Hand Tools
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My First Metric Set
Christmas Gift from my
Future Brother in Law
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A thoughtful Christmas gift deserved more than a drawer, it deserved a place in the workshop.
I hope everyone's having a great holiday season. As I write, Christmas has already flown by and the New Year is a day away. It's astounding how fast time flies, but that's not news to anyone older than 16 or so! Anyway, at Christmas my newly announced, soon to be brother in law gifted me a set of nut drivers. Back in August 2021 (again - time flies!!!) I wrote about the standard nut driver set I had cobbled together, but I found that I often also needed a metric set, so this is perfect!
If you've never worked on much beyond household repairs, it might seem odd to own two complete sets of nut drivers. The reality is that many older American-made products use standard (SAE) fasteners, while imported tools, appliances, bicycles, lawn equipment, and even much of today's furniture rely on metric hardware. Having both sets means using the right size every time, which helps prevent rounding off nuts and bolts and saves a lot of frustration. Like so many tools in the workshop, you don't need the metric set often, until suddenly you really do.
A Gift Worth Organizing
And of course, I needed to make a rack for them and because of that - you're blessed (or stuck) to be reading this story. Let's get into it!
Building the Rack
Just like with the screwdriver and paddle bit racks I made back in '22, and like so many other little projects here at 173, I just had to make this one using a little piece of scrap wood. Then, with an eye toward being somewhat close to exact (truthfully, in this case as long as things were close I was okay), I marked out the spacing of the holes...
Then, using way more tools than one would think necessary, and spending way more time than you would believe, I drilled said holes. And with that - the piece was built (hey, I never said this was rocket science!).
Finishing the Wood
A few holes drilled into the piece of scrap wood, well - it was time for staining. Because I wanted to label the nut driver sizes on the front of the rack, I taped off spaces...
First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination. - Napoleon Hill
Which makes more sense when you can see the spaces properly laid out. In this shot, a coat of Minwax Gunstock stain had been applied...
After that, a coat of American Finishes Georgian Cherry stain and a coat of amber shellac finished off the rack.
A Permanent Home
After the shellac dried for a few hours it was just a matter of three screws (I know - overkill much?) through the face of the rack...
And this little project was done!
One thing I've learned as the workshop has slowly grown is that buying tools is only half the equation. If every new tool ends up tossed into a drawer, eventually you spend more time looking for things than using them. Giving each tool a permanent home has become almost as satisfying as the projects themselves. It makes the shop feel calmer, keeps everything within easy reach, and somehow makes even small jobs more enjoyable.
Its Natural Habitat
I think I may have found a solution here...so often I start a post out by saying it should be a short post, then it ends up rivaling War and Peace. Well, this time I said nothing about it and this post turned out to be concise...mental note taken! So, to wrap this up, here's the new nut driver set in its natural habitat...
Just above the new set hangs the standard set I cobbled together...
Also living in the same neighborhood is the small screwdriver rack and the rack for the paddle bits, both of which were hung back in February 2022!
I guess not only does that wrap up this little project, it also puts a period to the projects at 173 for 2023. I wish everyone the best of the new year, and thank you for visiting this year. See ya' in 2024!
One of the things I enjoy about following House 173 is that even the smallest projects feel like part of a much larger story. On paper, this is simply a rack for a new set of nut drivers. But by the end, it's really about how a workshop grows over time. Every rack, every shelf, and every little organizer reflects another project, another Christmas, or another chapter in the life of the house.I also liked how naturally the gift fit into the story. You didn't spend paragraphs thanking your future brother-in-law or making the post sentimental. Instead, you did what people at House 173 always seem to do, you built something useful. Somehow that feels like the perfect way to appreciate a thoughtful gift.The ending was especially satisfying. Seeing the new metric set hanging beneath the standard set, alongside the screwdriver rack and paddle-bit holder, gives the impression of a workshop that's evolving one small improvement at a time. None of these projects is dramatic on its own, but together they create a space that feels well-used, well-loved, and unmistakably yours. - Andrew Iverson
Frequently Asked Questions
Why keep both SAE and metric nut drivers?
Modern workshops often require both measurement systems. Older American-made equipment, household hardware, and many woodworking accessories commonly use SAE (inch-based) fasteners, while imported tools, appliances, bicycles, automobiles, and machinery frequently use metric hardware. Having complete sets of both prevents rounded fasteners and eliminates the frustration of trying to force the wrong size onto a nut or bolt.
What are nut drivers used for?
Nut drivers combine the convenience of a screwdriver with the gripping ability of a socket. They're ideal for tightening and loosening hex-head screws, machine screws, hose clamps, electrical hardware, and light-duty fasteners. Because they're lightweight and quick to use, many people reach for a nut driver instead of a ratchet for smaller jobs.
Why build a custom tool rack instead of buying one?
Building a custom rack allows you to space tools exactly as you want, fit the available wall space, and match the style of the rest of your workshop. It also makes excellent use of scrap lumber and provides an enjoyable woodworking project that can be completed in an afternoon.
Why finish shop organizers with stain and shellac?
Even simple workshop projects deserve a durable finish. Stain highlights the wood grain, while shellac protects the surface from dirt, moisture, and handling. A finished organizer is also easier to wipe clean and tends to look more like permanent shop furniture than a temporary storage solution.
How does organizing tools improve workshop efficiency?
A well-organized workshop reduces time spent searching for tools, encourages putting them back after use, and makes projects more enjoyable. Keeping commonly used tools visible and within easy reach allows work to flow naturally, especially during repairs where switching between different tools happens constantly. Over time, thoughtful organization can be just as valuable as adding new tools to the shop.
Keywords
nut driver rack, DIY tool organizer, metric nut drivers, shop organization ideas, homemade tool rack, scrap wood project, workshop storage, hand tool storage, woodworking shop, House 173
