Reorganising my tool bag

[Keitai]

Build a shallow open box (shelf with lips all round), not a shelf, or it will be all over the shop on the first corner or when you hit the first big pothole, which ever comes first

I was thinking something like this made of ply. The two legs (in green) would be foldable fence posts. Two sides scribe to side of van. The front open strips of wood on hinges which open (in red).

The whole thing would be removable and clipped onto the ply on wall

 

[Keitai]

Going with this-

https://www.screwfix.com/p/dewalt-toughsystem-ds400-large-tool-box-21/97336

 

[HERTS P&D]

You will also need to learn how to use the tools.



Andy

 

[Keitai]

You will also need to learn how to use the tools.



Andy

Haha

 

[Deleted member 174758]

The whole thing would be removable and clipped onto the ply on wallView attachment 187672

One thing to watch is weight. If you make that unit from 18mm MDF or plywood it will likely be very heavy even when empty let alone when filled, so might be a tad difficult to lift out. Consider using lighter stuff such as 9mm hardwood plywood for the frame parts, supported with 1 x 1 or 2 x 1 softwood battening (glued and screwed) to keep the weight down. With multiple shelves you might be as well finding some plastic storage containers (poly boxes, ice cream tubs, paint tubs, etc) to hold loose stuff - then come up with some means to stop them dropping out when you go round corners or hit pot holes (e.g. plywood fence held in place on a couple of threaded rods with wing nuts etc.). Makes it easier to empty if you ever need to remove the shelving unit

 

[Keitai]

Use boxes like Makpac boxes instead of bags wherever possible. Make up your own partitions to separate tools using 9mm plywood with foam protection at bottom and sides as needed. Tools floating around in bags or loose in the back of the van get dinged and damaged quite quickly as well as lost; ply lining gives you somewhere to clip or store certain tools such as skeleton guns and so forth (Google "Terry clips", etc). The system boxes allow you to select only the kits you require for the day if organised properly. Consider a matching open tote for loose tools, where appropriate, and for awkward shaped tools like caulking guns which won't always fit in standard boxes - these box systems allow you to clip together boxes an carry 4 to 6 tool sets at the same time (much easier than struggling with multiple differently sized manufacturers blow moulded cases) and all the major power tool makers have them (I use a mixture of Systainers, Makpacs, Hikoki HSC and Metabo Metaboxes as they are all compatible but I still have several Stanley pull along boxes in use as well). Add a piece of VCR paper inside each box. Add a silica gel bag, too, and hang a large one up inside the van all the time (can be had from Amazon, etc) - silica gel bags can be dried and reused. Spray everything with WD40 or wipe down with a rag dampened with 3 in 1 oil or sewing machine oil every time you put something metal away (including steel drill chucks steel tool holders on jig saws, impact drivers, etc). OK, so you'll have to wipe tools off when you come to use them from time to time, but better that than rust! Only carry tools you need for the job - that may mean having separate boxes for a door hanging kit (trimmer, planer, drill, etc), plumbing, as well as a couple of general boxes containing stuff you almost always use. For me, at the moment, that is hammer, nippers, cordless drill, drill bits, impact driver, pry bar, cat's paw, nail sets, Stanley knife, tape measure, etc. This list changes over time

Ply lining a van seems to make it drier as there is less cold surface for water to condense onto.

Got the dewalt box. Might get another smaller one so can organise hand tools even better than this one, which just has one side where u can slide the tools into.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Also one of these:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...WeSBUIHbaMBH0Q-BYwJnoECBAQJw&biw=1280&bih=578

Andy

 

[Keithmac]

get yourself some kaisen foam

and a label printer.

and do some 5S
https://www.5stoday.com/what-is-5s/


you might think I am joking but 5S is a serious principle that helps to get organised.
its worth a 5 min read to get the basics:

Puts my plier rack to shame!.

 

[Brigadier]

Also one of these:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...WeSBUIHbaMBH0Q-BYwJnoECBAQJw&biw=1280&bih=578

Andy

You're such a biatch

 

[Keitai]

Puts my plier rack to shame!.

View attachment 191350

Are u a dentist?

 

[Keithmac]

Are u a dentist?

Could be for the right price!.