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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
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    Default Bringing order to chaos

    So here I sit, after spending a good hour sorting all my fasteners into neatly labelled plastic storage containers....I probably could have found what I needed just as well if I'd continued using the old eclipse mint containers I was before, but this was a cheap and easy way of improving the system somewhat and it looks so....neat. Like someone who knows what they are doing works there. I don't really, but at least it gives the impression that I do...

    So tell me, what lengths have you gone to in order to bring a little more order to the chaos we call our workshops? Maybe we can share our tips, or just be glad that we aren't the only ones who feel the compulsive need to make everything tidy!

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  3. #2
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    Nov 2007
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    Smile

    Milk bottles and coloured detergent or softener bottles cut don on the bandsaw to just under the depth of the drawer are great. You can colour code, if so inclined!

  4. #3
    I_wanna_Shed's Avatar
    I_wanna_Shed is offline Now I've got a 6x7m shed! I need a new name...
    Join Date
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    Thirlmere, NSW
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    Default

    I haven't gone to many lengths... yet. Once we have a carport built in front of the shed, it will give me room to drag EVERYTHING out of the shed and have it undercover. I'll seal the dusty concrete floor, and ideally line some insulation on the walls.

    Then, one by one, take everything back inside to its new and rightful organised home. Peace and organisation will be restored.

    BUT, the first task, before I move EVERYTHING out, is to organise where I will put it all back....

    Nathan.

  5. #4
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    One of the first things I did was line the back of the garage with four of those cheap ($20) galvanised steel shelves, made up a bit higher than standard using bits from a couple of spares I had. This at least got everything off the floor. I've tried to keep cleaning supplies on one, auto on another, garden on a third and my tools on a third...unfortuantly they have been encroaching on the garden shelf.

    I recently built myself a rolling pegboard stand, double sided so I can fit more tools on it - woodworking one side, metalwork and auto tools the other. Depending on what I'm doing I swing it around on it's casters to get to what I need. My car shares the small garage with my 'workshop' so I'm cosntantly trying to find more creative ways to store things!. I like the cut off bottle idea

  6. #5
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    Oct 2005
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    Yangebup, Perth
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    I moved everything out of the shed that wasn't regularly used and put it elsewhere. All camping gear in the roof, gardening stuff in a little garden shed, etc. Sold everything that I thought was not really worth having and put up a decent wood rack which made the biggest difference of all, putting the wood up high meant all the space underneath could be used for machinery.
    The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

  7. #6
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    Nov 2007
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    Default

    I purchase plastic tubs and labeled the outside of what I have inside. So far only half the tubs are actually labeled correctly they contain the odd bits that do not have a category.

    I placed the tubs on shelving to get them off the floor. They keep the dust off the items in the tubs which is a good thing. I started to dedicate areas for things but that does not seem to last too long. Does not stop me from trying.

  8. #7
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    Sunshine Coast
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    Quote Originally Posted by Christos View Post
    I purchase plastic tubs and labeled the outside of what I have inside. So far only half the tubs are actually labeled correctly they contain the odd bits that do not have a category.
    That's what I started to do also. But slowly they start to get mixed up more and more and I realise I'll need about 50 tubs to organise them the way I want to!

  9. #8
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    The plastic fruit containers that have a screw top are pretty good. Even when washed and dried they often have a smell of the original contents so you could have them scent-coded if you want to be different.
    Cheers,
    Jim

  10. #9
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    Alex, I sympathize, I bought 10 of those little stackable garage bins from the reject shop, ended up going back twice and I could still use more if they had them...my other half's label maker came in handy the day I put those in place!

    Some of the others I've used, seen around here or elsewhere are;

    - nail jar lids to the underside of a shelf, then unscrew the jars from them for holding nails etc when needed

    - rare earth magnets stuck to the side of the bench/to the wall etc make a great place to stick drill bits, removed screws etc when working and stop you losing them

    - a bit of gutter stuck to the end of your workbench is a great catch all for small bits and anything that rolls off the bench - just make sure you leave one end open to get rid of sawdust

    - paper towel or toilet roll holders make great sandpaper/emery dispensors

    - those school project binders with the slide on spines protect your saw blades well

    - old army surplus canisters are quite tough and the ammo canisters are quite bottom heavy - great for standing offcuts and long pieces in without them falling over

    - a piece of cork from a discarded glass jar makes a great pincusion for small nails while you work

    etc etc

    -

  11. #10
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    Nov 2008
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    I use anything and everything, depending on the application. Some of those plastic boxes screws come in are awesome. Some old metal boxes from garage sales and flea markets too. Ditto on the artillery boxes; I use them for for sanding and grinding discs and the like.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Munruben, Qld
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    I'm not very tidy but this thread might give me the inspiration I need.
    Reality is no background music.
    Cheers John

  13. #12
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    Aug 2010
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    Harmers Haven Victoria
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    I try, I swear I try but horizontal surfaces attract stuff and empty containers seem to become full of all sorts.
    Michael

    Wood Butcher

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Grommett View Post
    I try, I swear I try but horizontal surfaces attract stuff and empty containers seem to become full of all sorts.
    If you put up shelving, you get more horizontal surfaces to play with!

    I've just spent 15 minutes while waiting for SWMBO to get home from work gluing some of my little stackable crates together. For some reason they don't like being put 6 high then filled with heavy auger bits!

    g2g, she's home!

    and yes, I hope it does inspire you munruben!

  15. #14
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    Mar 2005
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    I also use scent-coded screw top fruit jars (Coles and Goulburn Valley jars are identical except Goulburn Valley uses better glue to attach the labels!) AND Coles yoghurt tubs. I already had some shelving I had made up years ago and the screw top jars on their sides and the rectangular yoghurt tubs fit perfectly.

    I also happen to like the contents of both!
    fletty

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