Indeed, the least used items elevate to the top, although always with the logistical provision for reasonable lead length. Biggest problem stacking old boat anchors without shelves is that when it comes to repair, it's a PITA to unstack and restack. Shelves, though, make the stack even higher.
Heh, I have the same kind of garage shelving unit. Cheap, but sturdy when assembled. On the top I keep Tektronix TLA704, probably my biggest boat anchor. Fortunately logic probes are quite long and the analyzer itself is operated remotely via LAN. Once I'm done setting my lab in this house (had to move recently) I will post a picture.
My soldering/electronics bench is also from the same series, just 120x60 and screwed where possible to the shelving unit (where the instruments are). I don't find it big enough, for example I worry how I'm going to put a double boom AmScope when I get one, but well space is limited. Stuff that is rarely used (A6902B, SR850, normal microscope, heavy variac etc) is on the bottom shelf of the rack (pretty much the floor), so if I need that I need to get under the bench and pull it out.
I like the idea of magnetic tool holders, will add that to my shopping list. For now to the beams of this rack I attached a USB 3.0 hub and an old 19" monitor on a swivel mount (mostly to check datasheets or open serial terminal etc. and thanks to the mount I can move it away if I need to see the screens of DS1054Z or 2467). I still need to think about attaching some lights to the shelves. I have some of these LED lights (
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222115723938), but I would have to mount them at an angle and with some covers, so it doesn't either blind me or shine onto the instrument displays (for example making old VFDs even less readable than they already are).
Organised chaos. I have a good stock of ordered parts purchased just to have them at hand. It is rare that I have to order a non-specialist part.
The chaos comes in the form of multiple projects, all stored away with their specific parts.
I see. There seem to be no good solution to this
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In my case it is quite similar, either things grouped by project (although sometimes just mentally) or generic components (RLC, some common ICs, connectors or just occasional splurges on Aliexpress) in plastic drawers, component boxes and so on. Probes that I got without original packaging (e.g. Tek diff or current probes) I keep in 170/25.096.GPB / 170/28.207 SPU boxes from Farnell.