Jonny49

I just spent part of my day going through some of my tools and reorganizing my toolbox. I came across a recent Christmas gift which turned out to be a leather toolbelt. I decided to put together a little bike tool belt. I added the bottle cage for the degreaser and filled it up with a lot of regularly used tools. I have both cleaning tools and repair tools on the belt. So how do you keep your tools organized? As I acquire more tools it becomes harder and harder to keep them straight. My overflowing tool box is what caused me to start looking for alternatives. What are your essential tools? My favourite tools on this tool belt are my Y allen tool and my small socket tool.

Primevci

cool

caotropheus

Sheldon Brown has a nice article on how to organize and code your tools. In my personal view there is not such a thing as "lack of tool organization" The market is loaded with solutions for tool storage. So how would a garage or a professional bike shop manage without finding at once their tools?

halfbiked

Well, I was at a buddy's last week. He was wearing an apron with pockets while working on bikes. I hadn't much thought of such things, but tonight sure could've used one. I kept having to stoop to the floor to pickup tools. I didn't need a lot of different tools (was just replacing brake cables) but a pocket or two would have been handy. I'm not sure that the whole belt would be all that necessary. But if it works for you, have at it!

Don Cook

Who'd want 15lbs of tools strapped to their body?

GV27

I do the same thing. An apron with a bunch of pockets. I got mine from a woodworking store but they're available at hardware stores, and Park even makes one that looks pretty good.

But I don't load it up with all my tools - just a few for the job at hand. Otherwise I use a big toolbox to hold all my automotive and general purpose tools, then a smaller portable Craftsman box like this to hold my specialty bike tools:



I guess I have them divided by use. The little box is good for when I want to work on my bike in the backyard or on the deck or for taking to an event and carrying from place to place. Then I have the rest of my tools in a big stack of boxes. The top one is big but portable and holds my main G-P tools including my set of combo wrenches and a set of standard-depth sockets with handles, speed wrenches etc, pliers, cutters, etc. This is good for sticking on a motorcycle trailer or in the back of a truck and working from there. Then under that is a big chest with a lot of my expanded tool selection - short wrenches, long wrenches, deep sockets, mid-depth sockets, breaker bars, torque wrenches, etc. etc. This one I guess could be thrown in the back of a truck with some effort. It's never left my garage though. Then under that I have a really big wheeled chest that holds all the stuff that definietly won't be going anywhere. Air tools, giant breaker bar, etc.......

edit: LOL, just noticed the water bottle cage on your belt!

soul_rider

Toolbelt!?! Yea, I tried that for a while but the tools kept falling out when I pedalled. I just use an under-the-seat bag now. he he he he he

Jonny49

Actually I had also thought it might be a bit heavy. I have not actually tried the toolbelt yet. I just set it up yesterday because I had nothing better to do. I am starting to get a few tools so I will have to go to some other form of storage. I just have a little tool box right now and it is loaded down with all my tools. I guess it may be time to start thinking of a more permanent home for my tools.

Those craftsman cvhests are nice. I recently saw one at Home Hardware that was made of plastic. It was about the size of a large rubbermaid and it had wheels and a handle to pull it around. It had two stacking trays inside plus a large bottom area for larger items. I was quite taken with it and I am considering buying it. I will try to find a pic of it.

dbg

Very good. LOL.

I always set down a tool and can't find it again. A tool belt might just help -- and one has been hanging on the wall right in front of my nose since 4 xmases ago. Maybe I'll try it.

I also prefer a plastic tool box since I like it to be portable. I also use a big multi-compartment box for all the small parts (crankbolts and washers and endcaps and a thousand other things.

And I started putting decals on the toolbox last year (all those stickers that come with bikes and parts). Lookin good.

white lobster

I almost always wear an apron, mostly for the pockets. Really, I just need a place for my 3-way wrench. Everything else can stay on the bench.

rmfnla

I'm a bench & toolboard guy, although those little shelves on the Park repair stands do come in handy. Toolbelts would have to be removed for testrides.

Avalanche325

There is no law against owning more than one toolbox. I have one that has household tools, one for automotive, and a roll up for the bike. That way I don't have to dig past a claw hammer and a coping saw to find a spark plug socket.

A belt is fine for some things. Never on a car, you will have a few scratches in the first minute.

Have you got a headset pres in there?

halfbiked

The chests rock. My girlfriend has one, but its got all her stuff in it, so I'm living out of toolboxes. And a couple buckets. And some stuff is still at my place.

I am halfbiked and I am a tool junkie.

dedhed

You can't have too many tool boxes or tools. I have a big roll around crapsman with 8 drawers, a 12 drawer chest on top of that, and a snap on cabinet hung on the side for hammers and spray bottles. Then I have an old 4 drawer roll around thats mostly for parts and supplies with some plywood bolted to the top for a portable work bench, that has a cabinet hung on it with an angle grinder and ½" drill in it. Then I have a small cheap rollaway in the basement so I don't have to run up to the garage for basic stuff like sockets and screwdrivers. Then there's all the little special portables set up for certain things. One plumbing, one electrical, one machinist tools. Then there is the fancy milk crate ones with telephone and cable tools and the 5 gallon buckets with roofing tools. then the cabinets on the wall for power tools like drills, saws, glue guns etc. Man I have a lot of stuff, but can't remember the last time I hired someone to do anything.

azesty

I keep my bike tools on the piece of carpet that my bike sits on in the hallway. That way they are right next to my bike when I need them. I would like a stand and will think about building one sooner or later.

a

ginger green

Trust me - chicks like a guy with a tool belt

Ginger

Lonestar1

Because I'm a journeyman electrician mainly in commercial construction (new & remodel) the last thing I want is to wear a tool belt at home. Current project is an MRI remodel at one of the local hospitals. A few of us were goofing around the other day & I placed my tool bag on the scales. 18 lbs! Every freaking day!
If the tool belt works for you, go for it! Just a bit much for me.

neil0502

Uh . . .

never mind....

neil0502

Why am I thinking the theme whistle from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly?

DocF

Bike tools go in the blue tool box. Carpentry tools in the yellow tool box. Automotive tools go in the big red tool chest. Unclassified items go in the grey tool box or in the old machinists chest that is painted in primer. That is the only way I know of to find my tools. I have duplicates of everything that might otherwise be shared.

Some people really like a tool belt, but I'm not one of them.

Doc

Bike_13

I prefer to use a toolbelt when I am wrenching naked ..... more freedom than an apron.