The man box

[powertools]

I have been buying tools and equipment for about 40 years now and have now started on a major clear out of the workshop.
Over the years I have purchased items that come with all sorts of screws and brackets etc that I did not need at the time so they went into the box of bits and bobs ( the man box).
I now have a box of stuff I have no idea what most of it is for but dare not throw it away in case I need it at a future date.
Am I the only one with this problem?

 

[carlb40]

At least you know where your stuff is. I'm the opposite, i try to be organised and it lasts for about 10 min. Then i end up putting stuff down where ever. Then when i need it again 20 min later i have to turn the workshop upside down looking for it.
Done the same when cleaning some tools. De rusted some block planes, spokeshaves etc. I have everything apart from the spokeshave blade, which i wanted to use the other week. So now i have to buy another blade #-o

 

[monkeybiter]

Am I the only one with this problem?

Yes, if you've only got one box. I've got boxes of "errr..." that I have to move to get to boxes of "ummm...".

I keep trying to tidy it all up but where do you put it? Screwdrivers go in the screwdriver drawer, screws go on the screw shelf. I need a dark corner. ](*,)

 

[Boxer]

I call mine the "Sling Bin"

 

[matthewwh]

It could be any combination of three problems:

1) Your man box is too big.
2) You don't have a big enough rack of labelled tins to redistribute the contents into.
3) You have allowed insufficient pottering time to effect regular redistribution from man box to labelled tins.

Get a leaf blower and a mask, start saving coffee jars, tins, small boxes etc, pop a four pack of hobgoblin under the bench and put a couple of days on the calendar as 'workshop spring cleaning'.

When the day comes, wait until she goes out, put a stack of stuff out on the lawn, open the doors and use the leaf blower to 'spring clean' the workshop in two minutes flat. You now have the rest of the day to drink beer and sort through your man box safe in the knowledge that SWMBO will be delighted!

 

[powertools]

At least you know where your stuff is. I'm the opposite, i try to be organised and it lasts for about 10 min. Then i end up putting stuff down where ever. Then when i need it again 20 min later i have to turn the workshop upside down looking for it.
Done the same when cleaning some tools. De rusted some block planes, spokeshaves etc. I have everything apart from the spokeshave blade, which i wanted to use the other week. So now i have to buy another blade #-o

I should also have said that since this clear out and tidy up that has been going on for some time I now can't find half the stuff I need that I put away in the best place a few days ago.

We are also clearing out junk from the house and the contents of the man draw in the kitchen is even worse
.

 

[carlb40]

At least you know where your stuff is. I'm the opposite, i try to be organised and it lasts for about 10 min. Then i end up putting stuff down where ever. Then when i need it again 20 min later i have to turn the workshop upside down looking for it.
Done the same when cleaning some tools. De rusted some block planes, spokeshaves etc. I have everything apart from the spokeshave blade, which i wanted to use the other week. So now i have to buy another blade #-o

I should also have said that since this clear out and tidy up that has been going on for some time I now can't find half the stuff I need that I put away in the best place a few days ago.

We are also clearing out junk from the house and the contents of the man draw in the kitchen is even worse
.

Well the last few days i have got rid of a lot of stuff, old timbers, bits of ply/mdf etc all down to the tip. Today i needed to make a jig - and no small pieces of ply to do it.
Just my pieces i have for workshop cabinets #-o #-o

 

[pip1954]

hi i have sorted out the problem it is so easy you would not believe it


"



"







"
you empty the box out and sort out what you have you throw away the stuff you do not need and rearrange the bits you do need



"



"



"


NOW i have FOUR bloody boxes :lol:
one for old screws
one for brackets
one for catches
one for handles
:roll:

 

[Mickfb]

I think I will just put it there, then later on guess what ! I can't find it.

 

[Lons]

50% of the drawers in my workshop (and there are a LOT of drawers), are man boxes
One of these days I'll get aroundtuit but it's guaranteed that once I throw it away I'll be looking for it shortly after. That's why I have so much stuff :wink:

Bob

 

[cedarwood]

Boy am I glad that I am not alone in doing this but mines a man attic, don't need it right now so put it in the attic for later use, the attic is full and the bit I need right now is at the back (hammer) ho hum

 

[dm65]

I've got a man attic too

Better than sliced bread unless there's bacon in between

Better than a dog cos it doesn't roll in sh%t

Damn good place to keep many man boxes

I've also got a 'man bottom of wardrobe'

 

[No skills]

Yeah yeah yeah, its not a problem - just a way of life.

Stuff in the garage/stuff in the lean to/stuff in the kitchen/stuff in the living room/stuff in the dining room/stuff in the bedrooms/stuff in the attic. I do the same at work as well, belive it or not but I have been throwing stuff away at work and at home - just hasnt made much of a difference yet...

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I have a garage/workshop 22" x 20". The whole thing is 45yrs. of man box. I'm about to move house...........

 

[No skills]

Opps #-o