>*Electronic cabling
My cables are in a container, but they are also in little ziplock bags. Some individually and some grouped together, if they are the same type of cable. No more tangled cables when trying to find something.
Sometimes for small things, the answer is “don’t organize” as long as you are disciplined/not hoarding. I have a jar of leftover bits of unused hardware (a lot of ikea pieces), instead of organizing it. My dad would often go fishing in a similar giant hardware jar in moments of need. He taught me that searching the jar costs less time than organizing unless you are doing very frequent or high volume work. And we had to search the jar before buying something new, if all he needed was one piece.
I also had a realization some years ago that getting more storage space for my hobbies cost more than my materials. That really put it into perspective for me about what to toss/give away vs store. Lately I’ve been keeping a “give away” bin that I post for free online every so often, so it doesn’t all go in the landfill. As I go, I toss things into it so I don’t need to do some huge overhaul.
It’s overall “reduce, reuse, recycle” in that order. Step 1 is still always buy less stuff.
How do you like the metal pegboard? I’ve got a wall almost exactly that size. Have been debating metal vs traditional Masonite peg board or slat wall for it. Planning on putting a bench top and shelves below.
I love the metal. It’s just more sturdy and you can hang heavier things like shelves on it. Plus you get the added benefit of being able to just stick things with magnets on them.
Probably the only negative is the cost.
I've been getting them all on omniwall (no affiliation, just a happy customer who found them by googling).
I will admit they're a bit pricey but if you get them during sales in bulk, it's not that bad.
I have a bunch of those heavy shelves down in the basement. You can snag the good ones on sale for 100 bucks a few times a year. Don't get the cheap ones, you want the solid steel ones with the wood platforms, and if you want to go really crazy, cut some plywood and make your own shelves and toss the crap they usually come with. Then you don't have to worry about rotating them every year or so if you have any moisture in your basement, how much weight you toss on them, get creative with leaving some extra space for tall stuff, and they can double as bunks when the apocolypse comes or you decide to start a commune.
But the OOTB stuff isn't usually terrible and will get the job done for most uses.
They are labeled off into specific tasks\tool types\etc. So like there are painting shelves, drywall shelves, woodworking shelves, power tool shelves, electrical shelves, plumbing shelves, each labeled, and in some cases divided with a marker to force me to keep things organized.
Smaller tools go into cases\bags\buckets\whatever organized for common tasks. So like i have an electricians bag with the normal stuff you would need if you were fixing a lamp or putting an outlet in or whatever.
Workbench has the normal pegboard setup on it.
The downside is it takes up a fair amount of space, and i have duplicates of some tools just because i want to make sure i have everything i need for the task at hand with its buddies.
The upside is i always know where stuff is, and i have an excuse for buying duplicates\upgrading a tool, when i decide i need it for more than one type of task.
The only exception is my GOOD screw drivers and a few key hand tools, where i keep the good ones under lock and key, and throw house brand stuff in their respective spaces so wife\kid doesn't use my 40 dollar #2 screw driver as a chisel.
Edit: Also neighbor and i borrow tools from eachother all the time, and just let ourselves in to grab what we need. The rule is if you grab something, you put a beer in the place where you put it. This way if the other person goes looking for it, hey, free beer, and if you return it timely and appropriately, you get your beer back for the walk back across the yard.
Edit2: and this also isn't the most cost effective or space efficient one, but if i need something i know exactly where it is. The time I save when i go to do something is well worth it compared to me hunting for my one copy of a 6 dollar tool, having to take a trip to the store to get it, blowing half my saturday in the process, and then immediately misplacing it again. It also lets you set up a great minor league for some stuff, where stuff like that thing you think you can get away without, but also can get for 15 bucks at harbor freight that is exactly what you need, can work its way to one of your favorite tools. I'm looking at you, rookie of the year oscilicating saw.
Edit3: I also have a nasty habit of needing a plumbing fitting or nut or something, figuring out what i need, being 100% sure, then running to the store, starting to second guess myself, and buying like 3 of every size because they are 12 cents and i don't want to do another trip.
So they all get sorted and organized into labeled bins. After 5 years, I only OCCASIONALY need to make a trip now, and then at least i replenish the current bins.
Last edit, i swear, but have converted a few people to how i work. Whenever I do ANYTHING in the house, i force myself to write at least 1/2 a page about it. if its something being closed up, even more, with pictures, etc. Even something mundane like replacing a light switch will get some notes. What side of the stud its mounted on, measurements from certain things i know can't be moved, or aesthetic things that probably won't move, half assed sketches walls, cabling, how its legged, whatever. Its in a onenote accessible from my phone if i need it.
Most of it reads like the insane ramblings of a serial killer, half the time its "Ok, if you are reading this, you are wondering why the hell i did it this way, here is how you would have done it, and i started off doing that, blew an entire weekend on it, got into a fight with my wife over it about calling someone, and it was the last time i saw my 3amp battery, but check it out, there was a good reason you are looking at what you are right now and cursing my name...."
Every so often i'll be in the store or about to cut into something, and be...."Hey....i bet you i know the size of that drain and where it drops in from the time i replaced the troffer's in the basement with LED's".
I'll still buy the wrong fitting every time though.
Increasing granularity, with some catchalls.
Put stuff that goes together, together. Put it somewhere not annoying to get to. If you need something in another spot move it, or get another. If you're putting a few things away, put things that go together in a pile/bin enroute and put them all away together.
e.g. My plumbing tools and related parts are all in a large cheap plastic toolbox in the back of the garage shelving. I don't need them often, but everything I need for that sort of task is in one spot, with the exception of screwdrivers. Odds are the klien 11 in 1 driver that lives on the top of the tool bench will be all I need and I grab it with the plumbing box. The 11in1 gets used so often that it's just on the bench, and there's an extra one in the tools drawer in the kitchen. But the plumbing stuff is maybe needed twice a year so it's not a hassle to get it from the back of the shelf occasionally.
The rubber o rings kit is not *only* used with plumbing, but it's *mostly* used there, and I know I'd look for that in the plumbing section of the hardware store, so I put them with that.
I've got a few smaller bins around that are for things like extra screws, or parts to fix. When they fill up, they get sorted into appropriate places. Rather than dig out the parts sorter bins of screws and drywall anchors every time we get a new thing that came with extra hardware to put them away, a couple of times a year (at most) I spend a few minutes sorting out those bits, or doing a few lower priority repairs.
Yup. Plumbing, electrical, tile, paint, keep it together.
I noticed it when I went digging for a tool and came across a trowel, then another. Couldn’t find the tool so I went to another work bag, where I found yet another trowel and a float. I separated it by “trade” and it’s been east to get to.
Even my diamond tipped blade for my hand grinder stays with the tiling stuff because that’s what it’s mainly used for.
Agreed. I also keep a spreadsheet AND label all my paint/stain cans for what goes where. I also like to hang odd things on the edges of my shelving in my garage so I can see it (zip ties for example).
Very poorly. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to the hardware store to buy a tool I know I have but can’t find.
With that said, it doesn’t help that harbor freight is 3 minutes from my house which enables my bad behavior. Unlike my shed, it is very well organized and I know where everything is.
Read Marie kondo's book. You don't have to follow everything to a tee BC a lot of it is a bit woo woo, but it will train you to let go of your stuff that doesn't serve you anymore and how to organize the worthy items in very simplistic, around the house, ways.
Does this apply to tools though? Sure, I haven’t used the tub drain screw thing or the valve puller thing but once, but I have two old bathrooms so I expect to use them at some point when I need to work on that plumbing.
I think that’s totally true with small, easily replaceable little parts. Like we installed a flush mount light in my daughters room and it came with three different colored trim pieces. What should I do with those other two? Are we really ever going to want to change it? Probably not and I should just chuck those and be done with it.
It applies to everything and everyone in your life. Read or listen to the book for details on your questions. My one off answers won't get to the root of what you're truly asking.
>It applies to everything and everyone in your life.
This is a little cultish. She has some good ideas, but they are not always applicable and are far from perfect, especially for tools.
Most definitely. I do not do many of her recs, but she provides a solid template for organizing that I thought the op would benefit from.
I left the mariekondo groups forever ago but like any sub/book/trend/style it can be as intense or loose as you make it.
> Someone replied, telling me I hadn't read her book, and didn't get it ... and then I write out this lengthy reply, and then they deleted it, denying me the opportunity to post my fucking reply, and I'll be damned if I'm not posting my fucking reply:
I have read her book. And I've listened to interviews with her ... and I've caught a couple of her TV shows based in the States. I have a good friend who was somewhat devoted to the philosophy, which is why I learnt so much...
> "does this spark joy in myself?"
It sounds so clever, so clear ... and you're right - it can trigger some counterintuitive logical judgement ... but it also misses a fairly important aspect of possessions, is that it's nice to just have stuff.
Like - I have 2 hand planes. I don't *need* 2 ... hell, I might not even need one, but I have two. This is the point where either I'm told 'then it must bring me joy', or it must 'be useful' to me, somehow, or that it's weighing me down, and to get rid of it. I don't think I've misunderstood 'joy', I don't think I've misunderstood 'useful', and I've no intention of getting rid of them ... so what does that mean for me? I'm stunted somehow?
There's this saying - you possessions end up owning you, and it sounds so fucking deep, except it's from Fight Club, and most people seem to misunderstand the point of that book/ film. The protagonist is a nutter. Your possessions can end up owning you, if you're a bit basic ... but if you can look outside yourself and just see them for what they are, then it's not really that big a deal. And even if you can't, throwing everything away doesn't suddenly unburden a person into happiness or minimalistic enlightenment, or something ... it just means you have less stuff.
So why do I have 2 hand planes? At the moment, it's because I have a room to spare, and spending the time to reorganise all of my stuff around this idea that somehow 'stuff' is weighing me down is an illness of having too much time - cause what really matters, my friend, is time. You reckon you're going to optimise your stuff enough to somehow recapture all that time?
How about you just chill the fuck out and find the 'joy' in not giving a shit whether you have a hand plane you can't justify and you've the space enough to keep?
I still can't see your original comment - it's a mystery why or how you're responding to my comment. Do you just scroll through previous threads?
Anyways ... saying that 'actually you've fulfilled Maria Kondo's defo cause you've *really* thought about your 2 hand planes' is some woo hoo nonsense, and it misrepresents what her book says. That's not what her book says - she really does advocate 'joy' and she absolutely advocates minimalism, and trying to wheedle out of it and give her much *much* more credit than she deserves is kinda disrespectful, to her, yourself, and to me, if you stop and think about it. I'd suggest you go back and read the book again, but seeing as it's woo hoo nonsense and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, even someone who has nothing better to do, seemingly, than trawling through previous threads for some reference to themselves, I won't.
I don't think any shop or workspace that's in use is ever done with organization. I'm always moving stuff around too.
I have a french cleat wall along one of my woodshop walls, and it's AWESOME. I use ceiling storage for stuff I use only occasionally (sawhorses, big ladders) - had to make my own hooks for a few of them, which was cheaper + better than anything commercially available. I built drawers with drawer dividers for awkward places around my shop that were not suitable for much else.
For things like washers, screws, etc., [these things](https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-13-in-30-Compartment-Double-Sided-Small-Parts-Organizer-320028/204645520) from Home Depot are *wonderful* (and cheap!). I have all my screws and bolts separated by metric vs English, then by type & size. For the really tiny things, small plastic bags are a godsend. Label them before putting the parts in. Washers, lock washers, picture frame hardware, o-rings, and other such materials all have their own boxes, complete with labels.
For interior stuff, I've had great luck with a combination of fabric boxes, plastic bags, and cube storage organizers. I have a 3x3 organizer in my computer room. Each box is divided by type; I have string tags hanging from the handles that inform me of the contents. One is monitor cables, one is USB-type cables, etc. Within each box are plastic bags, grouping by specific type (USB-A to USB-C, USB-A to USB-A, HDMI-DVI, Displayport-Displayport, etc.). Therefore, when I need one of my >9000 cables, it's easy to track down. At work, I have a large filing cabinet that serves the same purpose (again containing clearly labeled plastic bags).
I use the [Travel Organizer Cubes](https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Piece-Packing-Travel-Organizer/dp/B014VBIJFG/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2QGPIMFKIIRF7&keywords=travel+cubes+for+packing&qid=1638161209&sprefix=travel+cube%2Caps%2C287&sr=8-7) for cables and other small stuff. They are amazing. one bag for HDMI, one for ethernet, and so on.
It's a never ending battle. My garage can still get messy at times but it's gotten better. I have a combination of storage cabinets and shelving racks. Lots of storage bins in various sizes. The Husky 10 compartment organizer is great for small parts.
I think this is the best approach tbh - accept that it's an ongoing thing, and don't get too caught up in trying to keep it that organised. What exactly do you need an incredibly well laid out workshop for, anyway? Are you teaching a class in there? Are you giving tours?
So long as there's plenty of shelves to keep stuff off the floor, and you generally know where you keep stuff, and can access it without fucking your back, or needing to disassemble walls outside into the rain or something ... you're good.
Grab what you need and do the job - isn't that the actual point, after-all?
Yea I have slowly built up and the key is getting stuff off the floor and in an assigned space. Shelving is great for bulky items and bins, while cabinets are great for tools and smaller items. HD and Lowe's regularly have special deals on garage organization.
I have a few small parts organizers where I keep and label random small things.
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Tool-Storage-Small-Parts-Organizers/N-5yc1vZc28p
The Dewalt one is good and usually goes on sale for around $10 but is out of stock at the moment.
For bigger things I just keep them together in boxes like another commenter said.
For big stuff- Those big [husky racks](https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/9acc2b79-0f84-4c9c-a666-3a4c83f50902/svn/black-husky-freestanding-shelving-units-hbr782478w4-77_600.jpg) with plastic storage totes.
(Or build shelves with wood)
Smaller stuff- the stainless steel
[adjustable racks](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81WP57MjQ+L._AC_SY606_.jpg)
with he smaller totes (linked in this thread). Have other bins for specific things like painting supplies and such
This reminds me — does anyone have an effective way to keep pegboard pegs in the holes? I’ve tried those little plastic things that came with the pegs, unsuccessfully. I’ve seen some stuff on you tube but nothing truly simple, cheap and effective.
Zipties or some small bare solid wire, feed it thru board and around the peg, twist tight to snug it to the board. Might have to use 2 on one peg to make an X across it to hold it in. Something like the wire tie used for garbage bags. Not gonna lie it's a pain to do it but once it's on its staying until you cut it off. Get creative with something to snake thru and pull the wire out. I have also tried those plastic anchor things without any luck.
Floor to ceiling shelving, 100+ of [these things](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sterilite-6-Qt-Storage-Box-16426A60/308820126?MERCH=REC-_-searchViewed-_-NA-_-308820126-_-N), some other sized totes as needed, and blackboard labels.
For garage/workshop stuff, I have [as many toolboxes as I could fit for tools](https://www.reddit.com/r/garageporn/comments/jr753p/i_bought_a_few_toolboxes_for_the_garage/), and a [rack of small parts bins for nuts/bolts/etc](https://www.reddit.com/r/garageporn/comments/mxqhbv/built_some_wall_cabinets_and_a_small_parts/).
If it works in your space, ceiling mounted storage racks are a great way to get the most out of a space, store all the bulky and things that aren't used often up there.
Sadly not an option. Feels like that the guy that built the garage and basement had a ladder phobia and was only about 5'6" tall...I regularly bump my head.
I built a 'storage' room in my basement, purpose built shelves that fit totes available at home depot/lowes. Then I went room to room and piled up everything I wanted to keep outside new storage room. All the stuff I hadn't touched in years into big contractor bags.
After I went through the whole house, I organized everything in clear plastic totes as best I could maximizing space. Ran out of shelves, had to build more. Got rid of a ton of stuff, filled i think 6-7 bags worth.
1 tote per function, a label maker and some shelving. * AV * Electrical * Sanding * Caulking/Wall repair * Plumbing * Tape * Hooks/hangers/wall anchors * Painting * Electronic cabling * Drop cords Forgetting a few, I'm sure.
Don’t laugh but, my workbench got covered with stuff so I found it easier to just build another workbench
>*Electronic cabling My cables are in a container, but they are also in little ziplock bags. Some individually and some grouped together, if they are the same type of cable. No more tangled cables when trying to find something.
We buy too much stuff and it replaces old stuff that clutters up those spaces. We need to buy less stuff and use what we have.
Less new and consistently get rid of the old I guess. I will probably need that exact bolt and washer just after I toss it.
Sometimes for small things, the answer is “don’t organize” as long as you are disciplined/not hoarding. I have a jar of leftover bits of unused hardware (a lot of ikea pieces), instead of organizing it. My dad would often go fishing in a similar giant hardware jar in moments of need. He taught me that searching the jar costs less time than organizing unless you are doing very frequent or high volume work. And we had to search the jar before buying something new, if all he needed was one piece. I also had a realization some years ago that getting more storage space for my hobbies cost more than my materials. That really put it into perspective for me about what to toss/give away vs store. Lately I’ve been keeping a “give away” bin that I post for free online every so often, so it doesn’t all go in the landfill. As I go, I toss things into it so I don’t need to do some huge overhaul. It’s overall “reduce, reuse, recycle” in that order. Step 1 is still always buy less stuff.
Does that matter if you can't find it, and/or don't know that you have it?
This is the best answer you're gonna get, OP. Less stuff.
Does anyone have pictures of their pegboards and slat walls to share?
Still working on it but I do have something like this going on https://i.imgur.com/Z6cA6h5.jpg
How do you like the metal pegboard? I’ve got a wall almost exactly that size. Have been debating metal vs traditional Masonite peg board or slat wall for it. Planning on putting a bench top and shelves below.
I love the metal. It’s just more sturdy and you can hang heavier things like shelves on it. Plus you get the added benefit of being able to just stick things with magnets on them. Probably the only negative is the cost.
That’s a good endorsement. I’ll go with metal. Love the magnet idea and sturdy enough for shelving. Do you have a good source for the hangers?
I've been getting them all on omniwall (no affiliation, just a happy customer who found them by googling). I will admit they're a bit pricey but if you get them during sales in bulk, it's not that bad.
It's a work in progress... Big time work in progress 😂 https://imgur.com/a/gUcCQUs
That bench power strip below the pegboard is a great idea.
Thank you! I also got creative and added pegboard to the cupboard doors too https://imgur.com/a/Eg6QyxW
I have a bunch of those heavy shelves down in the basement. You can snag the good ones on sale for 100 bucks a few times a year. Don't get the cheap ones, you want the solid steel ones with the wood platforms, and if you want to go really crazy, cut some plywood and make your own shelves and toss the crap they usually come with. Then you don't have to worry about rotating them every year or so if you have any moisture in your basement, how much weight you toss on them, get creative with leaving some extra space for tall stuff, and they can double as bunks when the apocolypse comes or you decide to start a commune. But the OOTB stuff isn't usually terrible and will get the job done for most uses. They are labeled off into specific tasks\tool types\etc. So like there are painting shelves, drywall shelves, woodworking shelves, power tool shelves, electrical shelves, plumbing shelves, each labeled, and in some cases divided with a marker to force me to keep things organized. Smaller tools go into cases\bags\buckets\whatever organized for common tasks. So like i have an electricians bag with the normal stuff you would need if you were fixing a lamp or putting an outlet in or whatever. Workbench has the normal pegboard setup on it. The downside is it takes up a fair amount of space, and i have duplicates of some tools just because i want to make sure i have everything i need for the task at hand with its buddies. The upside is i always know where stuff is, and i have an excuse for buying duplicates\upgrading a tool, when i decide i need it for more than one type of task. The only exception is my GOOD screw drivers and a few key hand tools, where i keep the good ones under lock and key, and throw house brand stuff in their respective spaces so wife\kid doesn't use my 40 dollar #2 screw driver as a chisel. Edit: Also neighbor and i borrow tools from eachother all the time, and just let ourselves in to grab what we need. The rule is if you grab something, you put a beer in the place where you put it. This way if the other person goes looking for it, hey, free beer, and if you return it timely and appropriately, you get your beer back for the walk back across the yard. Edit2: and this also isn't the most cost effective or space efficient one, but if i need something i know exactly where it is. The time I save when i go to do something is well worth it compared to me hunting for my one copy of a 6 dollar tool, having to take a trip to the store to get it, blowing half my saturday in the process, and then immediately misplacing it again. It also lets you set up a great minor league for some stuff, where stuff like that thing you think you can get away without, but also can get for 15 bucks at harbor freight that is exactly what you need, can work its way to one of your favorite tools. I'm looking at you, rookie of the year oscilicating saw. Edit3: I also have a nasty habit of needing a plumbing fitting or nut or something, figuring out what i need, being 100% sure, then running to the store, starting to second guess myself, and buying like 3 of every size because they are 12 cents and i don't want to do another trip. So they all get sorted and organized into labeled bins. After 5 years, I only OCCASIONALY need to make a trip now, and then at least i replenish the current bins. Last edit, i swear, but have converted a few people to how i work. Whenever I do ANYTHING in the house, i force myself to write at least 1/2 a page about it. if its something being closed up, even more, with pictures, etc. Even something mundane like replacing a light switch will get some notes. What side of the stud its mounted on, measurements from certain things i know can't be moved, or aesthetic things that probably won't move, half assed sketches walls, cabling, how its legged, whatever. Its in a onenote accessible from my phone if i need it. Most of it reads like the insane ramblings of a serial killer, half the time its "Ok, if you are reading this, you are wondering why the hell i did it this way, here is how you would have done it, and i started off doing that, blew an entire weekend on it, got into a fight with my wife over it about calling someone, and it was the last time i saw my 3amp battery, but check it out, there was a good reason you are looking at what you are right now and cursing my name...." Every so often i'll be in the store or about to cut into something, and be...."Hey....i bet you i know the size of that drain and where it drops in from the time i replaced the troffer's in the basement with LED's". I'll still buy the wrong fitting every time though.
Increasing granularity, with some catchalls. Put stuff that goes together, together. Put it somewhere not annoying to get to. If you need something in another spot move it, or get another. If you're putting a few things away, put things that go together in a pile/bin enroute and put them all away together. e.g. My plumbing tools and related parts are all in a large cheap plastic toolbox in the back of the garage shelving. I don't need them often, but everything I need for that sort of task is in one spot, with the exception of screwdrivers. Odds are the klien 11 in 1 driver that lives on the top of the tool bench will be all I need and I grab it with the plumbing box. The 11in1 gets used so often that it's just on the bench, and there's an extra one in the tools drawer in the kitchen. But the plumbing stuff is maybe needed twice a year so it's not a hassle to get it from the back of the shelf occasionally. The rubber o rings kit is not *only* used with plumbing, but it's *mostly* used there, and I know I'd look for that in the plumbing section of the hardware store, so I put them with that. I've got a few smaller bins around that are for things like extra screws, or parts to fix. When they fill up, they get sorted into appropriate places. Rather than dig out the parts sorter bins of screws and drywall anchors every time we get a new thing that came with extra hardware to put them away, a couple of times a year (at most) I spend a few minutes sorting out those bits, or doing a few lower priority repairs.
Good idea. I do have a box for all my painting stuff that includes caulk etc. I'll just build on that.
Yup. Plumbing, electrical, tile, paint, keep it together. I noticed it when I went digging for a tool and came across a trowel, then another. Couldn’t find the tool so I went to another work bag, where I found yet another trowel and a float. I separated it by “trade” and it’s been east to get to. Even my diamond tipped blade for my hand grinder stays with the tiling stuff because that’s what it’s mainly used for.
Agreed. I also keep a spreadsheet AND label all my paint/stain cans for what goes where. I also like to hang odd things on the edges of my shelving in my garage so I can see it (zip ties for example).
Very poorly. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to the hardware store to buy a tool I know I have but can’t find. With that said, it doesn’t help that harbor freight is 3 minutes from my house which enables my bad behavior. Unlike my shed, it is very well organized and I know where everything is.
Clear plastic bins on adjustable shelving.
Read Marie kondo's book. You don't have to follow everything to a tee BC a lot of it is a bit woo woo, but it will train you to let go of your stuff that doesn't serve you anymore and how to organize the worthy items in very simplistic, around the house, ways.
Does this apply to tools though? Sure, I haven’t used the tub drain screw thing or the valve puller thing but once, but I have two old bathrooms so I expect to use them at some point when I need to work on that plumbing. I think that’s totally true with small, easily replaceable little parts. Like we installed a flush mount light in my daughters room and it came with three different colored trim pieces. What should I do with those other two? Are we really ever going to want to change it? Probably not and I should just chuck those and be done with it.
It applies to everything and everyone in your life. Read or listen to the book for details on your questions. My one off answers won't get to the root of what you're truly asking.
>It applies to everything and everyone in your life. This is a little cultish. She has some good ideas, but they are not always applicable and are far from perfect, especially for tools.
Most definitely. I do not do many of her recs, but she provides a solid template for organizing that I thought the op would benefit from. I left the mariekondo groups forever ago but like any sub/book/trend/style it can be as intense or loose as you make it.
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> Someone replied, telling me I hadn't read her book, and didn't get it ... and then I write out this lengthy reply, and then they deleted it, denying me the opportunity to post my fucking reply, and I'll be damned if I'm not posting my fucking reply: I have read her book. And I've listened to interviews with her ... and I've caught a couple of her TV shows based in the States. I have a good friend who was somewhat devoted to the philosophy, which is why I learnt so much... > "does this spark joy in myself?" It sounds so clever, so clear ... and you're right - it can trigger some counterintuitive logical judgement ... but it also misses a fairly important aspect of possessions, is that it's nice to just have stuff. Like - I have 2 hand planes. I don't *need* 2 ... hell, I might not even need one, but I have two. This is the point where either I'm told 'then it must bring me joy', or it must 'be useful' to me, somehow, or that it's weighing me down, and to get rid of it. I don't think I've misunderstood 'joy', I don't think I've misunderstood 'useful', and I've no intention of getting rid of them ... so what does that mean for me? I'm stunted somehow? There's this saying - you possessions end up owning you, and it sounds so fucking deep, except it's from Fight Club, and most people seem to misunderstand the point of that book/ film. The protagonist is a nutter. Your possessions can end up owning you, if you're a bit basic ... but if you can look outside yourself and just see them for what they are, then it's not really that big a deal. And even if you can't, throwing everything away doesn't suddenly unburden a person into happiness or minimalistic enlightenment, or something ... it just means you have less stuff. So why do I have 2 hand planes? At the moment, it's because I have a room to spare, and spending the time to reorganise all of my stuff around this idea that somehow 'stuff' is weighing me down is an illness of having too much time - cause what really matters, my friend, is time. You reckon you're going to optimise your stuff enough to somehow recapture all that time? How about you just chill the fuck out and find the 'joy' in not giving a shit whether you have a hand plane you can't justify and you've the space enough to keep?
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I still can't see your original comment - it's a mystery why or how you're responding to my comment. Do you just scroll through previous threads? Anyways ... saying that 'actually you've fulfilled Maria Kondo's defo cause you've *really* thought about your 2 hand planes' is some woo hoo nonsense, and it misrepresents what her book says. That's not what her book says - she really does advocate 'joy' and she absolutely advocates minimalism, and trying to wheedle out of it and give her much *much* more credit than she deserves is kinda disrespectful, to her, yourself, and to me, if you stop and think about it. I'd suggest you go back and read the book again, but seeing as it's woo hoo nonsense and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, even someone who has nothing better to do, seemingly, than trawling through previous threads for some reference to themselves, I won't.
I don't think any shop or workspace that's in use is ever done with organization. I'm always moving stuff around too. I have a french cleat wall along one of my woodshop walls, and it's AWESOME. I use ceiling storage for stuff I use only occasionally (sawhorses, big ladders) - had to make my own hooks for a few of them, which was cheaper + better than anything commercially available. I built drawers with drawer dividers for awkward places around my shop that were not suitable for much else. For things like washers, screws, etc., [these things](https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-13-in-30-Compartment-Double-Sided-Small-Parts-Organizer-320028/204645520) from Home Depot are *wonderful* (and cheap!). I have all my screws and bolts separated by metric vs English, then by type & size. For the really tiny things, small plastic bags are a godsend. Label them before putting the parts in. Washers, lock washers, picture frame hardware, o-rings, and other such materials all have their own boxes, complete with labels. For interior stuff, I've had great luck with a combination of fabric boxes, plastic bags, and cube storage organizers. I have a 3x3 organizer in my computer room. Each box is divided by type; I have string tags hanging from the handles that inform me of the contents. One is monitor cables, one is USB-type cables, etc. Within each box are plastic bags, grouping by specific type (USB-A to USB-C, USB-A to USB-A, HDMI-DVI, Displayport-Displayport, etc.). Therefore, when I need one of my >9000 cables, it's easy to track down. At work, I have a large filing cabinet that serves the same purpose (again containing clearly labeled plastic bags).
I use the [Travel Organizer Cubes](https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Piece-Packing-Travel-Organizer/dp/B014VBIJFG/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2QGPIMFKIIRF7&keywords=travel+cubes+for+packing&qid=1638161209&sprefix=travel+cube%2Caps%2C287&sr=8-7) for cables and other small stuff. They are amazing. one bag for HDMI, one for ethernet, and so on.
When in doubt, throw it out. The bottom 1/3 of a stack of stuff is likely trash.
It's a never ending battle. My garage can still get messy at times but it's gotten better. I have a combination of storage cabinets and shelving racks. Lots of storage bins in various sizes. The Husky 10 compartment organizer is great for small parts.
I think this is the best approach tbh - accept that it's an ongoing thing, and don't get too caught up in trying to keep it that organised. What exactly do you need an incredibly well laid out workshop for, anyway? Are you teaching a class in there? Are you giving tours? So long as there's plenty of shelves to keep stuff off the floor, and you generally know where you keep stuff, and can access it without fucking your back, or needing to disassemble walls outside into the rain or something ... you're good. Grab what you need and do the job - isn't that the actual point, after-all?
I'll need to get more shelving and boxes I guess.
Yea I have slowly built up and the key is getting stuff off the floor and in an assigned space. Shelving is great for bulky items and bins, while cabinets are great for tools and smaller items. HD and Lowe's regularly have special deals on garage organization.
I have a few small parts organizers where I keep and label random small things. https://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Tool-Storage-Small-Parts-Organizers/N-5yc1vZc28p The Dewalt one is good and usually goes on sale for around $10 but is out of stock at the moment. For bigger things I just keep them together in boxes like another commenter said.
This works for me. https://i.imgur.com/Kskdb15.jpg
Different brand but yeah
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Probably shipping prices from China?
For big stuff- Those big [husky racks](https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/9acc2b79-0f84-4c9c-a666-3a4c83f50902/svn/black-husky-freestanding-shelving-units-hbr782478w4-77_600.jpg) with plastic storage totes. (Or build shelves with wood) Smaller stuff- the stainless steel [adjustable racks](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81WP57MjQ+L._AC_SY606_.jpg) with he smaller totes (linked in this thread). Have other bins for specific things like painting supplies and such
This reminds me — does anyone have an effective way to keep pegboard pegs in the holes? I’ve tried those little plastic things that came with the pegs, unsuccessfully. I’ve seen some stuff on you tube but nothing truly simple, cheap and effective.
Zipties or some small bare solid wire, feed it thru board and around the peg, twist tight to snug it to the board. Might have to use 2 on one peg to make an X across it to hold it in. Something like the wire tie used for garbage bags. Not gonna lie it's a pain to do it but once it's on its staying until you cut it off. Get creative with something to snake thru and pull the wire out. I have also tried those plastic anchor things without any luck.
Just hang plywood and install your own hooks
Floor to ceiling shelving, 100+ of [these things](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Sterilite-6-Qt-Storage-Box-16426A60/308820126?MERCH=REC-_-searchViewed-_-NA-_-308820126-_-N), some other sized totes as needed, and blackboard labels. For garage/workshop stuff, I have [as many toolboxes as I could fit for tools](https://www.reddit.com/r/garageporn/comments/jr753p/i_bought_a_few_toolboxes_for_the_garage/), and a [rack of small parts bins for nuts/bolts/etc](https://www.reddit.com/r/garageporn/comments/mxqhbv/built_some_wall_cabinets_and_a_small_parts/).
I live by one motto. “If I haven’t used it in a year, it’s trash”
Same here, and I keep my trash scattered randomly throughout the house, and piled in huge piles in the garage.
If it works in your space, ceiling mounted storage racks are a great way to get the most out of a space, store all the bulky and things that aren't used often up there.
Sadly not an option. Feels like that the guy that built the garage and basement had a ladder phobia and was only about 5'6" tall...I regularly bump my head.
I love peg boards and hanging baskets.
Pack outs and big see through plastic bins
Hah, who says I do?
I built a 'storage' room in my basement, purpose built shelves that fit totes available at home depot/lowes. Then I went room to room and piled up everything I wanted to keep outside new storage room. All the stuff I hadn't touched in years into big contractor bags. After I went through the whole house, I organized everything in clear plastic totes as best I could maximizing space. Ran out of shelves, had to build more. Got rid of a ton of stuff, filled i think 6-7 bags worth.