There’s much more behind tool success than simply buying whatever looks good. Spending money is the easy part. The real trick is keeping those tools organized and in good condition in the real world of a garage, a basement workshop or backyard storage shed. And I know for a fact that just thinking neat doesn’t cut it. You can try your best to keep power cords properly wrapped and screw drivers all in a row, but sooner or later the universal forces of disorganization will catch up with you. What you really need is a system. You need to make an investment in tool organization right up front, and this means learning a lesson from the pros.
Over the last twenty-five years of buying, using and working to keep my tool collection organized, I’ve settled on a system that works wonderfully, and it’s based on a simple philosophy: Before you buy any tool, make sure you’ve got a proper home for it.
For most beginners, ‘a proper home’ means starting with a few portable toolboxes – one for each type of power tool or related group of hand tools. I’ve tried lots of different toolboxes over the years, and I’ve learned that it’s definitely worth paying more money for boxes with metal latches and metal hinge pins. Many toolboxes are dark in colour, so I use a white marker to label what’s inside. That way you don’t have to waste time looking inside a bunch of boxes to find the tool you need.
As useful as it is, a tool storage system made exclusively of portable toolboxes does have its limitations, especially when your collection of pliers, screwdrivers, hammers and files starts to grow. The next step beyond toolboxes might strike you as overkill for a home tool collection, but it’s actually the ticket to a whole new world of effortless tool organization.
It took me ten years to realize that a mechanic’s tool cabinet is what I really needed. And now that I have three, I consider them all indispensable. These all-steel systems include sliding drawers of varying heights, all housed in a metal case. You can start with a small benchtop tool chest at first, then add a rolling tool cabinet underneath if you run out of space.
As it turns out, Canada is a world leader in the production of mechanic’s tool chests, and the Stanley cabinet here is a case in point. It’s manufactured in a plant in Smiths Falls that’s been in continuous production for almost fifty years. Their cabinet system includes rubber mats in each drawer to cushion the tools and a tightly sealing door that comes down over the chest drawers when they’re closed. The drawer cover might seem unnecessary, but this feature is another reason why mechanic’s tool cabinets make a lot of sense for homeowners. And it’s especially important when you’ve got tools stored out in an unheated garage or shed.
The problem is moisture, and it’s especially troublesome when warm weather rolls in after a cold snap. This happens most often in spring, and it means that cold metal tools develop droplets of condensation just like a cool glass of lemonade on a hot day. The result is moisture and rust, though not if you’re prepared.
As long as your toolboxes are latched tight and the outer doors on your mechanic’s cabinets are closed, warm, moist air won’t come in contact with cold tools. This prevents condensation and rust that would otherwise ruin good equipment. For particularly rust-sensitive tools, consider putting a silica gel dehumidifier in the drawer. This draws airborne moisture from small, enclosed spaces, ensuring that rust doesn’t get a chance. The best silica gel dehumidifiers include a perforated metal outer canister. Just heat the unit in a toaster oven to drive off captured moisture, re-establishing the effectiveness of the unit for another three or four months. You can buy small silica gel dehumidifiers at camera shops or larger ones at Lee Valley Tools (800-267-8767; www.leevalley.com).
Building a tool storage system alongside your tool collection might not seem like the most exciting way to dole out your tool dollars, but it’s actually the wisest approach. Once you’ve experienced frustration-free tool use, you’ll be as excited to buy a new toolbox as you are buying what goes inside.
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