Colour code spanners and sockets to help identify size - workshop hack mcewan7m

Took a couple of false starts to get this method to work for me but I now have a system that makes sense and is easy to implement and duplicate.
First, the metric sized spanners and sockets would lend themselves well to a tagging system as the consecutive numeric system of millimeter sized tools makes it simple to sort.
Next thing to realise is that having a unique colour for each size is going to create a colour clash that will hinder quick identification, so a system of repeating colours for different sizes makes sense, But then that has to have some sort of system to allow sizes using the same colours to be easy to identify.
Common electrical insulating tape is about the right width for the tools and fortunately, comes in 11 colours. Taking away the black colour will leave ten colours, we now have a method of counting in tens with colours. The system just got simple. For example, any number with 8 in it will have the same colour. In my system orange covers the sizes 8mm, 18mm, 28mm and blue covers any size with 7 in it so 7mm, 17mm and 27mm. To get the spanner or socket size from our tool box, we just have to know the colour order we have between 10mm and 19mm. All the other sizes are either plus ten or minus ten.
You can set the colour order in whatever method suits you but for me, I tried to choose colours that contrast with each other - going from bright to dark colours as they move up in size. Keep the blue and green well apart as they can look the same in artificial light. The same goes for brown and violet. I kept the white and grey well apart as the white tape can look grey after it gets covered in dirt and oil.
So this is the colour order I went for -
Yellow = 10, 20, 30
Brown = 11, 21, 31
White = 12, 22, 32
Red = 13, 23
Green = 4, 14, 24
Earth = 5, 15, 25
Grey = 6, 16, 26
Blue = 7, 17, 27
Orange = 8, 18, 28
Violet = 9, 19, 29
This was my preference.
You might prefer a different colour order.
Now we have to broach the ancient mechanicers problem - AF sizes :-)
That turns out to be simple. Most AF sizes will work well on metric nuts. So we can mark AF spanners and sockets as if they are metric.
Wrapping two lots of the same coloured insulating tape on AF spanners will visually identify them as AF. With AF sockets, I stuck to one strip of tape. We do not really need to differentiate between AF and metric.
With this system, and the flexibility of metric spanners and sockets. I no longer think of spanner sizes in metric or imperial AF units. I do not need to. In the world of mechanicing, we look for a spanner that we think fits the nut. If it is a little to big or small we look the next size along. Instead of having to pick spanners up to see their size we just look for the right colour/size. A very quick method of identifying sizes.
It has got to the stage now, I do not even think of sizes in numbers - rather colours and whether it is tiny, medium or large.
Add to that, I have practically stopped using my big tool closet. My mobile tool box (on its trestle/barrow) is quicker to use. It can be wheeled right up to the equipment I am working on so that I can have all my tools right at my side.
While I was setting up this system I did consider what other methods could be used for size identification.
Here are the alternative size sorting methods and their cons.
* Spanner and socket trays - Bulky and immobile (running back and fore to a large tool chest). Won't work once spanners get left lying around a job. Limits the amount of spanners and sockets that can be kept in that drawer.
* Specific tape for marking tools - Hard to track down this tape and can cost a bit more than regular PVC insulating tape. Normally does not cover larger and smaller sizes.
* Etching larger numbers on to spanners and sockets. - The etching is fiddly and takes a lot longer to apply than the PVC tape. Etching does not work well on sockets that have no chrome finish. It still often requires the spanner or socket to be picked up to read the size.
* Coloured spanners and sockets - These can be hard to track down and command higher prices than normal tools. The colours can be difficult to see. I don't think there is an industry "standard" for what colours represent which sizes.
Using electrical tape to colour code tools has the following cons.
Nope! Can't think of one.
Update 21-Jun-2017
I had one of the guys giving me a hand to fit a new genny. We were on our backs under the thing fixing the mounts and some hoses. I asked him for a twelve. He picked up one of the spanners we had been using (from the floor) and stretched over to hand it to me. I did not take it from him. "Nah that's red. I need the white one". He looked around and spotted it straight away.
Now that shows the system works.
Why do colleagues not copy this system.
They can't think out of the (tool) box.
Jeez! is that where the saying came from :-D