Work Shop organizing and storage

[Toolmaker51]

Storage and accessibility are difficult to plan ahead for. It occurs to us once a collection grows to the point of "where is my..." I work with the same dilemma.
So, if I had to do it for someone,
1] I'd start with an inventory. My trick is to use Windows Excel, but use 1 sheet for 1 type of tools, say plumbing. Instead of back and forth to keyboard typing, 'speech to text' is very easy. It can sort, or highlight according to set identifiers, and editing in or out is better than a bag of erasers!
2] List every item. Unless you have multiple channel locks for different 'departments' leave off tools you use in different areas.
3] Separate them into related groups. Tubing and pipe cutters, reamer and threading, go together for example. Your system should suit you. When stuck, I visualize what would be together in a catalog.
4] Once you see the physical size of "Plumbing" and judge portability that will cue what type of box(es) is called for. I buy used toolboxes on craigslist or local classifieds.
6] Do the same for whatever categories you have to organize.

My variety is extensive, so broad I'm thinking of doing some kind of rental program, I think it would be a great means of advertising and would reach exactly the kind of people I'd hope my machine shop attracts. But the machinist tools are organized by what kind of operation they work for, lathe, mill, grinding, etc. The mills run from 3AM to 50NM tapers, so the bigger tools are with bigger machines. But 5C collets get used in each area, so they're stored in general cabinet right in the middle.

Maybe this gets you going, maybe not. I'd be glad to contribute or bounce ideas back and forth, in your thread or PM. I'm in here frequently, it's my Facebook so to speak, no phonies-posers or senseless "I'm at the mall" crap. If you respond here, we'll get a lot of other HMT contributors to dive in. That's what makes this site so dang interesting.
Reading posts these people put up, it is clear the base of knowledge, resources, and experience is the real deal. I'd say all of us are here to share and relate "...how I solved" this that and the other!