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I think we have all been here at some point. A tool box full of tools, but they are all jumbled up and hard to find anything. Well this year I finally did something about it. It started with a single 1/2" plywood divider in my utility knife drawer (not shown) to keep all of the contents from migrating to the back of the drawer. That got me thinking that the screwdriver and pliers drawers needed help. And then I thought the wrenches shouldn't have to miss out on all the fun either. Which got me thinking that the nut drivers were always a jumble. Which finally culminated with arranging all the sockets. So here it is, my tool box organization side project of 2013.

What you are seeing:

1. Socket organizer. I had a HF plastic organizer board but it of course didn't match the set I have so the sockets were still pretty jumbled. The solution is two sheets of 1/4" birch plywood and some poplar dowel. I drew layout lines on the first piece to arrange all the sockets in rows. I used a brad point drill bit through the socket to locate a mark along the line where the dowel should go. The dowel holes are drilled through the first sheet of plywood. The the various 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" dowels are glued into place. After those were set, the other sheet of plywood was laminated onto the back side of the first. The finish is spray polyurethane.

2. Wrench organizers. These started out as scraps of 1×6" Red Oak. A series of progressively smaller kerfs were cut to fit the wrenches. The kerfs are cut at 20 degrees. The finish is spray polyurethane.

3. & 4. Screw driver and pliers drawers. Three pieces of scrap 1/8" hardboard laminated together. Glued and pin nailed together inside the drawer. The screwdriver divider is a friction fit, but on the pliers drawer, it was necessary to drills some small holes through the sides of the metal drawers and tap in some small brad nails.

5. Nut driver organizer. 1/4" birch plywood base with some scrap pieces of Douglas fir for the structure. No fancy joinery was used, just glue and pin nails.The finish is tung oil.

6. The socket organizer under construction. Lots of holes to drill and fill! Very time consuming, but well worth the effort.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
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GreaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaT….......I love tool organizers in any form. That is one way you'll always find what you need for a job. You sure spent some time on those puppies!
 

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Love it! I agree, it can be difficult to keep the toolbox organized. Plus, when you keep things separated like that I find you can fit more stuff in.
 

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Very nice job. How tall are the dowels on the socket organizer? This is definitely on the "List". Have metric and SAE sockets currently separated in labeled drawers according to drive size. Baby steps. Thanks for sharing.
 

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This was a project I just pinned on Pinterest, he made one other "improvement" IMO.
 

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This is really Excellent!!! It may have taken time to make it but it's going to save you time in the long run. I was thinking of arranging my tools just this afternoon. Thanks for the organisation ideas.
 

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That's a great project! and a serious undertaking … makes me wonder what it will look like in a years time … :)
As I have cleaned and re organized my tool box many times, after while it always looks like, ... "My tool box".
I think that the socket board is a great idea, maybe this will help??
 

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There you go, I was just minding my own business and you had to post that picture of organized tools. Now I can't rest until I get mine the same way. Some people.

Good job

Don
 

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Great tool organization with wood!
 

· In Loving Memory
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A very clever idea I have a few sets of expensive socket sets a new one I just bought and a nice large set my son aquired from me. anyway everything as my sone is festidious as I am with tools everything is put back right away as and when used.I have however a box full of bits which need better organizing as at the moment they just sit in their box waiting to be used.I love your design with the pegs and numbers through them.Alistair
 

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A great tool setup!

I'm very envious!
 

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You spend WAY to much time at Sears. "Craftsman"
Nice to see !
 

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Thanks for all the comments. The dowels stick up 5/8" from the surface. A few of the smaller ones had to be sanded down since the opening in the socket is smaller than the drive size. That and the need for absolutely straight and true holes is why I didn't do longer dowels. The numbers on top is a good idea though.
 

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Excellent.
 

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super job that's my next project Im inspired
 

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Love them all. The nice thing is it's all custom built to what you want instead of some store bought pre-organized thing. Great job.
 

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Nice work
 

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Idea well worth the effort!
It will pay for itself in short order and a better solution than most purchased organizers.
 

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cool !!!
 
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