Tool box organization for the obsessive compulsive

annoyingrob · 01-06-2009, 11:44 PM

My girlfriend got me a new hand box for Christmas, a Mastercraft 3 drawer pictured here: http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...08474396672972

Ended up being mis-priced, and only cost 17 bucks! Anyways, it's going in the back of the truck. I've been toying with an idea for a little while on how I could cheaply and easily organize my tools, and this was the end result:

I bought a foam sleeping mat from Camper's Village (1/2"x27"x72") for $24, and cut put pieces to fit in the drawers. Tools were then laid out, and traced onto the mat. Then, holes were cut with a knife. The end result is that all my tools are held in securely and neatly where they can't bounce around while I'm driving. It's not 100% complete yet, space has been left in the top for a new ratchet and socket set that I plan on getting. I'm thinking of doubling up the layers around the multimeter, and screw drivers to better hold them. Overall, I am VERY impressed with how well it turned out. I think I'm going to do my big boxes at home next.

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scuba · 01-06-2009, 11:47 PM

hmm, Work with what ya got

Nice job !

desertcox05 · 01-07-2009, 03:04 AM

i'm probabally a little OC myself. thats a nice job. i've done that to a couple of drawers in my shop 15 drawer roll around box. you can open the drawer and get a quick count of what's missing (especially if you kids have access to the box). but not always the most space effecient.

ocdropzone · 01-07-2009, 06:45 AM

no cup holder??

nice find for $17 but don't count on it staying that nice in back of the truck..first bump effect

jsn_stockard · 01-07-2009, 06:48 AM

That is pretty sweet!!!! Thinking about my home boxes

mrdoug · 01-07-2009, 06:52 AM

It seems pretty difficult to balance organization with maximum space usage. I simply carry too much crap with me to have it in single layers in cut out spaces like that.

cool for you if it works out for your needs.

Flek23 · 01-27-2009, 01:34 PM

My wife calls it OCD. I call it "I know where crap is and I know when something's missing"

**aviator** · 01-27-2009, 02:39 PM

Looks good mano that kind of organization is key to doing a good safe job. In the aviation maintenance shops all the tool boxes are laid out like that more or less. At the end of each job all drawers are opened and checked and if a tool is missing the plane does not get released until it is found. This prevents accidents from happening.

flashkl · 01-27-2009, 03:09 PM

That is CLEAN. I have a tool box just like that, only red, and the tools rattle around like crazy. I lined it with shop rags, but nothing as nice as that. Seems like a fun project to do.

934rnr · 01-27-2009, 03:24 PM

Yup that's the way my toolbox was when I was a blackhawk helicopter mechanic.
It keeps you always checking to make sure you didn't leave anything up there after you were done working on it.
Tool accountability is key.

ROCK LIZARD · 01-27-2009, 03:34 PM

Flek23: What material did you us? How are the tools held in place on those black squares? BTW looks good to me--that ain't OCD, that's "find-a-tool-fast"!

annoyingrob · 02-01-2009, 08:53 PM

Well, after a month, all of the tools are still in place. The box fits perfectly on the back shelf of my Xcab. Plans are to completely redo the back of the cab with a custom MDF/fiberglass setup to hold my ammo boxes, tool box, and a small subwoofer enclosure. At that point, it will be strapped in.

RobD · 02-01-2009, 09:36 PM

No cut-outs around the multimeter leads, electrical tape, or gloves? What kind of shoddy workmanship is that?

And you call yourself obsessive.

I have pretty much the exact same tools, except mine are crammed into one of Canadian Tire's zipper bags. It would make your OCD-driven mind do cartwheels!

annoyingrob · 02-01-2009, 10:27 PM

Hey, a lot of my tools started out in those zipper bags too

I see you're a member of the "Buy it from Canadian Tire when it's on sale, because everything is always on sale there atleast a few times every year" club.

As for the multimeter leads, I'm actually going to add a 2nd layer of foam around the multimeter, and stick the leads underneath

Edit: Oh, and the best part about the tool box, I bring it to the junkyard, and fill up the little fuse containers every time I go

algranger · 02-01-2009, 10:36 PM

nice idea i'm gonna have to do that

CRafferty · 02-01-2009, 10:38 PM

that's got to be the nicest box I've ever seen

dport · 02-02-2009, 02:35 AM

My roll around in my garage is the same way, it took me three days straight. And about 5 years later my little brother moved in with me for a year - game over.

tampabayota · 02-02-2009, 03:54 AM

i thought you said you got a hand box for christmas

**aviator** · 02-02-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annoyingrob

I see you're a member of the "Buy it from Canadian Tire when it's on sale, because everything is always on sale there atleast a few times every year" club.

As for the multimeter leads, I'm actually going to add a 2nd layer of foam around the multimeter, and stick the leads underneath

Edit: Oh, and the best part about the tool box, I bring it to the junkyard, and fill up the little fuse containers every time I go

I think most Canucks are members of that club I know I am, lol...

bigt · 02-02-2009, 04:47 PM

canadian tire is your best friend and your worst enemy... sometimes those 20 dollar ct trips every day when working on your yota really take there toll on ya!

but its my favorite place to shop!

bigtrucknwheels · 02-05-2009, 07:39 PM

jealous...

we got harbor freight, but that's about it... haha

**waskillywabbit** · 02-05-2009, 07:53 PM

I could tell you exactly which drawer every hand tool I own goes. Most of the time the ones most often used are on my rolling cart. Sockets are easily found if they have their own little organizers, but all the other crap just goes in the drawer. Putting in its own little "bed" would make me

Ron Helmuth · 02-19-2009, 02:18 PM

nicely done-that shows a lot of class.

Now that I have teenage sons I understand why my father was always saying "put it back when you are done". Drives me crazier looking all over and it is right in front of me but not where it should be....

I like that idea of everything fits in one spot and only that one spot. You see how folks do that with their pegboards with tool outlines, hmmmmm I feel some OCD coming on....

**aviator** · 02-19-2009, 09:32 PM

In aviation we do that for safety... every tool has a place in a drawer though most folks I've seen don't go the full on OCD foam cut out route since it takes too long to grab a tool out and some of the chemicals we use eat foam for snack... but after every job all tools go back in the drawer and you inventory each drawer... if everything is there you have'nt left a tool behind where it might cause an "accident"... fyi I understand know why my dad and grandfather always went nuts when I did'nt put the tools back properly when I was finished messing with them when I was a kid....

874runnersr5 · 02-21-2009, 09:00 AM

Thats sweet, i have something similar to that

i also added a shop pic to lol.

01-06-2009, 11:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
scuba Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Temecula, Or on the rocks Posts: 6,968	hmm, Work with what ya got Nice job ! __________________ Screw you guys I'm goin to TTORA Mods, please be mature and leave my sig alone, thanks. No, I will not be your friend.

01-07-2009, 06:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
ocdropzone Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 4,714	no cup holder?? nice find for $17 but don't count on it staying that nice in back of the truck..first bump effect __________________ ~Robb '81 Trekker The B4Runner Build TREKKER Forum Mini FAQ/Misc Ideas Thread TRY THESE SEARCH LINKS GOOGLE FOR TOYOTA WEBSITES LINK TO ONLINE FACTORY SERVICE MANUALS Drive a real 1st Gen Wheel Responsibly, Don't Screw It Up for Others

01-07-2009, 06:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
jsn_stockard Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gainesville Texas Posts: 558	That is pretty sweet!!!! Thinking about my home boxes __________________ www.stockardmaintenancesolution.com Leave the trail a cleaner place than it was before you got there

01-07-2009, 06:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
mrdoug Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 88	It seems pretty difficult to balance organization with maximum space usage. I simply carry too much crap with me to have it in single layers in cut out spaces like that. cool for you if it works out for your needs. __________________ DD - 02 ext-cab Taco, SAW/AAL lift, Armor a la budbuilt, bentup and badlands, manual hub conversion, 265/75-16 TKO's Project - 85 ext-cab lawn ornament

01-27-2009, 01:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Flek23 Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 224	Kindred Spirit My wife calls it OCD. I call it "I know where crap is and I know when something's missing" __________________ Jason 83 SR5 4x4 shortbed (Project) 91 DLX 4x4 xcab auto (Daily Driver) "Prosperity will have it's season, even when it's here it's going by; when it's gone we pretend we know the reasons, but all the roots grow deeper when it's dry." David Wilcox

01-07-2009, 03:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
desertcox05 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: atlanta Posts: 161	i'm probabally a little OC myself. thats a nice job. i've done that to a couple of drawers in my shop 15 drawer roll around box. you can open the drawer and get a quick count of what's missing (especially if you kids have access to the box). but not always the most space effecient.

01-27-2009, 02:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
aviator Super Moderator Staff Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: COTKU,Ontario,Canada Posts: 7,472	Looks good mano that kind of organization is key to doing a good safe job. In the aviation maintenance shops all the tool boxes are laid out like that more or less. At the end of each job all drawers are opened and checked and if a tool is missing the plane does not get released until it is found. This prevents accidents from happening. __________________ Silver 1994 Hilux Xtra cab 4x4 3.0 K&N cone filter, ported MAF, advanced timing, oversize exhaust, free flow cat, "rumble" muffler custom covered SR5 seats, map lights, factory AC tv4184 style black interior conversion started mods to come... header, custom centre console, stereo upgrade tinted windows Founding member 1972TLC fan club - Get well soon Mary Toyota Hilux... Get in or Get out of the way. Last edited by aviator; 01-27-2009 at 02:40 PM.

01-27-2009, 03:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
934rnr Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: S. Burlington, VT Posts: 1,240	Yup that's the way my toolbox was when I was a blackhawk helicopter mechanic. It keeps you always checking to make sure you didn't leave anything up there after you were done working on it. Tool accountability is key. __________________ 86 Toyota 4 runner Soild front axle, 35x12.5 BFG KM2's, winch, blah blah blah.... http://www.yotatech.com/f116/my-new-red-snappah-152938/ My cardomain page Last edited by 934rnr; 01-27-2009 at 03:26 PM.

01-27-2009, 03:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
ROCK LIZARD Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 47	Flek23: What material did you us? How are the tools held in place on those black squares? BTW looks good to me--that ain't OCD, that's "find-a-tool-fast"! __________________ '84 4RUNNER, 4WD, 100% STOCK.

02-01-2009, 08:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
annoyingrob Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 649	Well, after a month, all of the tools are still in place. The box fits perfectly on the back shelf of my Xcab. Plans are to completely redo the back of the cab with a custom MDF/fiberglass setup to hold my ammo boxes, tool box, and a small subwoofer enclosure. At that point, it will be strapped in. __________________ 86 SR5 Turbo pickup Fiberglass bed, Fiberglass Fenders. 91 1.5JZ GT40 Supra. 77 Celica Liftback. (WTB: 20R Carb!)

02-01-2009, 09:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
RobD Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 1,727	No cut-outs around the multimeter leads, electrical tape, or gloves? What kind of shoddy workmanship is that? And you call yourself obsessive. I have pretty much the exact same tools, except mine are crammed into one of Canadian Tire's zipper bags. It would make your OCD-driven mind do cartwheels! __________________ 1991 4Runner, 3.4 5VZFE swap, OME shocks/springs, 33" BFG All Terrain T/A KOs, Pioneer head unit, Infinity speakers, XM Satellite radio

02-01-2009, 10:27 PM	#14 (permalink)
annoyingrob Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 649	Hey, a lot of my tools started out in those zipper bags too I see you're a member of the "Buy it from Canadian Tire when it's on sale, because everything is always on sale there atleast a few times every year" club. As for the multimeter leads, I'm actually going to add a 2nd layer of foam around the multimeter, and stick the leads underneath Edit: Oh, and the best part about the tool box, I bring it to the junkyard, and fill up the little fuse containers every time I go __________________ 86 SR5 Turbo pickup Fiberglass bed, Fiberglass Fenders. 91 1.5JZ GT40 Supra. 77 Celica Liftback. (WTB: 20R Carb!) Last edited by annoyingrob; 02-01-2009 at 10:29 PM.

02-01-2009, 10:36 PM	#15 (permalink)
algranger Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Here in the PNW Posts: 3,264	nice idea i'm gonna have to do that __________________ . . . I said lie, for me lying under a process tree . . . .

02-02-2009, 02:35 AM	#17 (permalink)
dport Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 329	My roll around in my garage is the same way, it took me three days straight. And about 5 years later my little brother moved in with me for a year - game over. __________________ My truck's not stock, I got BFG A/T's!

02-02-2009, 03:54 AM	#18 (permalink)
tampabayota Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: TAMPA BAY Posts: 457	i thought you said you got a hand box for christmas

02-02-2009, 04:47 PM	#20 (permalink)
bigt Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: chippawa niagara falls ontario Posts: 3,201	canadian tire is your best friend and your worst enemy... sometimes those 20 dollar ct trips every day when working on your yota really take there toll on ya! but its my favorite place to shop! __________________ 1991 HILUX SURF SSR-X turbo diesel right hand drive toyota imported in 2005 from japan, 130,000 km 31 bfg a/t auto current build 1987 LWB suzuki samurai. turning 2 into one.. yota axles welded front to back, yota springs , ifs steering box,, this bad boy will not only eat jeeps but toyotas aswell \m/

02-05-2009, 07:53 PM	#22 (permalink)
waskillywabbit Super Moderator-Sponsoring Member Staff Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 14,554	I could tell you exactly which drawer every hand tool I own goes. Most of the time the ones most often used are on my rolling cart. Sockets are easily found if they have their own little organizers, but all the other crap just goes in the drawer. Putting in its own little "bed" would make me __________________ WabFab Off-Road, LLC MySpace Twitter Facebook 7th Annual South East 4Runner Jamboree, 2010 The toughest part of a Jeep is the chick driving it. WabFab Off-Road 4th Anniversary Sale

02-19-2009, 02:18 PM	#23 (permalink)
Ron Helmuth Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Denver metro area-CO Posts: 1,339	nicely done-that shows a lot of class. Now that I have teenage sons I understand why my father was always saying "put it back when you are done". Drives me crazier looking all over and it is right in front of me but not where it should be.... I like that idea of everything fits in one spot and only that one spot. You see how folks do that with their pegboards with tool outlines, hmmmmm I feel some OCD coming on.... __________________ 99 4Runner SR5 4wd 3.4/5 spd- Fact. Rr. Locker/Diff Breather Ext. Old Man Emu lift springs- 881 fronts/890 rears O/M/E shocks- N91s fr./N86 rr. All Pro Off Road welded sliders-prevent body damage! ARB"Taco"bumper/Gamiviti clear lenses/Hella 500s Redline Tuning hood struts/Bushwacker Extend a Fenders all my photos are over on Facebook now-I gave up on photo hosting sorry.... http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...5&l=5795132731

02-19-2009, 09:32 PM	#24 (permalink)
aviator Super Moderator Staff Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: COTKU,Ontario,Canada Posts: 7,472	In aviation we do that for safety... every tool has a place in a drawer though most folks I've seen don't go the full on OCD foam cut out route since it takes too long to grab a tool out and some of the chemicals we use eat foam for snack... but after every job all tools go back in the drawer and you inventory each drawer... if everything is there you have'nt left a tool behind where it might cause an "accident"... fyi I understand know why my dad and grandfather always went nuts when I did'nt put the tools back properly when I was finished messing with them when I was a kid.... __________________ Silver 1994 Hilux Xtra cab 4x4 3.0 K&N cone filter, ported MAF, advanced timing, oversize exhaust, free flow cat, "rumble" muffler custom covered SR5 seats, map lights, factory AC tv4184 style black interior conversion started mods to come... header, custom centre console, stereo upgrade tinted windows Founding member 1972TLC fan club - Get well soon Mary Toyota Hilux... Get in or Get out of the way.

02-21-2009, 09:00 AM	#25 (permalink)
874runnersr5 Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Calgary, AB Canaduh Posts: 2,786	Thats sweet, i have something similar to that i also added a shop pic to lol. __________________ 87' 4runner Sr5 : 22re : 5spd : 32x11.5 BGF Km2 : Cragar 15x8 soft 8s : TG Rock Defense Front Bumper : Sirius radio : Optima Red Top : Pioneer system : Engnbldr tchain kit : Downey 3" leafs : Diff breather : Tube doors : Bikini Top Calgary Toyota Association I <3 my Toyota

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