Reader Litcritter just became a proud papa, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a tool guy. While his bundle of joy was being born he took the time to swing the camera around and grab a shot of the crash cart in the corner of the room.

We dig this for two reasons: Firstly, because Litcritter is just cool for thinking about rolling storage while his daughter was coming into the world; and secondly because some IT team decided to buy comparatively cheap rolling storage from Sears rather than pay crack-smoking prices for the same gear painted taupe.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

When people gripe about their workshops, they most often complain that they don’t have enough space. I’ve been watching the workshop photos to pick up some good ideas on space-saving, and I’ve gleaned a few smart ideas.

Going back to the basics, I’ve found that most Toolmongers employ shelves. Whether they’re bought or built, you can configure shelves in many ways: wall-mounted, freestanding, or stacking, for workspace or for storage. A lot of Toolmongers lift their freestanding shelves a few inches higher — with risers, “bed risers,” or something like bricks — so they can slide stuff underneath.

Most Toolmongers already own a rolling cart, for good reason — they’re great. Some other tools on the market might help, like fold-up workspaces, workbenches, and storage lifts. And you can add a hanging rack on the shop door, if you don’t mind the clanking. But my ideas end there, so I come to you.

I know that a Toolmonger with a real problem is the most creative mind on the planet, so tell us: How have you made space in your shop? Let us know in comments.

Photo posted on Flickr by joejoetheclown.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

I’m cheating — the owner of this tool told me what it was, but I had to ask. He said it was frozen stationary, but he finally managed to loosen it up. The stone on the right-hand side now spins and moves back and forth in an arc when you crank the handle. He mentioned it’s about a hundred years old, but I don’t have any more detail than that.

Post your guesses here before you check out the notes I posted on my Flickr account with an additional picture.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

I’m not much on the gardening arts, but I have great respect for those that choose it as their hobby. Reader ethernectar recently posted this sweet pic of his latest backyard accomplishment: a good-looking garden that’s obviously well provided for. It even sports some custom seating.

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We dig a well-worn pocket knife. This beloved Swiss Army blade has been there and back, and, though someone obviously took good care of it, it has definitely seen some action.

The handle has been worn down, and the distinctive set of fine scratches on the blades show that they’ve been opened and closed hundreds of times over the years. This great picture reminds us why we carry tools with us — because we need them in everyday life.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

Reader Litcritter decided to retrofit his staircase — he ripped out a bunch of the old and built in the new. The new stairs sport a reworked banister and some handy post work.

The best part: the new post matches the rest of the stairs — and he secured it with a bunch of bolts to make sure no one comes tumbling down because the post separated from the rest of the unit. Oh yeah, it looks sweet as well.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

We take our hats off to those guys who put their money where their mouth is and build something risky.  For instance, Toolmonger reader James Brauer is building this badass boat.  Though we’ve never made any personal watercraft before, we’re guessing this project requires some special skills — like waterproofing it, so it doesn’t sink — that make it more challenging than the standard coffee table project most guys do.

The best part: when James finishes this little boat, he’ll have himself a sweet ride for the lake, or a funny story and a lesson in sealing plywood seams.  Either way, we salute the effort.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

Automated machines, or robots, are starting to work with us on the jobsite. First they take on the dangerous jobs, where death, injury, and insurance put the capital “E” in Expensive. After the pioneering is done in those jobs, the robots will move on to the repetitive jobs next. Over time, bricklayers will become bricklayer-robot technicians, and other talented artisans will adapt in the same way.

The designer of the Mortar Machine is working on the cutting edge of the technology that could make such a future possible. For now, the Mortar Machine is barely half a bricklayer — it won’t actually lay the bricks, only the mortar. And someone will still have to lay the tracks it runs on, load it, fix it, and cuss at it when it doesn’t work. But consider how CNC technology is getting better and cheaper — and what is that but a stationary robot?

Toolmongers understand the unpredictable reality of the worksite, but it’s impossible to ignore that tools are progressing in complexity, quickly. How do you feel about working alongside a robot? Is this technological development hot or not? Let us know in comments.

Mortar Machine [ABC]
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

Photo by tanakawho, posted on Flickr.

Toolmongers know that tools don’t always perform the way we want ‘em to. Similar to Ambrose Bierce’s Devil’s Dictionary, “What a Mechanic’s Tools Do” tells the truth about what really happens with some common tools. Here are a couple of examples:

ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning steel pop rivets in their holes until you die of old age.

VISE-GRIPS: Used to round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

These definitions got a few chuckles out of me, but I’d really like to hear Toolmongers’ takes on common tools. What definitions would you give? Tell us in comments.

Note: Thanks to Flickr member spacematters for the photo.
What a Mechanic’s Tools Do [SodWork.com]
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

What does your shop floor look like? In the Toolmonger shop, we work on a concrete floor sealed with a water- and oil-proof coating. It gets a bit slick when there’s a spill, and it’s hard to stand on all day long. So when I saw this photo of a non-slip mat posted by photo pool member Looking Glass, it really got me thinking. I know there are a ton of anti-slip and anti-fatigue mats, floor coverings, and whatnot — but are they worth it?

Growing up, I always held with the dogma that a workshop should have a concrete floor. My reasoning: “What does it matter if it gets stained?” Since then I’ve worked on dirt floors, wood floors, lots of tile, and even carpet — and I’ve discovered there are benefits to each.

What do you do in your own workspace? What’s most important about your shop floor? Let us know in comments.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

No, you’re not lost on an arts and crafts blog. These polyacrylamide polymer crystals can absorb 400 times their weight in water, swelling up to a jelly-like consistency and looking like watery ice, and photo pool member Poekie knows how to capture the beauty of that process. But these crystals can also save your lawn and your pocketbook.

Those of you with lawns, especially if you’re in the southwest, are probably dreading the summer water bills — or you’ve abandoned your yard to the summer scorch and the fire ants. These polymer crystals’ll catch and hold the water that hits your yard, slowly releasing the water as everything dries out.

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Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about efficiency and which tools are most necessary to have around all the time, so this survival tool kit from Flickr pool member Alexander Becker caught my eye. All these tools fit into an Altoids box, which is a smaller package than I’ve been thinking of — but it would’ve been great for the Boy Scout campouts I went on as a kid. Alexander also posted pictures of how the toolbox packs and closes.

He obviously put some thought into the kit, with the mini flashlight, lighter, and knife — half the problems you’ll run into are covered right there. Of course, Sean would say you can’t have a survival kit without super glue.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

It always brings a big smile to our face when we see a group of kids learning about tools and what to do with them. Reader tmib seattle posted up a few pics of a local scout troop getting down on blacksmithing and forge work.

We love seeing this because it’s essential that youngsters learn early both how cool and how handy working in the shop can be — whether it’s metal work like this or plastic hobby-crafting. We have to pass the crafting spirit along to the next generation, or they’ll start to lose something very indefinable — until it’s gone.

It’s a little soapboxish and corny, but if you teach love of the shop — and the projects and tools in it — to young kids, they’ll carry it the rest of their lives.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

Sometimes we find better uses for our tools than the manufacturer had in mind when the design specs were originally laid out. Loading up this toolbox with tools made it too heavy for a second floor apartment — so we filled it with toys that needed a bit of organization which turned it into ultimate mobile toybox.

It might not be the most macho use of the 4 in 1 toolbox but for the household it sits in this is noble work indeed. The best part is the wheels and travel luggage handle that lets this rolling fun-time box go wherever needed.

4-in-1 Mobile Workstation [Stanley]
Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

We like reader Wattsei’s bed project because he incorporated storage in a normally under-utilized area of the bedroom. But he didn’t just make some drawers to store socks in — he built each drawer to hold 4’ x 4’ pieces of art and up to 240 lbs of stuff.

Functional and relatively inexpensive to build — we see no downside here.  Plus he made it for his girlfriend, so he earns points in that department as well.  Somebody’s thinking.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

You can always tell who uses a tool bag by what’s in it and what kind of shape it’s in. In this case, plumbing fittings and the nastified nature of the canvas scream ‘utility contractor’ — this is a working man’s tool bag.

The coolest thing about this rig: it’s used day in, day out, in the mud, and it still holds up. If it gets too nasty, hose it out and set it in the sun for awhile, and it’s ready to go again. It might not win any new design awards for fancy workmanship — but it might outlast the ones that do.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]

We can always count on pegboard to start a hot debate among Toolmongers. We split right down the middle — the anti-pegboard people on one side furiously advocate toolboxes and storage systems, and the staunch pegboard supporters come back with tales of super convenience.  Toolmonger’s own Brad Justinen offers up this slick photo of his pegboard setup, brandishing his fine selection of hand tools.

We’ll say this: almost anyone’s shop can accommodate both pegboard and other storage systems, and it’s a totally subjective thing. Chuck and I often disagree on the virtues of the holy board ourselves, but clearly it does a great job of getting tools off the bench — and almost any tool guy will tell you, that’s a step in the right direction.

Toolmonger Photo Pool [Flickr]