Quality tools tend to make a worthwhile investment. They’ll offer superior performance, and they’ll last for longer, too. But that’s only so if you take care of them properly. If you’re going to be investing hundreds, or even thousands, into wrenches, drivers, and fastenings, then storage is something your should take seriously.
The ideal storage solution should account for how you’re actually going to be using your tools. The tools you use most often should be stored somewhere handy and accessible. So, what are the options?
Floating metal shelves
If you’re working in a garage, and you have wall space available, then installing some floating metal shelves might be the way to go. They’ll cope with heavier items, like tins of paint, while still leaving floor space free for other things, like workbenches.
Installing floating shelves is one of the more straightforward DIY skills. You’ll need a masonry drill bit. Bear in mind that the wall plugs you need are colour-coded according to the screws you need and the diameter of the holes you’ll be drilling.
Packout
The Packout system from Milwaukee Tools is a modern, modular system for tool storage. It includes everything from toolboxes to storage hooks to cup holders. Since it’s modular, you’ll be able to expand it to suit your needs – and take a small part of it, like a single Milwaukee toolbox, away with you.
Pegboards
If you have dozens of smaller hand and power tools that you’d like to be able to access, then a pegboard might be the best option. You can make these yourself, or you can pick them up ready-assembled.
Gardening implements, like forks and spades, tend to make a good match for the pegboard. Simply lift them off, and replace them when you’re done. What could be simpler?
Foam board for small tools
One of the problems with throwing all of your chisels, drill bits and screwdrivers in a drawer is that they’ll inevitably rattle against one another. This goes especially for tool bags that you’re carrying from place to place.
Over time, this will accelerate wear and tear, cause sharp instruments to go dull, and demand that you perform more regular maintenance. To avoid this, you might invest a bit of time in creating a custom foam insert. Carve a space that will perfectly accommodate the tool in question. Just take a sharp knife and trace the object. The fit will always be perfect!
