Show us your portable toolbox!

[derosa]

Well this thread ended up costing me some money. I have a decent tool bag strictly for electrical which I'll post later but didn't have a real tool box and some of these posts are real inspiring. Ended up settling on the wright after looking through ace, Lowes, HD and TSC and not finding a whole lot. Really liked the look of a similar style snap on here but that wasn't in the budget, got this one cheaper locally then any place I could find online. The lock should keep things safer when my boys get older and the ball bearing slides are nicer the my craftsman tool cart. Would have a set up picture but after looking at the one of the box I spent a couple hours cleaning the shop.
Has anyone tried using the magnetic tool rails to mount ratchets or something similar to the lid, seems like 2-3 would keep a ratchet from just falling down and would add a lot of space, sockets in the top and practically every size needed right there.

 

[BFHtime]

I have a Leatherman. Cool piece of equipment, but I can't say I've ever used it though, so don't see much value in them. Would rather use a proper tool .....

I feel the same way. I have a Wave and a Flair, but I never use or carry them.

Many people have offered to buy the Flair. I bought it for a trip to Europe. I probably broke a few laws by carrying it.

When traveling fast and light. Having a pocket tool, can be very helpful. Think how convenient it would be to carry all the right tools for the job. Even these portable tool boxes, are not something I would like to carry over a mile. My portable box weighs over 100 pounds. I do bring it places, it does not just sit.
Image walking 15 miles and needing a pliers or a screwdriver to make an adjustment or a repair, that is where having a leatherman really is awesome. If you were in one of those situations you would understand immediately.

 

[stage20]

I've got 22 all together. These are just the ones out of my collection

 

[jo4gj]

A multi tool is just that. It is generally not as good as the tools it tries to replace/incorporates in its self. It dose have a place due to its flexibility as being able to be used for more tasks then just having a knife or screwdriver

 

[jo4gj]

Hey guys I have a rally craftsman 4 drawer box and a kobalt 3 drawer box. Both have ****** locking mechanisms, what tool box manufacturers in the same size category have better locking or safety atributes?

 

[iroc409]

I just got this for Christmas. Other than screw drivers, T-handles and a few odd and ends to pack along, pretty good gift.

This is a great set. When I had to start over, this is what I got and it was perfect. Be careful carrying it--only carry by side handles. I had all the drawers fall out once carrying it, and it was a mess to clean up.

I also like the molded organizer. Didn't keep it, but it is pretty nice even to just stick in tool box drawers.

 

[jo4gj]

This is a great set. When I had to start over, this is what I got and it was perfect. Be careful carrying it--only carry by side handles. I had all the drawers fall out once carrying it, and it was a mess to clean up.

I also like the molded organizer. Didn't keep it, but it is pretty nice even to just stick in tool box drawers.

I have heard people drilling some holes and ramming a rod through the case to prevent the drawers from falling out

 

[G1K]

I've been searching for a SnapOn KRA65 for a while. One popped up on CL a few weeks back. It was offered with two other SO boxes, one for a compression gauge and the other for some other small tool. The seller wouldn't separate, so I brought home all three.

The paint was okay, but I bead blasted down to bare steel. One coat of etching primer, 2 of high build 2K primes, and 2 coats of single stage green (as close as I could get to SO Extreme green) later and here it is.



Im' still working out the final contents and organization. It's a great little box.





Ryan

 

[1cargarage]

Ryan

Dude... nice.

 

[mjoekingz28]

I've got 22 all together. These are just the ones out of my collection

Pick a box, any box.

 

[lbhsbz]

I have a 4 drawer craftsman box I take with me when I go out of town...

Top drawer is screwdrivers and several different pliers/dykes/channelocks.

2nd drawer is sockets: standard and metric 1/4" deep and shallow, 3/8" deep and shallow, extensions, ratchets,

3rd drawer is combo wrenches standard and metric to 3/4" plus a 10" and 12" crescent wrench

4th drawer is a plano box with assorted hardware, and next to that some JB weld, various pieces of steel and aluminum, electrical tape, teflon tape, solder, various MacGyver materials...

Up top is a 1/2" breaker bar, lug sockets for the truck, boat trailer, etc...a few specialty tools for the boat, allen keys, tin snips. spackle knife, telescoping magnet, test lights, VOM, zip ties, mechanics wire, and a few more things...

 

[stercorarius]

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

 

[KnurledNut]

G1K, awesome paint job.
Stercorarius, what brand is that cantilever box? Nice set up.

 

[stercorarius]

G1K, awesome paint job.
Stercorarius, what brand is that cantilever box? Nice set up.

It's the 22" Homak. Really impressed with it. It just has issues with rusting around the latches.

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk

 

[JasonB1989]

With the back paddock over 100km away this is about as portable as I need. Forklift slots and held on the pickup with two bolts for easy removal.

 

[betcd]

Sent from my S60 using Tapatalk[/QUOTE

very nice setup

 

[JasonB1989]

When I started out as an apprentice I used to pride myself on my canterlever box, I'd love to go back to that and see what I could do now!

 

[Mecha]

Alright, I've been a lurker and occasional commentor so I guess I'll come out of the shadows slightly. Below is my portable "helper dude" toolbox. I'm a factory engineer by trade but now at a corporate job, so this was something I would have at the plant, stored a 8" Mitutoyo calipers, some brass non sparking punches, and mill cutters from previous jobs but now it's just stuff to go help a neighbor, work out back, or go to the pick'n'pull. I'll post my bicycle repair box sometime as well.

 

[FlushingDIYer]

I don't have a garage setup so I keep my tools in separate boxes, e.g., 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, misc and other boxes... This is my 3/8 box. It's a two-year old Husky steel plate tool box that they don't sell for some reason. I only work on cars that have metric fasteners (up to now) so everything in here is metric. Now that I'm looking at this, I think I should put my spark plug socket back in here...

Top tray:

SK ratchets (Long, Flex head, regular)
Wright breaker bar
Extensions (Husky and Craftsman, one Wright)
USA Craftsman Slotted screwdrivers
Felo Phillips screwdrivers (1x Husky)
Magnetic Pickup tool
Spark plug gappers
Paint marker and Sharpie
Razor blades

Box:

SK short and Deeps
Gearwrench flex-heads
Vise grips
3x pliers, Regular, Bent nose, extra long
Assorted Duralast Deeps
Husky Torx and Hex/ Craftsman e-Torx
Craftsman Allen wrenches
Craftsman Torque wrench
Short Craftsman pry bar
Hanson screw extractors
Hockey puck
3M Silicone
Copper anti-seize
jumper wire
Aluminum Cheater pipe (reaching the end of its life!)

 

[cliftonbros89]

It's not much of a toolbox. I have the service truck loaded up. Plus, I have a big chest in the shop. But sometimes I have to work on something in a near by shed if I can't get it in the shop. So I picked up this Stanley tote pretty cheap. Just something to transport and keep tools in when I need to work outside of the shop for something quick

It holds up good. Pretty tough plastic. I think I paid $11 for it. Can hold quite a bit of weight.


I fit all of this in it the other day. Plus a few small parts I replaced and packaging from the new parts. It's no cantilever box but it works good for what I need it for. Figure out what I need and load it up. Keeps things some what organized so I don't misplace anything.

 

[Dandoni]

That looks killa G1k. I am trying to find someone to send me one of these to Australia, and would like to paint one. Haven't decided on a colour yet. What are the internal measurements of the top slide and the bottom compartment?

 

[Codejack]

I'm currently looking for a new socket set to go along with my stackon chest that I use as a seat



Getting stuff out of that case would be nice; it has gotten a little heavy:




Here's what I have in it (seriously), here's the top shelf:

 

[Codejack]

And here's the bottom:

The step drill bit isn't in there; that's just on my workbench; same with the axle grease and the bottle of used oil.

 

[Codejack]

...and here's my existing socket set that I am seeking a replacement/upgrade:

 

[WildwoodChuck]

...and here's my existing socket set that I am seeking a replacement/upgrade:

If those are old Kobalt they may be Williams so there isn't much of an upgrade but there is always expansion.

 

[Codejack]

If those are old Kobalt they may be Williams so there isn't much of an upgrade but there is always expansion.

Well, I'm missing several pieces, including the 1/2" ratchet, and it wasn't the biggest set in the first place (both of which problems came up today). And then there are the damaged sockets, with new kobalt not being so good...

I need a bigger set, and I'm getting torn between this really nice gearwrench set:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OL2XFLO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or grabbing something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QF7RLS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And filling it up with the Pro line of sockets from harbor freight.

The GW set is basically locked; it's pretty complete, but there is no room for addition, and I was looking at cutting the plastic so I could stick better ratchets in it. Total price: $250

The Big Red Toolbox, on the other hand, could get filled with some pretty neat stuff that I could get warrantied a lot more easily:

https://www.harborfreight.com/10-pi...c-deep-wall-color-coded-socket-set-93265.html

Total price: ~$230 if I hit a sale at HF.

 

[jd_1138]

Here's my trunk set that I always carry with me. 1980's Benchtop (K-Mart brand) metal box that I paid a buck for at a yard sale. It's pretty stout.

screwdrivers, pliers, clamps, level, mechanic's wire, strapping, stud finder, carpenter's pencil, plumbing tape, scratch awl, scissors, wire strippers. Not pictured are tape measure, speed square, chalk box, hammer, hex wrenches, electrical tape. I pruned it out today. I had a massive C-clamp that I never used at the bottom. I took it out and some duplicate stuff.

This is all the **** you gotta carry when you help out relatives at their houses, and the only tool they have is a butter knife.

 

[JohnDeere1]

...and here's my existing socket set that I am seeking a replacement/upgrade:

Those are Williams kobalt and hard to find look on the sockets for snap on date code the knurled groove at the bottom are the dead give away and the font. I may have your missing sizes as ice bought alot of singles for $1 a piece I buy all I find and I do have the 1/2 ratchet. That 3/8 ratchet don't belong there either but don't have one as they are scarce. If you still want a new set and would come off of the set let me know or if you want the missing pieces hit me up either way.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

...and here's my existing socket set that I am seeking a replacement/upgrade:

Have you considered buying Williams USA singles to fill the gaps? They'll be the exact sockets with a different stamp.

 

[Codejack]

Those are Williams kobalt and hard to find look on the sockets for snap on date code the knurled groove at the bottom are the dead give away and the font. I may have your missing sizes as ice bought alot of singles for $1 a piece I buy all I find and I do have the 1/2 ratchet. That 3/8 ratchet don't belong there either but don't have one as they are scarce. If you still want a new set and would come off of the set let me know or if you want the missing pieces hit me up either way.

I'll look it up tomorrow, but I am more likely to come off the set than try to fill it out; it's just not big enough for my current needs. Pending my new set working out, of course

The 1/2" ratchet is an "Ace Professional" brand that my Dad bought after he lost the original, but the 3/8" is the one that came with the kit.

Other than that, both 14mm sockets are twisted.

 

[Codejack]

OK, I didn't get over to my other site to look at the sockets today (tonight, maybe), but I decided to look at my wrenches a little closer:

Hmm, can't seem to get the other images to embed; here are the direct links:


http://s519.photobucket.com/user/badmojomagic/media/CAM00220_zpsnk6wzfq8.jpg.html

http://s519.photobucket.com/user/badmojomagic/media/CAM00221_zpsmkq6ud5r.jpg.html

http://s519.photobucket.com/user/badmojomagic/media/CAM00219_zpsxxrlnzbr.jpg.html

This is from the same era that my Craftsman socket set (that I threw away because it was so bad) came from. As you can see, many pieces are missing; some lost, some broken and thrown away rather than waste my time driving to Sears and back. The 17mm has not been abused, but you can see the marks on it.

Tools are supposed to mark bolts, not the other way around

Anyway, all I have are these and a Kobalt metric ratcheting wrench set.

Now, to satisfy the tool snobs , these are on my wishlist:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RILQP4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

But those wrenches would be more expensive than the rest of my tools put together, and WAY too easy for someone to steal. I'll get those for my home shop when I get it set up.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LQDBZE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sunex for $26? That's metric, the SAE set is $60, but that is doable... just.

On the other hand, it seriously looks like they came out of the same factory as these:

https://www.harborfreight.com/14-pc-fully-polished-metric-combination-wrench-set-68790.html

 

[KnurledNut]

Codejack, if you upgrade, that Kobalt/Williams set would probably fetch a decent price on ebay.

 

[Codejack]

Codejack, if you upgrade, that Kobalt/Williams set would probably fetch a decent price on ebay.

Heh, someone here has already asked about them

And, of course, define "decent price." With the 1/2" ratchet missing...

I don't know, I'll keep it in mind, but I'll probably give JohnDeere1 dibs on it if I decide to sell.

 

[willonabike]

I finally got around to re-doing my tool box (the prototype setup ran for about 3 years).
Anyway, I'm a bicycle mechanic so work involves a lot of international travel, weight restrictions limited space etc.
After running traditional briefcase style tool boxes for a few years, I lashed out and got a Pelican 1510 case. Don't know how I managed without wheels before.

Inside the lid is the most used Allen keys, sharpies, scissors etc, a zip up pouch for all the small bits and there is a document folder behind.

The top sheet has the other common tools I need.
I have a bad habit of trying to recycle things rather than spend money so the sheets are actually carbon fibre disc wheels that were broken. Here you can see the bearing for the rear axle.

Underneath is a layer of Kaizen foam. Tool selection here was more based on what fit nice and having easy access to the 'small bits box'

All of the other bits go in the bottom of the box. I added some aluminium extision to help support the foam layer though it seems pretty sturdy so far.

I've got about 3 weeks till the next trip so will put it to work and see how it flows.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Codejack]

Repost of my tool kit, since photobucket is being a PITA:

Old socket set:

New close-ups:

Old wrenches:

New Wrenches:

 

[D-Vice]

Oh man I like that KTC box. Makes me want to get myself one for the at home tool setup I need to put together. Are the handles pretty strong? Feel pretty stout?

 

[lictor4]

Pelican 1460

 

[garageless4now]

I don’t have a garage yet, so most of my stuff is not at my house. So i had a lot of stuff in a ratty c-man bag I got for free a few years ago. Pliers, channel locks, screw drivers, cutters, strippers, the like all piled in a 12” bag. Replaced it with a 15” voyager bag for $7. A little more organized than before


And if I need a wrench or a socket I have a 155? Piece Craftsman set I’ve managed to keep up with for 10 years. Made in USA


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jalind]

This is the small toolbox that lives in the laundry room. It's there for use on mechanical things inside the house, in conjunction with the hanging tools on the peg board. It's an 18"L x 7"W x 5"H blow molded box that S-K sold some decades ago with a minimalist tool set. I'm not certain who the target market for it was, but presume it may have been for a homeowner looking to take care of basic things inside their home assembling stuff for Christmas like the new bike for the kid, putting up curtain rods, and perhaps changing the oil and spark plug on their lawn mower. It certainly wasn't a starter set for a budding professional mechanic. I bought it for the "ex" as my tools kept disappearing only to be found in a kitchen drawer, or in a box in the laundry room, or in her computer desk, so that she could find them when she wanted to use them again. It's one of the things she left behind when she departed. At the time it was on a shelf with some of her gardening tools in the garage. Her loss, as I don't think she knew or had an appreciation for "S-K" as a brand. She took most of the tools that were on the pegboard in the laundry room, which were also "hers" that I've since reconstituted with what I want to have there and it's a bit different from what she had there.

The original set consisted of a combination of 1x4" and 3/8" sockets with a 3/8" drive standard length ratchet wrench and a 1/4" drive thumbwheel ratchet, plus a couple of extensions. The bulk of the sockets are SAE spanning 3/16" - 1/2" in 1/4" drive and 9/16" - 13/16" in 3/8" drive, plus a 5/8" spark plug socket an a 3/8" drive to 1/4" socket adapter. There are a handful of common metric in 3/8" drive: 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 19mm. There were #2 and #0 Phillips, and 1/4" and 1/8" flat tip drivers. Also included an open end SAE wrench set and short arm Allen wrenches and a hack saw. May have also had #1 Phillips and 3/16" flat tip plus a pair of pliers and an adjustable wrench, but if there were, they weren't in the tool box when I moved it to the laundry room. I've added a few things since then. In the top tray are the original socket sets to which I've added:

• Five most common size 8-point for square fasteners, all 3/8" drive
• 4" and 6" 3/8" drive extensions (S-K)
• 3/8" drive breaker bar (Action; Thorsen's economy brand)
• 1/4" drive socket wrench (PT)
• #2 Phillips and 1/4" flat tip stubbies (S-K)
• 1/4" drive to 3/8" socket adapter (PT)
• 1/4" drive spinner handle (Proto)

Underneath that are the open end wrenches in rolls Allen keys and additional tools that don't fit well in the upper tray.

Under the tool rolls:

• Hack Saw (S-K; came with tool set)
• 7" Knipex pliers wrench
• 6" slip joint pliers (S-K)
• 8" adjustable wrench (S-K)
• 6" needle nose

• Original open end wrenches were all SAE and comprehensive from 13/64" to 3/4"; Odd that it doesn't have a 3/16"
• Original SAE short arm Allen keys
• Old set of Craftsman metric Allen keys 1.5 - 8mm
• Tool roll is an old Proto

Added a metric open end set from 4mm - 20mm + 22mm. The Workpro wrenches from 6mm and up are Asian. Very sturdy and they're unlikely to be used for any ******** high torque inside the house. The additional 4, 5 and 5.5mm are from Beta. It's an old Allen tool roll.

As with all three of my portable boxes, it remains a work in progress adding a tool occasionally as present or foreseen needs arise. A 3/8" power drill, drill bits to 1/4" plus a couple masonry bits, multimeter and hammers are also in the laundry room, along with larger tools. No need for them in the box. This one is for mostly mechanical things. The second toolbox in my study is primarily for electrical and electronic.

John

 

[gregpack]

That's a cool little setup jalind!