MOM box (Most Often Mislaid)

I never wear them, but it sounds you are the perfect candidate for a tool belt or at least an apron
with lots of pockets.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

mostly the same
My tape never gets lost as it is always on the belt. I use a tape for work as well (no not a carpenter) and you will find it on my belt just about any time I have on pants. I use a machinist tool box for the above mentioned items but my shop is very small and my tools and project area are centered around it (since I dont have a table saw to center around right now) The idea works very well. Combo square, machinists square, setup blocks, pencils, etc go there. I don’t mean to be nosy but why gloves? I never feel safe working in gloves.

-- Jimmy, Oklahoma "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing milkbone underwear!"

GaryK: I don’t like tool belts. For me, they’re always either in the way, or pulling my pants down. Not a pretty sight…

bayspt: Funny you should mention the gloves. I usually don’t like to wear them while machining either. However, it only took one nasty cut, to convince me that I should always wear them when changing blades on the table saw.

Once in a while, I will wear one on my left hand. Usually to avoid splinters when guiding the edge of a rough board, e.g. ripping,—when a featherboard isn’t useable. It has NOTHING to do with Michael Jackson…

Remember, this is a training exercise. There will be a test!

-- There is nothing in the world more dangerous, than a woodworker who knows how to read a micrometer...

This is an interesting thought. But I tend to use a tool, lay it down and then have to search for it- especially pencils. This box would work for me at the start of the day but I would soon have thing strung all over the shop and have to hunt to find them to put back in the box. :)

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I’ll bet I could misplace the box by the end of the day.

-- I'm not slowing down,everythings just going by faster!

I may try this idea. I’ve tried the “keep one of everything at each major tool” but 1) that’s unnecessarily expensive, and 2) I usually end up with 2 of something in 1 location and really neat (but empty) holders at others. Maybe I should put a MOM box next to my box of wonder screws – at least at the start of the day.

-- Even if to be nothing more than a bad example, everything serves a purpose.

I was in the same situation for YEARS!!! So I sat down at this here computer thing and purchased a tool “vest” from Skillers. So far it is the BOMB! It holds ALL of those pesky little tools that make it possible to work and then some. It has a mesh back to keep me cool [important here in FL], plenty of pockets and is comfortable enough to wear all the live long day. It has a belt to help balance the load and is easy to remove and put on fully loaded. Now I don’t have to walk around my work area with that distressed dumb_ss look on my face scratching my bum and muttering, “Now where did I leave that thing?”

Check ‘em out… http://www.skillers.com/

Now, if they just made a beer holder for this thing, hmmmmm…

always,
J.C.

P.S. I’m so impressed [and distressed that I didn’t do it sooner] that I’m going to do a review of it soon.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

it all comes down to “If I could train myself”... or it comes down to the “IF”.
I think any system would work “IF” you force yourself to practice the system.

Personally I am pretty bad at training myself but am getting better.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I was recently given one of those roller style trays they have in hospital rooms, the height adjust up and down and rolls very well on my concrete floor. I have an apron also, and as long as I put four or five pencils in it, I always seem to have a marking device on me, well every once in a while I have to go around and re-gather all of them but that might be every couple of hours. Well with this new tray I have been trying to pull it around with me and place everything on to it. It does seem to be working, but I will have to stick with it and make it a habit. Since I am a creature if habit, if I could just get myself trained…...

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"