Sorting and Storage

[cheb]

My solution is varying sizes of eurocrates, 400x300mm and 600x400mm of various depths, and metal sorting boxes, all labelled.

Solent Plastics are/were very good. Good pricing and sensible delivery charges even for up here.

 

[Domdom]

For tools I really like roll cabs. Easy to move around if needed without busting a gut.
For stuff I don’t want to chuck I use various boxes on pallet rack style shelving.
Screws, nails and other such consumables I tend to stick with Stanley Fatmax style briefcase trays with lots of compartments.

But with all that said I still have a lot of stuff lying around. It’s just the nature of the beast.

 

[Nomad]

For decent storage of rarely used stuff I’m happy with cardboard “banana” boxes from the supermarket, label contents clearly with a marker pen, stack on the floor or on sturdy shelving.

For hand tools, a roller cab with a drawer unit on top.

 

[ukracer]

Yes, the 15 drawer Bisleys are very useful. However, if you wanted to relocate one, would you need to empty it? I've seen one or two which have split down the seams. They were mostly intended for storing paper, and if you fill them with nuts and bolts, I think the shells struggle with any attempt to move them. There are some similar types to the Bisleys which prevent the drawers from being pulled out to the point of falling out (which the Bisleys do); good for storing delicate stuff.

At least you can take out draws in Bisleys to relocate them.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

At least you can take out draws in Bisleys to relocate them.

Moved mine several times. As you say. Stack the drawers elsewhere and move the cab

 

[Ross365]

At least you can take out draws in Bisleys to relocate them.

OK; so I've got mostly Bisleys, stuffed with "hardware" and then one or two of the type that cannot be pulled out, stuffed mostly with glass stuff (lab equipment). Perfect!

 

[winchman]

We use Bisley draws, Heavy duty racking from Facebook and proper industrial plastic bins bought from a regular auto jumble bloke, each rack holds 24 bins so once all sorted it will be much easier to find stuff

 

[ukracer]

We use Bisley draws, Heavy duty racking from Facebook and proper industrial plastic bins bought from a regular auto jumble bloke, each rack holds 24 bins so once all sorted it will be much easier to find stuff

It's getting it all sorted that's the problem. Lol

 

[redlig]

Story of my life.

Ooh this will be useful / I can't bin that...

Come in handy even if I never use it. My life's mantra.

 

[Dilkris]

I put tools, fixings or whatever into "groups" - you obviously always end up with a large "miscellaneous group" which cannot be helped. Having achieved this part I simply keep them together - how you keep them together depends on what (and space) is available to you - but the end result must be that you can stand in the center of your workshop, look around, and accurately describe what is in any box, drawer , shelf, or what ever you have put a "group" in.
If at the end of your organizing, you cannot readily find something, then improve upon it so as next time you can.
Personal workshops are fascinating places as they are never "finished" - I believe they simply become a life long "in progress" project and in all cases, pretty much describe to a tee, the person that works in them.

 

[Ross365]

It's getting it all sorted that's the problem. Lol

Yes, over the years trying sort storage out, I have felt sometimes that I was "shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic". My problem really started when I closed down the small lab/workshop I ran. Much of what I had was of no great value; some went in to the skip, but loads of it came back home, and the house, the garage and the double carport were choka. Anyway, that was 14 years ago, and things are much better... but it is still a "work in progress". Problem is... I keep buying stuff .

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I have a few of these that I 'borrowed' from a former place of work.View attachment 313639

Bet it's tricky sorting through the contents of the bottom one.....

 

[seriesonewelder]

Bet it's tricky sorting through the contents of the bottom one.....

Not at all as I just lift off the upper ones.....

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Not at all as I just lift off the upper ones.....

Ah, yes - sorry I thought they looked very heavy complete with contents

 

[Onoff]

I find these tubs handy for storage:

 

[ChrisBailey]

Ive used bale crates to store bigger items. You can pick them up dirt cheap on facebook and they can hold serious weight.

 

[Olderisbetter]

Euro crates for most stuff but "really useful boxes" for nicer bits are always my choice and you can see through them when looking for bits.

 

[Onoff]

A few years back the Tesco van coming to us broke down with our shopping in 15 of those green crates. I went and met the driver (with his broken diesel pump spewing fuel all over a private road) and got them all in my then estate. Like the honest bloke I am I gave all 15 crates back to the next Tesco driver who came to the house.

Wish I'd kept them now for storage. Could have easily kept them.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Wish I'd kept them now for storage. Could have easily kept them.

Honesty, the best policy.

 

[Onoff]

Honesty, the best policy.

Oh yeah, look where it's got ME...not!