Quick tip…
I’m working on an apartment conversion these days and as I finished using my (expensive) 
Why do I bother?
Well, on this job the ground is a mixture of granite chips/ gravel with some concrete steps; but you might have grass, soil, or whatever; all are bad surfaces to put tools on. Let’s look at some things which could happen if you put your tools on the ground…
- It’s possible for gravel or small stones to wedge in the underside. E.g. a small stone could jam the above mentioned saw, or worse it could spit out a small stone like a bullet when the saw starts up.
- Rough ground, such as concrete, could easily scratch any coating on the tool. For example, the bottom of the above plunge saw is sensitive. Scratches might affect the way the saw glides on the guide track. Plus, occasionally I use the saw directly on the work-surface, so rough scratches on the base could scratch the work-piece.
- Putting sharp tools on the ground could easily blunt the cutting edges. From wood chisels upwards. Remember your woodwork class at school, when they told you to always turn a hand plane onto its side when you put it down? Yes? Well, you still need to do that too.
- The ground is usually covered in grit and other dusty stuff which could easily get into the workings of any tool with moving parts, especially if there are lubricated parts (lube is sticky). An adjustable wrench for example.
- If the ground is wet and muddy then it stands to reason that anything you put on it will get wet and muddy too. No way to treat your tools!
- Lastly, the ground is a long way away (especially for us ‘old’ codgers)! Bending down might be good for your joints, but you’ll get tired if you’re doing it all day every day. Get your tools up off the floor if you can.
Putting tools on the ground? You’ll need something soft then…
Wood is ideal for most tools, but anything softer than the tool itself will work. Look around the workplace for off-cuts of wood, a bit of plastic (old milk crate, sheet stuff or off-cuts), a piece of polystyrene, sturdy cardboard box or even a newspaper in a pinch!
Once you really get into working on stuff, you can lift your tools off the ground altogether and use a small bench, or a milk crate with a square of plywood cable tied to the top etc. etc. as a makeshift tool bench.
I use these 
You’ll even need something indoors as well. A while back I posted about making some ‘worktop protectors‘ out of carpet off-cuts so you can put your hammer etc. down on tables or worktops without worrying about causing damage.
Right, this was supposed to be a ‘quick tip’ so I’ll stop here. I hope it helps remind you to never put your tools on the ground!
Stay well
Ian
