Organizing tools is seen as a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be.
The most important thing to remember when organizing your tools is to keep everything as easily accessible as possible so you don't end up spending more time looking for something than using it.
In this article, we will discuss some basic tips for storing tools in your garage and how the best tool organization is done by function.
Let's dive deep into this topic.
Simple Shelving
Let's start with something easy. If you have a selection of tools that you use in your garage, then simple shelving with hooks or rails can be the single most important thing you do to organize and store these tools. If your garage is small and lacks this feature, I recommend building some shelving into it if at all possible because it'll make things much easier for you when working.
This can also be useful when organizing other items in your house – including organizing your kitchen drawers – because, like the garage, simple shelving or drawers for similar smaller items can make things much easier for you.
Tool Racks
From a purely aesthetic point of view, a tool rack on your wall is going to look great in any garage. It's also very useful because it allows you to organize all those small hand tools that are hard to store anywhere else, and can take up lots of space in drawers. Even if you don't have drawers in your garage, building one into the wall above where you park your car or next to a work table is one way to keep these tools easily accessible when working on different projects in the future.
Tool Cabinets
Another option is adding some sort of cabinets to your garage. Cabinets come in different sizes and styles, so you should be able to find something that looks good in your garage. Something to remember is that cabinets often take up a lot of space, so you'll have to do some planning if you want them as part of your overall storage system for tools.
Hooks on Wall
This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are a lot of different ways to hang things in your garage depending on what types of tools they are and how often you use them. One excellent way to organize your tools is by using hooks on the wall space in your garage.
Tools like hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches can be hung from the wall on pieces of wire or simply hanging hooks. These are some of the most useful ways to store these types of tools because they allow you to easily access them when working and also leave your hands free so that you don't have to hold a tool while performing some other task.
Storage solutions are also useful for storing your various hand and power tools as well. Just keep in mind that you should only store these items somewhere out of the way when they're not in use. This is an excellent way to organize and store them, but if you leave them sitting around on shelves or the ground then it can get into a messy mess quickly.
What not to do when organizing your tools.
The following is a list of things never to do when organizing your tools.
1. Never put all your tools away in a hurry.
If you're short on time, it's easy to just throw all your tools away as soon as you're done working and clean up later. This is one of the worst things that you can do because when you come back to work on something else, you won't be able to find anything and will end up searching through a mess that could have been easily avoided by doing things slowly and methodically.
2. Don't leave tools lying around when they're not being used
The same goes for small hand tools and power or hand-operated equipment like drills, saws, etc. If they aren't in use at the moment then store them somewhere out of the way until needed again so they don't take up unnecessary space or get damaged.
3. Don't let your tools take over
If you lose the ability to walk freely around your garage, then chances are that you have too many tools and should start getting rid of some stuff you don't need. Having a cluttered tool area can lead to doing things in an inefficient manner which will make it take longer to get jobs done which can be dangerous in certain situations. Make sure there's always enough space for walking through the middle of the room so you're not constantly running into things or tripping on them when going back and forth from one side of the room to another.
4. Don't forget about your hand tools if they're nearby
Hand tools like screwdrivers, wrenches, and hammers are good examples of this. They're often stored right next to where you work (or at least should be) which means they'll be within arms reach whenever needed. Don't forget about these tools when cleaning up the area after you've completed a project because if they are left sitting out somewhere, then there's a pretty good chance that someone may walk off with them without realizing it.
5. Don't store your tools in ways that will make it hard for others to do their job
Keep in mind that family or other people who may use your garage have just as much right to its contents as you do. Also, make sure that none of your tools are in places that could get damaged if someone were to accidentally bump into them while performing another task somewhere else in the garage.
6. Don't leave “junk” around where you work, near your workspace, or anywhere nearby
This includes things like old paint cans and other items that just hold open space and take up unnecessary room in your garage. If you have extra, outdated stuff laying around then consider getting rid of it so there's no temptation to use them instead of purchasing new things for whatever project you're working on at the moment. It's also a good idea to store items like that in areas where they won't be easily accessible and constantly used, such as the attic or basement.
7. Don't use the edges of your workbench to store things
This includes small items that you may need to get at quickly but can keep stored in separate containers instead. For example, I've always used a separate container for each type of screw since they come in different length sizes and often have different head types. Another thing I've also done is storing nuts in a separate container because there are so many different threads and sizes that it would be too much trouble to try to find what you need or end up mixing them up when putting them back into the jar.
8. Don't leave dirty rags lying around where they can easily contaminate something else
In other words, clean up after yourself. As soon as you're finished using something then throw it in the trash and be sure to wash your hands before you continue working. I always try to make a point of doing this, so that no potentially harmful substances will end up on other things I want to use later.
9. If you work with anything involving chemicals, do this.
A good example is when working with motor oil, grease, paints, solvent-based cleaning solutions like brake cleaner, gasoline, etc. Sometimes some stray droplets can get on surfaces nearby depending on how much gets out.
Don't store them all in one place either since some types will react to others, such as when you have paints mixed with other materials and end up creating new compounds that could be harmful or leave stains behind. It's also a good idea to store any flammable cleaners or substances away from possible heat sources.
What equipment do I need to organize my tools?
It's helpful to have a wide variety of binders and containers that go with the type of work you're doing. This includes having one for frequently used tools, cutters, saw blades, etc. You'll also want some bins or other kinds of containers to store items like nuts, bolts, and washers in as well as general safety accessories that might be necessary while working on certain tasks or projects.
Plastic boxes are often a good idea when you use them to separate various types of items since they won't get mixed up so easily – plus they can be replaced if something spills inside without any hassle at all.
How do I protect my tools from rust and rain?
It's a good idea to keep anything that isn't used often stored inside during heavy rain, snow, or other potentially severe inclement weather because this can damage tools and cause them to fail unexpectedly. Tools are made from various types of materials depending on their use so they should be stored accordingly as well. If the item has any special features or functions then you may want to consult the manufacturer about what kind of conditions it can withstand before doing something like using it where it will get wet.
If you see that your tools are starting to rust then you can use an appropriate rust removal agent and then store them in a dry place.
Moreover, if the tool is something that's used often, then it would be better to get rid of it if the rust has gotten too bad.
How can I keep track of small hardware parts like bolts, nuts and screws?
If you find yourself using hardware parts like nuts, bolts, and screws a lot then I'd suggest getting yourself a separate container for them. This way they will be easier to find when compared to trying to look through several drawers or bins just looking for these things.
Final thoughts on how to organize tools
In conclusion, organizing your tools is not that difficult, but it is a long process.
You have to be willing to accept that there are many types of tools and the only way is trial and error. Try out different ways and when you find one you like, stick with it.
