My Budget Tool Box Organization

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

I just got this Husky 40" tool box and want to organize it as I stock it with the tools I already have and also got along with the box. Its my first real tool box that doesn't include the cheaper and small one I had as a kid. I am in college and living at home so I don't plan on spending a lot of money as the box and tools were free. With that said I decided to try and organize it and fill what tools are missing with a budget of $200. So to start out here is a pic of the tool box.

The first thing I started organizing was the wrenches. I wanted to double up on the common sizes and with what I had to work with. I decided to buy 2 sortatool wrench trays and go from there. Rather then have metric and sae mixed I decided to modify the tray and labels to have one for metric and a seperate one for sae. The best part is that it allowed me to keep all the wrenches in one drawer. I definitly recommend these trays. They were $9.99 each but on sale for 15% off so both cost me $18.01 with tax. here are some pics.

I ordered some stuff to organize my sockets and screwdrivers last night so they should be here next week. I also hope to start working on the pliers tomorrow.

BUDGET TOTAL $200-$18.01= $181.99

 

[Red Green]

Thats a nice start. Good luck keeping that box orginized. My dad and I work out of the same shop and box. He leaves stuff laying as soon as hes done working with something.

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

Thats a nice start. Good luck keeping that box orginized. My dad and I work out of the same shop and box. He leaves stuff laying as soon as hes done working with something.

Yeah I already told my dad if he uses it he has to put it back, but I dont think that will last long. LOL. I also forgot that I was missing some wrenches so I had to buy (2) 6mm (.69 each), (1) 5/16 (.79), and (1) 1/2 (.99). I still need one 11/32 but they were out so I ordered it and will get it tomorrow (.79). so all that was $4.19 with tax.

BUDGET TOTAL $181.99-$4.19= $177.80

 

[mrholeshot]

First off, thats a 40 inch box. You go by how wide the box is and not how tall. Great start!!!!

 

[robertgreen79]

Looking good! I'll be starting a similar project as well pretty soon.

 

[patrickw10]

where do you get .69 and .79 cent wrenches?

 

[NWphotog]

where do you get .69 and .79 cent wrenches?

I was wondering that too. Great box BTW. I wish I had something even close when younger!

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

First off, thats a 40 inch box. You go by how wide the box is and not how tall. Great start!!!!

OK. Thank you. I will change it in my post.

Looking good! I'll be starting a similar project as well pretty soon.

Thanks. have fun with the project.

where do you get .69 and .79 cent wrenches?

There is a place called Kitts a couple miles from my house that sells just about everything. The wrenches werent a name brand but they will still work for what I need them for. They don't really feel cheap. I figured it was better to pay around .69 then 5 bucks from other places.

I was wondering that too. Great box BTW. I wish I had something even close when younger!

Thanks

 

[scott37300]

I like those wrench trays, where did you get them?

My big wrenches are a cheap brand also, but something about a .79 cent 1-5/16" wrench scares me. You can generate a lot of torque with a wrench that big and get hurt if it fails. Maybe it's a decent wrench but I would be scared to use something that the metal to make it should cost more than they charge for raw materials, forging/machining/finishing, shipping, mark up, total! Just be careful when you are putting some force to bigger wrenches in case they fail.

Looking forward to more organisation pictures.

 

[robertgreen79]

I like those wrench trays, where did you get them?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...ories&sbf=Brand&sbv=Sort-A-Tool+inc.&sLevel=3

 

[Boost Creep]

I like those wrench trays, where did you get them?

they look like the ones you can get from sears

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00965223000P?prdNo=24&blockNo=24&blockType=G24

edit - beat by a few minutes while reading the thread. lol

 

[Krokodil]

I like the wrench racks!

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

I like those wrench trays, where did you get them?

My big wrenches are a cheap brand also, but something about a .79 cent 1-5/16" wrench scares me. You can generate a lot of torque with a wrench that big and get hurt if it fails. Maybe it's a decent wrench but I would be scared to use something that the metal to make it should cost more than they charge for raw materials, forging/machining/finishing, shipping, mark up, total! Just be careful when you are putting some force to bigger wrenches in case they fail.

Looking forward to more organisation pictures.

I got them at sears. Also its just a 5/16 wrench nothing bigger. At a certain point I wouldn't go real cheap with bigger stuff. They are also used so thats also why they are cheaper, but they still look new.

Scott, I beleive he meant "one 5/16" , I didn't see anything bigger than 15/16" or so in there.

TWSS, that is a great start you have there, keep it up.

yep your right, it was just a 5/16. I should have wrote it out better. Thanks.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...ories&sbf=Brand&sbv=Sort-A-Tool+inc.&sLevel=3

yeah they had them on sale the other day at one of the Sears I went to so I got two of them.

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

I went and got a few more things today. The screwdrivers I already had were bent and rusted so I decided to get this Husky set from Home Depot seeing as it was $15.77 with tax.

I also went and got (2) rolls of teflon tape [.25 each], (2) rolls of electrical tape [.49 each], the die handle [3.50], a two pack of small vise grips [2.95], a large vise grip [3.99], a utility knife [1.00], a scraper [.98], a 5/16 nutdriver [1.99], a 3/8 nutdriver [1.00], a 3 pack of hex keys and star bits [3.99 after 20% off coupon], and a T30 torx driver [1.25]. My total today for everything including the screwdrivers was $39.23 with tax.

And here is a pic of the tap and die drawer now that I finally finished organizing it. I made up small sets in the boxes of taps, and then made the little tin box to hold extras. I already had the plastic containers for the die stuff and they worked out great.

BUDGET TOTAL $177.80-$39.23= $138.57

 

[scott37300]

A good option for storing taps are those plastic tackle trays with adjustable dividers. I get mine from fleet farm for 2.50-3.00 each and I really like them for taps. Not sure if taps get damaged from bumping into each other but I like to keep mine seperated. I have a set of matco metric and standard taps in their own plastic case but I have a set of bottom taps that didn't have a case. Put them in a plastic tray and wrote the sizes and drill sizes on the lid with a sharpie for quick reference.

Something like these but you can find them cheaper locally usually, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E39T5K/?tag=atomicindus08-20.

 

[Ben Iv]

Get yourself some hansen socket trays, I love mine and dont know how i ever did without them.

 

[Cobra4B]

Get yourself some hansen socket trays, I love mine and dont know how i ever did without them.

Yep... I love those things.

 

[solitaire]

Where do you get these Husky 40'' boxes at? I have never seen them at home depot

 

[NWphotog]

Yep... I love those things.

I just bought 2 of the 3/8s and 2 of 1/2s. They are great! I will be buying more!

 

[electrodude]

For my small stuff: I took some narrow bar stock, 1/8" x 1 1/2", bent it around in wide "U" shapes to fit the drawers, that made small tool separation easy.

I did the same thing for my sockets, but bent the "U" narrow enough at the beginning to just fit the smallest socket in the series, then bent it out to fit the rest of the set. Reverse direction and do another set... you'll have a nice set of trays for free, provided you use scrap like I did!

 

[Rickster]

I've been to Kitts several times. Sounds like you're not too far from me. If you're interested in used tools then PM me when you've a few extra dollars and you can peruse through the Rickster's for-sale tools. I have a lot of older US made tools, the ones with owners marks and/or marks in general that can go for a lower price.

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

A good option for storing taps are those plastic tackle trays with adjustable dividers. I get mine from fleet farm for 2.50-3.00 each and I really like them for taps. Not sure if taps get damaged from bumping into each other but I like to keep mine seperated. I have a set of matco metric and standard taps in their own plastic case but I have a set of bottom taps that didn't have a case. Put them in a plastic tray and wrote the sizes and drill sizes on the lid with a sharpie for quick reference.

Something like these but you can find them cheaper locally usually, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000E39T5K/?tag=atomicindus08-20.

I never thought of using those. If I have room left in my budget at the end I may end up redoing the taps and going with something like that. Thanks.

Get yourself some hansen socket trays, I love mine and dont know how i ever did without them.

I was going to get some of them at first but that would have used up a lot of my budget. I ended up ordering some that are similar to the harbor freight ones except the trays are wider. They are a good price at 1.99-2.99 for the 1/4 drive and 2.99-4.99 for the 3/8 and 1/2 drive trays. I got a 1/2 drive one already and even the impact sockets fit well. The trays are made by GRIP (Grand Rapids Industrial Product). So far the 1/2 sae works great but we will have to wait and see how the rest work when I get them next week. Heres a link to the grip ones.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J3FM6K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Where do you get these Husky 40'' boxes at? I have never seen them at home depot

Im not sure where you get them at. I know its a little bit older box because they had gotten it like 10 years ago. It used to belong to a family friend that I used to work for. After he passed away his wife gave it to me.

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

I've been to Kitts several times. Sounds like you're not too far from me. If you're interested in used tools then PM me when you've a few extra dollars and you can peruse through the Rickster's for-sale tools. I have a lot of older US made tools, the ones with owners marks and/or marks in general that can go for a lower price.

Yeah I am pretty close in Livonia. I'll let you know if I need anything.

I did end up buying a few more things at a garage sale on the way to dinner tonight. I got a large pair and medium size pair of needle nose vise grips and a small level that was new in the package. Even the pliers look like they weren't even used. I got all 3 for $5.

BUDGET TOTAL $138.57-$5.00= $133.57

 

[gnx547]

Where do you get these Husky 40'' boxes at? I have never seen them at home depot

That box is from the late 90's to early 2000. My brother has the exact same box except it is black. Those are the good quality durable husky tool boxes, that are made in the USA. The tool boxes they now have in Home Depot, the quality is not that good and they are garbage made in China.

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

I decided to organize both of my pliers drawers today. I bought a 20 inch by 6 foot roll of black mesh drawer liner for $5.80 with tax.

After cutting it to size, I used 1 inch double sided foam tape in each corner to help hold it in place. You can open and close the drawer several times and nothing moves around. Here are some pics.

BUDGET TOTAL $133.57-$5.80= $127.77

 

[Displaced Hokie]

Nice job! Keep it going!

 

[scott37300]

I never thought of using those. If I have room left in my budget at the end I may end up redoing the taps and going with something like that. Thanks.



I was going to get some of them at first but that would have used up a lot of my budget. I ended up ordering some that are similar to the harbor freight ones except the trays are wider. They are a good price at 1.99-2.99 for the 1/4 drive and 2.99-4.99 for the 3/8 and 1/2 drive trays. I got a 1/2 drive one already and even the impact sockets fit well. The trays are made by GRIP (Grand Rapids Industrial Product). So far the 1/2 sae works great but we will have to wait and see how the rest work when I get them next week. Heres a link to the grip ones.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J3FM6K/?tag=atomicindus08-20



Im not sure where you get them at. I know its a little bit older box because they had gotten it like 10 years ago. It used to belong to a family friend that I used to work for. After he passed away his wife gave it to me.

Ya I really like those plastic tackle trays, or whatever they are called! Something about the taps rolling into each other bothers me.

Please let everyone know how the GRIP socket trays work out. I have the HF trays and not to happy with them, missing lots of sizes and the sockets don't fit. I would like to pull the trigger on the hansens but a set is 50 bucks, would be nice if there was a cheaper tray that had all the sizes and the sockets fit.

One other thing on my list to get is a plier rack, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DZLMFI/?tag=atomicindus08-20. It's 20 bucks but think it's well worth it, pliers take up a lot of space. Some have used dish racks if you can find them cheap.

Great thread, keep the posts coming!

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

Ya I really like those plastic tackle trays, or whatever they are called! Something about the taps rolling into each other bothers me.

Please let everyone know how the GRIP socket trays work out. I have the HF trays and not to happy with them, missing lots of sizes and the sockets don't fit. I would like to pull the trigger on the hansens but a set is 50 bucks, would be nice if there was a cheaper tray that had all the sizes and the sockets fit.

One other thing on my list to get is a plier rack, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DZLMFI/?tag=atomicindus08-20. It's 20 bucks but think it's well worth it, pliers take up a lot of space. Some have used dish racks if you can find them cheap.

Great thread, keep the posts coming!

Yeah i wasnt sure about the taps banging into each other so I spun the tray around for now so they dont really hit each other as much.
I can't wait until the GRIP trays get here. I started putting some impact sockets on one of the 1/2 drive trays and they fit really well. I will let you guys know how the rest work out and if they are all properly labeled once they arrive.
I was thinking about doing the pliers rack but figured I would just put them in the drawers like they are. I have plenty of room in the box so it works well this way.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

if you look in the ShOW us your toolbox thread today the back there are some great ideas for wrench racks

also if you have alot of drill bits the plano tackle sorters work well 2.47 kmart

 

[fordbroncodave]

get the GRIP brand socket holders similar to the hansen socket trays but different. they are 1/3 the cost each

northern tool and equipment . com has them for a good price. i think HF even has them

 

[Dust]

O'Reilly Auto Parts has the Hansen trays for $9.99, three-to-four dollars less than Sears. Not as big a selection (1/4" drive metric? HA!), but you can still get the basics.

My favorite source for tackle boxes is www.tacklewarehouse.com.

 

[Jeff]

I prefer the magnetic socket trays. They're compact and mobile so I can have what I need when wrenching the truck, boat, or bike.

 

[jeffk14]

Here are a couple of shots of two of my socket drawers. Talk about budget; free 3/4" plywood scrap, cut up and drilled with hole saws and spade bits.

 

[bsaint]

Thats a nice start. Good luck keeping that box orginized. My dad and I work out of the same shop and box. He leaves stuff laying as soon as hes done working with something.

With my dad is was reversed.

 

[fordbroncodave]

if you get hansen socket trays, you can get all 6 sizes 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" in both standard and metric on amazon.com for $50 with free shipping

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

if you look in the ShOW us your toolbox thread today the back there are some great ideas for wrench racks

also if you have alot of drill bits the plano tackle sorters work well 2.47 kmart

I do have quite a few drill bits, so I will look into those. Thanks.

O'Reilly Auto Parts has the Hansen trays for $9.99, three-to-four dollars less than Sears. Not as big a selection (1/4" drive metric? HA!), but you can still get the basics.

My favorite source for tackle boxes is www.tacklewarehouse.com.

I saw the hansen trays there yesterday. They had the 1/4 for both sae and metric and space for both sae and metric in the 3/8 but only the sae were in stock. No 1/2 stuff though. Thanks for the link. If I cant find anything in the stores by my house I will use them.

I prefer the magnetic socket trays. They're compact and mobile so I can have what I need when wrenching the truck, boat, or bike.

I was thinking of using the magnetic ones at first, but I dont really need the sockets in my box to be all that portable as I have another smaller set of craftsman that I can use. And while Im working out of my tool box the GRIP trays are actually portable enough for what I need them to be.

Here are a couple of shots of two of my socket drawers. Talk about budget; free 3/4" plywood scrap, cut up and drilled with hole saws and spade bits.

Doing something with wood and maybe cheap socket rails was my original plan until I went to Kitts and saw the GRIP Trays. I figured I would give them a shot seeing as they were a good price. I still might do something like that for the hex keys, and other stuff I have though.

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

if you get hansen socket trays, you can get all 6 sizes 1/4" 3/8" 1/2" in both standard and metric on amazon.com for $50 with free shipping

Thats just about what I spent to get all the GRIP trays I need. I will have two for 1/4 (1 metric and 1 sae), four for 3/8 (2 metric and 2 sae), and four for 1/2 (2 metric and 2 sae).

 

[fordbroncodave]

Thats just about what I spent to get all the GRIP trays I need. I will have two for 1/4 (1 metric and 1 sae), four for 3/8 (2 metric and 2 sae), and four for 1/2 (2 metric and 2 sae).

we need pictures

 

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

we need pictures

I know, I can't wait to get them. They are still on track to be here wednesday. I will have pics up as soon as I get them.

 

[Even 11]

Where do you get these Husky 40'' boxes at? I have never seen them at home depot

If you are local to CO here's one near Denver,

http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/2047684131.html



Not my ad just stumbled across it!

-Dane