My Workshop Cleanup Efforts Continue -September Update

I have been cleaning up my workshop and storage areas, and it’s been difficult but exciting.

The hardest part has been getting rid of tools that have any story behind them.

Shown above are Wiha 3K series screwdrivers and my set of Craftsman Professional screwdrivers.

I posted about the Wiha screwdrivers a couple of times starting around 16 years ago. Yes, 16 years ago.

See also: MVTs – Wiha 3K Screwdrivers & Vaughan Ball Pein Hammers | Anti Cam Out Screwdriver Tips – “ACO” & “ACR”

Stephen reviewed them here: Wiha Ergonomic Screwdriver Set Review.

Looking at my email history, I purchased those screwdrivers from McMaster Carr back in January 2007, nearly 19 years ago.

They were great screwdrivers, but I replaced them with others at some point. They’ve been in my “spares” tool box for at least a decade.

The Craftsman Professional screwdrivers, on the other hand, have always been “meh.” I bought the set, deformed the Phillips #2 screwdriver the first few times I used it, and replaced it at Sears under warranty.

I kept those screwdrivers in my tool box for a while, but I don’t think I ever really liked them. Once I replaced the sizes with something better, I kept them around to eventually test if they were all as bad as the Phillips.

Then, when Sears and the Craftsman brand spiraled, I kept them because they were USA-made Craftsman Professional screwdrivers. Who knows if or when we’ll ever see USA-made Craftsman screwdrivers again.

I said goodbye to all of these screwdrivers with my latest donation drop-off.

I passed along two Viper mini 2-drawer tool boxes. I bought them for relatively cheap a few years ago, thinking they’d be great first tool boxes for my kids.

My kids aren’t ready for their own tools. Well, they are, but they have specific tools and borrow if they need anything else. They don’t have space for tool boxes, and so the tool boxes are taking up space for what, to save another 10 years for my kids? I’ll buy them something when they’re ready.

I have more to go, but I feel I made great progress. Next, I’ve got lots of catch-all bins to sort through and organize. That will also be time consuming, but I’ve got more room to move around, and soon I’ll have a lot more space to work.

I customized and built my first PC computer in 2004. (For those who care, my first motherboard was an Abit IC7-Max3.) I also still have an upgraded 40mm fan I bought for it but never installed. Shown above is the round floppy drive cable that I kept long after getting rid of the computer. Yes, a floppy drive cable.

Also shown is an Asus IDE cable, from my second PC build, a budget HTPC build in 2006.

As I dig through boxes, I’m finding a lot of stuff I should have discarded a long time ago.

I also found my Sony MiniDisc player – I’m never getting rid of that.

Why I Keep Talking About this

A reader messaged me the other day, asking why I keep talking about this and where the tools go.

A big part of the reason is that it helps me stay motivated. But also, I hope it inspires some of you to make similar changes.

How many USB chargers and cables do you have that you haven’t used in over a year? Most people have too many.

I’ve seen a lot of garages, tool boxes, work vans, studios and similar. Many and maybe even most of you need to clean, declutter, and organizer your workshops and supply boxes too.

Duplicate tools? Jars filled with unidentified one-off screws? Random car parts?

I think it’s human nature to collect and save; it comes down to a combination of cost, functionality, value, and emotional connection.

Many people have a fear of regret. There’s a chance that I’ll discard something and then need it a week later. Should that happen, it’ll cost me – maybe money, time, convenience, or all three and more. I’ve been getting over that fear.

For me, there’s also content potential. Maybe a reader will have a question. Maybe some readers will be interested in hearing about Wiha’s long-discontinued screwdrivers, and how much better they were than the Craftsman Pros.

Whatever the reason, it is easy to hold onto things and difficult to get rid of them.

I have been combatting this tendency for a couple of years now, and I feel I’m nearing the top of the hill.

What about you?

If I can make progress towards a clean and productive workshop, with tools, parts, materials, and supplies neatly stored and well organized, so can you. And that’s why I keep bringing it up.

In the photo of the Viper tool box, towards the left, you can see some blue grow bags. I ordered them a year and a half ago from Home Depot. I grew some extra plants last year to give away, and didn’t have a good size of container. So, I bought some large grow bags and also some inexpensive small grow bags so as to be able to easily give away smaller plants in the future.

This past season was “the following year” and I decided not to grow extra plants to give away. So, the small grow bags went unused. To avoid these grow bags sitting in a box for at least another 8 months until they might be used again, I “freecycled” them and can reorder them IF needed in the future.

It has been a while since I had to go through a lot of trouble to get parts or supplies, but it’s hard to shake old habits.

Sometimes it does feel like I’m throwing money away. But it usually helps others, and also helps myself.

This also isn’t a cyclic situation I find myself in, not anymore; I have been making changes to my purchasing habits. See this post from more than 2 years ago: Do “Buy as You Need it” Lean Manufacturing Principles work for DIYers?

Like I said, this has been a process. If I can do it, you can too.

Show and Tell

Since you’ve stuck around, how about some “show and tell.”

Also in this image:

Craftsman 4-drawer rolling cabinet (circa 2013, HOT DEAL: Craftsman 4-Drawer Ball Bearing Rolling Storage Cabinet),

US General roller cabinet (I went to Harbor Freight and Bought US General Tool Cabinets)

Craftsman 6-drawer tool chest in Sunburst Metallic Orange (purchased in January 2010),

Quantum container in blue (Quantum Dividable Storage Containers)

This is what my main workbench looked like in 2011. The air filter (to the right of the Craftsman tool box) is gone.

I moved the Craftsman mini pliers and cutters (top left of the image) from one storage box to another last week. I bought each for $5 off $5 – it was awesome that my Sears store let me use it over and over and over and over and over again. I upgraded years ago and should probably give those to a family member.

I upgraded to a different Hakko soldering station, but still have my FX-888 in a storage box. (Any STEM teachers out there? I have a bunch of soldering jigs I’m considering parting with.)

Here’s my workbench from around 2014. Most of the mini Systainers are now gone. I don’t think I’m ever getting rid of the orange Beta tool cabinet. The Festool cantilever tool box (top right) and Sortainers (bottom right) are also gone.

The floor to ceiling AutoPoles at the right and left sides of the photo, plus the attached folding boom arms, were recently donated to the high school.

What worked then doesn’t work now.

This was from 2010 or earlier, and it was an ugly temporary setup. It’s hard to see, but there’s an LCD computer monitor underneath the work stand. That was my first flat panel computer monitor. If I recall correctly, that was an NEC 15″ portable display with folding base and a hard acrylic or polycarbonate screen protector. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to finally part with it, given its uniqueness, even after I upgraded.

Also seen in this image from at least 15 years ago is a computer fan than I am sure I still have in a box, just in case I need it.

I definitely have more cleaning to do. And remember, you can – and probably should – too.