Topic: Organizing the shop: common sense pointers

[gregwaits]

I am organizing my shop (minimal space, maximum content) and I want to do it in such a way that I don't become overwhelmed and lose track of what I have.

I welcome suggestions here. Maybe this post will help others as well.

A buddy made this suggestion, so I will post first:

Keep a roll of masking tape handy. Whenever you receive new parts, etc. slap a piece of tape on it, and ID the year, model etc with a sharpie. I love that idea. It hopefully will serve me well.

[Rushoid]

Hey, Greg, I subscribe to The Family Handyman magazine and they always have great tips. They've got some on their site too: http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/category/546/

[mattcb350f]

I use Ziploc bags for keeping track of parts. Same idea as the tape, but when I take off a part like a clutch cover, I'll put all the screws in the bag with the cover to keep every part's hardware with it. (You'll need the real big bags )

Then I label the bag like you would with the tape. However, it's sometimes a good idea to make little cards up with the part #'s on them and put them in the Ziploc bag because the marker will rub off the bag if handled too much.

I also invested in some stackable Rubbermaid containers to hold all the bags and each box has a catagory of parts... one is engine, other is chrome, another is electrical etc. It keeps the shop nice and tidy.

 Matt.

[TwoTired]

If you leave the masking tape on more than a week, then you'd better get some naptha, or "Goo-Gone" to remove the glue residue from the tape.  The office supply store has string tags you can write on and tie to the part. Comes off faster and with less hassle than tape residue.

Cheers,

[GeoffT]

Diggin your trombone Greg! 

[gregwaits]

Diggin your trombone Greg! 

There's no masking tape on that!   

[736cc]

 Don't be afraid to make a mess, but step back and re-organize/clean-up once in a while. And don't let anybody move anything or borrow tools.
 Good lighting and heat are useful. Have an extra set of wheels around to keep that project rollable. Beer should be available everytime the bros show-up.

[754]

Suck Up or at least play nice to a local Machinist or form thereof..!!

 They will save your day on numerous occasions if you play your cards right..

[Bob550four]

my plan is to get a rather LARGE multi drawer toolbox, with locks, dedicate half of it to my tools,  and the other half to parts storage. 

first person to "reorganize" my box, will have the honor of being the first whose hand will be duct taped to the top after it is lopped off by my sharpest instrument.