Storage issues solved.

[Chako]

May this be a cautionary tale for everyone out there.

What follows is a short ride into my storage issues with my SAK and MT collections.

When I first came to Multitool.org, I had a simple small collection. It fitted into a nice curio cabinet that I have in my bedroom.

This is it…






Well, it didn’t take long before I out grew that single shelf space. I then looked at a larger corner unit in the living room. However, I had to transfer all the stuff from that unit to the bedroom unit and a few other shelves here and there.

So, the MT collection then went into here…



And then, the SAK bug hit hard, and I devoted part of the middle shelf for the Swiss Brigade…



Well that didn’t last long as I focused on my MT collection. I was soon forced to move the Swiss stuff out of there. However, I didn’t know where to put them, as the bedroom curio cabinet was full of other stuff and I didn’t want to move the SAKs too far from my impromptu photography flat space. So I went out and looked about this city and found a cute little curio cabinet that would fit nicely in wasted space.






This little curio cabinet has 3 shelves. At first, I figured I would stop once I filled this little unit up with SAKs. Well as you and I know, that isn’t exactly how these things work. I soon found myself to the point where I outgrew this unit. Meanwhile, I was forced to lay MTs atop each other in the larger corner cabinet, which meant I had outgrown that space as well.

After much looking around. I was looking for another of those small curio cabinets but quickly found out that there was non to be had in this city right now. I also realized sadly that I may outgrow that one after some time. With that thought, I knew I was stuck and decided to go with something that will give me a bit of growing space.

So I went out to Sears and bought a tool chest. It was on sale so I managed to save a bit of money.

Here is the bottom half just unboxed.



Hardware was hiding in one of the drawers.



I was originally going to use one of my Leathermans, but reason took over. I really needed one of these.



This was nice. It came with the bottom foam linings.



My Supervisor was there for the build. He was burning with so much curiosity I had to shoo him away a few times.



And here it is fully built. I had envisioned it being in the living room, but after looking at it, I am unsure if this will be its permanent home. It is huge and um…er…red.  It will have to do for now though. I am sure I now have plenty of lateral and vertical space to grow into. In fact, the bloody unit is almost as tall as I am, and I am 6’.



Hauling the two heavy boxes up a few steps by myself was tiring. So I only emptied the two top shelves of the small glass SAK curio cabinet. Each drawer on the new storage solution is huge compared to what I had before.

Here is part of the Vic collection.



And part of the Wenger collection.



As you can see, I now have plenty of room. I have as yet transferred my MT collection to the base. I am thinking top part for SAKS, bottom part for MTs.

So there you have it. I know this will be the last storage unit I will need. It should take me quite a while to fill this bad boy out.

[DaveK]

Yup - I'm yet to find a better solution myself. These tool chests are great because they are scalable.

I'm currently thinking about an extra unit at the moment, as I ran out of space earlier this week!



I'm thinking about a roller cabinet too - but as I have to keep them on the first floor, I need to think it through a bit as getting stuff down the stairs is difficult even with physically smaller units I have now.

I end to do something about packaging too - I'm kind of knee deep in Leatherman boxes in here at the moment!

[2xTap]

Chako,

Something like the one you got I have been looking into myself. Though I'm trying to do it on the cheap and in something other than red. Not having much luck at the moment.

Currently part of my Knife/SAK/MT collection rests in a couple of these I have.......





........but the two I own are full. I need me something like that Craftsman.

2xTap

[DaveK]

You can get those tool cabinets in Black in most places 2xTap - not sure if that's any better.

[Chako]

Lucky for me, I like red.

Sears had a few more expensive options, but they all featured fewer drawers that were deeper. To me deep drawers equate to wasted space for the collection. This one fit the bill nicely. It has a few deeps drawers for those SAKs/MTs in boxes or presentation display cases. The majority however are nice shallow drawers, and plenty of them.

I kid not; both units combined are almost my height with the top lid closed.

[2xTap]

DaveK,

Yeah, I've seen them in Black from a couple of makers.......but none big enough in my price range. I've come across a few lesser known brands in sizes I like that would work and in my price range.......all of them in red so far. I'm likely going to go with one of them but I have been holding off and still looking for something similar in brown or black.

Wish I had a few grand to spare I'd just get this.........




But I won't be satisfied until I have this in my gun room........



2xTap 

[DaveK]

That second one looks nice. I bet it ain't cheap!

[Chako]

The major issue for me is that you need a ladder to access the top rows. Nice cabinetry though.

The unit I bought from Sears was on sale, and it cost me around 750 dollars. Not bad for what you get. I was eyeing another unit, but that one was around 1400, but didn't fit my needs as good as this cheaper unit.

I found out it comes in both blue and black.

Photo taken from Sears Canada web site.

[max6166]

It's a little late now that you have that tool chest, but you might want to investigate displaying some of your items vertically on tiered risers. That would greatly reduce the footprint and make it easier to see the ones on the back.

By this, I basically just mean a set of small wide steps that you can place on top of the regular shelf. Something like this:



You can make your own using the materials of your choice, or just stack store-bought items into stairs, etc.

If the material has a little grip, you could lean the items vertically. You can also just cover the areas with something "grippy".

If you look into action figure displays, you will see lots of amazing home-made options that people have come up with.

[Bowman1911]

Chako, I've got a similar Craftsman setup. Specifically the "80 year 3 chest set" in Charcoal with the ball bearing drawers. It's just under 6' tall. Absolutely love it for my tools. However, it's full of Craftsman tools & has no room for my knives or multis. Therefore my multis get a couple shelves in my 28 gun safe.

[David Bowen]

You folks make me wish I had some sort of setup like that  I currently store all my sak's in a wooden box on the night stand with one big drawer. My knives and some tools are split up in several modules of 4-drawer plastic shelf boxes that can be stacked on top of each other and the rest are thrown in a big yellow tool box. I know, I know, not very organized but I know where it's all at though! 

[Chako]

Max6166, I was thinking of something along those lines for that corner cabinet. Only it would have consisted of a fitted tray with a bunch of angular cuts to display the tools standing up at an angle. I never got around to doing it.

Ok, I should have bought something like this ages ago. I am ecstatic that I can have both collections back together again and have a lot of room left. I just finished putting away the rest of the SAK collection and all of the MT collection in the lower cabinet.

Photograph time:

The lowest deepest drawer on the upper chest has plenty of room for all the boxed SAKS and special collectors stuff with room to spare.



The third medium deep cabinet drawer from the bottom  is perfect to hold some of the larger MT stuff.



My MT collection only takes up 3 of the shallower drawers and a half drawer.  Plenty of expansion room here.

[Pacu]

The OCD part of me keeps all tool makers in their own drawers. Leatherman in one, SOG in another and so on

[Flash]

I have a couple of this type of thing hanging around.

Works for me, but then again I like wood  

[Freudian Frog]

I have a couple of this type of thing hanging around.

Works for me, but then again I like wood  

Whoa there Flash... anything you're not telling us? ... or your wife?

[Chako]

Very nice Flash. I also like wood cabinetry.

 

[turbov21]

Not fair you guys.  Now I REALLY want one of those Craftsman tool chests.  

[getpower]

I really like those ways to store your stuff guys.

But there seems to be one problem. And I apologize if I am being a buzz-kill here, but now the tools are not displayed so that others can also enjoy.

I dunno, maybe you guys are the only ones who show interest in that stuff in your family. I know I am in my family, but I would still want everything to be displayed so that all could see.

[Gareth]

I see your point mate, but I rather like the idea of having to open the drawers to find out what's hidden inside.

[2xTap]

Chako & DaveK,

I think I found one. Harbour Freight has these in their new cataloge for $259 complete...........



And my buddy Marv, a knife collector friend of mine from work, called me yesterday and told me he has a sale coupon for this exact tool chest. Got it out of one of his car magazines.......he told me the coupon is for "in-store" only. The coupon is for this 11-drawer chest at $149.99!!!! 

He's bringing me the coupon on Monday. I do believe I will be making a run to Harbor Freight next weekend! If I get it pics will follow. 

2xTap

[DaveK]

Well that looks to be ideal 2x! And at that price, you can't really go wrong - I'm happy for you 

But there seems to be one problem. And I apologize if I am being a buzz-kill here, but now the tools are not displayed so that others can also enjoy.

That's true, but falls clearly into the category of "their problem", not my problem

[AHB]

Damn, I would like one of those, 2xTap  
Please do post the pics..  

[ducktapehero]

I'm saving this thread to my favorites for the next time my wife says I have too many multi-tools.

[DaveK]

Too many tools 

Strange concept that DTH. Quote me if you need to

[Chako]

2XTap, you can't go wrong for that price.

getpower, curio cabinets have limited floor space with plenty of dead space in regards to height. They are designed for taller objects. With that said though, they do look good full of sharp pointy things. 

[Nikos]

So there you have it. I know this will be the last storage unit I will need. It should take me quite a while to fill this bad boy out.

Don't mean to be the bringer of bad news, but at the rate your mt/knife collection is expanding I also see a collection of Craftsman containers in your future...

[Pacu]

Seems like some of you need this...you know..to hold your Argentum Leathermans

[Singh]

Hey fellas, can I borrow a knife? 

[Freudian Frog]

Hey fellas, can I borrow a knife? 

I might need to "borrow" a few myself IF YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

[Chako]

I finally got around to taking some photographs of what I have stored in my Craftsman unit.

Top chest (SAK storage)

The very top is empty other than for temporary box storage on a recent order. I also have some instructions up there. It is a nice place to store them.


One of the 1/3 top drawers which contains some odds and ends along with the Vic 108s.


The center deep drawer. Perfect for the Battle series knives along with Zodiac series knives.


The main storage drawer for the Wenger collection.


Followed by the main storage drawer for the Victorinox collection. I have this one rather full, so I am expanding in the upper smaller drawers.


The lowest chest drawer is deep and perfect to store my special collector and boxed knives. I have a mix of Wenger and Victorinox in here.


Bottom Cabinet (MT storage)

Top half drawers are full of misc items. Placeholders for more important items down the road.


Next two half drawers contain my utility knife collection as well as part of my Leatherman collection.


Main Leatherman collection drawer.


The next two drawers contain my misc MT collection.




The next drawer contains the newly acquired Pre-80s Victorinox Display Case. Not sure exactly where I am going to put this, but it is safe and sound in here for now.


The next drawer is deeper and is perfect for some MT misc stuff.


I have been eyeing the larger deeper drawer for my sheath storage. Right now, I have them stored elsewhere.

Well there you have it. That concludes a quick tour of the Craftsman. I still have plenty of room for expansion.