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Organizing small tools on your reloading bench

Hummer

Finding a place to keep the small tooling used in reloading can be a real pain and I just discovered something I find to be very useful.


Went to Home Depot looking for parts bin boxes and found a Husky 11" Bin box for 3.97 that has the best set of hinges and latches I have seen in these style boxes so I got a couple.


I filled the first one up and immediately realized it was all in one place and I realized I need a way label the bins so I came up with a document that when printed and trimmed fits inside the lid of the bin organizer.


1dylO2g.jpg



These are neck turning tools for uniforming case necks to enhance accuracy of my long range rifles but obviously it is good for storing other things like shell holders (by number and caliber) and other small parts.


I opened WORD and designed the document shown in the lid in the above. If you would like to make up such open the below and print it out and follow the directions on the document and cut along the outer line and it will fit this size box perfectly.



https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3vWwz0ljvP5OHdMWlo1YWQ4eG8/view?usp=sharing

FLASH: I made up templates for two more Husky boxes and posted them in the cloud on google and last night I decided to download the template and print it out and the google version prints the template about 1/4" smaller on all sides. I uploaded the file from my documents but something got lost in the changeover. If this happens to you just PM me with email address and I will send you the file right from my documents. I now have templates for the 7", 9" and 11" bin boxes so can send you all three at once.

If anyone knows how to get such translated WITHOUT the change in size please PM me and tell me how to fix this. Sorry for the problem guys but Yogi Berra was right, "you don't know what you don't know till you know what you don't know" and I don't know how to correct this haha.
 
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I like it and I have similar cases for some of my stuff...I aint smart enough to think up the labels though. One thing I did do is find these little magnet kits sold by McFeely's that you run a screw into the wall and put the button shaped magnet on it, then whatever ferrous metal tool or part you want to store can stick to the magnet. Puts small things kind of right there out in the open where I can easily get to them.
 
I do the same thing. All my chamfer tools, deburring tools and flash hole uniformers are in one box.
All the primer pocket tools are in the same box along with all my hand punches and bases for knocking out primers.
I have a half dozen different neck turning tools and the pilots along with all the expanding mandrels in another box.
Spare expander balls, decapping rods, decapping pins and RCBS FL die top bushing are in another.
My Hornady case length gage tool, the bushings and my gunsmith head space gages are all in one box.
There is more because I have too much crap.
 
I found that wall mount bins work good for this as well. I like the covered storage box as it keeps dust and other parts from being lost in what may fall in the bins. I do like these wall bins because they are easy to locate when at the bench and everything is arms reach away. They do make covered models but mine is uncovered. Attached are pics.Screenshot_20161229-070513.png Screenshot_20161229-070527.png
 
Kennedy machinist combo chest/cabinet.

Saw an ad in my internet travels.So I snag it over the phone.Equitable price.But when going to pick it up it's an "early" 1930's? box(guessing).As such it isn't the more std sizes we use today.....it's about an 80% scaled down example.

Snagged it for the shop,but as soon as I saw it.....it screamed LOADING ROOM.It is the perfect size for handload tooling.
 
Mike, it's obvious you either don't live in earthquake country or you don't think your shelved pieces are going to be affected. I never put anything but loaded boxes of ammo on open shelving. I used to live in the greater Seattle area and I still bolt bookshelves and heavy items to the wall studs. I don't live in earthquake country any more but I still use closed cabinets and bolt them to the wall studs.
 
Miike402 said:
I'm fairly OCD and am a stickler for organization. I opted for the wall mount bins from staples, each drawer labeled for small misc parts.



Click to expand...

Wish I could be this organized, I try but it all ends up in a mess, so I have to clean it all up so I can mess it up again next time. I also close the door so the wife doesn't see the room. :rolleyes:

Pretty sure you can leave the word "fairly" out of your self description. JK, honest, JK.:D
 
284winner said:
I found that wall mount bins work good for this as well. I like the covered storage box as it keeps dust and other parts from being lost in what may fall in the bins. I do like these wall bins because they are easy to locate when at the bench and everything is arms reach away. They do make covered models but mine is uncovered. Attached are pics.View attachment 996979 View attachment 996980
Click to expand...


That's what I got. Got them super cheap at HF.
 
SheepDog said:
Mike, it's obvious you either don't live in earthquake country or you don't think your shelved pieces are going to be affected. I never put anything but loaded boxes of ammo on open shelving. I used to live in the greater Seattle area and I still bolt bookshelves and heavy items to the wall studs. I don't live in earthquake country any more but I still use closed cabinets and bolt them to the wall studs.
Click to expand...

Good point although I do have felt pads on the bottom of the tools to prevent slippage. But yea in a big quake they are most likely coming down.
 
Mike, If I did that to my loading room my wife would immediately call the cops and start running around out in the yard screaming I had "altered mental status" because I am in the same club as these other guys haha. Seriously you have a very nice set up there.
 
Some of these photos are frightening. My bench has 4 drawers. I rake about a quarter of my junk into each drawer. If I have any left over stuff, I pile it on the adjacent table and shove it around to make room as necessary. That's been working for over 50 years, so it must be a great system, right?
 
Miike402 said:
I'm fairly OCD and am a stickler for organization. I opted for the wall mount bins from staples, each drawer labeled for small misc parts.



Click to expand...
Just looked up OCD, had your picture next to the definition. Wow, that is one neat, clean and organized set up. I need to take a page out of your play book. Just gives me some ideas for my next bench. Thanks for the pics. Just kidding about the OCD. Bench set up IS awesome tho.
 
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