Tool storage

[bman123]

I have bought a 4 drawer C-Man and need to store tools inside of it.
How do you store your tools inside?I will be carrying this from inside the house to the car or others houses to work on stuff.I just don't know what to do or get to keep the tools from flying all over the place inside the box.
Can you please give me some ideas if what you have done to keep this from happening to you.

[Freakazooid52]

I have just a tool cart now like you, I bought a bunch of the SK sure grip wrench racks, it has slits in it for wrenches and its soft rubber so they wont slide off the rack when its moved.

Also look at sears for the Lisle magnetic socket holders.

Sk wrench racks.
http://skhandtool.com/Default.aspx?fusemode=10&pid=1083


Lisle socket holders.
http://www.lislecorp.com/tool_detail.cfm?detail=713

[Chris Adams]

Could you be a little more specific about the Craftsman?
Four drawer chest? Very heavy, hard to lift? 4 drawer cabinet, not usually used in a car... More of a truck required to move it. 4 drawer 'cart'? Pretty hard to carry in vehicle, or small top handle 4 drawer 'carry in' tool box?

Makes a lot of difference in how to answer the question.

[oxycodone]

...small top handle 4 drawer 'carry in' tool box...

If it's this one, just put your sockets on metal rails, pack it full of tools and don't worry about it - sometimes you just have to let your wrenches touch each other.

[bman123]

it is a 4 drawer portable chest.Model # is 9 61904
I got this so I can take it with me when I need to go somewhere.We live in an apartment not a house and we don't have a garage.I wanted a big 2 piece set but I have no practical use for one neither anywhere to put it.
I am young only 23 so I am on the ole tool journey of building my collection,I am sure as time passes I will have no choice but to buy a bottom piece and use that as well but for the mean time the 4 drawer portable should do me well.Sorry I didn't include this in my first post.

[Lyaec350]

Metal clip rails are prolly your best bet and really cheap. Pick them up from HF or Northern Tool. Get some drawer liner material while you're at it so you don't beat up the inside of the drawers.

[bman123]

Will HF have everything I need to do the sockets,and wrenches?ALso is there something like a rubber sheet(non slip) surface to put the stuff on to keep it from moving?
Freekazooid I like that sk stuff you pointed out,I'll have to see where my local HF is and see if they have something similar

[Lyaec350]

Yea, HF will have it all. The sheet rubber stuff is actually sorta like a rubber mesh you cut to fit, works really well. I would just buy the crappy chrome rails -- they're cheap and you can buy then for $1 each or so. Wrenches... I don't know, how big does your set go? Sears has nice wrench racks, but they only go up to 3/4" / 18 mm, they're $4.99 each and you'd need 2.

[Chris Adams]

The 99 cent steel rails, 49 cents on sale for the sockets. Don't hesitate to cut them off at the best length, so your sockets fill them with no extra hanging over.
You can also mix 1/4-3/8-1/2 on the same strip by sliding the clips.
That makes the mix tighter, thus easier to carry.

The drawer liners cost 2.29 1.29 on sale but are probably not the best way to go for a portable box.
Big Lots has cheap drawer liner, the weave stuff. It works.
Harbor has it too.
Costco is the cheapest on the weave stuff but you have to buy 10 bucks worth at a time.
You don't need more than a couple small rolls. or about 4 bucks worth or so, if that.

Wrench wraps, that is, plastic or better cloth wrench holders are much better for transported tools.
I have lots of different types of wrench holders but if I carry them, say to a wrecking yard, I tend to put them in light weight cloth rolls. They don't rattle, they don't ding the chrome, and they roll up and take little space.

Any wrench racks, pouches, drawer liners, rails or anything else add to the weight.
It adds up FAST on a carry box.
Keep it light as you can.


Money spent on this kind of stuff is money not spent on good tools or feeding the family, so don't EVER be 'tool proud'.
It ain't about impressing people, it's about getting the job done quickly, safely and cheaply.

[bman123]

Thanks guys I'm gonna go to HF today