Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

On Jul 5, 5:27*am, Bill Horn winelovrs1...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

Plank on wall with row of nails. Hang spanners on nails. Label as
appropiate.

On Sun, 4 Jul 2010 22:17:31 -0700 (PDT), harry wrote:

On Jul 5, 5:27*am, Bill Horn winelovrs1...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

Plank on wall with row of nails. Hang spanners on nails. Label as
appropiate.

Open-end wrenches hanging on nails?

I just keep them in holders. They take less wall space and I can grab the
whole bunch, if needed. Same with sockets. Sorta like this one:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&blockType=L20

On Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:19:35 -0500, zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
Plank on wall with row of nails. Hang spanners on nails. Label as
appropiate.

Open-end wrenches hanging on nails?

Two nails close together such that the wrench-end doesn't fall though,
I'd assume (I remember my dad always used to store chisels and
screwdrivers like that)

Whatever I do seems to be doomed because I end up with stuff split
between garage / workshop / house / car... I really need four sets of
everything :-)

cheers

Jules

Jules Richardson wrote:
On Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:19:35 -0500, zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
Plank on wall with row of nails. Hang spanners on nails. Label as
appropiate.
Open-end wrenches hanging on nails?

Two nails close together such that the wrench-end doesn't fall though,
I'd assume (I remember my dad always used to store chisels and
screwdrivers like that)

Whatever I do seems to be doomed because I end up with stuff split
between garage / workshop / house / car... I really need four sets of
everything :-)

cheers

Jules

I keep a few sets of tools. Good tools in the garage and shop. A cheap
set of tools in the house and car. I figure that a cheap set in the car
may get used once in an emergency situation, as such it doesn't need to
be a high end set with all the polish.
The set in the house doesn't have a lot of extra stuff, just tools that
would be used in the house.

Now the Garage and shop tools, those are high end stuff. The shop is
mainly Snap-On, SK and OLD Proto.
The garage set is MAC and Snap-On.

--
Steve W.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

In article ,
Bill Horn wrote:

Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

Wrench rack. An inexpensive sheet metal gizmo. Do a google image search
and you'll see many examples on the first page of hits. Lots of
manufacturers and distributors.

On Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:32:18 -0700, Smitty Two wrote:

In article ,
Bill Horn wrote:

Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

Wrench rack. An inexpensive sheet metal gizmo. Do a google image search
and you'll see many examples on the first page of hits. Lots of
manufacturers and distributors.

Ah. I see many of these $20 wrench wracks.

They seem to hold wrenches on the wall, and not in a drawer.
http://www.amazon.com/SK-Hand-Tools-.../dp/B000OGUKSM

They also seem mightly short, only holding from 7 to 15 wrenches.
http://www.amazon.com/Short-Wrench-P.../dp/B000I1U5AG

If I can find one that is longer (holds about 25 wrenches and fits in a
standard garage toolbox cabinet drawer), that would be perfect so I'll keep
looking under "wrench wrack".

I was hoping for a home-spun solution though, as I can't imagine all my
wrenches, bought over a long period of time, fitting quite so nicely in
those wracks in a drawer.

Bill Horn wrote:
On Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:32:18 -0700, Smitty Two wrote:

In article ,
Bill Horn wrote:

Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?
Wrench rack. An inexpensive sheet metal gizmo. Do a google image search
and you'll see many examples on the first page of hits. Lots of
manufacturers and distributors.

Ah. I see many of these $20 wrench wracks.

They seem to hold wrenches on the wall, and not in a drawer.
http://www.amazon.com/SK-Hand-Tools-.../dp/B000OGUKSM

They also seem mightly short, only holding from 7 to 15 wrenches.
http://www.amazon.com/Short-Wrench-P.../dp/B000I1U5AG

If I can find one that is longer (holds about 25 wrenches and fits in a
standard garage toolbox cabinet drawer), that would be perfect so I'll keep
looking under "wrench wrack".

I was hoping for a home-spun solution though, as I can't imagine all my
wrenches, bought over a long period of time, fitting quite so nicely in
those wracks in a drawer.


Make your own. I made up one out of light plywood. I used a scroll saw
to cut a sawtooth profile than laid the pieces down with some glue and
small nails.

Used a wood burner to mark each wing with the size.

--
Steve W.
(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")

On Jul 5, 4:32*am, Smitty Two wrote:
In article ,
*Bill Horn wrote:

Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

Wrench rack. An inexpensive sheet metal gizmo. Do a google image search
and you'll see many examples on the first page of hits. Lots of
manufacturers and distributors.

Also plastic ones, comprising a set of knobs on which to 'park'
sockets often marked as to size 10mm, 11mm, 12mm etc. But a row of
nails/screws in wooden board prob just as good!

On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 08:13:16 -0700 (PDT), terry wrote:
a set of knobs on which to 'park' sockets
a row of nails/screws in wooden board prob just as good!

These are the kind of intelligent American home-spun ideas I was looking
for (the europeans & asians can never come up with this kind of stuff!)

I've given up on the plastic non-adjustable "wrench holders" as they are
too limiting (they only hold a small number of wrenches and these have to
all be sequentially similar in size. Mine are from many sets bought over
the years so there is duplication and different types (combination, box,
open end, etc.).

But if they make an adjustable "knob type" wrench holder where we get to
adjust where the knobs go and which size each knob is to fit in the end of
the wrench, that would be the perfect wrench older for drawers.

Alas, I couldn't find anything like that (maybe time to invent it); but I
think I like the idea of just buying a thin board and lining up the
existing wrenches and then screwing in screws to hold them flat in the
drawer.

Don't see anything on the market for that though.

In article , winelovrs1968@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid says...

On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 08:13:16 -0700 (PDT), terry wrote:
a set of knobs on which to 'park' sockets
a row of nails/screws in wooden board prob just as good!

These are the kind of intelligent American home-spun ideas I was looking
for (the europeans & asians can never come up with this kind of stuff!)


You gotta be kidding. You can't figure out to keep your wrenches
straight and think Asians and Europeans suffer from the same?
Hanging things on boards probably dates to the Stone Age.
Maybe they used a tree limb with branch stubs as pegs.
That was before America was even discovered.
Keep inch and metric in separate drawers. Different types.
Keep types in a separate drawer, like combos, double box end, etc.
But I've always kept a double offset box 1/2-9/16 with my combos because
it's often used.
Wrench sizes don't have to be in order, as the eye picks the right size.
If your eye told you it's a 5/8 nut, it'll spot the 5/8 wrench.
An inch set from 7/16 to 1" is only a 10 wrenches.
You can toss a set of SAE ignition wrenches in there and still have no
problem grabbing the right wrench as fast as extracting it from a
holder, then having to re-insert it instead of just tossing it in a
drawer.
Do that, and you won't waste time putting wrenches back in their own
special slot.
Sockets need holders because they can roll around and hide themselves if
not held upright.
Toss all duplicates in a box and put them away.
Having 2 or 3 of every size just clouds everything.
As others have said you can hang them separately. Nails have been
mentioned, and I use that for some heavy tools in the garage.
Pegboard is better though because it's easier to adjust layouts.
I don't recommend hanging wrenches unless you only do bench work.
Or you like looking at them hanging there.
Never found hanging necessary for wrenches, as toolbox drawers work
better. Shop mechs almost universally prefer a box with drawers to
bring the tools right up to the work.
I've got 4 x 4' x 8' pegboard on walls in my basement and garage, half
of it 1/4" and half 1/8".
Never had a wrench hanging, just special or power tools.
And a lot of tapes, parts packages, etc.
Everybody organizes things differently, according to their inclinations
and experience and needs.
I don't want rolling boxes, so I keep my boxes light enough to carry.
Rather have 3 separate boxes and make 2 trips to get them to the work
site or truck bed than one box I can't move.
So everywhere I said "drawer" you can substiture "box" if it fits.
Whether wrenches or boxes, divide and conquer is what counts.
I don't keep wrench sets in toolbox drawers.
Mostly files sets, punch sets, chisels, razor tools, etc.
Best box I ever had and used for years was a small metal Craftman box
I bought empty. About 20" long, 6" wide and 4" high.
Had a short - maybe 1/2" high - thin wall inside running lengthwise,
starting wide enough to hold a 1" spocket and tapering down to about
1/2" wide at the other end.
That box held a full set of combos, and full sets of 3/8 and 1/2 drive
ratchets, sockets and extensions.
Besides that I could dump in a torque wrench, and all the pliers,
visegrips, and screwdrivers I needed for most jobs on top of the
wrenches/sockets. Nice box.
The short socket wall made it work.
Painted it twice over the years, but somebody ran over it and killed it.

On 7/5/2010 11:48 AM, Bill Horn wrote:

I've given up on the plastic non-adjustable "wrench holders" as they are
too limiting (they only hold a small number of wrenches and these have to
all be sequentially similar in size. Mine are from many sets bought over
the years so there is duplication and different types (combination, box,
open end, etc.).



I use a set of plastic wrench organizers that I bought from Sears for
use inside a large rolling Sears Toolbox set. They are just fitted into
the drawer by friction and I slanted the pieces so that I can accomodate
the biggest to the smallest combination wrenches: SAE on the left and
metric on the right. It works fine and cost very little.

Go to Sears.com and search for toolbox organizers.



Jay

On 7/4/2010 11:27 PM, Bill Horn wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

A little spray paint to denote metric or standard? I've seen socket
sets and wrench sets that came from the factory with different colors
to denote English or metric.

TDD

On Jul 5, 2:42*am, The Daring Dufas
wrote:
On 7/4/2010 11:27 PM, Bill Horn wrote:

Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.


A little spray paint to denote metric or standard? I've seen socket
sets and wrench sets that came from the factory with different colors
to denote English or metric.

I agree. I have used nail polish for that purpose very successfully. I
can instantly tell my metric from my standard wrenches and sockets.
Tough and durable as well; I did it twenty years ago, and not one of
them had to be redone.

Pierre

On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 04:26:27 -0700 (PDT), pierre wrote:

A little spray paint to denote metric or standard?
I agree. I have used nail polish for that purpose

I already have the metrics with blue tape and the american with white tape
so I can easily tell them apart. Plus I put metric & english in separate
drawers.

The problem is in any one drawer, I must have twenty or more wrenches that
I'd like to be kept organized better - and I'm still checking out your
ideas for doing that. Right now they're all a jumble of sizes.

If only the original Craftsman box was usable for storage, as they were
separated when they were bought but there are multiple sets bought by now
and that Craftsman box was easily broken plastic.

I'll look for drawer organizers.

On 7/5/2010 8:45 AM, Bill Horn wrote:
On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 04:26:27 -0700 (PDT), pierre wrote:

A little spray paint to denote metric or standard?
I agree. I have used nail polish for that purpose

I already have the metrics with blue tape and the american with white tape
so I can easily tell them apart. Plus I put metric& english in separate
drawers.

The problem is in any one drawer, I must have twenty or more wrenches that
I'd like to be kept organized better - and I'm still checking out your
ideas for doing that. Right now they're all a jumble of sizes.

If only the original Craftsman box was usable for storage, as they were
separated when they were bought but there are multiple sets bought by now
and that Craftsman box was easily broken plastic.

I'll look for drawer organizers.

I do believe you can get large flexible magnetic mat material to line
the drawers of your toolbox. That would keep things in place.

TDD

On Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:16:24 -0500, The Daring Dufas wrote:

get large flexible magnetic mat material to line
the drawers of your toolbox. That would keep things in place.

That's a great idea! Depending on the cost.

I would just put the wrenches down on the magnetic mat, in the order I want
them in, and they'd be in order whenever I opened the drawer.

I'll check out the prices on a set of mats for the drawers ... I hadn't
thought of this and it's a GREAT idea.

On 7/5/2010 6:26 AM, pierre wrote:
On Jul 5, 2:42 am, The Daring
wrote:
On 7/4/2010 11:27 PM, Bill Horn wrote:

Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.


A little spray paint to denote metric or standard? I've seen socket
sets and wrench sets that came from the factory with different colors
to denote English or metric.

I agree. I have used nail polish for that purpose very successfully. I
can instantly tell my metric from my standard wrenches and sockets.
Tough and durable as well; I did it twenty years ago, and not one of
them had to be redone.

Pierre


Many years ago when I worked as an electrician, I would scribe an
"+" or "-" in the plastic end of my Klien screwdrivers so I could
tell the difference between a flat blade or Phillips. Now Klien is
doing it at the factory with a little white paint in the groves.
Somebody told on me.

TDD

Bill Horn wrote the following:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

Separate drawers for SAE and Metric. Lined drawers with wrenches laid
out from small to large.
Of course, that is only when I have nothing to do and just sort them all
out. Usually, they are all jumbled up.
Sometimes, it helps if we are a little OCD.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

On 07/05/2010 12:27 AM, Bill Horn wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?
First I keep the metrics separate from the SAE including sockets and hex
keys. In my case, a separate drawer. Next I stack 2 together with the
largest in the rear and smallest in the front. Lastly, don't slam the
drawer. Eventually a tool box needs to be tidied up once in a while.
A rubber mat in the bottom of the tool drawer helps to keep them from
sliding around. I found that the rubber mats for kitchen cabinets with
the holes in it to work good in a tool box. You can even glue them in.
If you hang your tools then it's a no brainer.

--
LSmFT

I'm trying to think but nothing happens............

On 07/05/2010 12:27 AM, Bill Horn wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?


First I keep the metrics separate from the SAE including sockets and hex
keys. In my case, a separate drawer. Next I stack 2 together with the
largest in the rear and smallest in the front. Lastly, don't slam the
drawer. Eventually a tool box needs to be tidied up once in a while.
A rubber mat in the bottom of the tool drawer helps to keep them from
sliding around. I found that the rubber mats for kitchen cabinets with
the holes in it to work good in a tool box. You can even glue them in.
If you hang your tools then it's a no brainer.




--
LSmFT

I'm trying to think but nothing happens............

Bill Horn wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

I have separate tool boxes since I have sockets, allen wrenches,
and other tools in in both English and Metric.

Paul wrote:
Bill Horn wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to
access?

I have separate tool boxes since I have sockets, allen wrenches,
and other tools in in both English and Metric.

How about your metric saw blades?

--
LSMFT

I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months.
I don't like to interrupt her.

LSMFT wrote:
Paul wrote:
Bill Horn wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like to
grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to
access?

I have separate tool boxes since I have sockets, allen wrenches,
and other tools in in both English and Metric.

How about your metric saw blades?

I'm in Texas, USA. We don't have metric saws here.

Bill Horn wrote:
Sometimes a good idea is only a suggestion away.

I have your typical set of metric and english combination box/open-end
wrench sets in various drawers in my toolbox.

But they're all jumbled about such that it takes longer than I'd like
to grab a certain size or a sequence of certain sizes.

How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to
access?

I spray painted my metrics. It makes things a little bit simpler.

On Mon, 5 Jul 2010 04:27:09 +0000 (UTC), Bill Horn wrote:
How do you store your combination wrenches so that they are easy to access?

To close the loop, I organized all my wrenches.

Fortuitously, I was working on the bicycle, replacing tubes, when I hit
upon the idea of slicing the rubber tire tube in various ways to make
wonderfully strong straps and rubber bands.

Then, I piled up a set of 5 to 8 wrenches (depending on physical size) and
banded them together in the drawer, with a stiff piece of cardboard keeping
them lined up (banding the cardboard with the wrenches).

I put all the combination wrenches in a band (box on one side, open end on
the other); I put all the double-open-end wrenches in another band; all the
three-quarter-around brass pipe wrenches in another pile; bent ignition
wrenches in another set; ratchet box wrenches in another set; etc.

The cardboard stiffener isn't perfect; steel or very thin wood would be
better; so I'll look for copper or steel plate that will help keep the
bands together.

Perfect, once the wrenches are banded, would be wrap-around steel plate
that clips into place, perhaps with velcro. I'll work on that next.

Thanks for all the great ideas! Organizing wrenches must be one thing
almost all of us have in common!

Bill Horn wrote:

Thanks for all the great ideas! Organizing wrenches must be one thing
almost all of us have in common!

My biggest problem is organizing my wenches.

Excel helps.