Ten thousand dollar tool box to hold ten dollars worth of tools?

[duanedragon]

Twice now in my career I have seen this, both times with insecure and fairly inexperienced technicians. How common is this?

Back-story is I am new to the shop, we do a ton of front-end work and one of the junior technicians has a 72 inch Snappy Master's series roll cab. I thought maybe he just had a ton of tools and wanted a nice place for them. Today when I was talking to him I noticed his huge top drawer only has 2 socket rails in it, both 3/8's drive. No 1/4 drive, no 1/2 drive. Then I noticed he is using one of the shop impact wrenches and realized he doesn't even own a rattle-gun. He does not have a roll-around tool cart. I feel sorry for him, I want to loan him some of the stuff I keep at home until he can flesh out his basic tools. Most of all I want to teach him that the most important tool a tech has, the one that makes us the most money, is the one between his ears. I may have a 17 year old Craftsman 26 inch top and bottom box but they are pristine, still work great, and are completely filled with clean and well organized tools. Poor guy probably pays the Snap-On man $100 a week for that god-damn empty box.

 

[Case IH]

Help him out but be careful you get ur tools back....and other stuff like that, you know what I mean

 

[DanCo]

He started off good, perhaps he needs to make more money to start filling his box. You have good intentions on lending him some of your overflow tools, but keep in mind that gesture might hurt his pride.
...just my opinion

 

[PaulsGarage]

I've seen this at the dealerships I've wrenched at, I'm old school like you guys, I had a bunch of nice tools in a craftsman box for almost a decade before I decided to treat myself to a Snap On box, I paid for it outright as well. I think young techs get trapped into the belief that good tools make a good mechanic, no more so than some nice clubs would make me a great golfer (which is not the case!)

Help the guy out but, as stated above, watch out for what's yours.

 

[str8axle55]

Yup, that is sad. Some tool guy fed him a line. I`d prob let him use my home tools too, just keep an inventory. It *****, cause you know you`re right, he`s cutting someone a check for the box, and has no tools to make the $$ to pay for it. I should say, if he was a good kid I`d help him out, if not, too bad.

 

[Skin]

Not sure why you should feel sorry for him. Thats how he apparently prioritized his spending. Instant gratification generation. Either he learns the hard way or not at all. I say let him roll around his 72" empty box and i believe that by letting him do that would be the best help you could give since the damage has already been done.

 

[Deafautotech]

well.. it is nice to help and show which one are very important... BUT problem is tech dont make better judgement to buy bigger box for what??? also dont let that tech think you are let him use your tools too much... it can cause the problems...

I own snap on triple bays combo, craftsman bottom full wide drawers box with harbor freight locker on it, and masterforce box as my service cart... ALL storages boxes are USED and already filled what i has in...

 

[Skin]

He started off good

Going broke on a $10,000 box with no tools to put in it is not starting "good". Its *** backwards and self indulgence to the max.

Out of all the words i'd use to describe someone who priorizes spending like that, good is not one of them. Its the same guy that would lease a luxury car while making 40 grand a year and ultimately ends up 45yo and broke. The only way those people learn is from hard lessons, not being high fived and pitied.

Honestly i'd tell him to trade the box back for something smaller and use the rest of the credit towards tools. But thats me.

 

[Bran Diezel]

i got a 72" snappy box yesterday. its about full already, lol. i still have my us general pro cart by my side at all times though. i will only go to the big box 20% of the time but it sure is easy on the eyes

 

[scott37300]

I'm just a home wrencher but have a pretty big collection of tools for the average guy, lots of specialty stuff and deal with auto mechanic, welding/metal working, wood working, home remodeling, etc. I have lots of tools laying all over. As for boxes I have a 26" craftsman bottom box that is pretty old, 5 used top boxes I picked up for pretty cheap, a couple kennedy machining boxes, a craftsman workbench with drawers, and some shelving with tools on it. My tools aren't just thrown everywhere but they deffinately could use a nice box to keep them all together and organized better. I could really use a nice bottom box that could hold all my tools, but I chose to spend my money on the tools themselves. I easily have over 10,000 in tools but they usually pay for themselves the first time I use them by saving shop fees, and most of them I use more than once. One day I will get a decent box, probably not a new snap on but maybe a used one or even a couple HF boxes or masterforce.

I have thought about spending the 3-400 on a new HF box recently but always end up buying some new tools instead. A box is nice but new tools are nicer!

 

[e-tek]

Maybe he's so good he can do everything with fewer tools!!!!

 

[Ford12508]

I am a young kid, but I was smart. I have a 41" top box and a 26" top box. They are both over flowing basically. What is the point of buying the big box when you have nothing to put in it? I figured start with a decent sized box(It might not be enough for a pro mechanic, but I am not a pro) and fill it up, when it is filled, buy the bottom for it.

I ended up buying the 26" box for a little more portable storage and it was $45. I was buying a ton of tools just a few months ago, but the 41" box holds most general use tools, so I am hesitant to buy the bottom because I feel I will be filling it with useless stuff like a full set of crowsfoot wrenches, which I will use once in a blue moon.

 

[scott37300]

Maybe he's so good he can do everything with fewer tools!!!!

Or maybe the 10,000 dollar box has magic powers and makes those tools in it very special.

 

[davidj]

A box is nice but new tools are nicer!

I couldn't agree more. I don't work in a shop but I do in my home garage quite often. my box is overflowing but Id rather have the tools to work with then way too big of a box to keep them in. some people just cant figure it out.

 

[DanCo]

Going broke on a $10,000 box with no tools to put in it is not starting "good". Its *** backwards and self indulgence to the max.

Good Brand is what I was refering to.

 

[Deafautotech]

I am a young kid, but I was smart. I have a 41" top box and a 26" top box. They are both over flowing basically. What is the point of buying the big box when you have nothing to put in it? I figured start with a decent sized box(It might not be enough for a pro mechanic, but I am not a pro) and fill it up, when it is filled, buy the bottom for it.

I ended up buying the 26" box for a little more portable storage and it was $45. I was buying a ton of tools just a few months ago, but the 41" box holds most general use tools, so I am hesitant to buy the bottom because I feel I will be filling it with useless stuff like a full set of crowsfoot wrenches, which I will use once in a blue moon.

yeah.. that good idea..

when i started work in automotive shops, i started with 26" bottom box, work get more serious and put me on more work loads, i got upgrade the box from 26 to 41" combo boxes... then added other 26" tall bottom box... then traded it in for snap on 54" KRL1001 after i had bad relationship with mac tool on 41" bottom box... then found a KRL1203 on craiglist for much cheap(450 dollars).. so i traded KRL1001 in for older KRL1003 to match top chest.. so far it hold most tools EVEN HEAVIEST tools in with no problems...

HELL i has LOT LOT LOT tools in my triple combo boxes as i am only tech in my work who has largest boxes and MORE TOOLS that all techs will ask me if i have one.......

 

[t100]

I'd put some blame on the tool man with this deal.



or, not.

to me, the 10:1 ratio on value between my tools and my tool boxes seems acceptable. tool box doesn't fix anything, tools in the right hands do.

 

[american lockpicker]

I have a $25 box and $2500+ in tools.

 

[Deafautotech]

Maybe he's so good he can do everything with fewer tools!!!!

one diesel tech work by me are work out with his service cart that WAY WAY overstuffed on his cart... i asked him why not bring correct box? he said his box are at Alabama that need to tow it up to work but he said dont worry...

oh well i just respect it... BUT i cant work with fewer tools because it will drive me NUTS!!!!

 

[Fedwrench]

At least he has room for expansion.

 

[Deafautotech]

I have a $25 box and $2500+ in tools.

my KRL1203 and KRL1003 only cost me 1,950 dollars.... not over 10K dollars...

the reason is i got chest on craiglists for 450 dollars. bottom box as KRL1003 was about 24 years old and almost all drawer slides are very dirty.. my former snap on guy made good deal to me so i can have it match color and size with top chest...

 

[Ford12508]

I have a $25 box and $2500+ in tools.

That $2400 blow up doll doesn't count just because the website said it was a "stress relieving tool"

 

[Benji]

If he bought a $10,000 box and has nothing to put in it he probally won't be working with you mutch longer so I wouldn't start filling it for him.

 

[johnsdeere850j]

dont help anyone who cant help you, my motto.

 

[Gregg33]

I admit I'm not a tech, but maybe he did this intentionally. He probably figures the box will last him his entire career and he doesn't feel like upgrading 3 or 4x with boxes like others have done. I'm sure in time he'll fill it.

 

[alex71]

I admit I'm not a tech, but maybe he did this intentionally. He probably figures the box will last him his entire career and he doesn't feel like upgrading 3 or 4x with boxes like others have done. I'm sure in time he'll fill it.

Sorry, I don't buy that logic. That's like going for the 5 bedroom house on 4 acres with a 2000SF shop when you should be buying a starter home, because you don't feel like moving. May seem like a good idea until the mortgage payments bankrupt you.

 

[D9H 90V]

Be careful with lending him tools, If you let him use your tools all day he'll be less inclined to go buy his own,

The tech in the bay right next to me is the same way, except he doesnt even have big box,

 

[diesel research]

Teach hom what to look for in a quality tool and how to shop online.

 

[Sancho]

Sorry, I don't buy that logic. That's like going for the 5 bedroom house on 4 acres with a 2000SF shop when you should be buying a starter home, because you don't feel like moving. May seem like a good idea until the mortgage payments bankrupt you.

The sad thing is, I fit this nitch. I bought my first home last year after renting for a while, I will never move if I can help it. Of course I bought my home for a fraction of what it was worth and I neded even more tools to get it livable but I digress. Point is, the mentality of buying once is not flawed if its well executed and thought through decision.

Of course like some posters above me I have maybe 400 in storage across a few rollers and chests and Im reasonably certain I have more invested in tools by a few hundred percent. I cant understand the big empty box syndrome

 

[t100]

Of course I bought my home for a fraction of what it was worth

see, if he paid $2000 for that $10k box, it would be a completely different story.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Your tool man should not have done that to the kid. I've watched mine talk a guy out of an Epic and into a KRSC326 cart because of that issue. He would rather sell him tools that he can use to make payments with instead of a big box that he can't pay for because he doesn't have enough tools to do his job.

 

[Ritter4.0]

dont help anyone who cant help you, my motto.

I do the complete opposite because I have been on the receiving end of help before. When I first started my job, there were a few people who lent tools to me, and still do, until I got my own stuff. If someone new in the shop needs a tool, I would be more than willing to let them borrow one of mine.

 

[american lockpicker]

That $2400 blow up doll doesn't count just because the website said it was a "stress relieving tool"

Shhhhhh, they don't need to know about that.

 

[ibedayank]

I would rather have a $100 box and stuff it with $10,000 worth of tools.
The box does not make you money the tools do.

 

[DanCo]

I do the complete opposite because I have been on the receiving end of help before. When I first started my job, there were a few people who lent tools to me, and still do, until I got my own stuff. If someone new in the shop needs a tool, I would be more than willing to let them borrow one of mine.

When I started at my old shop, I only had a 26" CMan box. I was fortunate enough to have others lend me their tools/knowledge. Eventually I would spend 20% of every check on buying tools. I kept my pride in check they were kind enough to help. And it's nice to pay it forward.

 

[PeteMoore]

Drag him by the ear onto the truck next time its there and get the box traded in against a full set of useful tools

£10k would go a hell of a long way towards everything that kid will need for a long long time. Get a 26" box and top and fill it to the brim.

Guide him in the right direction, he will thank you for it in the long run

Do not let him continue making payments on something that will not further his career

I feel that is the best option for you and for him, take him under your wing as a protege and get him up to speed.

I wish someone had done that with me, even if it meant losing face slightly.

 

[idoitproject]

I want a big pretty box too. I had a tech that worked with me for one week. He had a Classic orHeritage SO box about 54-56 inch. One of those days he asked me if I had a 3/8 air ratchet he could use because his crapped out. I handed him my mini 3/8 Mac and he said not 1/4 drive but 3/8 drive. I said that it is 3/8 drive and after he used it, he was so hyped about it. He got one similiar off the truck and after he got let go, never paid for it. Anyway, that point was that he was more wowed by my ratchet then I was about his big box with crappy tools. I wouldn't mind having his box though.

 

[diesel research]

Start enforcing the "borrow it twice" rule, but maybe change that number if you want to be flexible to his situation.

 

[t100]

how many of you have seen young techs step in the trade with a big debt and didn't even last for 3 months, or 6 months.

 

[DanCo]

Seen it twice.