Comments on: Got Rules for Your Tools?

By: Clint

Clint — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:55:29 +0000

I can really relate top your “lost brush” problem. I used to know where all of my tools were, except for my elusive brush. A few years ago, I was shopping with my wife and we passed a household item area with small brushes with matching dust pans. I now have a blue set for my drill press, a red set for my router table–and so on. My trusty bench brush now hangs reliably over my work bench.

By: Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:37:14 +0000

Ric,

Please check your email for the Miter Saw Station Cutting Diagram.

Thanks for inquiring about the project!

Best,

Chris

By: Ric Smith

Ric Smith — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 07:27:46 +0000

Lend nothing to anyone!

It often does not get returned.

Oh and I never seem to remember who I loaned it to.

Ric

By: Les

Les — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:40:21 +0000

It a had question it depends on:
1 who it is
2 what tool it is
3 who else might use it
4 how long for
5 what happen last they borrowed something
6 Personally I don`t like borrowing other peoples tools either

By: David Whiting

David Whiting — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:39:24 +0000

I have a bunch of inexpensive goggles in a box. If a power tool goes on everybody in the shop puts on a set. No exceptions. I get a little static from someone a distance from the tool but it is the rule.

By: Jon Phillips

Jon Phillips — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:45:52 +0000

I get a kick out your ideas for your shop that orginize thing with a place for every thing and every thing in its place. I have 3 shop brushes so one of them is usally where I can see it. But like many home work shops I share my wood working with my brake changeing and my oil changeing and my Kids coming over to change there oil and brakes and batterys, so I not only have a set of wood working tools but I have a sizeable collection of machanics tools also, keeping them caged is a sizeable task. I have a two car garage with storage for food and my wifes fabric supply. Needless to say I dont have a lot of wall space to mount cabinets and shelves. but I enjoy reading about yours so keep it up
Jon

By: ToolGuyd

ToolGuyd — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:26:05 +0000

“I wish I could share more organizing tips, but really, drawers are my whole deal.”

Well, in that case, you could always show us the rest of your neatly organized drawers!

I have many drawers, but no matter what I do, they disorganize themselves in a matter of weeks.

By: Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:07:33 +0000

Okay, folks, so far I’m sensing a common theme here: Neat is good. Whew. Glad I’m not the only Felix Unger to keep a shop. A project is like surgery to me, sometimes.

How about you clutter-is-good woodworkers? You know who you are. Make your stand! Tell us why we’re wasting time fussing with all the organizing. It’s all in good fun!

TOOLGUYD: I wish I could share more organizing tips, but really, drawers are my whole deal. I try to reduce and re-use when I can, to keep the volume of “stuff” down, too. My wife says I’ve got a Zen approach to order, so “less is more” keeps it all pretty easy to find.

RYAN: I love Rule #2! Guessing you don’t loan out too many tools–who wants to anyway?! That’s a really good one…become the rental center.

By: Jim Brown

Jim Brown — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:17:12 +0000

I was an HV A/C Mechanic during my working years, and one rule I had was, “A place for everything, and everything in it’s place. I could get into my service truck in the dark of night, and find what I wanted. The same applys for my wood shop. Put it back where you got it.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:26:55 +0000

1. Use the right tool for the job, and use the tool for its intended purpose. My chisel is not your screwdriver. A wrench is not a hammer.

2. If you’d like to borrow one of my tools, that’s ok. Just leave a deposit of 2x the replacement value of the tool on the workbench. Half of your deposit will be refunded upon return of the tool. The other half will be used to buy a new one because chances are you’ve broken it, dulled it, rusted it, bent it or worn it beyond repair.

By: ToolGuyd

ToolGuyd — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:11:49 +0000

I don’t really have any rules that are worth mentioning, but I try to keep tools separate from raw materials and fasteners. What usually happens is that everything gets piled into a common work area, but my preference is to keep things separate.

Also, this is not a tool rule, but general rule – no drinking allowed when tools are in use. That goes for both myself and any spectators. Spectators must also wear eye protection even if I’m not doing anything that requires it. This usually does one of two things – it gets idle spectators to leave the area and afford me some privacy, or it gets them in the mood to help out with whatever I’m doing.

Side note, that drawer organization photo is a tease, how about more pics of your shop organization?!

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:35:03 +0000

1. No one in the shop without good shoes on (rule created especially for my 7yo son)

2. No horseplay of any kind (ditto above)

3. The job’s not done ’till everything’s put away

4. Similar to previous posts – NOTHING get’s set on the table saw (though this one can be a challenge for me too!)

By: John

John — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:17:17 +0000

For me it has to be at the end of each project, really giving the shop a good cleaning. Dust the tables, sweep the floors, etc. I can work through -some- mess during a project, but starting one in an already messy shop really bothers me.

-John

By: Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:58:58 +0000

Matt,

I SECOND that rule, big time! But, isn’t it weird how clean, bright cast iron is just a magnet for people to want to set wet things on?! A guy who visits my shop from time to time does it with almost every visit. Argh!

Thank goodness for Boeshield and wax!

Chris

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:43:42 +0000

No liquids on the bed of the table saw! I hate water rings on cast iron.