Speaking of tools...

HardWorkingDog asks:

> How do you mechanical types organize multiple tool boxes? I

[snip]

> Am I going to have
> to REMEMBER where I put every tool now?\

Well, that's the way I do it anyway. But I'm pretty simple
about it, for the high use stuff anyway. One drawer for
wrenches, top for sockets and things that have to do
for sockets, one drawer for pliers and things that work
like them (sheet metal snips for instance), and one for
hammers and pounding things. Then there's lots of
other drawings that have all the other stuff and yes,
you just have to remember it all. But really, it's only
the lower use stuff that you ( I ) end up looking
through drawers for. Even then, you end up remembering
after looking for the internal snap ring pliers twice.

Baxter and I have the same problem though. Traveling
tool box is a subset of the permanent tool box in the
garage. I'm finally able to just grab the secondary
box, since I have enough multiples of the important
stuff, but even then I've found myself missing something
a couple times this past season.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

throw them in, in groups then have your anal retentive friend rearange them
later i use the smaller draws for smaller suff and the air tools go in the
big drawers at the bottom i have though of painting my metric socket pink
(commi color) then i could tell the difference easily since i can no longer
see them at a normal lighting and normal distance...
john
hammer: invention of Thor, commonly used to smash the expensive
part next to the part you were trying to seat home in its propper place.

"HardWorkingDog" <harvey.TakeThisOut@mush.man> wrote in message
news:harvey-B2918A.08184328102006@individual.net...
> I recently inherited (not exactly, but close enough) an old set of
> mechanic's tool boxes. I've now got a rolling chest, a stack-on 7
> drawer box, and another 8 drawer box with a lid. I'd like to start
> putting tools in them, but at this point I'm afraid I'll never be able
> to find anything because I'll have to search through 27 drawers to
> find my torque wrenches.
>
> How do you mechanical types organize multiple tool boxes? I can label
> them like file drawers I guess, but I don't recall ever seeing labels
> in any of the garages I've been in, and frankly that seems a bit
> too...Heloise-like even for an ADAR like me. Besides, there's no
> provisions that I can see for labeling the drawers. Am I going to have
> to REMEMBER where I put every tool now?
>
> --
> Charles
> '99 YZ250
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

On Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:25:42 -0700, Mike Baxter
<m*g*b*062-1@comcast.net> wrote:

> My problem is that I need more tools so I can have a
>garage set and a "to go" set. I rob it every time I go
>on a big ride it's a PITA.

Like you and sturd (and probably many others here), I too have
this problem. And an associated one: I have a few good tools
(Craftsman) at home that I'm fond of. But I can't afford two sets
worth. So, as you might imagine, I'm hesitant to take my "good tools"
on a ride. But... it's when you break down and have nothing else to
rely on that you could really *use* your good tools! It's a nasty
conundrum that really argues for buying another set of quality tools.
Damnit.



Fred Bradford - CrashTestDummy
f.j.bradfordREMOVE RemoveThis @verizon.net
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

In article <1fe8k2dr6vc894495ntihmvrrkhp5ikp4t.TakeThisOut@4ax.com>,
CrashTestDummy <f.j.bradfordREMOVE.TakeThisOut@verizon.net> wrote:

> On Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:25:42 -0700, Mike Baxter
> <m*g*b*062-1@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > My problem is that I need more tools so I can have a
> >garage set and a "to go" set. I rob it every time I go
> >on a big ride it's a PITA.
>
> Like you and sturd (and probably many others here), I too have
> this problem. And an associated one: I have a few good tools
> (Craftsman) at home that I'm fond of. But I can't afford two sets
> worth. So, as you might imagine, I'm hesitant to take my "good tools"
> on a ride. But... it's when you break down and have nothing else to
> rely on that you could really *use* your good tools! It's a nasty
> conundrum that really argues for buying another set of quality tools.
> Damnit.
>

That's never been too much of a problem for me. I've got a small set
of tools that I carry in my camelbak, modeled after this:
http://users.crocker.com/~mwilliams/fpack.htm but modified for my
tastes These are the only duplicates I have.

Then I've got my 90% tool box that sits in a prominent place in the
garage when I'm there, or in the truck bed when we're out riding. It
holds the tools needed for general maintenance.

I also have a box that holds spare parts--levers, jets & needles,
spark plugs, rags, silencer packing, colored duct tape for numbering,
bolts, screws, nuts, fuel line, etc. That goes with us, and stays in
the garage when we're home.

The stuff that stays behind are the other 90%; things like torque
wrenches, air tools, tire irons, test equipment (e.g. my home-made
leak down tester, dial indicator, calipers), cordless impact driver,
etc.

The key is to keep the "to go" set in one box, and make it part of
your garage set too. That way, you're always using the good tools
whether you're in the garage or out at the track/riding area.


http://groups.google.com/group/rec.motorcycles.dirt/browse_thread/threa
d/e21ba521269faff8/1d78602b96fbcba2?lnk=gst&q=what+tools+do+you+carry&r
num=13#1d78602b96fbcba2

--
Charles
'99 YZ250
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

CrashTestDummy wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:25:42 -0700, Mike Baxter
> <m*g*b*062-1@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > My problem is that I need more tools so I can have a
> >garage set and a "to go" set. I rob it every time I go
> >on a big ride it's a PITA.
>
> Like you and sturd (and probably many others here), I too have
> this problem. And an associated one: I have a few good tools
> (Craftsman) at home that I'm fond of. But I can't afford two sets
> worth. So, as you might imagine, I'm hesitant to take my "good tools"
> on a ride. But... it's when you break down and have nothing else to
> rely on that you could really *use* your good tools! It's a nasty
> conundrum that really argues for buying another set of quality tools.
> Damnit.
>
>
>
> Fred Bradford - CrashTestDummy
> f.j.bradfordREMOVE RemoveThis @verizon.net

Just buy MWs dirt-bike tool-kit.
I'm wondering what he's going to want for the XR400

DDave
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

"HardWorkingDog" <harvey.DeleteThis@mush.man> wrote in message
news:harvey-B2918A.08184328102006@individual.net...
>I recently inherited (not exactly, but close enough) an old set of
> mechanic's tool boxes. I've now got a rolling chest, a stack-on 7
> drawer box, and another 8 drawer box with a lid. I'd like to start
> putting tools in them, but at this point I'm afraid I'll never be able
> to find anything because I'll have to search through 27 drawers to
> find my torque wrenches.
>
> How do you mechanical types organize multiple tool boxes? I can label
> them like file drawers I guess, but I don't recall ever seeing labels
> in any of the garages I've been in, and frankly that seems a bit
> too...Heloise-like even for an ADAR like me. Besides, there's no
> provisions that I can see for labeling the drawers. Am I going to have
> to REMEMBER where I put every tool now?
>
> --
> Charles
> '99 YZ250

If you have enough tools, populate them as such:

Bike tools go in one box, car/truck tools go in another, household tools go
in the third, and kids/wife tools go in the fourth. Simple.

Tom
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

HardWorkingDog wrote:
> How do you mechanical types organize multiple tool boxes?

I have a drawer for bike-specific stuff - shop manuals and little
specialty tools. I have a socket-wrench drawer that holds all of my
wrenches and complete sets, and another drawer that holds all of my
mismatched sockets. I have a screwdriver drawer, a file/chisel drawer,
and a drawer that has tap/die sets and adjustable wrenches. A
drawer-full of pliers. Then I have a big drawer that holds all of my
air tools, and another that has power tools that don't have cases. I
have a plumbing drawer and an electrical drawer. I have a small drawer
that is dedicated to dremel stuff. I should have a tape-measure drawer
too, and I still have about a dozen cardboard boxes filled with
god-knows-what, but I'm out of drawers.

Jay
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

On 30 Oct 2006 05:31:16 -0800, "XR650L_Dave" <spamTHISbrp.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>Just buy MWs dirt-bike tool-kit.
>I'm wondering what he's going to want for the XR400
>

A head on a pole? No... I showed it to someone that's some kind of cousin
of mine. If he wants it, it's his but he'll need to promise it a good home.
I took f'ing good care of that thing.

M


--
Mike W.
96 XR400
70 CT70
71 KG 100 (Hodaka-powered)
99 KZ1000P
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

I recently pegboarded my entire garage just so I could be organized. I
then noticed that finding the pegboard hooks is damn near impossible.
Where'd you get yours? Specifically the needle nose and plier ones?
I have searched Lowes, HD and Sears with marginal luck. Do you have
issues when you remove a tool and the hook falls off? I have little
plastic tabs that are supposed to hold the hooks in but they are a huge
PITA, especially if you move the hooks a lot. There has to be a better
way.

Thanks,

Derek


Mike W. wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Oct 2006 08:18:43 -0700, HardWorkingDog <harvey DeleteThis @mush.man> wrote:
>
> >I recently inherited (not exactly, but close enough) an old set of
> >mechanic's tool boxes. I've now got a rolling chest, a stack-on 7
> >drawer box, and another 8 drawer box with a lid. I'd like to start
> >putting tools in them, but at this point I'm afraid I'll never be able
> >to find anything because I'll have to search through 27 drawers to
> >find my torque wrenches.
> >
> >How do you mechanical types organize multiple tool boxes? I can label
> >them like file drawers I guess, but I don't recall ever seeing labels
> >in any of the garages I've been in, and frankly that seems a bit
> >too...Heloise-like even for an ADAR like me. Besides, there's no
> >provisions that I can see for labeling the drawers. Am I going to have
> >to REMEMBER where I put every tool now?
>
> I'm not a big fan of drawers (copyright Jay).
>
> http://users.crocker.com/~mwilliams/Temp%20pix/Bench.jpg
> http://users.crocker.com/~mwilliams/Temp%20pix/Bench2.JPG
>
> It's a mess but the high-repeat tools are on the board. The mid-range
> torque wrench is behind the calipers. The big one is in the drawers because
> it's used so much less. The drawers hold things I access much... air tools
> and bits, vacuum pumps, drill bits, drill, tire irons, the 1/2" socket
> stuff as well as the sockets and wrenches I don't use often, and such. Most
> things I do only involve the board.
>
> The red tool box in the rack behind the HD bag (receipts) are my travel
> tools. About a 60% repeat of what's on the board. Spares are all just out
> of frame to the left.
>
> At some point, the board will grow to the right and my tool chests from the
> basement will go where the compressor is and the compressor will go into
> the corner and I'll run some air line.
>
> When I had a lot of my tools in the chests in the basement, I had the
> smaller high-repeat hand tools in the upper chest: screw drivers, wrenches
> (metric and SAE drawers), sockets (1/4, 3/8, 1/2" drawers), Allens in their
> own small drawer, Phillips drawer, straight-blade drawer, woodworking tools
> separate from mechanical. Low utilization/large stuff on the bottom, with a
> separate rack for larger tools (router, drill guide, miter saws, etc). In
> fact, I was more setup for cabinet making than mechanical for most of the
> time I was down there. Drawers for router bits and milling bits for the
> drill press had their own drawers. A drawer for the tools you use to setup
> power tools (drill press, table saw, power miter, etc).
>
> Brother makes a nice little labeling machine but I used mine enough it was
> all in memory.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Mike
>
>
> --
> Mike W.
> 96 XR400
> 70 CT70
> 71 KG 100 (Hodaka-powered)
> 99 KZ1000P
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

genius.TakeThisOut@socal.rr.com wrote:
> I recently pegboarded my entire garage just so I could be organized. I
> then noticed that finding the pegboard hooks is damn near impossible.
> Where'd you get yours? Specifically the needle nose and plier ones?
> I have searched Lowes, HD and Sears with marginal luck. Do you have
> issues when you remove a tool and the hook falls off? I have little
> plastic tabs that are supposed to hold the hooks in but they are a huge
> PITA, especially if you move the hooks a lot. There has to be a better
> way.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Derek

My digital camera gave up working after 5 good service years, so I
can't post any pictures but I went the cheap & efficient way: I got a
big sheet of plywood (wild guess it is half inch thick, 1.5 meters wide
X 1 meter high) and a bag full of those "L" shaped wood screws. I fixed
the plywood board on the wall with 4 10" screws. With a little drill
bit and a big pair of pliers, I put the "L" screws over the plywood
board: two for each open end wrench, one for each box wrench, one for
each pair of pliers, I also have a full set of these "L" shaped
wrenches that works like sockets, so I put two screws for each of
these. For the screwdrivers, I bought a hand full of those metallic
brackets that are used for fluorescent lamps and I did a job similar of
which Mike W. did, only that my board seems bigger. I have a drawer for
the allens and a chest for hammers, mallets and saws, another chest for
measuring and special tools and the bfem is placed in a corner, so I
keep my toes intact as I like to work bare foot.

I have a smaller set of quality tools that I carry when go riding,
these are in a bag.

-- Tiago
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

On Sat, 28 Oct 2006 08:18:43 -0700, HardWorkingDog <harvey.DeleteThis@mush.man> wrote:

>I recently inherited (not exactly, but close enough) an old set of
>mechanic's tool boxes. I've now got a rolling chest, a stack-on 7
>drawer box, and another 8 drawer box with a lid. I'd like to start
>putting tools in them, but at this point I'm afraid I'll never be able
>to find anything because I'll have to search through 27 drawers to
>find my torque wrenches.
>
>How do you mechanical types organize multiple tool boxes? I can label
>them like file drawers I guess, but I don't recall ever seeing labels
>in any of the garages I've been in, and frankly that seems a bit
>too...Heloise-like even for an ADAR like me. Besides, there's no
>provisions that I can see for labeling the drawers. Am I going to have
>to REMEMBER where I put every tool now?

I'm not a big fan of drawers (copyright Jay).

http://users.crocker.com/~mwilliams/Temp%20pix/Bench.jpg
http://users.crocker.com/~mwilliams/Temp%20pix/Bench2.JPG

It's a mess but the high-repeat tools are on the board. The mid-range
torque wrench is behind the calipers. The big one is in the drawers because
it's used so much less. The drawers hold things I access much... air tools
and bits, vacuum pumps, drill bits, drill, tire irons, the 1/2" socket
stuff as well as the sockets and wrenches I don't use often, and such. Most
things I do only involve the board.

The red tool box in the rack behind the HD bag (receipts) are my travel
tools. About a 60% repeat of what's on the board. Spares are all just out
of frame to the left.

At some point, the board will grow to the right and my tool chests from the
basement will go where the compressor is and the compressor will go into
the corner and I'll run some air line.

When I had a lot of my tools in the chests in the basement, I had the
smaller high-repeat hand tools in the upper chest: screw drivers, wrenches
(metric and SAE drawers), sockets (1/4, 3/8, 1/2" drawers), Allens in their
own small drawer, Phillips drawer, straight-blade drawer, woodworking tools
separate from mechanical. Low utilization/large stuff on the bottom, with a
separate rack for larger tools (router, drill guide, miter saws, etc). In
fact, I was more setup for cabinet making than mechanical for most of the
time I was down there. Drawers for router bits and milling bits for the
drill press had their own drawers. A drawer for the tools you use to setup
power tools (drill press, table saw, power miter, etc).

Brother makes a nice little labeling machine but I used mine enough it was
all in memory.

Good luck.

Mike


--
Mike W.
96 XR400
70 CT70
71 KG 100 (Hodaka-powered)
99 KZ1000P
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

On Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:50:04 -0500, Mike W. <outofthe.TakeThisOut@emailbiz.com>
wrote:

>
>http://users.crocker.com/~mwilliams/Temp%20pix/Bench.jpg

I have that bench but I built it with the door on the right.
How can I live without an air-compressor? I do.

DirtCrashr -
'97KTM300M/XC (Up on blocks),'99BetaTechno (Up on blocks)
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools... 

Mike W. wrote:
>...
> I'm not a big fan of drawers (copyright Jay).
>
> http://users.crocker.com/~mwilliams/Temp%20pix/Bench.jpg
> http://users.crocker.com/~mwilliams/Temp%20pix/Bench2.JPG
>...
>
> Mike
>
Where do you stash the BFEM?
Dennis Kennedy
'98 XR400
 >> Stay informed about: Speaking of tools...