Air-Zool Tool “Box”

Posted by 141drew Posted onDec 30, 2011 at 5:12 PM and filed under Reviews & Features


An interesting idea for a tool box replacement. I guess you would call it a cart. In any case, it was found by a gentleman on The Jalopy Journal. He found it at the Kalamazoo Air Museum where it serves their general repair man. Kind of a neat idea…


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bobemmerich

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

That is a great idea. I was thinking of something like that, but didn't know how it would look. I like it. I like the way he separates the SAE/Metric with colors.
 
M

Machobuck

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

Thats great if you can trust your co-workers. I can now but not in the past. Still rad
 
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Flathead Johnny

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

i'm neutral on it...but appreciate the "out of the box" thinking....haha pun intended
 
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zman

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

I used to want the USAG Ferrari set, kind of reminds me of that...

USAG-tool-chest-1.JPG


I believe there was a similar Facom set at one point as well. I've always been impressed with both.
 
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Flathead Johnny

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

zman, it that box just ferrari themed or does it has some tools specific to ferrari?
 
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zman

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

Flathead Johnny said:
zman, it that box just ferrari themed or does it has some tools specific to ferrari?
Click to expand...

I don't think they have any Ferrari special tools in them. Griot's used to carry them. The one time I tried to order one they were out of them. I just always liked the organization of the USAG and Facom stuff. Both have done tool sets like that with the Ferrari logo. I'm guessing just a deal with Ferrari and maybe some sponsorship.
 
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marty_p

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

Although not my taste, I can't argue the fact that it's a great idea 'on the cheap!' :thumbup:
 
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bobcatdan

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

My grandpa was buddies with a bodyshop, they also did alignments and a lot of suspension work. One of the owners had a cart like that double sided just filled every last square inch with what looked to be 90% plus SO from the 60's-70's. There were no other toolboxes except a small vintage SO is the back shop. I wish I could get a picture of it.
 
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JimVonBaden

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

zman said:
I used to want the USAG Ferrari set, kind of reminds me of that...

USAG-tool-chest-1.JPG


I believe there was a similar Facom set at one point as well. I've always been impressed with both.
Click to expand...

I wonder how hard it would be to start with a HF 15 drawer cart and build the top part from sheet metal? I bet there is a market for it.

Jim :cool:
 
L

LegacyIndustrial

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

Ryan said:
roller.jpg


An interesting idea for a tool box replacement. I guess you would call it a cart. In any case, it was found by a gentleman on The Jalopy Journal. He found it at the Kalama...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
Click to expand...

Ryan:
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is purpose built. Like a doctor, an aircraft mechanic doesn't want to leave any tools inside the patient.
They use a system like that board to make sure all the tools are accounted for.
 
H

HWP

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

I think the rolling tool board is a great idea. Ryan, is there any chance that you could get and post pictures of the sides and back? I'd like to see how it's constructed.
I've been thinking about a wall tool board for about a year, but I really like the roll-around idea better since I work in different parts of the garage.
 
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KingMotorsport

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

LegacyIndustrial said:
Ryan:
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is purpose built. Like a doctor, an aircraft mechanic doesn't want to leave any tools inside the patient.
They use a system like that board to make sure all the tools are accounted for.
Click to expand...

LegacyIndustrial:

You may be right. But, if that is the case then there is a plane flying around with two metric wrenches and a couple of SAE sockets rattling around in the fuselage. :wtf:
 
S

stokessd

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

LegacyIndustrial said:
Ryan:
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is purpose built. Like a doctor, an aircraft mechanic doesn't want to leave any tools inside the patient.
They use a system like that board to make sure all the tools are accounted for.
Click to expand...


I believe that is called shadow boxing of tools. i worked for 5 year at the air-force research lab, and when there were more than one person working on an aircraft from the same box, they would have a metal "chit" that they would drop in the space where a tool would go when they took it. So not only did you know that there was a tool missing, you had the name of the person to go to find the tool. That was on larger planes like the KC135, I'm not sure if that system holds when there is only a single person working.

But the shadow box thing was universal, it even extended to the non-flight labs (for some unknown reason).

Sheldon
 
T

Tman

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

LegacyIndustrial said:
Ryan:
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is purpose built. Like a doctor, an aircraft mechanic doesn't want to leave any tools inside the patient.
They use a system like that board to make sure all the tools are accounted for.
Click to expand...


Yeah, the Air Guard Mechanics I knew used an accountability system like this and neon orange paint behind the tools. You could look at a glance and see if any orange was shoing the tool was still in the plane.
 
J

jawdoc

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

That is exactly what Im looking to do....

thanks for the idea!!
 
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bluebolt

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

Well the planes at the museum don't fly anymore LOL so tool control is not as critical. Plus I think that is used on a lot more than airplanes, you don't find metric on old US planes. I think it is as stated, a general mechanics tool kit. Neat idea.

I used to run an Air Force aircraft tool crib and the "chit" system went away more than a decade ago, use bar codes now and a bar code reader. Put the guys employee number in the system, zap the bar code or type it in the system and away they go. Faster and more accurate after we got the bugs worked out. Allowed better tool control of a 24 hour operation.
 
E

el-poocho

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

G'day all,

A post from down-under, I currently serve in the Royal Australian Air Force, and these type of tool layout are used in every workshop, aviation related or not.
These tool boards have specific paint colour codes painted on every item on the board to identify where tools belong and which workshop to blame if a tool is sucked into a jet.

The ground support equipment workshops are just as important for this because the equipment serviced may work around the flight line.

Hopefully that was helpful,

Cheers Lee.
 
9

93L#3008

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

I would like to see a build thread on one of these.... Any retired takers out there have time for a project??
 
C

cranejon

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

Regarding the tool boards: How is the maker hanging the wrenches so they do not rattle off when he wheels the cart/board someewhere? Using cup hooks? Magnets? or?
 
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JamieK

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

Tman said:
Yeah, the Air Guard Mechanics I knew used an accountability system like this and neon orange paint behind the tools. You could look at a glance and see if any orange was shoing the tool was still in the plane.
Click to expand...

We built a few of those when I was in tech school, and at the end of the day, you could instantly tell if any tools were missing. Nobody could leave until the boards were full. Each board was a different color, and the tool s were color coded to them.
 
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JamieK

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

cranejon said:
Regarding the tool boards: How is the maker hanging the wrenches so they do not rattle off when he wheels the cart/board someewhere? Using cup hooks? Magnets? or?
Click to expand...

On the ones we built, there was a board on each side, and they leaned together at the top, maybe 30 degrees. The wrenches were just hung on nails, but they never fell off.
 
5

5lima30

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

stokessd said:
I believe that is called shadow boxing of tools. i worked for 5 year at the air-force research lab, and when there were more than one person working on an aircraft from the same box, they would have a metal "chit" that they would drop in the space where a tool would go when they took it. So not only did you know that there was a tool missing, you had the name of the person to go to find the tool. That was on larger planes like the KC135, I'm not sure if that system holds when there is only a single person working.

But the shadow box thing was universal, it even extended to the non-flight labs (for some unknown reason).

Sheldon
Click to expand...

When I was in the USAF the flightline crews called them Composite Tool Kits
(CTK) and you are right about the metal ""chits". :thumbup:
 
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lilredex

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

JamieK said:
We built a few of those when I was in tech school, and at the end of the day, you could instantly tell if any tools were missing. Nobody could leave until the boards were full. Each board was a different color, and the tool s were color coded to them.
Click to expand...

We had those at school also, same reasoning, nobody left until all spaces were filed.
 
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zoomieport

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

HWP said:
I think the rolling tool board is a great idea. Ryan, is there any chance that you could get and post pictures of the sides and back? I'd like to see how it's constructed.
I've been thinking about a wall tool board for about a year, but I really like the roll-around idea better since I work in different parts of the garage.
Click to expand...

Ryan said:
I'm afraid that's the only shot I have.
Click to expand...

I, believe it or not, was born and raised and currently live in Kalamazoo, and the Air Zoo is only about 7 miles from me... By the way, the Kalamazoo Air Zoo is the tenth largest non-government aviation museum in the nation. It is nationally recognized for their restoration efforts and is Smithsonian affiliated.

So... If you really want more pictures, I will try to get some... Let me know.

Just a little FYI about Kalamazoo aka "The Mall City" (aka the celery city and the paper city). Kalamzoo is translated from the Native American Potowatomi Tribe "the mirage of reflecting river," while others say it means bubbling or boiling water .... (1)the Nations 1st "Walking Mall" in the center of the city (8-19-1959)... (2) Founding home to Gibson Guitar (sorry Nashville boys, Orville Gibson started it here... (3) Checker Taxi Cabs (The Big Old Ones) were ALL built here... (4) Sharespreare Rod and Reel was founded here, (5) The Kalamazoo Stove Company, (6) Kalamazoo Grill Company, (7) The A.M. Todd Company produces like 90% of the "Perppermint" in the world, (8) 75% of the bedding plants in America come from Kalamazoo, (9) Roamer Automobiles, (10) The Stryker Company (hospital beds and equip.), (11) The Upjohn Company (now Pfizer) was founded here, (12) Kalamazoo Corset, (13) Kalamazoo Sled, (14) a stop on the Underground Railroad, (15) USTA Boys 16-18 National Tennis Finals, (16) The United Kennel Club was founded here, (17) we are the Hope of the Kalamazoo Promise... All students that qualify are sent to any the State's public Colleges or Universities for FREE! (read this, you won't believe it, but it's true)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalamazoo_Promise

Downtown Kalamazoo got hit by an F3 tornado on May 13th (Friday) 1980 (4 deaths)... I was 9 and scared to sh*tless.... My Dad was an Electrician (retired) at the time and he worked a ton of overtime putting downtown back together... :)

And of course the Glenn Miller hit "I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo"...

Let me know and I will see what I can do...

Mike Dillon
:beer:
 
H

HWP

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Re: Air-Zool Tool \"Box\"

Zoomieport,

I would really appreciate having more pictures of the tool board. Sides and back. I could obviously make it up, but I'd prefer to see what has worked for someone else. So if you get a chance, take the pictures and post.

Thanks in advance.

Howard
 
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