I have a tool chest. I keep my most essential hand tools in that chest. I also keep random tools in there that are not important but have a purpose. Like most DIYers, my collection of tools has grown over the years. My Dad and my brother, Rehtorbym, gave me an array of tools for my birthday over 40 years ago. They engraved my initials on each one and I still have most of those tools today. Obviously during that time, these were Sears-Craftman® tools. The tool chest has three drawers and must weigh over 70 pounds. I keep my tool chest in the car.
I originally had my tools in my work bench, but I got tired of running downstairs to fetch my tools. I would usually gather all the tools I needed for the project and put them in a plastic grocery store bag. When I bought a business with machinery, I needed my tools there. The tools at the business were limited. When a machine was down, I needed it back up and running asap. So, I bought a tool chest. I put some of my tools in the chest and I kept some tools in the work bench.
My work bench has duplicate tools, saws, plumbing tools, jigs and guides and a soldering rod. On top of my work bench are all my power tools, most in there carrying cases. At one time I had a very organized work bench and my power tools on the floor. Not so much now.
One of the drawers has a loose slide and makes it difficult to open it and the drawer below and above it. (Which I recently fixed finally.) Each drawer has tools haphazardly placed regardless of their purpose. And I jam most of my tools in the top drawer, just because I am lazy, and I have problems opening the other drawers. The workbench has a storage area next to the drawers that contains a metal chain, an old Black and Decker® circular saw with no guide, extension cords and a portable light that is broken.
I do not use the tools from the tool chest for work as much as before. I have equipment now that I cannot fix myself. I should get the tool chest out of the car, but I keep it there for emergencies and accessibility. I have a large socket set, a drill bit set, a portable work light and my red Milwaukee® impact driver tool bag in the car too. The tools take up half of the storage area in the back. I rue the day when I have to haul the heavy toolbox out of the car to make more room for large items.
Every once and a while I would re-organize my tool chest. I would put the tools in the right drawers and lay them out in some orderly fashion. So, when I needed a ½” box wrench, I could easily find it. Nonetheless, the drawers would not stay organized long and I was back to spending time looking for the right tool.
