Building the Ultimate Toolbox

[trytochaseme]

I've wanted to pick up a snap on box for awhile as I haven't been the happiest with my kennedys. Now don't get me wrong the kennedys are quality especially for how cheap I got them but they are not without their flaws.

after not being able to convince myself to spend thousands on a snapon I decided I could turn my kenneys into something i would like even better for way less. follow me on this journey to see if I can somehow finish a project for once or abandon all hope halfway through.

first thing I started with was air supply. Being a machinist I'm using air tools all day long. it's not hard but I get annoyed by oiling my tools everyday so I wanted to have a built in oiler system for my air tools.

Inside the lower compartment on the left box is a lot of empty space so i decided to utilize it. I know it's messy now but I will neatly have it mounted to the side soon and clean up the hoses


Here is the supply line in the back with a 90 bend so I can tuck the airline neatly under my box and away from being tripped on



I have 2 outlets on the side and could easily add more but so far this has been plenty. Im contemplating adding a split before the oiler so I can have a clean air line also available




Next thing I wanted to do was add some power, first I put an inlet out back next to the air.

then I marked the hole for the side

I needed to make a second hole because the kennedy has a second layer about a inch back but thankfully it only needed to be big enough for the cable and not the whole unit.

all done!

I put another power strip inside so that I can have my battery charger in a drawer and I might also put a wireless charger for my phone on the inside of the top of my box so i can just set my phone on the top corner for it to charge.

I've had several iterations of side shelves, all of which were sheet metal bent up in different ways but being able to carve metal however I please I decided it was time to do something better. Milled out of a hunk of scrap aluminum I saved a while back this turned out perfect. has spots to hold cat40 and cat50 holders to change out tools, along with spot for chuck keys, vise handle and a mini vise. I need to get a mini wilton to replace it with.

heres a teaser for whats next on the list!
anyone have any guesses?

theres much more to come!

 

[930dreamer]

Nice work on the add ons.

 

[shirk]

That's cool.

 

[matt_i]

I don't think your vise handle is long enough lol. Looks about 2x as long as what I have on my Kurts...

Nice customizations. Now you need a print holder too

 

[taumac]

Nice additions. I like the fact your using a old Kennedy instead of just going with a HF or other cart. Looking forward to this thread.

 

[trytochaseme]

Thanks guys glad other people like it so far too!

Nice additions. I like the fact your using a old Kennedy instead of just going with a HF or other cart. Looking forward to this thread.

I figured they are nice quality boxes just need bearing slides and some other things and they will be on par with a lot of other options. Everything on the cheap end just seems so flimsy.

I don't think your vise handle is long enough lol. Looks about 2x as long as what I have on my Kurts...

Nice customizations. Now you need a print holder too

Haha it’s for the 8” Kurt’s enough to give you a little more umpf

 

[MushCreek]

I've been a machinist for 45 years, and rarely use air tools- what ones do you use? I do use a pencil grinder once in a while. One handy addition I had on a tool chest was a frame to hang blueprints. Nice work, BTW.

 

[Here2Learn]

Terrific work! Yet another dangerous idea inspiring, jaw dropping garagejournal thread to make part time tool polishers like me drool and have my head spinning.

Again, terrific work!

 

[Fialaja]

Love it

 

[trytochaseme]

I appreciate the kind words guys! I’ll have more progress after the weekend

I've been a machinist for 45 years, and rarely use air tools- what ones do you use? I do use a pencil grinder once in a while. One handy addition I had on a tool chest was a frame to hang blueprints. Nice work, BTW.

I use my 90 grinder all day long with sanding disk to debut parts. Also have a couple of straight grinders with cut off wheels and stones and other things on them that get used regularly. Do you just use a file to deburr?


In the mean time heres a top drawer shot

 

[nkachur]

Very cool. Following.

Sent from my SM-A530W using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[trytochaseme]

Working on designing a frame for the box. I want to mount a butcher block up top and have a shelf for my granite plate next to it. The plate is 18x24 and a 24” deep butcher block would fit perfect so it would flow nicely together


Got the first working prototype for my tap arm together today. Waiting on gas springs to come in. The harbor freight butterfly impact is no where near powerful enough tho so time to find something with more umpf. Other then that it’s pretty slick so far.


I also have this old Kennedy. I want to mount a butcher block on this also as well as get some ball bearing slides on it. I know it’s not really worth the effort but I’m contemplating stripping all these boxes down and respraying them something other then poop brown



It needs some love. Picked it up cheap of Craigslist and the drawers barely moved when i first got it. I think it’s time to give it a renewed life

 

[sweet victory]

Really cool thread! I think you might want to revise the top of your frame tho. It would be stronger to make it one continuous bar instead of welding on short segment. Gussets would be a good idea since the granite + height gauge is going to add a bit of weight.

The tap arm is ridiculously cool. I would be a little hesitant to use an impact with a tap though! Maybe a cordless drill? What size taps will you be using? There is a Milwaukee M12 3/8" Drill for $38 on Amazon.

 

[trytochaseme]

Really cool thread! I think you might want to revise the top of your frame tho. It would be stronger to make it one continuous bar instead of welding on short segment. Gussets would be a good idea since the granite + height gauge is going to add a bit of weight.

The tap arm is ridiculously cool. I would be a little hesitant to use an impact with a tap though! Maybe a cordless drill? What size taps will you be using? There is a Milwaukee M12 3/8" Drill for $38 on Amazon.

I’m definitely gonna do full length bars. I just drew it up poorly. Lol
I will do something to reinforce the granite plate. Just not sure if I’m gonna add shelves below or just do gussets.

I was contemplating a electric drill but came across someone who said they used this impact from harbor freight. It wouldn’t do a 10mm in aluminum. It’s only 75ftlb but i found a Mac one that is 215ftlbs. I’m not too worried about an impact, I’ve used my electric impacts quite a few times and never broken a tap. Atleast not yet

 

[trytochaseme]

Really cool thread! I think you might want to revise the top of your frame tho. It would be stronger to make it one continuous bar instead of welding on short segment. Gussets would be a good idea since the granite + height gauge is going to add a bit of weight.

The tap arm is ridiculously cool. I would be a little hesitant to use an impact with a tap though! Maybe a cordless drill? What size taps will you be using? There is a Milwaukee M12 3/8" Drill for $38 on Amazon.

You got me thinking more and more about the electric drill idea. Might try picking up that Milwaukee and Machining a new housing for the motor and relocAte the trigger to be better for a tap arm. I tore apart a makita i had laying around to get my brain rolling. Anyone have any pics of the m12 still split apart?