Tool & fastener organization in the construction/remodeling site

[Gordon Maney]

While working on my house I am reminded of the problems associated with keeping track of, and keeping straight, all of the small hand tools, power tools, fasteners, cords, specialized hardware, electrical materials, and any other items involved in construction and remodeling. The matter is further complicated by the fact that I have to live in the middle of it.

I am curious as to what methods, devices, cabinets, carts, etc., you have found to be helpful in organizing all of the many things used in remodeling and construction, keeping everything contained and mobile, and yet able to be found and used. This question will have relevance to those of you in the construction trades, and no doubt many of you who have struggled as I do now.

Discuss freely....

[Ron in Indiana]

Gordon, your problem is not uncommon especially when you are trying to live through/in your construction area. I would suggest a small roll-around base unit with a tool box on top. A mechanics top box usually doesn't have deep enough drawers for most tools you are using. By using a tool box you can maintain some semblance of order. Another idea may be a small bench set up with a pegboard back drop to hang tools from located in an area not directly in the work area but close if possible. I know some use a large gang box on job sites but these are usually stationary and harder to move plus take up room you may not have. These Bucket Boss setups may be of help although I do not use one but might be helpfull for going room to room for what you are doing. Is the paster and lath demo work done by now? I'm sure others have their take on your problem but perhaps a combo of ideas will yield a fitting solution to your situation.

[powerwagontim]

Hi Gordon,
We have a couple of cheap modular plastic shelving units that you can get at cheapo depot. We set them up, usually in the garage and it gives a good place for storing power tools, hardware, whatever. I find that the 50 cal steel ammo boxes are great for storing fasteners. we label them cause as you know hey all look about the same! They stand up to the weather alot better than cardboard boxes. We use some of the 30 cal boxes too. We have a job-box like Ron mentioned but we rarely use it. Even with trays built in there is a real tendancy for them to become a black hole with whatever tool you want on the bottom.
It is really important to have ONE place that things like hardware get stored. We had a string of jobs where we would lose one window crank each job. It almost got to where I would order an extra one when I placed the window order just to have it when we lost one. Training workers (or ourselves) to do the same thing each time is key.
Tim

[MoparNorm]

Ron's right, deep boxes and storage bins become black holes! I use multiple shallow dividers similar to tackle box trays with clear lids for misc. fastener storage, most fasteners are purchased in 35 or 50lb boxes and stay there until used up or placed in the bins when the larger box nears empty. Power tools can go onto a cart, but small tires are problematic on undeveloped job sites or for navigating over cords. I try to compartmentalize tools by task or trade, in my 12 door utility bodied Dodge it helps to find things quicker and keeps the cart and bins better organized.
MN

My "ToolBox"

[Warren]

Tool order

I pefer to keep all my tools in a Gang box. I picked mine up at a yard sale for $100.00. I am adding a 25x45 garage and a 25x 30 master bedroom. The gangbox is portable and weatherproof and most important secure.

[BobbyMike]

Job boxes (like Knack) are great for long term on-site storage of power tools and cords. I just gave my old one to my friend, Jeff (the crazy guy, I mean good friend, who helped me get my truck up here) so he could use it on jobsites to store some of his electrical supplies and tools. I used it in my shop to store my power tools and cords. Closed it makes a handy makeshift work space. You can usually find one around used. They don't have to be pretty.
For fasteners I have a small gate mouth bag that I carry smaller boxes of "speciality" screws in. For sheetrock screws on the jobs our local lumber yards have been moving towards the semi-translucent buckets.
In my truck I use cans (coffee can sized, but actually dried goat's milk cans) to keep an assortment available of commonly used nails and screws, but that's because they fit on one of the shelves in the utilty box.

As a reminder/word of caution... be careful when you stick your hand in a box of screws. I was on the jobsite today putting up some sheetrock and stuck my hand in the box of screws to get a handful. One of the screws stuck my right forefinger pretty good. Didn't think much of it til the end of the day when I noticed it was unusually sore (I usually have some pain in my joints from Lymes). Wouldn't you know I got a swollen, infected finger now. I pulled out a tiny sliver of metal when I got home. I'm using my middle finger to use my left mouse button right now!

[Gordon Maney]

Originally posted by BobbyMike
Job boxes (like Knack) are great for long term on-site storage of power tools and cords. I just gave my old one to my friend, Jeff (the crazy guy, I mean good friend, who helped me get my truck up here) so he could use it on jobsites to store some of his electrical supplies and tools. I used it in my shop to store my power tools and cords. Closed it makes a handy makeshift work space. You can usually find one around used. They don't have to be pretty.
For fasteners I have a small gate mouth bag that I carry smaller boxes of "speciality" screws in. For sheetrock screws on the jobs our local lumber yards have been moving towards the semi-translucent buckets.
In my truck I use cans (coffee can sized, but actually dried goat's milk cans) to keep an assortment available of commonly used nails and screws, but that's because they fit on one of the shelves in the utilty box.

As a reminder/word of caution... be careful when you stick your hand in a box of screws. I was on the jobsite today putting up some sheetrock and stuck my hand in the box of screws to get a handful. One of the screws stuck my right forefinger pretty good. Didn't think much of it til the end of the day when I noticed it was unusually sore (I usually have some pain in my joints from Lymes). Wouldn't you know I got a swollen, infected finger now. I pulled out a tiny sliver of metal when I got home. I'm using my middle finger to use my left mouse button right now!

Interesting about the translucent buckets. I have not seen those here.

[bosco]

Nothing beats a 5 gal bucket. We all use them. They're great for trash containers. For small jobs you can toss all your bend nails, wollered out screws, spent caulk tubes, etc. You can keep another handy for things you may want to recycle ... ie brass plumbing fittings, soda cans and the like. If you can, pick up the larger plastic buckets that have a spin on lid ... like the ones used to store chemicals for swimming pools. Hey they also make a great place to sit down and take a break. They're also a good place to store electrical extension cords and certain power tools that don't have a storage case. Very mobile and easy to carry.

Another great item I have used (and want another) is a Black and Decker workspace tool box. It's looks like a step stool, but you open it up and there's a removable storage tray inside. It also has a plastic divided storage section built into the lid. You can even stand on it to give you a bit of extra reach, besides using a ladder. You can put all kinds of things in it. I usually load it up for a specific job. Say, I wanna hang a window. Then I put everything I need in this little tool box.

I keep a couple of tool boxes specifically for electrical items. This way I know where all the stuff is and it dosen't get mixed up with other things. In one I keep instruments, like the volt meter, stud finder, label maker, circuit tester, etc. The other is used to store the connectors, wire cutters, speed driver, tape and things like that.

A utility cart (as mentioned before) is a great thing to have if your working on just one floor. Plays havoc when moving down or up stairs. They're easy on the back ... just load up and push from one room to another. They make some very nice ones today.

[MoparNorm]

Gang boxes and deep tool boxes are what was cautioned about in the first posts, too much clutter and mess for anything but end of the day storage. A 30" deep gang box is a maze of cords, handels and tangled messes. Bucket Boss makes a nice organizer for the 5 gallon bucket, but they're too small for all of the days tools, and frankly and not to be unkind, most all of todays "craftsmen" use the 5 gallon bucket because they have lost the art of building a good tool box. Carpenters used to have that as their first task, the second task was to build a good pair of saw horses. The apprentice with the best box and horses was the one hired. I have my issues with Unions, but a true Union Carpenter who has gone through the 4 year apprenticeship program is lightyears ahead of a non-union carpenter in skil level.
MN

[BobbyMike]

I agree with you MN on the gang boxes getting kinda messy with cords, etc. I solved that in my shop with milk crates. I could fit eight per level for a total of sixteen. Each tool and its cord went in a crate, and then I would fit boxes and cans of fasteners in the other crates. I used the extra space in front for rolled cords.
At the jobsite I've gone away from using buckets for tools (my truck doesn't accomodate them). I only use them for lunch and trash now. I've moved towards different work bags /boxes for different types of work. I have a plumbing tool box, a finishing trim bag, an electrical bag, etc.
For my shop I've replaced the Knack with cabinets for the tools and several different carts for projects, a higher for smaller items and a lower one for bigger cabinets.

[Steve G]

I have been living in an ongoing remodeling project for several years now. I have been using a $5 garage sale projector cart for my miter saw and the two shelves below for a place to put different power tools. I also found a material cart from a warehouse with 2 shelves and a writing surface, good for working on or looking up something. I use a couple of cheap metal shelves to put items on such as boxes of nails and drywall screws. My main process is one room at a time, but early on after tearout there was structural repair, or change. Another item I use is a string of grain leg buckets that were taken out from the local COOP. A friend and I loaded up his trailer with the whole belt full of buckets, about 200' and we just cut to lenght the rubber belt and the buckets are already attached. I also use the leftover 5 gallon buckets from the drywall mud to sort and haul around stuff. I hope this gives you some ideas.