Tool Paradise – Or an Organizer’s Dream?
Written: May 10 '04 (Updated Jul 21 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: easy to assemble – took 4 minutes, no tools needed to assemble the Tool Tower
Cons: need level area – instructions don’t state it, but tools needed to install optional bracket
The Bottom Line: An organizer’s delight. Even the Bottom Line agrees that this tower holds a lot of tools.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Rubbermaid Tool Tower Long Handle Tool Storage 709... |
My dad has yard tools, and not just a few tools. His comment to me was, “When you were a youngster, your mother and I worked together in the garden. So whenever we bought a new garden tool, we bought two of them so that we could work together.” How romantic! Togetherness amidst the tomatoes. However, now the family has two of just about every garden tool imaginable. So when I spied the Rubbermaid Tool Tower, I knew the family had to have it.
Description
The Tool Tower is constructed of a durable resin that resists moisture. The manufacturer states that the material will not rust, fade, split or peel. The unit is comprised of ten plastic pieces and a small box that contains the hardware for a wall mount (if desired). The pieces include: 2 green sections that comprise the top and bottom of the tower, and 8 beige leg pieces. The entire unit measures 18" wide x 36" long x 37 3/4" high.
All the pieces come plastic-wrapped together. A full-color cardboard overlay that lists the features with instruction diagram partially covers the pieces in the package. The two larger green pieces sandwich the beige colored legs and box with the mounting bracket. The plastic that binds all these pieces together is tough and will not rip with ordinary handling.
The green pieces are molded with an array of different sized holes in which garden tools are inserted. If placing a long-handled tool in the unit, the handle is inserted into the top hole and moved straight down until the handle enters the matching bottom hole. This combination of aligned holes keeps the tool upright.
This tower is designed to hold over 36 tools. There are 20 slots for long-handled tools (includes the four corner legs, which are hollow) and 16 slots for shorter-handled tools. A protrusion at the end of the tower is designed to hold an extension cord, and the other end of the unit has a recessed space for a weed whacker. The illustration on the package shows the unit holding: a shovel, pick axe, sledge hammer, garden edger, two rakes, pitch fork, mop, broom, weed whacker, extension cord, hose nozzle, a long level and assorted hand gardening tools such as trowels.
Assembly
An illustration on the packaging shows this unit requires no tools to assemble, and that it goes together in less than five minutes. I put this claim to the test. My father grabbed the timer and stood like a racing coach on the sidelines. “Go!” Using scissors, I sliced through the heavy plastic. The pieces spread on the driveway, I quickly understood that the two green sections were identical. I set one green section flat on the garage floor. Then I confronted the eight beige legs. There were only four leg holes. “Faster!” my dad insisted. That’s when I realized that two of the legs had to be pushed together to make one longer leg. I quickly assembled the legs. “Two minutes!” I pushed the four leg units into the corner holes. Then I grabbed the remaining green section and aligned the leg tops into those corner holes. “Almost four minutes!” I fiddled a bit with alignment, hand-pounding the green section into position. “Done!” I screamed. “Four minutes and five seconds,” my dad announced. Not bad.
A small white box contained an optional Wall Mount Bracket assembly. The box includes: 1 metal bracket, 2 metal screws 1 1/4" long, 2 plastic pieces called “anchors” that remind me of molly bolts. The bracket is shaped something like a business card holder (the back side high and the front lower with a U-shape in the center front). Tools are needed to mount the bracket: a measuring tool, drill, 1/8" drill bit and a 1/4" drill bit. Instructions for mounting the bracket are on one small sheet of paper in English, French and Spanish. I did not use the bracket, but after the bracket is installed, the Rubbermaid unit is centered and lifted into position then lowered so that the bracket helps support the Tool Tower.
Our Experiences
This is a nicely designed stand to organize garden tools. After assembling the unit, we surveyed the many garden tools haphazardly stacked around the garage. I’ll say up front that weight distribution is important.
Our Rubbermaid Tool Tower is free-standing on an even cement garage floor. I do not recommend using this tower on uneven ground – the tower will probably at some point tip over if not secured. If there are small children running around the tool area, I would definitely anchor this unit to the wall so that there are no accidents.
There are 7 different sized holes for long-handled tools in the front and back row (I’m counting the hollow leg poles as holes), and 6 holes in the middle row. Between these rows are narrower slots for hand tools (8 slots each in two rows). At one end of the tower is an area to wrap an extension cord. At the other end of the unit is an indentation where a tool, such as a weed whacker, can rest.
At first, we placed the garden and yard rakes in the slots closest to the garage wall. Then we inserted long-handled shovels (several of them large and heavy) in the center slots. Before we could even begin to fill the third row of slots closest to us, the Tool Tower began to sway a bit. A nudge, and the tower started to tip toward us. With a bit of juggling, we swapped the rake row and the shovel row, placing the heavier shovels closer to the garage wall. This helped stabilize the unit.
As we placed the garden tools in the slots, I noticed that sometimes the tools (especially the rakes and shovels) tended to tangle with each other. I found that placing these tools facing in the same direction kept them orderly and easy to pull in and out of the tower.
My parents own a lot of tools. We managed to fill just about all the holes for long-handled tools. They had too many pitch forks, flat-ended and pointy shovels with short handles to fit in this unit. We also opted not to place the sledge hammer or pick axe in this holder. I was afraid that the weight of these two items (very heavy!) might eventually bow or crack the plastic pieces (the tool handles are too short to reach the ground to help support their weight).
I found the 16 smaller holes for hand tools not a good idea for us. The slots are designed so that the business-end of a tool slides into the slot, leaving the handle extended above the hole. There are a variety of different sized slots to accommodate different width tools, such as narrow or wide trowels. A hand cultivator would not fit in these slots since the prongs are curved and the head would be too large to fit in the hole. I did place the dandelion weeder in one of the holes since it is narrow with a sharp pronged end. My parents have a Step 2 Garden Stool/Cart where they place some of their hand tools for using while sitting on the stool/cart. They also have a plastic carry-all where many of the other hand tools reside.
At this time, we have not wrapped an extension cord around the prongs at one end of the tower. Nor have we placed a weed whacker at the other end of the unit.
Now that we’ve balanced the tools in the tower, the unit is standing stable. I shook it, testing for balance, but the weight of the tools are keeping it solidly in place. Even removing tools from the unit and then replacing them has not affected the stability of this tower. If at some point my parents decide they want the wall mount installed, I have it tucked to one side.
Likes
* Constructed of heavy-duty plastic resin material
* Mounting bracket and hardware included
* No tools needed to assemble the unit (but needed for the bracket)
* Holds over 36 tools
* Even the corner posts are hollow to hold tools
* Quick to assemble
* Keeps the tools organized and the garage neater
Dislikes
Place the Tool Tower on a level surface so that it does not tip over. Consider using the included Wall Mount Bracket if in doubt of the unit’s stability.
Be careful how the tools are distributed in the holder so that the tower does not tip over.
The packaging clearly states that no tools are required for assembly; however, the Wall Mount Bracket needs a drill and two different sized bits for installation.
Purchasing
I purchased the Rubbermaid Tool Tower at Linen-n-Things. The price was $19.99, but I had a coupon that reduced the price to $15.99. Amazon.com is also selling this organizer for $19.99.
Update -- July 21, 2004
The Rubbermaid Tool Tower has been standing fine in the garage, then it tipped over. Crash! Thankfully no one was around it when it toppled. The tough plastic of the Rubbermaid tower withstood the fall, all the pieces are fine ... not even scratched. I uprighted the unit. Then I anchored it to a wall stud so that it would not tip over again. Defintely use the wall-mouting hardware to anchor this unit.
Summary
My parents are enjoying the Rubbermaid Tool Tower. My dad had fun timing me to see how quickly I could assemble the unit. This is a wonderful way to keep garden tools in one area. The tools are easy to pull from the slots, too. My parents plan to use this Tool Tower for a long time. It certainly beats the haphazard array of tools once leaning against the garage walls. It was a great buy, and everyone in the family likes it!
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Rubbermaid Home Products Division
1147 Akron Road
Wooster, OH 44691
Tollfree Phone: 888-895-2110
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST Monday - Friday
Please read my other reviews:
Rubbermaid Big Max Shed
Step 2 Grass Hopper Wheeled Garden Stool / Cart
Craftsman 3-Drawer Portable Toolbox
Cramer Stop-Step Ladder
Sharp Calculator -- Solar with Battery Backup
Sterilite Ultra Storage Drawer
Rubbermaid Jumbo 50-Gallon Roughtote
Sterilite 12 Quart Storage Box
Sharpie Twin-Tip Marker
Ginsu 13-piece Knife Set with Wood Block
GE Top Freezer Refrigerator
Maytag Gemini Double Oven Range
Copyright 2004 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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