You can't be serious, I'm giving away TWO toolboxes?

[geologist]

Stephen Biars,

Please post pictures of "useful things for children with special needs" that you have built.

Thank you

Firstly, it is the goal of my workshop to produce useful things for children with special needs and disabled veterans. By doing a quick search on the forum for The Amazing Workshop, you can find some previous work, current projects, my full resume, bio, contact information, my ebay account, as well as a 360 degree panorama of the inside of my current shop space. In addition to this, you can learn more about my daughter, Katelynn, whom serves as my inspiration. It's also no secret that I've offered up my time and materials to other forum members that may benefit from the undertakings of my workshop. There are several people on this forum that have children with special needs or know someone that does, and I'm more than willing to lend a hand to any of them.

My current projects include an "off road" wheelchair chassis that uses the existing custom fit seating found on pediatric wheelchairs. Previous projects include a revised counter-balanced kid carrier that allows children with PD catheters, G-tubes, and shunts to be transported like an average child in a traditional front-facing kid carrier. The design was passed on to my "local" Childrens Hospital (the one my daughter goes to for treatment) which benefited several children.

In addition to this, I've build several "desktops" that slide over the handles / armrests of wheelchairs to provide a solid work surface for using a laptop or doing paperwork, while providing storage space underneath. Two of them were gifted to (and are in use by) Marine Corp veteran and Purple Heart recipient Roger Tackett (whom also served for as the Commissioner of Clark County, Ohio for nearly 30 years). You can see him in this picture.



Most of the other stuff (so far) has been specialized shelving, ramps, and modifications (and servicing) of existing equipment. The workshop is primarily self funded, so I'm limited by my own resources.

 

[Mike04Aero]

Stephen Biars,

Try as I might, I have been unable to find photos of the cabinets, shelfing, specialized furniture and wheelchair ramps that you have built and mention in a post above. I checked the links you refer to and just don't see them.

My skills consist of simple wood working and photos of these items would be of special interest to me.

If it is not to much trouble, could you please post photos of this work?

Thank you

 

[geologist]

Stephen Biars,

Try as I might, I have been unable to find photos of the cabinets, shelfing, specialized furniture and wheelchair ramps that you have built and mention in a post above. I checked the links you refer to and just don't see them.

My skills consist of simple wood working and photos of these items would be of special interest to me.

If it is not to much trouble, could you please post photos of this work?

Thank you

If you would like to discuss other projects, feel free to PM me, but I'm not going to thread-jack 07Forester's generosity. Lastly, it's Steven, not Stephen. (sorry, pet peeve).

Due to HIPPA and a slew of other privacy laws, I've blacked out faces and names. Some things built or modified in the past year:

 

[sillwic9]

I'm a 29 year old married father of if 5 year old Irish twins. Our second child showed up at 2lbs 13 oz, a couple months early. Our youngest loves going out to the garage with me to play with cars while I work.however, my wife and kids recently moved in with some family about 6 hours away so my wife could find a job because we were falling behind with student loans and everything else. I hope to be moving to be with them as soon as I can get our house sold. My grandfather continues to bless me with old tools that he finds at swap meets and garage sales, however, my only tool box is a little 5 drawer craftsman top cabinet and several tool bags that Santa has brought me over the years. I'm a general DIY guy learning as many skills as I can as projects arise on our house and cars. Before we had our kids and house a most of our student loans my project was a 1953 Ford Customline four door (you can see it on car domain.com using the same member name). It's been put on the back burner, but I'm itching to get back out there when my garage is accessible. Either box would be a tremendous help .

This is a great opportunity for whoever wins. Thank you for your generosity.

 

[Shock72]

Forester, it's really kind of you to do something like this. I'll keep my answer short and simple. I have a small 1/2 car garage/shed where i work on motorcycles when our budget allows for it, which is pretty much never. 65% of my income goes to support for my daughter, shes 10 and she loves hanging out and helping me in the garage when i have her. she learned to weld with me when she was here for break.

I scrounge together bits and pieces as I can and my current toolbox consists of some old busted up 5 drawer box with about 3 working drawers, a friend of my wife was cleaning out her garage and was going to toss it to the curb. I really can't justify spending the cash to buy a new box but it would be great to have something that was actually useful for storing my cheap tools I worked so hard to pay for.

current box/storage

thanks for your consideration and generosity and good luck to everyone.

 

[joels78745]

Have u given these away yet???

 

[joels78745]

If either one of the boxes is still available here's my story
I'm just turned 22 and have a four year old boy I am the head house hold of my small income family. Just as I was about to graduate high school my wife told me we where having a baby I was only 17 at the time and I decided to marry my wife not knowing that bills came ahead I decided not to go for college sense my son was born and needed money for diapers so I got into the mechanic business I have been taking care for them all these years because I love my family, i don't have money to spare I can hardly make the monthly bills and I know that this box could be a great way to start off I know my story is short but its true I tried to get to the point if u have any questons about my story pm me and good luck to all I sure hope these go to good hands

 

[07travis]

I'm 22 years old and and have 2 children. My daughter was born when I was 19 and in my second year at a Technical Collage. I was going to school to be a mechanical drafter. I finished with my 2 year degree, but at this time the economy had taken it's turn for the worst. I was fortunate enough to get a job as drafter for a utility truck company. My daughter was born in March and in mid April i was told that i probably would be laid off from my job once i graduated with my A.A.S. degree. The scramble began as i did not know what i was going to do with a fiance and child. I made the decision to go back to school in the fall to be a diesel mechanic. After I graduated I was told I was going to be able to keep my job part-time for a few more months and that going back to school was a good idea. In the fall i went back to school and bought a cheaper brand toolbox while all the other kids at school had Snap-On boxes. While going to school I knew that i wanted a Snap-On box someday. I had seen numerous Snap-On boxes while growing up around shops and always loved the looks of them. That fall while going to school for Diesel I was fortunate enough to be able to finance a Snap-On box through the school so I made the decision and bought a classic 78 (Electric Green). That winter I learned that I had a second child on the way, so I made the decision to not go back to school for my second year of diesel, but to try and hang on to the job that I had, and work as much as I could to help pay the bills for a family of 4. I was fortunate enough to get hired on full time, and am fortunate enough to still be employed for the same company. The fall my son was on the way, we knew our 2 bedroom apartment wasn't going to cut it anymore, so we started to search for a house. Thankfully living in South Dakota did help first time home buyers and we were able to purchase our house about 16 months ago. It has been a major struggle with the bills and such since my wife is still in school, going for her RN degree. This past fall we weren't going to be able to cover all the bills, so I made the very tough decision to sell my Snap-On box and buy a cheaper toolbox to get by with. I miss the Snap-On box every time I'm in my garage, as their quality is VERY hard to beat. We manage to get by on my income, but still live paycheck to paycheck as do many people, but i know I will probably never be able to afford another Snap-On toolbox. I have bought all my cars that i have ever owned, paid all my own bills since i was 15 as my parents were divorced when i was 12, and neither of them had very much money. I learned to save every dime i had to get by, and have always gotten by on my own, even while supporting my wife and our 2 children.

 

[blue dog]

For the love of God man, this has been going on for over 3 months. Maybe my dog can help you pick a winner, he is smart and a good judge of character.

 

[Outlawmws]

For the love of God man, this has been going on for over 3 months. Maybe my dog can help you pick a winner, he is smart and a good judge of character.

For the love of god man, its been 2 months and ten days, He's awaiting the delivery of his new boxes; did you even read the posts?

 

[blue dog]

For the love of god man, its been 2 months and ten days, He's awaiting the delivery of his new boxes; did you even read the posts?

AH OH ! the thread police are here, 2 months 10 days, 3 months what ever. I did read the thread and all i want is to contribute to the cost of delivery to help out, So police that mr outlaw thread downer.
I say good day to you ******, i mean sir.

 

[Outlawmws]

For the love of God man, this has been going on for over 3 months. Maybe my dog can help you pick a winner, he is smart and a good judge of character.

For the love of god man, its been 2 months and ten days, He's awaiting the delivery of his new boxes; did you even read the posts?

AH OH ! the thread police are here, 2 months 10 days, 3 months what ever. I did read the thread and all i want is to contribute to the cost of delivery to help out, So police that mr outlaw thread downer.
I say good day to you ******, i mean sir.

Dude, take a chill pill or something.

 

[Jwrightkustomz]

I doubt I'm the most deserving, but what the heck. Just to keep it interesting I will throw in my story. Almost 2 years ago I had everything stolen out of my garage, by someone that needed it more than me I guess. At the time I was going through a messy divorce and lost my house/garage. If you read my recent thread I just barely got my tools back, but unfortunately only the tools no boxes. I do have 3 small vintage Powrkraft boxes that just aren't big enough to fit everything in. I work at a dealership managing the reconditioning department and it pains me not to get my hands dirty, simply because I can't (no box or anywhere to keep my tools at work). My dream job is to build hot rods, and custom motorcycles and have apprenticed at many shops but without a large enough box and tools I am out of the running to be promoted. Right now I live in a townhouse with my wife and 4 month old daughter and I have to keep all my new tools stuffed in the closet until I can find storage for them. If picked to receive one or the other the box would be loaded, and pushed into the first place I can rent to start my own venture of building motorcycles and rods. I long to recreate the cars and motorcycles that we once built here in America.

On a side note: It's great to see you doing this for someone deserving.

 

[billy_bob169]

I'll toss my hat into the ring for most deserving garage....since I feel other "people" are more deserving overall than myself. I have a small single stall garage in MN that spends all summer packed to the brim with motorcycles. Some of my own, and some being fixed for other people. I started wrenching on dirtbikes and ATV's in highschool, and switched to roadbikes when I turned 18...and have not looked back since. I am now nearly 29. We bought our house 2 years ago, and I have been making the best of the space I have. I picked up a cheaper US General box to get by until I could afford something better, but have already exceeded it's capacity. I would love to have either tool chest, as they would allow me to store all of my tools, and lose one of the workbenches taking up space at the moment and still retain work space. Having more room would allow me to work on more bikes at a time, and help more people. I work on a case by case basis for all of the work I do, in order to keep people on two wheels regardless of their financial situation. I love working on bikes regardless of if I get paid to do it or not. Heck, I own 5 myself! It also a hobby my son is taking a shine too! Here are some pictures...

My old box on the right, and the US general on the left

My biggest helper in the shop....my 5 year old son.

Fixing up an old Virago

Rebuilding the motor on a Honda Trail CT110

73 Yamaha

And our latest project together...so we can ride all day as a family

 

[GrizzlyAdams]

07 Forester i just wanted to chime in and tell you that what you are doing here is amazing and far beyond generous. There seems to be a very large group of extremely helpful, caring and generous people on this forum and i am very thankful it exists. There is no community on the web like this IMHO. I know there are far more deserving individuals than myself on here considering i am lucky enough to have food in my stomach and a roof over my head. Ive been through some tough times these past few years but i have learned a man can get by on just the basics, and even in these tough times i have found there is no greater feeling then to help another that is in need. I am in no financial position to help on a monetary basis but i do what i can with the salvation army and childrens charities and what not. But i have been able to use what few tools i still own and my skills as a technician to help many many individuals that had there backs against the wall like myself. I guess im rambling on so here is my novel lol.


In Sept. 2008 i ended up shattering my leg and dislocating my ankle joint during a freak accident. It happened to be right after i cancelled my insurance because of a big weekly rate hike with ****** coverage and i was shopping for a more reasonable priced plan. Talk about timing. Well i sustained serious damage to the joint and received a few plates and a whole bunch of screws and that has prevented me from doing what i love. Due to the injury i cannot stand on concrete anymore for longer then 15 mins without being in agonizing pain. So sold all my toys to cover bills and that worked for a bit but i still couldnt walk after the surgery.Ended up loosing my truck that was halfway paid off because capital one said i didnt buy the disability package and gap insurance. Which i did, but i couldnt provide proof because young dumb and unorganized. I lost my copy and the dealer went bankrupt. Then i had to make the hardest decision ever which was to sell my tools. Every mechanic knows selling your tools is like chopping off the hand that feeds and that was the absolute worst day of my life. Even the injury pales in comparison to me. All those years of hard work and late nights, blood, sweat, and burns for nothing. I literally was left with nothing to show for. I had started buying while i worked as a tech in high school, then in college i fully utilized my student discount. After a few years out of school i had amassed a pretty large collection of tools valued with my box in the mid 30k range. They ended up selling for a little over 8000 dollars. I had offered them to friends and family but no one had the cash. So now i am in a situation where i still am not able to work at a shop or even any job,but i am working on getting better. 2011 was the worst year i think i have ever had. I had been living off my garage fund savings but that finally had ran out in October of 2010. I was fortunate enough to have parents that let me move back in for the time being. My family keeps me fed for right now since it has been a 1 year in 3 months since i have had any kind of income. I find things here and there to help the family out and take car of there place for them. 2012 is the year i have been waiting for. I finally got into one of the best orthopedic specialists in the country and I am going on a schedule of cortozone shots and therapy and hopefully i can start to get my life back. I am working hard to get better everyday because my goal is to open up my own shop at the end of this year. That way if i need to sit down or take a break i can work on my own terms. It seems like a insurmountable task when your lookin at it from my end a **** credit score now, no money, and a busted leg but nothing in life worth having comes easy. And as i grow older i realize self employment is the only employment for me. And a amazing box like a KRL1033 would give quite the jump start on getting the ball rolling.Thanks for your time and generosity.

 

[seventyeight]

My first post here. .... Been watching this for a while and all I can tell you Forester is that you ****. Just kidding. You are my hero.
Now, I could make up a story, but I know there many out here that deserve a tool box more than me. I guess I'll keep using the cheap tools I have from the wood cabinet. It worked up until today and they'll work just as well going forward. That is unless I can convince my account manager, a.k.a. wife, to spare some funds to get some tools and a toolbox so I can fix her car.

God bless you for what you are doing, I hope those two toolboxes find a good deserving home.

 

[RoarkIndustrialSolutions]

Guys, on behalf of 07Forester, let me assure you he has not dropped this ball or is missing. He is traveling this month and will return in a couple weeks. He texted me today and has been having connectivity issues during his travels. Please be patient, as he is a very busy guy. If you have concerns, please e-mail me at [email protected].

 

[geologist]

Guys, on behalf of 07Forester, let me assure you he has not dropped this ball or is missing. He is traveling this month and will return in a couple weeks. He texted me today and has been having connectivity issues during his travels. Please be patient, as he is a very busy guy. If you have concerns, please e-mail me at [email protected].

Let me guess... he uses AT&T... you know, less bars in more locations. Can you hear me now? Probably not.

It irks me when people get impatient over something like this. The whole tool box give away is one heck a gesture. Money doesn't grow on trees, so you would think that some people would be a little more understanding about this and the fact that people have lives outside of the forum.

I wish him safe travels. Some people will complain about anything.

 

[Dbl-00-Kevin]

My name is Kevin and i am 16 years old and I live in Oregon, I love working on atv's and car's and I would love to get a really nice toolbox, I will probably give it to my older brother he is a welder and could really use one. I think this is pretty cool that you are giving it away, I can't say I am the most deserving but I sure would love to have a nice toolbox to work on my ATV's with or possibly give to my brother. I just opened an account on here and thought that I would post on here.

 

[gtrotter]

EDIT: Please remove me from the contest. I recently had a turn of good luck. If you need help physically or monetarily with delivery, give me a shout.

 

[m_hatcher]

I have been a long time troller here on GJ, and recently joined so I could pick up some used tools on the market. I came across this post and thought I would post in the chance I would be selected. I will go ahead and say that if I am selected I will not be taking the box for myself but will be giving it to my father.

When my sister and I were around 2 and 4, my mother decided that she needed to do other things (drugs) and picked up and took me and my sister and disappeared for 2 years where we moved from what im told about 9 times within those 2 years, so that my father could not find us. Not because my father was a bad person, but so my mother could receive child support from my dad. He finally was able to find us when I was in 1st grade. A specific memory I have is I had not seen him for about 2 years and then one day at school the teacher had called me and said that someone was here to see me and I turned around and seen my dad standing in the door crying. Looking back I didnt know why he was crying by I realize know why. I had asked him if I could go with him and he said that I could not. Fast forward a few more years and a few more moves, and my dad gets custody of me and my sister because my mother was sent to prison for who knows what. My dad in this time that he had us worked 2 jobs to make sure we were taken care of. He worked at shop during the day and on the weekends worked for various people needing work done to their cars. I can remember getting to go to work with him on the weekends and I would lay under the car with him and just watch him work for hours. Fast forward a many number of years and my father is still working 2 jobs to make sure me and my sister have the things we want, because kids don't get any cheaper the older they get (vouched for because of my 4 year old). He was out picking up parts when he was slammed by a UPS truck coming out of a parking lot in the wrong lane and direction. My dad was injured to the point that he could barely walk, so naturally he was laid off from the shop. But while he is not able to work, the doctor is stating that he is going to need every surgery that someone could need for their back, and UPS is saying that nothing was wrong from their end and they did nothing wrong. My father was not able to find any jobs because of the back issues and the doctors kept ordering more surgery for him. Fast forward a year and because of all the bills from the doctors that he no longer had a job to hold insurance for, he was forced to sell almost his entire tool collection for almost nothing. I at the time was unaware how much he had in tools but know that I am older and we discuss such things, he had a little over 25 grand in truck brand tools. Where at the time that he sold them he got almost 9 grand because he had to sell them so quickly. All while this is happening he still made sure that me and my sister got the things we needed. Fast forward to know and he can has to take handfuls of pills to get out of bed in the morning and goes to physical therapy each week, but we he is able to he goes to the garage and wrenches on the car I bought him to restore which is 64 Galaxie 500 XL with a 390.

I read some of the other posts and there are some better deserving people that would be grateful to be selected, but I would also be grateful just as much. Thank You

 

[nflfreak43]

that is awesome that your doing this.

i would love to win a free toolbox. but i doubt it'll happen.

 

[OilyRascal]

@ 07 Forester - Thank you for doing this! I look forward to reading "the rest of the story".

 

[jezze269]

These are some really heart wrenching stories. When I first started reading the thread I really wanted one of the boxes, but there so many more deserving people .Im just a guy who loves being in my garage with my son and dog, and a project

 

[Risin_Outlaw]

Hi, If those two boxes are available, I love to have one. I lost alot of my tools due to a fire years ago and i been buying alot of bargins from members on here, Im starting to get some quality tools, so im lucky that way. But the thing killing me is I need a decent tool box. Its hard working out of a bunch of plastic toolboxes. I had a old mastercraft tool box that I rescued after the fire but drawers are sprung and it dont work very well, my other box is a box that I got at a yard sale to corral my tools up, its one of those that go in back of a truck, so its digging in that one also. I would love one of the boxes, but if I dont get chose, Id be happy with something even like a husky or harbor frieght box, or even a task force, or evolv in case someone else wins and wanna pass good karma. I guarantee there would be no sale of anything i get. I been passing my old harbor freight, and tristar stuff to those in need when I replace my stuff. I hope i get no grief from buying harbor freight and tristar, but when your back is against the wall and ya need a tool, junk beats nada.......thanks...ed p.s. I live in illinois also and can haul box if won

 

[saturnman]

hello, i am entering the contest for the garage. i would like the 1033, but either would be nice, right now, i use rubbermaid totes for a majority of my tools. thanks

 

[dare23]

07Forestor you deserve massive kudos for such a generous act!!

Truly amazing.
I read you were ill earlier in the thread, hope all is well.
Good luck to all involved, there are some heart wrenching stories in here.

 

[colt zantop]

This isn't a sticky thread anymore?

 

[AZToolFiend]

looks like no one gets it. dude hasn't been online for almost a month

 

[gtlaw]

I'm using a craftsman quiet glide box

thats my sad story, I win give me the boxes

 

[RoarkIndustrialSolutions]

looks like no one gets it. dude hasn't been online for almost a month

He's been traveling. Patience is a virtue.

 

[smg614]

I think this is an awesome thing that you are doing and I'm not deserving of one of these boxes, but I would like to put a word in for my dad.

My dad is a Vietnam Veteran and after Vietnam the Air Force trained him as a diesel mechanic. He did not retire from the Air Force, reasons he kicks himself in the can for now, and has had many different careers in his lifetime. He has been a mechanic, worked in the oil fields, construction, you could name it and my dad has done it to try to put food on the table for his family.

For many years my dad has struggled with his health in one way or another. About 15 years ago, the VA had finally somewhat figured out what was causing him to have so many problems. They said that it was due to his exposure to agent orange while in Vietnam. They "guinea pigged" him for 5 years told him that he couldn't work, but they weren't going to give him full disability. He had to do "cash" jobs for many years because he had to pay bills, but yet our government wasn't going to help him by placing him on full disability even though he served and defended this country.

Well, my dad has been on full disability for almost 10 years and this March will be that marker. The government is playing their games again and this past December he had an evaluation done and the VA has said that he is no longer eligible for full disability, even though his conditions haven't changed and definitely have not improved. What my dad has explained to me is that the reason for the evaluation is because if it is determined that you are eligible for full disability at the 10 year mark, you will have it for the rest of your life and your spouse will have medical benefits. Not only that, but starting March 1st his disability is being reduced $2K a month, to almost nothing. This is going to force him to figure out some way of generating enough income to keep food on the table and keep his home.

He has always done little things to keep himself busy, but only for maybe an hour at a time in his shop. Years ago, he had a concrete slab poured for a shop to be built, but his health has prevented him from doing so. There are some of his neighbors that are getting money together so that a metal building can be purchased and I will be helping with the construction of it. As of right now, he is not aware of what myself and his neighbors are up to, we are hoping this would be a complete surprise for him. What he calls a shop now is just a shack with a dirt floor to keep the rain off of him. We are building this new shop for him so that he has a better work area because there are some days he uses a "scooter" chair to get around. He will not be able to do any major projects, but maybe some small engine repair, etc.

Currently, my dad does not have a "real" tool box to speak of. He has several old little carry-around boxes to put tools in or they are on shelves to keep somewhat organized. Either one of these boxes would be great for him. He would be very proud to own one. He tries to take the best care of his tools that he can, but the work area he has now doesn't help keep them in good working condition.

My dad has always been a fighter no matter what situation has came before him. He has served his country with pride and now they are turning their backs on him like so many other vets from Vietnam. He always managed to put food on the table and a roof over his families head, now that as become more difficult due to his age of 60 and illnesses.

I would greatly appreciate you and your wife's consideration for giving my dad one of your boxes. I will be visiting him soon and I will get some pics of his work area now and the new spot and PM them to you.

I truly believe that you will truly touch the hearts of whoever you give these boxes to and they will be forever grateful.

 

[Snappy]

Gee, wonder why it isn't a sticky anymore

 

[american lockpicker]

Gee, wonder why it isn't a sticky anymore

+1

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

gee, wonder why it isn't a sticky anymore

+2 +3 +4 +5

 

[MrMark]

What did PJ Barnam say?

 

[Jack Olsen]

I unstuck it. I'll re-sticky it. I haven't read the thread -- I just assumed the things had been given away by now. Is there an end date on this?

 

[ClayW]

Just saw this thread. Is it still on?

I'll enter for either.

I'm new here; I joined the site as soon as I found it. I'm proud to say that after more than a decade of maintaining, repairing and modifying my cars (owning one at a time!), I finally have a garage. My wife and I just bought our first house, a 1950 Cape Cod in Silver Spring, MD that has a detached 2 1/2 car garage. After years of borrowing space and/or outdoor repairs, I finally have a heated, dry place to keep my daily driver alive.

Here she is:

My car (or "mistress," as my wife refers to her) is a well patina'd 1967 BMW 1600. I'm attempting a headliner replacement this weekend and a new wiring harness soon after. I used to only bring her to a shop for alignments, but I was recently shown how to do that in my garage, so now I never have to hand the keys to anyone else. (!)

The previous owner built the workbenches and left me with a fair amount of wood scraps. He had installed a giant gas heater, so I can even work in the cold! I'm as happy as a clam.

However, when I began the slow process unpacking my tools and organizing my parts stash, I instantly realized that I have no good way to store tools. Sure, I have few a cheap, plastic tool boxes --the kind your dad bought you when you went off to college and you stuffed with 40lbs of tools to keep in the trunk-- but I have no good, garage-worthy tool storage.

As anyone that has bought a house or has gone through a renovation knows (both for us!), the disposable income gets cranked down to a minimum. So, it goes without saying that attempting to convince the wife to spend thousands of dollars on even a cheap tool box would go over like a fart in church. And let's face it; I just got a garage , so I'd be happy piling all of my wrenches, pliers, sockets and screwdrivers into variously-sized cardboard boxes.

So, I'm not sure if that makes me deserving in either category, but I can tell you this: I would appreciate and use either tool box with endless gratitude.

 

[znowaczyk]

What did PJ Barnam say?

I am sure he said something...but I am sure the quote you are looking for is from PT Barnum....

 

[MrMark]

You got me. Touche.