as possible.
It’s deep cleaning time, and decisions are going to have to be made.
I also made bad purchasing decisions. I bought too many Packout organizers, because they were on sale in previous years, but they’re not the best for my needs. Thanks to this year’s deals, I’m moving to Packout drawers, which suit my needs a lot better, and I’ll find other uses for my Packout organizers.
The ultimate goal is to know exactly what I have, be able to retrieve anything in a moment’s notice, and be able to perform different tool operations with minimal cleaning or setup.
Since I have limited space, this means getting rid of tools, equipment, and supplies that are no longer earning the space they take up.
I didn’t even know I had this retrieval tool, but upon seeing it I remember buying it when Craftsman launched their first new hand tools at Lowe’s.
Will getting rid of 2 pipe clamps and a bunch of other things help me find my retrieval tool and other supplies? Yes, or at least that’s what I hope.
You might see posts about all kinds of tools in coming days and weeks, because that helps me part with them a little easier. Then, maybe I’ll talk more about purchases that I’m keeping.
I also dumped out 12 of my last remaining Bosch L-Boxx tool boxes, and transferred the contents to new Packout drawered tool boxes on rolling dollies. The Packout drawer tool boxes – and Packout tool boxes in general – are so much better than L-Boxxes.
I stacked the L-Boxxes in the corner so that I can donate them this weekend, and I almost took a sledge hammer to them. They’re just BAD. One or two are fine, but stacking a couple together is a test of my patience every single time.
I have 3-4 L-Boxxes with tools that are best transferred to… I don’t know yet, maybe Packout organizers or some of my empty Systainers. I also have a stack of Bosch L-Racks and pull-out organizers, and don’t have a better replacement storage solution for those yet.
My L-Rack looks like this Tekton tower, but taller, and with organizers with bins instead of open trays.
This might be the first year I fully organize everything and keep just what I need – with some duplicates and favorite mementos allowed.
Once I get through everything that I haven’t been using and can part with, I’ll focus on asking two questions about almost everything remaining – “do I need this?” and “where will it go?”
Take a look at your tool box, workshop, storage spaces, vans, or other tool holding areas. What works for you, and what doesn’t?
Got any tips for someone that does a little bit of everything, such as woodworking, metalworking, electronics, and more?
Mutombo
I wish I had a solution, I have the terrible habit of wanting to learn everything. My organization has been a nightmare consisting of tile work, dry wall, woodworking, mechanical, electrical, plumbing. Two car garages arent built for it. Add to this the growing family and its collection of bulky kids toys…. Good luck
Robert
Stuart, didn’t you make this “spring cleaning” vow about a year ago?
Stuart
And?
It’s a process.
My circumstances aren’t exactly normal.
Robert
And
Just saying
Just as “guilty”
fred
In business we’d do a regular inventory to confirm what we had, what we needed and what we could sell off or trash.
Once in a while we’d get a wakeup call telling us that we needed to declutter. Like when we had an insurance underwriter inspection at our cabinet shop and were asked about the hundreds of old jigs and templates stored in the basement.
You say “Since I have limited space …” Consider that a blessing – as more space can result in more clutter.
Saulac
What work for me is “ the core tools” and “the store”. The core tools are essential hand tools, power tools, accessories and supplies that fit into 3 modular boxes on a luggage cart. These are the best of tools that I have and they are with me whatever and wherever the projects are. They are 90% of the tools that I need for any projects. I have became very efficient using them. All other tools go to “the store” which is my garage where I organize same way as HD. This is essential as it helps me figure where something could be when I do not remember where they are or if I even have them. Tools needed beyond the cord tools get “check out” and return to the store for each projects/jobs. I went from unable to locate a tape measurement when I need one, to alway know where my favorite one is and where all others are when I need a specific kind.
Stuart
That’s kind of like what I’ve been doing, but what happens is my “store” gets the overflow from my workshop, and then my workshop fills up and things slow down until I can reclaim space.
Things get complicated when shop vacuums, snow blowers, and modular tool box systems arrive unexpectedly.
Saulac
I do too have a “junk drawer” where tools “temporary” go. You get more tools and therefor need to thin out tools more often than the average guys. I found “the store”, not surprisingly, helps with maintaining a healthy “inventory”, whether I have too many of something, compare something, need something, or need “space”. I learned to view space a tool, storage cost,…and the value of good tools. I went from happy to get the 25th cheap pair of pliers, to happy with a few good pairs.
MM
I keep junk tools around in case I need to modify one to suit some special task. Sometimes I find that I have to grind down a socket to fit in a tight spot, or cut a notch in one to adapt it to fit some kind of special fitting or sensor. Other times I make custom tools by welding pieces of wrenches or sockets to things. A screwdriver can easily be welded to something to add a handle or modified into a scraper, etc. Old files can make excellent knives, scrapers, or chisel blades. Of course I don’t want to do this to my nice tools or mess up sockets in my working sets, but that’s what the tote full of junk tools is for.
Kurt
I’d hang on to the pipe clamps, if not the pipe itself. You never know when you might need really long clamps.
Wiisad
I absolutely agree. I’ve gotten rid of a tool utilizing the authors thinking, and just a few months later needed that very tool. My mindset is, if you own a home or car, that day is coming when you’ll need certain tools. I mostly pickup clearance items, which are deeply discounted. I’ve tried to instill this in my much younger neighbor who is forever asking to borrow my tools, which turns into me working with him because he doesn’t know how to use most of them.
Jody
Fellow unorganized here.. Struggle is real. Like your store and core setup.
Please don’t smash those L-Boxxes! I hunt for them regularly region wide with tempest search and saved searches on the bay.
Have no idea your location but would gladly take those “smash worthy” boxes.
Stuart
I’m passing them along, so they’re sure to be used.
James
Where are you? I have a ridiculous stack, and I share the sledge hammer urges….
Steve
Don’t throw away that pickup tool and remember you have it, well two. Next time you drop a screw and it goes behind your workbench remember it. I use those things frequently and my kids love to play with it. I have the same one BTW.
Stuart
Oh definitely not – for the space this takes up, it and the new one will be keepers.
A lot of little things do add up though.
Don
I upgraded my pressed pegboard to Wall Control steel pegboard panels. My magnetic pickup tool FINALLY (!) has a place to live that is logical, accessible, and visible at all times. Before, it was always lost in a junk drawer or a junk box on a shelf.
Scott K
Would you consider a post with pictures and maybe videos showing your current setup and space? This might elicit some interesting suggestions.
My guess is that you have least duplicates of a lot of tools. If you have the space, you could setup project bins or carts that you grab for each type of work and can store away when working on something else. Or a core setup in one of those efficient drawer units you’ve posted about with less frequently used tools stored elsewhere.
Stuart
Everything is too chaotic and unpresentable.
Once volume is recovered, part of the problem is in having loose things floating around – hand tools, boxed power tools that just came in, and similar.
Michael F
I just got rid of most of my power tools, only keeping what I absolutely need. For example, I sold my M12 FUEL 6” Hatchet and kept a single handed reciprocating saw with pruning blades. The recip can do more than one job and I need it anyway, so the hatchet was “redundant” and taking up space. I’ve applied this just about everywhere in my shop. I’ve also sold 2 very large Packout stacks and migrated everything into Systainers. They’re actually smaller but organize just about the same amount of tools the way I use them – the only thing I’m losing is “empty” space.
Nathan
If i could just get the stuff out of my garage that isnt mine……
Said the dad
Wife’s stuff actually takes more room
Leo B.
I use a “store and core technique” as well. Since the garage is a shared space for me, I can see how others work in the space as well. My suggestion is that you limit flat surfaces as much as is reasonable. Tall drawer towers vs a mechanic cart or something. Obviously there’s use cases for both, but the cart opens up a lot more chance for things to collect on top. If you limit the spaces that have to be maintained, it’s easier to clean them more frequently. Lots of labeling, as well as dedicating a day per month or 2 to scanning and seeing if there’s an obvious duplicate you can let go of, can help too. I’m not sure what your property situation is like, but if you can build a shed dedicated to test samples that you won’t keep, that may help give them a landing spot that isn’t your garage or shop and help you see what’s on hand to be tested and what your personal tools are. Plus, I’d be interested in seeing a shed build as a project. Just a thought, since I don’t know your whole situation. I’ve reorganized my garage entirely 3 times now, so it’s definitely an interesting topic for me. Thanks for the opportunity to help!
Stuart
A shed is on the to-buy list, and requires permits, ground prep, and maybe removable of a small ~4″ tree that’s not doing well.
If I built one, it’ll only take a few more years.
I gave up and bought cabinet drawers for my office a few years ago, and still haven’t made fronts for them.
G G
If you do that shed, I can’t recommend Gladiator Garargeworks slat wall panels (or similar) and accessories highly enough. I won enough to do my 20’x28′ garage in a Popular Mechanics essay contest years ago, so when I added my 12’x20′ pre-manufactured shed a few years back, I did the same. Sears was shutting down at that time and the nearest one to me, 40 minutes away in (no sales tax) NH, sold all their Gladiator stock at deep, deep discounts. My neighbor and I cleaned them out. The stuff isn’t cheap, but it expands storage and organization possibilities by an order of magnitude.
Jared
Organizing is a never-ending process. I wish there was some way to make it permanent – but unless you stop adding tools and supplies, or buy space that’s outlandishly large for your storage needs, that’s never going to work.
I’ll suggest a couple things that I do – but your space and how you work might make them irrelevant.
I stopped storing anything on my work surfaces. I like to spread out when working on a particular project and I never seem to have enough flat surfaces. Plus, it’s much easier to keep things clean if I don’t have to brush or wipe around things on my tabletops.
That will only work though, if you don’t leave your projects lying around for long periods. Then they become stuff in the way and parts go missing. I try to work on one thing at a time – or I pack things away in tubs if I can’t.
Modularizing also helps. I don’t mean modular tool boxes, but subsets of tools that can be moved around. E.g. I have (many of) my ratchets mounted in a tray – so it’s no big deal to reposition them if I want to add or subtract one, or move the tray to a different drawer. Same thing for my sockets, screwdrivers, etc. I like everything to have a home so there’s no searching for a tool and it’s obvious something is missing – but I also need to be able to reconfigure that storage.
Chris Thompson
When I finally purchased two tool chests and made a serious effort to organize my tools I discovered that I own no less than five tape measures.
Yadda
I tend to buy old tape measures at estate sales. Five tape measures doesn’t begin to hit the radar.
blocky
I have opened my bag at work and found five tape measures. Heading out? Better throw one in there just in case.
eddie sky
You realize that we, most of us, forget about a tool. Then months, if not longer, later, buy another to then “find” we have it! (small things, not large machinery!).
Tape measures (can’t have enough). Driver bits. Paint brushes. Specialty tools like an awl.
I know I have a scribe somewhere….
blocky
I spend a lot of energy not buying the thing I need if it’s around here somewhere.