Power hand tools storage

[Joe G.]

How do you guys store your hand power tools that have cords? Everything I try ends up being a big mess or takes up more room in my garage than I want to use for that.

 

[RRees]

You mean, you can buy tools with cords?



I know what you mean. I store them in different locations in my garage. No rhyme or reason that I can think of. I generally grab the cordless tools. If that doesn't work I get the corded tools out. My chopsaw is stored on its own rolling cart so I can move it out into the driveway due to the sparks. I don't use that too much anymore since I have a metal cutting bandsaw. Takes longer but no sparks.



I've thought of buying a rolling version of a big toolbox and store all the electric hand tools in one spot. But that hasn't went past the thought stage yet.



I should be like my brother in law and not have any and go use somebody elses.

 

[JOdell]

I am very anal about my tool storage. I have cases for every single hand power tool I have. And they are all in cabinets. My wife calls me goofy. -Jason

 

[Joe G.]

I am thinking about remodeling the storage cabinets in my garage so I'm looking for ideas that are compact without being a tangled mess. I don't have cases for all my corded power tools. I think some of them are 50 years old. They range in size from an old Rockwell gear drive saw to a 25 amp soldering iron. Some cordless tools have cases, but not all.

 

[JOdell]

I like the storage cabinet idea. It makes the garage look clean when all the doors are closed. If I get a chance I will snap a picture of mine and put it on the net. -Jason

 

[nickleinonen]

air tools and cordless. . both store easly in upper drawers when not in use. . other stuff with cords get tossed into the big bottom drawers of my toolbox

 

[Joe G.]

That is just about what I'm doing now. I want to eliminate the cord tangle and have each tool in it's place. Right now I can reach in a drawer with cord tools and pick up more of them than I want because of the tangle. Individual cases would be nice, but I don't have them for many of the tools. So I would like to see what others have done to deal with the tangled cord mess and having cord tools scattered in places all over the garage. I have a bunch of cabinets (old kitchen stuff) some with doors, most without. I can tear them down and start over (probably what I will do) or modify them so they work better. So far I haven't come up with any good ideas. Plenty of ideas, but ... .

 

[jwgary]

As far as handling the tangle, you can loop the cord back and forth against itself and then push it through an empty paper towel roll or TP roll. I don't know why I haven't thought about that until now for power tools. I have used that on several other appliances in the house. I know I remember seeing some really cool design for a storage cabinet for power tools, but I can't remember what it looked like now. Maybe I'll dig through the files and find it.

 

[Joe G.]

As far as handling the tangle, you can loop the cord back and forth against itself and then push it through an empty paper towel roll or TP roll. I

Shuda of thought of that one myself. Thanks.



I hope you can find the design. As soon as I get the mighty mess cleaned up from some work on the house, I'm going to deal with this tool storage problem.

 

[y-knot]

First the cords are only a problem if you let them be a problem. I like to use small pieces of Velcro and secure them, no more problems.

I do a lot of fabrication work, and use a lot of side grinders between 5-6 of them. I use so many because I hate changing from grinding disc to flap disc or to sanding disc, etc. I would much rather just pick-up the appropriate grinder. The grinders go in a 8" deep tool cart. For drills and grinding supplies I use a file cabinet, and for band saws and supplies I use another file cabinet. Both Dewalt and Craftsman battery tools have there own wall cabinet. My Evolution metal eating "Slugger" saw goes in a large drawer in another tool chest, and it's brother the Evolution chop saw goes under the beach. Most wood tools have there own shelf or drawer, so they stay separate.

I think tying up the cords with Velcro is the handiest tip, you can grab a tool and not worry about weather the cord is wrapped around something else, because it's held securely by the Velcro. Make by life much easier. Also, if you have a lot of tools, you have to have a place to store them, be it a shelf, drawer or cabinet. Good Luck



I use these old File Cabinets to store drills and other larger power tools



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In the larger drawers in my tool cabinets I store side grinders and assorted power tools



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I know it's not a great picture, but you can see the wall cabinets in the background were we store a lot of power tools mainly cordless tools.



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[Nate]

I have most of my tools in the bottom drawers of my tooboxes. A few don't fit and they are on a shelf. I just wrap the cord around the tool.

 

[smartineau]

Virtually all of my hand held electric tools are in metal or plastic cases, then stored on a shelf on one of the work benches.



Solder iron and such get tossed into aplastic tub, then I fight withthe cords.



I do like paper towel holder idea.



steve

 

[Joe G.]

I have a wall on one side of my garage I can use for cabinets and shelves or whatever. It just has some temporary shelves with junk on them now. Old paint, things like that. On the other wall I have a couple of kitchen wall cabinets salvaged from a remodel job. PLus some under the counter type of kitchen cabinets. The first wall is all con block so it will take more work to build something to store things, but I think I will use it instead of the old cabinets on the other one. So I'm trying to figure out what I want to do as best I can. The Velcro tip sounds pretty good to deal with the cords. Many of my tools are pretty old (so am I for that matter) that I got from my dad and my father-in-law. I'm getting tired of corded tools being all over the garage and, in many cases, all tangled up. I also have a need for a convenient way to store electronic stuff, but that is minor compared to big tools with long cords. Even storeing relatively new tools in cases is getting to be a nuisance. I would rather plan it before building instead of doing that as I go along. Thus my post. I know there are a lot of bright guys on these forums.

 

[Dl5treez]

I like to use small pieces of Velcro and secure them, no more problems.

Same here. It works great IMO...

 

[Deejayare]

What was that?

OK I'll ask. Was that a stove I saw in your shop? My mind is going. Is it for when a guy gets booted out of the house? Maybe you're a gourmet and it's for those great lunches. You don't live in that shop do you? :-laf



Seriously, awesome shop. That lift rocks.



Joe G. it's all about cord management. I'll try to post some pictures. I like hanging my stuff on pegboard. Easy to grab & go. I'm a neatfreak.



Jake

 

[OL RATLR]

How do you guys store your hand power tools that have cords? Everything I try ends up being a big mess or takes up more room in my garage than I want to use for that.

All my corded tools are on a 12ft shelf running behind my workshop table.

All my air tools are hanging on peg board behind my Compressor.

All my cordless tools are in cabinets. :-laf

 

[daveshoe]

As far as handling the tangle, you can loop the cord back and forth against itself and then push it through an empty paper towel roll or TP roll. I don't know why I haven't thought about that until now for power tools. I have used that on several other appliances in the house. I know I remember seeing some really cool design for a storage cabinet for power tools, but I can't remember what it looked like now. Maybe I'll dig through the files and find it.

That is a great idea. My tools ,when on the jobsite or the utility boxes on the truck,sometimes get thrown in the big box during the rain. I think I will try PVC scraps for this for durability. My power 50' cords are placed on a hook with nylon loops. I have had the same power cords for 35 years,always wound the same direction,and made from neoprene that never gets stiff. Never tie knots or twist these cords-- if I see this,you are subject to getting your butt chewed. Twist-loc cords for Milwaukee are worth it for the most part. Some guys color code the tool handle and plug end with colored electrical tape to take the guess out of it when you are using many tools at a time for the outlets available

 

[duckcarvr]

yes y-knot beautiful shop. i had a nice shop ( tear in eye ) 28 X 32', 4 rows of 5 double tube florescent lights ( the older you get the more light you need ) and a chimney in corner with pellet stove. but no lift ( another tear in eye ). As almost all tools now come in their own box i built a 4' w x 1' d x 8' high shelves that stand alone and anchored it to the ceiling so it could not fall over. i can move it anywhere. i used the first two bottom shelves for tools with no box and that had cords. my wife showed me how to put velcro on the cords. she took 1 " wide velcro,cut to lenght needed and cut a slit in one end put the velcro through it's self and pulled up tight near plug. the velcro was always there when needed. robert

 

[rbattelle]

i had a nice shop ( tear in eye ) 28 X 32',

What happened to it?



I agree with the little Velcro strips for the cords - works awesome. But get good quality ones. I bought super-cheapo and the ones on tools I use frequently don't have much "grab" left.



For tools for which no case is available, I have 2 suggestions. One, you could buy a tool bag for each one. Milwaukee and Makita make them, I know for sure. They're not as good as a case, but they're better than nothing.



Two, you could buy small steel toolboxes for them. Like this one. They are available in a couple different sizes.



Oh, one other option. If you're hand with wood you could build yourself a cabinet with big drawers that could each hold a few power tools with or without cases! BIG drawers. I've been considering doing something like that.



On edit: one more option that Y-knot mentioned: filing cabinets! I have one - a big legal-size Steelcase that I bought from the county. It's old, so it's built pretty solid. It's amazing how many tools and supplies will fit in one. Mine is a short 3-drawer unit. Check your county auction site - I got mine dirt cheap.



Ryan

 

[Joe G.]

Oh, one other option. If you're hand with wood you could build yourself a cabinet with big drawers that could each hold a few power tools with or without cases! BIG drawers. I've been considering doing something like that.

Ryan

That's about what I decided to do. Velcro to manage the cords. Partitioned shelves to fit each tool. NO cabinets or drawers. I don't want to open doors or slide out drawers to get to the tools. Or dig them out of bags.