Groove,
That is just sick. People like you need a hobby or something to do with their spare time!
I use several things:
Rolling carts with vertical stacks of 12X16" trays to store materials and small tools.
Plastic bins, trays, and boxes to store stuff in and carry it back and forth from the house to the shops. Some of these have open "mesh" bottoms that allow sawdust and grinding debris to fall through.Many have fitted tops. Check the local Office-max for neat "see through" storage ideas.
Any neat box - old cigar boxes, wooden scotch boxes, ammo boxes, dynamite boxes, etc.
The black and yellow tool box sets from HF are super for storage. They come as a set of four graduated size boxes, each with a tray. There are small removable trays on the larger three, that slip in and out of slots on the top. All for $25.
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-nesting-toolbox-set-3721.html
I put wood in the big one; blades I'm working on in the next smaller; pen making parts and supplies in the next; and folder parts and supplies in the smallest. The removable trays are perfect for specialty drilling supplies (carbide drills and counter-bores) and burrs, and things like Corby bolts.
I find that putting small tools in small boxes, and putting those in larger boxes keeps groups of tools easier to find. I group things like allen wrenches, jewelers screwdrivers, needle files, burrs, pilot drills and counterbores, etc.
One tip I can pass on is to get a small plastic tool box or other closed bin and label it "Special Tools". There are a lot of special use tools that come with other tools to adjust them . These may include the key wrenches for sink faucets, tools to adjust a mill, special wrenches to assemble "pre-made" furniture, and tools you modified to do one specific task. These tools will be seldom used, but hard to locate when needed....and when you need them, no other tool will do. This is also a good place to store an extra set of keys to all the locking things you have, like display cases, gun cases, lawn tractors, shed locks, the boat, etc.
Now if all this sounds like I keep things neat....you haven't seen my shop. All the boxes are piled up in a big stack. and there are still piles of tools and stuff everywhere. One goal of the new shop will be to get everything organized and have a place for things and things in their places....we'll see.
All this brings back a fun story:
Back during the time of the D.C. Sniper, everyone around Northern Virginia was on the lookout for the sniper. Lots of folks were scared to go shopping or travel in the area.
I was going to a Scottish Festival in Maryland. and stopped at the rest stop on I-95 to take a break. I parked my station wagon and went inside. When I came out (I was wearing my kilt, BTW) there were three state police cars behind my vehicle. I walked up and asked if everything was alright, and he said, "Yes, move along, please." I said I would ,if he would have the officers move their cars so I could leave, and pointed to my car. He called to the others, "It's him". I didn't make any movement at all, because they were clearly nervous. I asked if the items in the back of the car were why they were there, and he said that they had received a call from a motorist about my vehicle being full of sniper rifles and explosives. I told them that there were no guns or explosives in the car. I had my keys in my hand and handed them to the officer to open the back and look for himself. I use all sorts of sturdy boxes to carry things in. I had several dynamite boxes, blasting cap boxes, mortar cases with rope handles, and big rifle cases. The boxes were clearly filled with books and other supplies. I carry swords and knives in the gun cases. After they were satisfied that there were no hidden weapons or explosives, they let me go. If that had happened post 9-11-01, I would have probably been late for the Highland Games.
, no toolbox to fanangle with...hmmmm not sure why I chose "fanangle"....don't beleive that's a word
