Man/Work Space Organization & Storage

[bowhunter1023]

This place is loaded with pragmatic thinkers that have created some great solutions for many of life's little problems. I have a fairly "raw" garage and a fairly "raw" workshop in my basement. I'm trying to make the best use of both spaces, while being mindful of the advantages/limitations of working in each space (such as hauling 4x8 sheets of plywood down to the basement to run on a table saw vs. having the table saw in the garage). I will be building a workbench, shelves and other storage in the garage, but the workshop will likely need to incorporate some exercise space. I need a place to work on lumber via the table saw and a 12' double bevel miter saw. I'd like to have my archery stuff in the garage as it puts me closer to the targets, but I have a door at the top of the steps leading outside, so access to outside from the basement is easy other than the steps. But... I can shoot 8-9 yards down there, so paper tuning would be a breeze in the workshop. I need storage for hunting, fishing, camping, tools, clothes and most things manly men own.

So TOOville, I'm interested in seeing some of your custom storage solutions including organizing tips/tricks/hacks. Any ideas/advice you can share is welcome and appreciated!

 

[Sgt Fury]

I keep all of my hunting clothes, guns, bows, reloading equipment, hunting gear, etc. in the basement. Tree stands, table saw, woodworking bench, etc. are in the barn. I want my gear secured in the house...and don’t want to haul lumber through the house. Also, sawdust will get EVERYWHERE. I built a small room in the basement with shelves for all of my hunting clothing. Good luck, I’ll be following along.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Very nice! Lots of good stuff going on there.

 

[cspot]

Nice. Way more organized than I am.

 

[Dustinb80]

Wow that's nice

 

[giles]

My organizational skills used to be on point...not so much the last 3-4 years. Garage sale tackle boxes are awesome! I also built a couple of roll around tables out of small countertops. My garage is small and packed, so being mobile is awesome. Just roll it out in the driveway if I need more room.

I finally got to the point that I gave up, I need another building...one of these days I’ll get one built. Probably wish I went bigger when that happens. Same with my roll around tool box. Couldn’t fill half of it when I bought it, now you couldn’t squeeze a dental pick in it!

Two tips?

Always buy the biggest you can afford.

Never block anything in or put shit on top of it.

 

[Bowkills]

I keep all of my hunting clothes, guns, bows, reloading equipment, hunting gear, etc. in the basement. Tree stands, table saw, woodworking bench, etc. are in the barn. I want my gear secured in the house...and don’t want to haul lumber through the house. Also, sawdust will get EVERYWHERE. I built a small room in the basement with shelves for all of my hunting clothing. Good luck, I’ll be following along.View attachment 70289View attachment 70290View attachment 70291View attachment 70292View attachment 70293View attachment 70294

The archery shops I go to don't stock that many arrows haha. I think the most useable arrows I've ever had in my possession in my life has been 6. Some day I'd like to be like you.....

 

[hickslawns]

Our situations are totally different. With 3 out buildings and a garage on the house I am still a disaster. Best thing I did was buy an enclosed trailer to house all our carpentry/electrical/plumbing/painting/flooring stuff. When a rental property needs repair I hook on the trailer and go.

Old kitchen cabinets make wonderful storage compartments in garages. Enables a work bench area with storage above and below. Scratch and dent formica counter sections are cheap though and you can build shelves above/below if no kitchen cabinets available. One of the most useful items I've found go on sale at Harbor Freight for about $2 quite often: V shaped hang all. Cords, garden hose, jackets, tree stands. . .

https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/all-other-storage/v-shape-hang-all-61533.html

 

[jagermeister]

I wish I could help. My garage and man cave are both a trainwreck. I'm always going from one hobby to the next and can barely get things put away for one before I start on the other. When I do get things organized it usually only lasts a few days. Lol

 

[Buckmaster]

My 54'x36' is now too small.

 

["J"]

My 54'x36' is now too small.

Shoulda went 40’x80’ with a loft....

 

[5Cent]

Search/join at your own risk. This place will ruin you...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[OhioWhiteTails]

Like many on here, I'm tight for space as well until we build our barn. For now, I use a lot of the totes we bought when we moved. Our garage had cabinets hung on one wall already which works great for chemicals, paints, and other stuff. I'm constantly moving shit around like Jim though as I switch hobbies throughout the year.

 

[Dustinb80]

My garage is a fucking mess right now. Gonna have to wait until spring to get it cleaned and organized... again.

 

[Sgt Fury]

Like many on here, I'm tight for space as well until we build our barn. For now, I use a lot of the totes we bought when we moved. Our garage had cabinets hung on one wall already which works great for chemicals, paints, and other stuff. I'm constantly moving shit around like Jim though as I switch hobbies throughout the year.

My wife has a lot of totes in the basement. They are numbered and stacked on metal storage shelves. She has a clip board with numbers on it that correlate to the bins. When she is looking for something....say Halloween decorations, she’ll check the clipboard to find out which bin it is in, then pulls it off of the shelf. Everything is stacked nice and neat and we have a way to find what we need without randomly opening totes.

 

[Dustinb80]

Mom does something similiar, but just labels the front of the bin, if she uses it for something else, she just re-labels it

 

[hickslawns]

Totes with masking tape labeled in Sharpie is my method. If tape won't feel off just slap another piece over top of it. Lol

I took some pics of one building. It is our main work shop. Way too much stuff for a 24x34 garage. In between leaves and snow makes it extra cluttered. You'll need to overlook the mess. Once mowers leave it gets tidied up. You can at least get some shelving/racking/cabinet/work bench ideas. Or you can make fun of my mess.

 

[hickslawns]

Issues uploading.

 

[Buckmaster]

Phil....who's bra is that?

 

[Clay Showalter]

Our situations are totally different. With 3 out buildings and a garage on the house I am still a disaster. Best thing I did was buy an enclosed trailer to house all our carpentry/electrical/plumbing/painting/flooring stuff. When a rental property needs repair I hook on the trailer and go.

Old kitchen cabinets make wonderful storage compartments in garages. Enables a work bench area with storage above and below. Scratch and dent formica counter sections are cheap though and you can build shelves above/below if no kitchen cabinets available. One of the most useful items I've found go on sale at Harbor Freight for about $2 quite often: V shaped hang all. Cords, garden hose, jackets, tree stands. . .

https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/all-other-storage/v-shape-hang-all-61533.html

Here is a coupon for V shaped hang all, doesn’t get any cheaper than this.