labeling your tool chest drawers

grumpyvette

Administrator
Staff member
once you get past the point most of us start at, where you throw about 80% of your tools in a small portable tool chest like these below, and you find find you need a larger tool chest with drawers, its a really good idea to label the tool chest drawers
when I moved from my old shop, I pitched all the tools out of the drawers in the craftsman tool boxes into about a dozen 5 gallon plastic buckets or plastic storage bins so the tool chests were empty then wrapped the boxes in plastic sheets,and I duct taped the drawers shut over the plastic sheet for transport, once I got to the garage I cleaned to drawers , and filled a 5 gallon bucket with diesel and carb cleaner solution to dunk each socket and wrench to clean it before putting it back into labeled tool drawers, wrapping the whole tool box then duct taping it closed protects it a great deal, cleaning and labeling the drawers and tools also helps
I label tool drawers NOT because I don,t know where things are but mostly because its very common to be working on a friends car, lets say your under his car on a mechanics creeper, and when you ask him to hand you a specific tool it greatly speeds up the search process

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=834&hilit=tool+list

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=26&hilit=creeper

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1502&p=25685#p25685

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4069&p=10827&hilit=tool+list#p10827

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=8340&p=29010#p29010

viewtopic.php?f=72&t=419&p=513&hilit=creeper#p513
If your moving to a new shop thats not on the current property,I,d suggest you rent or borrow a box truck with a lift gate or a car trailer with tie down d-rings, with a winch. Make sure you lock the box , wrap it with plastic sheeting and duct tape it before strapping it in place securely and for safe measure but tie down straps across the drawers, and over the top,at several place.


keep in mind mechanics tools are heavy, a full size tool chest with full drawers can easily weight 1200 lbs or more, so its best moved with empty drawers which also gives you the chance to clean and label the drawers and contents, and even an empty mechanics tool chest can easily weight 350 lbs so be careful and strap it and wrap and tape securely during transport



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MOST OF US START OUT LIKE THIS

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=6098&p=18836#p18836

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http://www.speedhunters.com/2016/07/want-see-inside-nascar-toolbox/
drawerlable.jpg
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IF YOUR SERIOUS YOULL EVENTUALLY FIND THE NEED FOR A LARGER TOOL CHEST, especially once you get all the measuring tools required for engine building

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ockType=G1
and youve upgraded to a roll around tool chest of some description,
(I know most of us would love a free full size professional tool chest, but usually find the checking account balance to be a limiting factor)

toolchest3.jpg

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toolbox1.jpg


most guys find out that LABELING the drawers in the tool chest is a great idea, especially if you on occasion have friends help out on your car

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http://www.staples.com/Brother-P-touch-PT-D200-Label-Maker/product_637689

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... E0Q8gIwBA#

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/rod-bolt-mics-stretch-gauges.989/#post-51199

http://www.staples.com/Brother-P-touch- ... 04:CL90400

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/bare-minimum-tools.11026/#post-51823

label makers come in various designs but a nice one can be purchased for under $35, and a functional manual one for under $10
most produce a printed one side sticky plastic tape that can easily be applied to your tool box drawers


it helps to organize the drawers
EXAMPLE, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LIMITED TO THESE LABELS ALONE

screw drivers
Allen keys and torquex bits
drill bits
air tools/air ratchets/impact wrenches
mic stands and bridges, feeler gauges
meters/gauges/mics/precision measurement
stretch gauges & torque wrenches
timing lights,degree wheels timing tape, ignition parts
engine diagnostic tools/inspection/testing ,visual probes
fuses,meters,electrical testing, scan tools , IR temp guns
valve train tools, adjusting and spring measuring
gasket fabrication tools, exacto knives, dremel tools
piston, ring and bearing tools, depth gauges
pliers,dikes,vise grips,cutters, splicers
tubing flare/cutters, benders,and AN tools
BRAKE TOOLS, tubing benders and flare tools
clutch ,bell housing alignment tools
transmission tools/snap ring pliers
gas welding/brazing related and soldering tools
SAE WRENCHES
SAE 1/4" drive sockets
SAE 3/8" drive sockets
SAE 1/2" drive sockets
METRIC WRENCHES
METRIC 1/4" drive sockets
METRIC 3/8" drive sockets
METRIC 1/2" drive sockets
extensions ,swivels ,breaker bars
cam degree tools
gear pullers and presses
suspension tools
TIG & MIG welding related
electrical connectors and testers
clamps,compressor and air tools
hammers , punches and chisels
stamps and dies
taps and dies & easy-outs
sealants/gaskets/scrapers/solvents
brake hones,cylinder hones
files and scrapers
valve spring compressors
compression and vacuum testors




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Last edited by a moderator:
I label tool drawers NOT because I don,t know where things are but mostly because its very common to be working on a friends car, lets say your under his car on a mechanics creeper, and when you ask him to hand you a specific tool it greatly speeds up the search process, and at my age its a whole lot easier for some younger guy I helping to jump up and grab a tool than for me to get up off that mechanics creeper, get the tool and get down on the creeper plus Ive found It tends to take me FAR LESS time to do things than the less experienced guys take.

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=834&hilit=tool+list

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=26&hilit=creeper

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4069&p=10827&hilit=tool+list#p10827

viewtopic.php?f=72&t=419&p=513&hilit=creeper#p513
 
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