Portable tool box, small toolbox, mobile tool bags, cantilever toolbox for essential tools

[PhantomEB]

on my second one of these bags, it was my shutdown bag. Strap broke on the first one so I just got a second one and transferred all my **** over. 60# of stuff plus a socket set. Lives in my one tonne now And will go into my offroad truck when we start back up on the trails.
needs a few more things but thats to come.

 

[Ruxpin]

I have a small tool box problem. Mostly homemade from wood. And a metal one I made in shop class in 1970. The wooden ones don't get much use.

Beautiful work!

 

[Snapped-off]

Odd assortment of tools. What will this be used for?

I work in a data center. Lot of small stuff, mostly on HVAC equipment. Most of what I do is handled with a Klein 14 in 1, a Klein 11 in 1 tweaker, and the laptop/meter.

The pipe wrench won't live in the bag. But that's for when we fuel our gensets. If I like the pliers wrench, one of the adjustable wrenches may come out of the bag.

Like I said, some other basic stuff will go in the zipper bags and grabbed as needed.

 

[banditbigdog]

KTC Toolbox, Amazon luggage carrier.

 

[mikey03]

 

[snorvet]

Nothing in the box now. I've upgraded to a Packout for more space to keep in my vehicle. I'm thinking about what to put in the old box next.

 

[Ohmthis]

Lovely job making those!

I agree, how did you join all of the edges?

 

[snorvet]

I agree, how did you join all of the edges?

Festool dominos. Like a biscuit.

I made a video of a build.

 

[Snapped-off]

Laptop fits like a glove.


I've got a small cased ¼" drive Gearwrench set I'm going to bring in and I'll probably grab a some ⅜" stuff to use as needed. The Makita sockets will get the bulk of the wrenching.

 

[KnurledNut]

Laptop fits like a glove.


I've got a small cased ¼" drive Gearwrench set I'm going to bring in and I'll probably grab a some ⅜" stuff to usebas needed. The Makita sockets will get the bulk of the wrenching.

Looks like a good fit with the laptop. I’ve been carrying the Bauer tool backpack for about a year now for EDC, PPE, job specific and diag tools, and its held up very well.

 

[Snapped-off]

Looks like a good fit with the laptop. I’ve been carrying the Bauer tool backpack for about a year now for EDC, PPE, job specific and diag tools, and its held up very well.

I just took a look at that bag when I was there the other day. It's a little bulkier.

Bauer is 20x14x9, Milwaukee is 20x10x10.
It was also full price in the store and I only paid $5 more for the milwaukee.

Should work well. I do like the interior pockets of the Bauer a little more. Mine has a ton of screwdriver slots I won't be using.

 

[Jay__Dub]

Reading this thread, I know I'm among giants. Clearly, I'm an amateur. 3, plus 1 vintage cantilever I'm in the process of refinishing, and my chainsaw tool bag.

 

[Toolfool]

Retired, don't need to 'bring' tools anywhere anymore. I have this for sale... $175.

 

[Hakeem]

I’m enrolled in some automotive night classes at my community college and I figured I’d show up in style with my tools in Kennedy cantilever:


Here’s the required tool list:


I have about 80% of the list in the box, the rest just hasn’t arrived.

Totally stoked with how I got all my sockets on the top shelf:

The rails are magnetic so I can take them out as needed. Still have a missing E10 and a 1-1/16” oil pressure socket en route that will end up there.

Then on the left side I figure I’ll put screwdrivers, test equipment, (both still en route) and whatever else up top:

And then in the bottom I have my SAE & metric wrenches (USA Craftsman, naturally ), Pittsburgh 1/2” clicker, Tekton 1/4” clicker, craftsman USA speed handle, and HF ball peen hammer.

There’s still a decent amount of space so I’m confident I’ll get the remaining items in it as they arrive but man it’s heavy as hell LOL. I have a ridgid rolling toolbox I’ll use as a dolly and as a stand. I’ll be sure to post some pictures once I’ve got everything in there and maybe some action shots too. Thinking about how I’m gonna fit and organize everything within the layout of the box is quite enjoyable.

Many thanks to @rust in the eye for the box & the craftsman wrenches

 

[rust in the eye]

I’m enrolled in some automotive night classes at my community college and I figured I’d show up in style with my tools in Kennedy cantilever:


Here’s the required tool list:


I have about 80% of the list in the box, the rest just hasn’t arrived.

Totally stoked with how I got all my sockets on the top shelf:

The rails are magnetic so I can take them out as needed. Still have a missing E10 and a 1-1/16” oil pressure socket en route that will end up there.

Then on the left side I figure I’ll put screwdrivers, test equipment, (both still en route) and whatever else up top:

And then in the bottom I have my SAE & metric wrenches (USA Craftsman, naturally ), Pittsburgh 1/2” clicker, Tekton 1/4” clicker, craftsman USA speed handle, and HF ball peen hammer.

There’s still a decent amount of space so I’m confident I’ll get the remaining items in it as they arrive but man it’s heavy as hell LOL. I have a ridgid rolling toolbox I’ll use as a dolly and as a stand. I’ll be sure to post some pictures once I’ve got everything in there and maybe some action shots too. Thinking about how I’m gonna fit and organize everything within the layout of the box is quite enjoyable.

Many thanks to @rust in the eye for the box & the craftsman wrenches

I'm glad you are carrying that thing and not me. Also glad to see these things being used.
Those cork liners are a good idea.
That required tool list needs to be updated. Flare wrenches is inch sizes? only ????
Do yourself a favor and get some metric ones that you'll more likely use

 

[johninct]

I am in the thinking stage and probably should change my tool combinations. Example, I have sockets in SAE and metric together in the same set. I hardly ever need both for the same job. At the same time, there are always other items that I need and /or would make the job easier that I am to lazy to get that I don't use. I get worn out walking back and forth to my boxes. At the same time, I can't bring everything to every job. So again, I am thinking on how to re-arrange my sets....

 

[Hakeem]

I'm glad you are carrying that thing and not me. Also glad to see these things being used.
Those cork liners are a good idea.
That required tool list needs to be updated. Flare wrenches is inch sizes? only ????
Do yourself a favor and get some metric ones that you'll more likely use

Yeah I’m kinda fussy about it, being a vintage piece, so I put some cork liners in the trays and some wool felt in the bottom so that the paint wouldnt get scratches. I’d like to mount rubber feet on the bottom at some point.

Downside of buying a vintage box in such good condition is that you don’t want to damage it!

The SAE flare nut wrenches were puzzling to me too. I’m waiting to talk to an instructor to see if we really need those for class because I don’t think they get used much in “the real world”. If yes, the three wrenches from proto would be like $60 … not great, not terrible.

 

[orangeblood]

Plus fug-it, I'll come clean.....I'm tool ***** soo........

Sir, whilst you may indeed be a *****, at least this ***** appreciates your honesty. I salute you.

 

[CGarage]

@Hakeem , that list looks pretty modest. Good show for attending the night school on the automotive mechanics trade!

 

[BroncoAZ]

I was using the Rigid Pro Gear 2.0 boxes for the past couple years. Husky tool bags before that. Unfortunately the Husky tool bags grow mold or something that looks like mold in the humid environment of Cape Cod. I don’t have pictures of the Rigid, but I had a medium for tire changing tools (bottle jack, M18 inflator, M18 impact, impact sockets in SAE and metric), another medium for machine specific supplies like oil or belts, another medium with tiedowns/chains/straps, a small with a reasonable comprehensive set of hand and power tools (M12 stubby impact, M12 screwdriver, M12 light, 14 in 1 screwdriver, wrenches, sockets, voltmeter, pliers, etc). When they released the half sized organizers I bought a pair of those for connectors, light bulbs, wiring supplies and more.

I’m transitioning jobs now and am setting up my new truck for basics. I posted this pic in the Milwaukee deals thread, but it seems appropriate here. This is my test fit of the rigid boxes in the frunk on my Ford Lightning. This is a medium, two small, and the two half organizers. I was thinking I might prefer one of their drawer units in the front for hand tools, allowing me to quickly grab without unstacking anything. The bad thing about the drawer unit is they get heavy. The small boxes are easy to grab and carry to a jobsite away from the truck. Tools could also go in the back seat, but I’d prefer to keep it clear if possible. I don’t plan on adding a tonneau cover on this truck like all my previous ones have had. Ideally I would like to keep the frunk solution configured so I can still fit my 36” hard rifle case in there without removing boxes. Maybe that means shorter boxes with the rifle case on top or space behind a single row of boxes for the rifle case behind. MA is very picky about rifles being locked in a secure container or trunk.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think I only have 3. Two of them are HF Apache 3800 cases used as portable cases, one in truck, one in Jeep. Then I have a 3 drawer box from TSC, old Farmhand brand or something like that. It contains all the chainsaw stuff. It goes in the truck when I cut wood at my parents.


EDIT: Masterhand brand from TSC.

 

[Hannahranga]

I've got 3 proper ones a mechanical tool backpack, electrical tool bag and my work tool back pack (signal technician for a RR). Got a handful more that are mostly crimps with their respective tooling

 

[CGarage]

This has been a great thread.


If I were to re-post this thread, I should have better asked:


1) How many portable tool storage boxes/bags do you have?

And

2) Describe what applications they are setup for?



There is such great variety represented here, and many more uses than I had imagined for portable tool carrying solutions!

Keep it going!

 

[lotus_esprit]

Snap On TB50 Tote bag, used for various mechanical servicing and small repairs away from workshop.

- Snap On 7mm-24mm, plus couple of Expert ratchet spanners for specific jobs
- Bahco 1/4 and 3/8 socket set, Blue Point breaker bar
- Snap On, Vessel & Beta screwdrivers, Wera bit set.
- Facom and Gedore pliers / cutters - I did have Snap On but they rusted instantly as I often work on outboard motors)
- Fluke pocket multimeter
- various other odd tools added over the years.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

1) Personal toolbox. Essential, multifunctional & very few specialized tools. Good portion of these tools also travel with me on the rare occasions that I do these days. When in it’s “home box” there is a lot of additional space to empty my pockets into or add tools if I want to. For travel it’s transferred to a small pouch that fits my travel bag. Enables me to get problems solved in somewhat of a ”MacGyver” way, enables me to turn off/ isolate unsafe electrical installations/conditions safely (some insulated tools, tester). (Pet peeve of mine, I have just seen too much …)

When at home, also holds tools that I’m testing/evaluating, so I remember to grab these first.

Use: residential/home/garden & very, very little automotive mostly just a test light and wrench for battery terminal

2) “Grab-and-go”-toolbox. Somewhat complete set of hand tools, some specialized tools. Enables me to get in between of 90 and 95% of stuff that comes my way done. It’s the box I take when asked for help without being provided with more detailed information. It‘s the box I have in my car when being asked to come help moving or whatever. It gets the jobs done in a proper and all around safe way - but not necessarily the most comfortable way.

Use: residential/home/garden

3) Electrical-toolbox. Complete set of insulated hand tools, torque drivers, crimping pliers, automated wire strippers, (…) all the “bells and whistles”. When I know beforehand it‘s all about electrical, that’s the box I take. Let‘s me do everything proper, safe and most comfortable.

Use: residential/home/garden

4) Tool pouch. Holds a few essential tools for easy and quick access and sits on top of my toolbox. If I need a pair of pliers, side cutters, marking tool, tape measure, utility knife … I grab it from there.

Use: residential/home/garden

5) Bicycle-toolbox. Holds my bicycle tools, torque wrenches, spare parts.

Use: solely bicycle

6) Tester-toolbox. Holds all my testers: network/voice/coax, multimeter(s), adaptors, wire tracer (tone gen, probe), circuit tester, (…)

Use: residential/home/garden

Since I mostly take my tools to the project, actually most of my tools life in kits.

- 3/8” impact wrench kit
- 1/2” impact wrench kit
- drill/driver kit with additional accessories/consumables kit
- rotary hammer kit
(…)

To some extent, all these kits can fully function on their own.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[hobie18]

Olli,
You have contributed so much, so quickly.
Thank you

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Olli,
You have contributed so much, so quickly.
Thank you

Thank you! Currently sitting between 3 projects & have some spare time after the holidays.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[zanyad]

spare time

Can you send some my way?

 

[mikey03]

- drill/driver kit with additional accessories/consumables kit
- rotary hammer kit

id really like to see how you put those two kits together I’m doing something similar myself tbh but it’s hard figuring out how to lay it out
i did just buy the new Klein sds bit handle to put in a rotary hammer kit it seems like a good idea

 

[SilverJimmy]

This are my bags of tools I take pretty much everywhere I go. The one on the right I’ve been carrying for over 20 years, has all my hand tools that I need for repairs away from my home tools. The other two have cordless tools, left bag has the big 18 volt stuff, middle bag all the 14.4 volt stuff.

All laid out on a table during the World Finals at Bonneville this year.

We had to retorque the head on the Valley Fever streamliner before we could make our first run and then when we sheared the lower shaft in the Winters ExtremeLiner rearend it got serious. Thankfully I had every tool we needed with me! And, yes, all these hand tools except for the AN wrenches fit in that first bag!

 

[captain14]

Lots of good ideas here, but I find myself removing some tools to make it lighter. It doesn’t take long to get it heavier.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Sure @mikey03

- Drill/driver. In this case 18V + accessories. Could be the 12V + accessories, could be both. Then it’s another box in the stack.









- Rotary hammer.





Rotary hammer with batteries, basic drill bits, “grease”& rag. Then dust extraction unit, dust extraction drill bits, diamond core drilling bit + accessories.



(Sorry for the hijack with non hand tool content.)

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[slik560]

Outstanding thread! I started embracing the multi-bag / container concept as I got older...and older.....

I also have to differentiate between "portable" and "transportable". A box with wheels is sometimes the ticket for stuff I won't be lifting all the time.

I'd post pictures but they would duplicate a lot of what's already been posted.

 

[bobg03]

I was using the Rigid Pro Gear 2.0 boxes for the past couple years. Husky tool bags before that. Unfortunately the Husky tool bags grow mold or something that looks like mold in the humid environment of Cape Cod. I don’t have pictures of the Rigid, but I had a medium for tire changing tools (bottle jack, M18 inflator, M18 impact, impact sockets in SAE and metric), another medium for machine specific supplies like oil or belts, another medium with tiedowns/chains/straps, a small with a reasonable comprehensive set of hand and power tools (M12 stubby impact, M12 screwdriver, M12 light, 14 in 1 screwdriver, wrenches, sockets, voltmeter, pliers, etc). When they released the half sized organizers I bought a pair of those for connectors, light bulbs, wiring supplies and more.

I’m transitioning jobs now and am setting up my new truck for basics. I posted this pic in the Milwaukee deals thread, but it seems appropriate here. This is my test fit of the rigid boxes in the frunk on my Ford Lightning. This is a medium, two small, and the two half organizers. I was thinking I might prefer one of their drawer units in the front for hand tools, allowing me to quickly grab without unstacking anything. The bad thing about the drawer unit is they get heavy. The small boxes are easy to grab and carry to a jobsite away from the truck. Tools could also go in the back seat, but I’d prefer to keep it clear if possible. I don’t plan on adding a tonneau cover on this truck like all my previous ones have had. Ideally I would like to keep the frunk solution configured so I can still fit my 36” hard rifle case in there without removing boxes. Maybe that means shorter boxes with the rifle case on top or space behind a single row of boxes for the rifle case behind. MA is very picky about rifles being locked in a secure container or trunk.

I had the Ridgid Boxes but didn't need them anymore, my brother has been using them for the last five years and luvs em.
My comment is to let y'all know I'm jealous of your Cape Cod location.

I certainly don't miss the cold but the CCC was one of my favorite fishing spots ever.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

And here are the ”personal”- and the “grab-and-go”- toolboxes. (Sorry, not gonna spread them out.) The “personal” has changed to a different case since the pictures were taken.














Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Electrical-toolbox.







3/8” impact & 1/2“ impact kits.





Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Dave455]

id really like to see how you put those two kits together I’m doing something similar myself tbh but it’s hard figuring out how to lay it out
i did just buy the new Klein sds bit handle to put in a rotary hammer kit it seems like a good idea

One of the guys on the forum put together a small cantilever box to carry his impact driver, and just about every type of bit he could think of. This struck me as a very good idea, and I might go the same way.

As most of my drills have their own case, I have a “fixings” box that I carry with whatever drill I pick up. It’s got a fair selection of drill bits, things like wall plugs, and even some popular size screws.

Whatever you go for, time spent on organisation is seldom wasted!

 

[CatHerder473]

Too many.

I work for a plumbing/HVAC contractor primarily on the HVAC side and do some remodeling and rental property stuff on the side as well so I have a lot in my wheelhouse. I try to break everything down into trade specific and sometimes task specific bags/boxes.

At work, if it's a major repair I'll have to return with parts anyway so I have a lightweight diagnostic bag just to troubleshoot so I don't have to bring a big heavy bag into an attic or onto a roof. Another bag handles refrigerant charging and recovery. I have a brazing kit. My install bag has everything to set a furnace/condenser, run condensate drains, etc. except for sheet metal. I found myself going a long time without touching the stuff so all the sheet metal tools have their own bag as well.

It just depends on how far down the rabbit hole you wish to go with it.

Off the top of my head, I think I have the following:

Carpentry bag

Drywall repair

Paint & caulk

Electrical - I don't do much electrical work. It's not like I'm running conduit or new circuits. I just replace fixtures, switches, outlets, and some panel work. I can get away with just having some basic electrical hand tools plus a clamp meter/multimeter, circuit finder, and outlet tester.

Plumbing soldering bag - Everything I need to run copper.

Plumbing service bag - Everything besides copper. I don't do enough to break it out much further.

Toilet parts bags - Tools for pulling, seating, and repairing toilets. They go in the service bag and they keep that nasty bowl wax off of everything else.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Last but not least, here‘s the tester kit/ box.









Just a quick note because this can’t be stressed enough, the two “home made” test leads/ cords are marked clearly as such on both ends. Sometimes you need what you need for testing - but this is the stuff that gets you into ER or worse, killed, if you don’t give it your full attention and a lot of respect while handling/testing.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[BroncoAZ]

I still have my late 1990’s college tool bag from my 87 Bronco. This bag got me off the trails when I broke something more times than I could count. When I sold the truck to my best friend in 2020 he pulled the bag out and handed it to me. He’d also used it 20 years ago but wanted me to have it for a future truck. It’s still filled with everything from back in the day.