Keeping your tool chest organized at all times is essential. Looking for a tool in a disorganized toolbox is difficult and can be frustrating. Some of the sharp tools in the pile might even bruise you. Keeping the toolbox in order will also ensure that your tools remain in good working condition for longer. Below is a guide on the ways to organize your tool chest:
1) Empty the Chest
The first step to organizing your tool chest is emptying it. Clearing the chest helps in evaluating whether it has any issues in first place. Remove all the tools from the chest. Lay them aside in a pile and weigh them. Confirm if the chest can carry the weight of all your tools. The weight of your tools should not exceed the chest’s carrying capacity. If your tools weigh more, then you should consider upgrading to one with large carrying capacity. To make sure that you get a quality chest, check out different reviews of the best ones on ToolsDuty. The reviews have been prepared by a professional and are quite informative to people who are not sure of what to get.
2) Clean the Toolbox
Once you confirm your chest has the right carrying capacity, you should proceed to clean it. Tool chest can be quite greasy and dirty if not cleaned regularly. Use paint thinner to clean grease stains and scrub the chest thoroughly until it has no grease and is clean. It is crucial to do this outdoors to avoid suffocation from the thinner. You also do not want to create a mess indoors.
3) Clean and Examine the Tools
Clean each tool you remove for the chest and evaluate its working condition. You can use paint thinner and an abrasive pad to clean grease stains. For tools with rust stains, you should use rust remover to clean it. When cleaning, confirm if they can still adjust and grease the moving parts. Make sure you do this in a well-ventilated place to prevent lightheadedness. After cleaning the tools, hang them outside in the sun to dry.
4) Dispose Of Broken or Ruined Tools
Some tools are broken or rusted, and you can longer use them. Separate tools you no longer use as well as screw and nails that serve no purpose. Throw them out since they are wasting space in the chest. Only keep the tools that are useful to save on storage space.
5) Packing the Tool Chest
Once the chest and tools are clean and dry, you can start packing your tool. Your chest should be packed neatly and in an organized manner. Sort out similar tools and place them together. For instance, put all the pliers in one place and wrenches in another. Consider placing tools with similar functions together such as a fastener and bolts. This organized arrangement of your chest will help assess tools easily.
6) Label the Chest Drawers
Since you have reorganized your chest, labeling will let you know where specific tools are. Stick masking tape on each item and label with a marker.
7) Use Cardboard to Prevent Grease Accumulation
Putting cardboard at the bottom of your toolbox will help prevent this. The board will soak the grease and prevent it from staining the tool chest.
To enhance the organization of your tool chest even further, consider investing in durable aluminium checker plate tool boxes. These sturdy boxes not only provide ample storage space but also add an extra layer of protection for your valuable tools.
