[ktownskier]

@dtbingle, Like you, I am an avid DIY'er. Primarily for myself, but if friends need help, I will gladly help.

I have 3 main tool chests. All are Husky. 1 is a 46" 9 drawer with a wood top, one is a 26" 4 drawer with a wood top and a steel peg-board bag and the last is a 27" 5 drawer cabinet with a 26" 5 drawer chest.

https://images.homedepot-static.com...b0c12702d97/svn/textured-black-husky-bottom-tool-chests-uat-h-26051-64_1000.jpg
https://images.homedepot-static.com...d-4e84d0cfb6a7/svn/textured-black-husky-top-tool-chests-uac-h-26005-64_1000.jpg

Because I am in the middle of renovating our house, I have put together 3 main totes for tools and accessories so I am not constantly running back and forth the the tool chests. Or downstairs work area, or where ever my wife has helped me tidy things up to.

The first is my electrical tool tote. It looks a lot like this one. But it is a Husky instead of AWP. And it holds all the things I need to work on electric circuits, except for the parts.

For the small parts, I use a parachute bag like this for the wire nuts, etc.. And for the other parts I might need, I just grab them from the storage bins and put them in the second pic to bring them along.

I am also installing engineered hardwood flooring and I have one of those last bins to hold various nails/staples I use in laying down the hardwood, plus I have the following to house the rest of the stuff I use:

Both of the Big Box stores (We don't have Menard's here) have storage stuff on sale during the holidays and I tend to buy a lot of the small totes to help store odd ball things or to carry stuff I need for a particular job to and from the workbenches. I like the Husky ones as they seem to be made pretty well.

I am "building" 3 more work specific tool buckets/totes. One will be for plumbing, one for paint and one for tiling. Mostly because they have specific tools that don't overlap. I just need to devise a system so that my wife (and I for that matter) can remember which tool goes in which bucket.

 

[ktownskier]

Very good ideas and detailed descriptions.

ktownskier, your setup seems almost identical to what I'm after.

Here's a better view of the current setup with most stuff in one location in toolboxes

Sadly, my garage is not in that good of shape due to our renovation. It is holding a bunch of supplies, like Doors, Window, and other stuff.

Made a trip to the Depot yesterday and saw that Husky version of the AWP bag you posted. I opted for the zip up bag version to keep dust out since it's stored in the garage and make lots of sawdust in there, but it does seem more inconvenient to grab tools out of. Might swap it out with the open box frame version you have and cut up an old sheet for a makeshift dust cover.

This is the "specialty test bag" for with the few main items....long nose pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, multimeter, tape, NM sheathing strippers, crimpers, outlet tester, non-contact stick, tape. We'll see how this works out.


Here is mine, it is missing a couple things but for the most part, it is complete:

Also picked up this 10-bin parts storage bin for screws/fasteners. Attempting to make "category" boxes, such as this "anchors" box, for the screws/bolts/fasteners/etc that have smaller quantities.


I love using those storage bins for small to intermediate storage. The bins come out so you can take the size out and bring to where you are working so you don't intermingle them. I use them for screws, small brass fittings, things for data/voice/video, electrical, etc... I try and label them So I know what to look for. For somethings, I have multiple boxes.

And I use this when I need to bring items that I don't store in individual totes.

How do you like those parachute bags for large quantity item storage and how do you store them? For example, do you stack the parachute bags inside a 5 gal bucket? Hang on wall, etc?

They seem great for large quantity items that you need repeated access to.....wire nuts, cable staples, 2000 pack of drywall decks, and so on.

So far, I have 3 of them. The first one I am using for wire nuts, staples, greenies and pigtails.
I plan on using another for more small electrical pieces. The other for small plumbing pieces.

This is what I store excess stock in, large pieces, and other things in. I have 2, once for electrical, and one for plumbing. In bins I don't use, I put paint supplies in.

@alexjburkhardt
You are correct, we are assuming that we are working in and around our home. After all, the title of the post is "Homeowner Tool Storage" and the first thing the OP stated was "I'm strictly a DIY Homeowner"

 

[ktownskier]

True. But the OP's main complaint was the lack of portability and making a million trips back and forth. Rolling cabinets are great for a workshop and they look awesome. But they are the opposite of portable. They are great to lock your tools up. Not so great if you are working on the other side of the house. Or your parents' house.

Sent from my SM-J337P using Tapatalk

Different points of view.

What I am saying, and I believe @dtbingle is saying is: We have these big workbenches/storage chests holding all of our tools and supplies. When we do work around the house, or for friends, we don't want to just dump stuff in a bucket and hope we have what we need. We don't want to make runs to and from the chest every time we need something.

We have thought of putting together something for specific jobs, like electrical, plumbing, etc.. What works for you?
@de-nagorg and @Oso954 put up a couple of good ideas that @dtbingle liked, I put up some of my own. You put up your ideas from a Handyman's point of view, and they made a lot of sense. I think I will use some of them as well.

@alexjburkhardt made a comment that seemed to imply that the thread was from a point of view that it wasn't. I wanted to point out where the thread started.

 

[ktownskier]

While writing down the things I think should be in the different bags/totes I want to build, (plumbing, electrical, flooring, etc), I realized that there are some things that are going to be common among all the the bags. Or that should be.

Take a look and let me know what you think:
Sharpie/MarkzAll
Pencil/Sharpener
Folding Utility Knife
Tape Measure
Hammer
P1,P2,S2,K, C Screwdrivers (P Phillips, S Square, K Keystone, C Cabinet Slotted)
Non Contact Voltage Tester (You just never know)
Torpedo Level
Small Speed Square
Moulding Puller
Adjustable LED Flashlight

 

[ktownskier]

This is great - lots of different perspectives and ideas.

Another option could be the fabric zip-up pouches or the heavy duty ziplock bags that mathmonger mentioned.

The main thing is, you have to find what works for you.

The items I posted above as common things were not meant to be in a separate bucket, instead, I was planning on putting them in every bucket I build. I have enough extra tools that I have acquired over the years to put them in each bucket.

It would also form the basis for a general work bucket.

One of these days, I will take a picture of the assorted mess of stuff I have and my attempts to wrangle them into making sense of what I have.

 

[ktownskier]

Something that I have found "handy as heck", is a Leatherman type combo tool, hanging in a belt pouch, at my hip.

Amazing at how many times that I am reaching for it to do something with the several different blades, or the needle nose pliers, on it.

A lot of good experiences being related on here, with tips from this group!

Keep em coming.


ED

Ed, I agree with the Leatherman style tool, they are wonderful. In addition to the multi bit screwdriver I have in each of my cars, I have one of those. They usually have one on special during the holidays at one of the big box stores.

I was debating whether or not to put it in basics part of each toolkit. Instead, I will suggest it as something each person should carry with them in a sheath, along with a Maglite type LED flashlight and a knife.

 

[ktownskier]

That's the great thing about this, you get to relate what works for you and if others like it, they can adopt it.

I like the maglite style flashlight because it is small and can fit in more places for a quick look/see. I typically don't use it as a primary light source because it is small. Instead, I have several headlamps that I use. I find those to be very handy as I can tilt the light and focus it as needed.

Your light looks handy as well. I have a lantern that I use, it is bigger and bulkier, but it has a bluetooth speaker built in and I like that.

Next time I am at HF, and I have the coupon, I will pick up one of those, they look good to have around.

One thing I also do with my things is to label them. I have a Dymo tape labeler, with different tape sizes and different type tapes. I can put in clear tape, print backwards and put them on the inside of a screw container indicating what size screw is in it. And then on the outside, I label what type of screws are in the holder.

It satisfies the inner OCD in me.

 

[ktownskier]

@Drachenfire is quite correct, one should have a fire extinguisher in the garage as well as in the kitchen and in other areas where there is a chance that fires may occur.

But getting back to tool storage, you need to use whatever works best for you. Personally, as I have mentioned before, I use a combination of things. I have rolling storage racks that I got from HD. Husky brand. I also use soft sided cases for job specific cases like electrical and plumbing. And a variety of other cases, buckets and bins for other jobs.

I have a bucket for flooring jobs that holds a speed square, rubber mallet, flooring puller, flooring striker and a bunch of tools related to flooring jobs.