Tips for Organizing Tool Accessories

Whether you are working with rudimentary hand tools or power tools, many of them come with accessories. In fact, these tools will be useless without them. For instance, you cannot operate your rotary tool without cutting or grinding bits. A socket wrench will do you no good unless you have sockets to go with it.

In other words, these “accessories” are not mere accessories – they are the essential parts of your tools. These parts are often small; without proper organization, they can easily fall to the floor or get lost somewhere on your worktable. Accessories scattering around on the floor may cause you to trip, stumble and even lead to serious injuries. This is why using any kind of tool calls for a proper method of organizing accessories. With just a few tweaks, you can use your basic hand and power tools in a more efficient and hassle-free manner. 

Ideas for Organizing and Storing Tool Accessories

Organized tool accessories

Here are some smart ways to store and organize your tool accessories:

1. Assign a Dedicated Storage

To prevent your accessories from getting lost or scattered across the floor, there should be a dedicated storage for them. Many tool bags, toolboxes and tool chests come with smaller compartments in which you store or organize your accessories.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly solution, you can also put your accessories in durable plastic bins with airtight lids.

You can also buy a dedicated accessories storage with a glass or transparent plastic lid or body. This way, you’ll be able to see what’s in each compartment without having to open it.

2. Store the Tools with Relevant Accessories

Another option is to store the tools together with their own accessories. You can purchase small containers or a set of drawers that can have enough room for a family of tools. For instance, in one drawer you can store your rotary tool together with its bits, and in another drawer you can store your drill together with various drill bits.

Since nearly all accessories are made of metal, magnets also make a good idea when organizing them. However, keep in mind that the size of the magnet should be proportionate to the size or number of accessories you want it to hold.

3. Take Inventory

If you have a lot of tools or if all the accessories are lying about in different areas, collect them all together. Take inventory of what you have, what you want to add soon, and then think about how to organize them.

Have a workshop or some other dedicated work area? Open each drawer, cabinet, and box in the place and turn out all the contents. If the floor has accessories scattered on it, sweep out every single corner and put these items on your workable as well.  

With everything in front of you this way, you can start deciding what goes where. This will also help you decide on a type of storage system. 

4. Make Categories

After getting everything together, it’s a good idea to start sorting it all into separate categories. For instance, you may want to begin by separating the power tools from the hand tools. This is also best for the longevity and performance of the power tools; they have moving parts and should ideally be stored in a secret packing or container. You don’t want the cords getting tangled up with hand tools, which can lead to damage and hassle when you want a certain tool in a hurry. Check out some specific tips for storing your power tools  in order to ensure that they remain efficient and long lasting. 

It’s also a good move to place all the seasonal tools and tool accessories in a separate category. You won’t need these tools and accessories on a regular basis. Place these in the back of your storage cabinet or any other place where they won’t get in the way. This should give you more room and flexibility while figuring out how to organize the more frequently used tool accessories. 

5. Make it Suitable 

While you’re sorting your tools and their accessories, you will notice that there are several items to deal with. Every professional crafter, woodworker, or DIY enthusiast has their own way of working. While you may watch a lot of videos of organizing tool accessories, only you know how to set them in order to have the most efficient experience during a project. 

Some people may decide that they need to get more accessories for a certain tool, while others may realize that they need to pare down their collection. For small collections, a simple box with compartments will probably be enough. For a lot of accessories, you may need to customize a storage system in your workspace. 

At the end of the day, your tool accessory storage and organization system needs to cater to your needs. One may take ideas and inspiration from other people’s systems, but an identical copy may not be ideal for your way of working. 

Stick to the system

Moreover, it’s important to find an organization that you can keep up with. You may feel highly motivated one day and come up with a complicated method that works for some time. However, a storage system should make it easy for anyone to clear up the items and put them away properly. Ideally, your organization of tool accessories should be doable even on a lazy day or when you’re not feeling very energetic. 

6. Label Everything

Even if you use a storage system with clear plastic containers or drawers, labels are a great idea for organizing tool accessories. With a clear label, you will know just what’s inside without having to open the drawer or box. Screws, nuts, bolts, and different drill bits can look very similar when they’re stored side by side, so do look into a labeling system when organizing those accessories. 

Labels also help out when it’s time to clear everything away. With a label on each compartment or box, you don’t have to think about what goes where. This decreases the chances of the nails getting mixed in with the screws. If you have someone helping you out with a certain project, they can help you tidy up without needing to go through a separate training session. 

Tips on Properly Storing Tool Accessories

A mixed collection of nuts and bolts

Once you’ve landed on a decent storage system for your tool accessories, it’s also important to think about the steps before storage. Here are some tips to keep in mind when storing tool accessories; these should help you maintain the quality of these items and also ensure a good experience while working with them:

  • Just like you shouldn’t store dirty tools without cleaning them first, you shouldn’t be storing dirty tool accessories either. Check those bits, screws, and other accessories for traces of sawdust, oil, moisture, or other potentially harmful substances. Wipe and clean them before stowing them away; this can help prevent rusting and other forms of damage. 
  • Whenever possible, keep the accessories off the floor of your workshop. This is especially important if you’re working in a garage, where the floors can be wet with melted snow or oil drips from your vehicle. If not that, there’s usually some dirt or debris on the floor that can get on your tool accessories.
  • Try to keep the accessories in an airtight container when they’re not in use. This step will prevent them from the elements and maintain their longevity. 
  • When possible, try customizing your storage space according to your needs. If you have a lot of tiny tool accessories, for example, it might be nice to have a specially made worktable with a large number of small drawers. 
  • Organize without causing unnecessary clutter; see if you can use some empty wall space instead of making your floor area small with large plastic boxes or new storage units 
  • You can save on expenses by using what you already have in your workshop or at home. Repurpose a chest of drawers and put organizers inside it, separate small items into mason jars, and use wooden slats to create an open shelving system
  • If you’re usually working on the go, it might be wise to consider portable storage systems. Check out some of the best tools bags for professionals and DIY projects for this purpose

Conclusion

When you have a proper organization system for tool accessories, you’ll be saving both time and energy while working on a project. Along with tools, one may also find that efficient sewing storage systems go a long way in helping them finish a related task. 

Whether you have a large tool collection or just the basics, keeping track of the accessories is essential. If you’re ready to save money on replacements and find what you need in a pinch, consider the organizing tips above. It won’t take long and probably won’t be expensive, but this organizing step can be the most helpful one yet.