Organizing My Shop

mattbyington said:
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Great pics, thanks.  I’d love more info on this one. Is it a drawer? How is it attached?

Tips for improvement:
1. When cutting the foam, include a half-inch semi-circle somewhere on an outside edge, to make removal easier.
2. For future labels, make them lower case (or Title Case), which makes them quicker to read (the ascenders and descenders on the letters make his easier).
3. Choose whether to ignore random tips from OCD posters on the internet  ;D
 
Cutting out foam for individual tools seems to WASTE a huge amount of space.  Individual space for each type of plier?  Pliers are happy to lay on top of each other.  And because pliers look unique, they are easy to pick out.  Hand planes don't need that much space around them.  And they can sit on their blade/sole if there is a cushion/cardboard underneath.  I could/do fit three planes in the space you have for one.  I'd suggest getting rid of the foam and putting three times as many tools in the drawers.  Its not like you are moving the chests around in a vehicle all day and they could bang into each other.  All the tools and chests are stationary, the tools never ever move or hit each other.  Why the foam for protection to prevent banging?
 
great job. Be careful, the organization rabbit hole is deep. I have gone deeply down in with the full adoption of Sortimo, Sustainer, tool chest storage. I also believe that drawers should not be any deeper than what is in them. IF you can not see it or quickly utilize a tool you do not own it. Time looking for tools and rooting through drawers is a PITA and a time waster. My only complaint with foam is that is wears and gets tatty. Still great job.
 
I know the Kaizen has plys to peel out but ..........

If you are doing a bunch of pretty much uniform thickness tools, it can be easier to use two separate layers of foam and just cut all the way through the first layer. When you are done with the cutouts place on top of a thinner bottom piece. Maybe some two sided carpet tape in between to keep them from shifting.

Or use one layer and cut all the way through, then peel apart (or slice apart) the plys on the removed piece to the desired "bottom" thickness and reinsert in the cut out. These two methods can save a lot of Kaizen ply peeling effort.

Seth
 
RussellS said:
Cutting out foam for individual tools seems to WASTE a huge amount of space.  Individual space for each type of plier?  Pliers are happy to lay on top of each other.  And because pliers look unique, they are easy to pick out.  Hand planes don't need that much space around them.  And they can sit on their blade/sole if there is a cushion/cardboard underneath.  I could/do fit three planes in the space you have for one.  I'd suggest getting rid of the foam and putting three times as many tools in the drawers.  Its not like you are moving the chests around in a vehicle all day and they could bang into each other.  All the tools and chests are stationary, the tools never ever move or hit each other.  Why the foam for protection to prevent banging?
Click to expand...

I think we all take a different view of how things should be organized best.  In his case, there is plenty of space available (at present).  As he acquires more tools, he may find the need to increase the density and incorporate some of the ideas you've shared.

The foam is a controversial subject.  Yes, it's time consuming and wastes some space, but everything has it's place and when something isn't put back it's clearly evident.  And everything stays put.  But if you add, remove or reorganize tools, dealing with the foam can be a real pain in the butt.  I haven't gone down this rabbit hole because of the inflexibility, but there are a few instances where I might employ it to keep delicate (or precision tools) protected. 

As for the pliers, I can't bring myself to throw them into a pile.  The idea of moving stuff to get to the tool you want is exactly what I try to avoid when I attempt to organize (the irony is I still have systainers stacked 6-7 high in separate piles).  I did add a pliers rack to my tool chest which stands them on their side (requires a 3-4" drawer).  I can line them up and quickly grab what I need, but there are 20-30 different "pliers" in there from auto, plumbing, electrical and general purpose.  There is still a pile in the middle for the ones that are longer than 12", they just lay across the drawer.  I do grit my teeth a little when I move them around to grab the one at the bottom of the pile. 
 
[member=18283]RobBob[/member] a local company, "OTEpoxy". I'm in the bay area, California. They are great. Not cheap but great.

[member=21249]RKA[/member] I always have to move mine out when I do woodworking because I've likely just cleaned it :). One day I dream of 2 shops - one for my car and detailing and one for woodworking. Maybe one day.

[member=66159]rp127777[/member] thanks!

[member=64013]ElectricFeet[/member] yep [member=3192]rvieceli[/member] was right it's from Rockler.

[member=13115]RussellS[/member] definitely not for everyone, agreed! May not suit your fancy.

[member=2242]tallgrass[/member] thanks!

[member=1619]SRSemenza[/member] thanks for the tips! Totally agreed - the 2 pieces of foam, cutting all the way through the top one is actually an idea I Had a few days ago. I didn't wanna wait for Amazon to deliver me the other piece though so I dug in. I may redo them.

This was mostly practice - the larger drawer with the Woodpeckers stuff in it was my first one which is why it looks so bad. I'll definitely redo that one. Just practicing. It takes some skill for sure.

[member=21249]RKA[/member] hit it on the head I think. Honestly it's whatever makes you happy, as with most things in life. If it pleases you - do it. If it doesn't, don't do it.

I think if we all followed that advice more, and worried less about what other people were doing, the world would be a better place. But alas I digress :)

Matt
 
Instead of using foam, I line the drawers with Non-Skid Grip Shelf Liner and organize my tools on it.  It keeps them from shifting around.  Make it easy to move things around.  A low tech solutions that works for me.

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[member=67555]mattbyington[/member] ...... When you run out of things to organize, this guy (not me) could sure use some help  [eek]

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I have a lot of drawers that look identical to this...file under pile...I know it's here somewhere
 
Awesome shop!

I'm not real familiar with the mft/3, in your picture that shows your fence....is that the stock parts that come with it or something that you came up with? Looking for some type of fence w/stop blocks for my 20mm slab.

Thanks in advance!
 
Nothing wrong with a clean shop ;)

I’ve been on a similar mission the last 18 months.

323e834288e6afad95998cff048343f7.jpg


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dusty.tools
 
and he goes by the handle [member=67145]DustyTools[/member]

Very nice setup there!

DustyTools said:
Nothing wrong with a clean shop ;)

I’ve been on a similar mission the last 18 months.

323e834288e6afad95998cff048343f7.jpg


——————————
dusty.tools
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Matt

The tape you used from Amazon would you happen to remember the the part number. I also purchased one from them and it was to wide to fit on the front like yours, did you have to trim it.

Thanks
Bob
 
[member=67145]DustyTools[/member] Clever way to setup your CNC. Is it on sliders and if so what grade you use?
 
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