Wolseley PRO Pipeline Blog
An organized workshop can be key to saving valuable time, energy and money throughout your workday. A disorganized and messy workshop can seriously slow you down. Organizing your workshop will give you space to gather supplies, review job plans and get your work done efficiently.
Here are some of our top tips to keep an organized workshop:
How to Organize Tools
Pegboards
Using a pegboard is an inexpensive, versatile way to organize small to medium-sized tools. They’re available in most places you go to buy supplies and can be installed in under an hour.
The best part? You can reorganize it however many times you’d like to fit your changing needs. If you’re worried about remembering where your tools go, outline them. That way you’ll always know where things go and where to find them. Find out how to install a pegboard here.
Use a Toolbox
It may seem like an obvious tip, but toolboxes are a great way to keep your most-used tools organized and portable. Start off by making sure your toolbox has a strong, easy to hold handle and has a number of compartments that suit your daily needs. Then, organize your tools in a way that make sense to you, and stick to it. There’s nothing worse than trying to head out for a job and getting slowed down by searching for tools. Make it a habit to put your tools back in their designated spot to prevent them from going missing.
Take a look at this Silverline 395075 toolbox on Wolseley Express. It has an impact-resistant polypropylene and powder-coated steel alloy body, with a comfortable, soft-grip carry handle, and removable tote tray.
Categorize
Place all of your tools in categories to make it easy to find the type and size of tool you’re looking for. For example, put all of your Robertson screwdrivers in order from small to large, then your Philips screwdrivers, slotted screwdrivers etc. Doing this with all of your tools will make it easy for you to find the right one quickly, speeding up your projects and preventing the frustration of not being able to find what you need.
How to Organize Loose Parts
Milk Crates
Milk crates are strong, stackable, easy to get your hands on and will last forever. Plus, you can use them in a number of ways. If you need storage for random parts you don’t use daily, stack them on top of each other. But for objects you use frequently, stack your milk crates with the opening facing out to create shelving. You can also use milk crates on top of built shelves as drawers.
Do your inventory
Keeping track of your parts and tools will stop you from running out of essential equipment needed to get your jobs done. Create an inventory checklist that you stick to, review your inventory often, and restock on the go to keep your inventory in check.
Learn more about streamlining your inventory process here.
Component Drawers
Component drawers are great for storing nuts, bolts, screws, rivets, thumbtacks, small electronics and more! Stack them vertically to make the most of your space. Make things easier for yourself by adding labels and using Wolseley’s Barcode & Scanning solutions. Not only do labels make it easy to see what’s in your bins or drawers, you can scan the barcode to quickly order online when you’re running low.
And when you decide to store different pieces, keep only what you need of them. For example, only keep the metal parts and scrap any unnecessary junk like broken plastic knobs. This will save you space and time in the future.
How to Organize a Workbench
Lighting
This is one tip that’s not said enough. Install proper lighting around your workbench!
Being able to see what you’re working on is critical. It’s also a good idea to make sure your lights are adjustable so that you can use it when you’re standing or sitting. This will make reviewing blueprints, estimates, and other job details a lot easier, plus it stops you from straining your eyes.
Add shelving underneath
Having shelving underneath your workbench not only maximizes the space in your workshop, it makes tools reachable and gives you extra storage. Use the shelves to store frequently used tools and parts or even as a spot to place your coffee for when you’re working on a project at home.
Organization is key to having a safe workspace. It also makes finding your tools easier and makes your day more enjoyable. If you have an organized workspace that you want to show off, send us a picture on Facebook! We’d love to see.
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