5 gallon bucket tool organizers

[79rallysport]

Does anybody use those 5 gallon bucket tool organizers? Which ones would you recommend? I know there are a few companies that manufacture them.

 

[kartracer55]

bucketboss

 

[JeeperAz]

I've seen one from Duluths that looked nice. I have a brand new bucket boss that has been sitting in one of my cabinets for over a year. I just dont have a use for it.... yet.

 

[dboat]

I have some and have never used them..siiiiggghhh...

Dana

 

[Rickster]

My Dad & brother have a tool bucket they use for jobs around the house and they love em but I can't bring myself to get one. I have a small toolbox for household jobs.

 

[z28toz06]

They stink, or I do. I always end up throwing so much **** in them I cant find anything. Then I dump it out and deal with a mess to get it reorganized. Im better off with a tool box.

 

[kartracer55]

I detail cars on the side, and Its handy fr keeping detailing brushes, tar remover, waxes, touch up sticks all sorts of stuff. Not that great for tools though, not enough room!

Jim

 

[sberry]

I havnt used them, no reason why they wouldnt work though. I found these oversize trays, they may have discontinued them though. I modified it and it rides on the seat of my pickup, saves digging thru boxes, makes it super handy. On occasion I take it from the truck when using another vehicle, much easier than trying to anticipate what one might need. This is one of my best "inventions" although it isnt really invention exactly but being able to see what you have and grab is damm near priceless. Another handi item is cut off anti freeze jugs (with drain hole punched in bottom) to put spray cans in, saves them from getting knocked around and easy to grab. Screw them to pickup box.

 

[alpinewhite]

I use this one from Home Depot. It's my toolset that I bring when I need to fix something in my rental.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I use this one from Home Depot. It's my toolset that I bring when I need to fix something in my rental.

Same one I use for carpentry/building/home repair stuff. I like it, but not for hand tools like sockets/ratchets/etc.

 

[bonneyman]

Ever since I switched to BucketBoss I've never looked back. I actually backed over my original one with the work truck once. Set it down behind the van (I used to put it in the back), got talking to the customer, then jumped in and backed up without remembering. All it suffered was a slight tear!

To help keep things sorted inside, I resort to Tupperware containers marked with permanent marker on the lids. Cheap, the cover snaps are long lasting, and I can pick them up quickly when they do crack. Can always find what I need in no time.

 

[cburnscrx]

Same one I use for carpentry/building/home repair stuff. I like it, but not for hand tools like sockets/ratchets/etc.

I'll agree with this. I have that same bucket organizer, and it's great for anything but automotive repair. Not so much on the sockets, ratchets and such...

I am more than pleased and have gotten a lot of use out of it this spring/summer.

 

[redwrench60]

I like em', I have two. But I don't keep them loaded with tools. I only load them with tools when I start the job. I'll throw all the tools, small parts, materials and even something to drink, flashlight ect. to do the job and take them with me to the work. I only use them for home plumbing, electrical and construction type jobs and never mechanic type work though. They're great for home improvement type work that drags on for several days or weeks working in the evenings after work to keep tools from getting scattered but still near the work to pick up where you left off.

 

[zer0cell]

I prefer something like this:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-17-in-Open-Tool-Tote-81549N09/202018012#.Ui3bND9nLKc

It's easier to carry around, won't likely tip over or mar your floors and its easier to find what you're looking for in my opinion.

 

[sberry]

I like that.

 

[Major Ramifications]

I have an older BucketBoss, and it comes in handy. I use it for when I go fix something at someone else's house.

 

[cheechi]

That's nice but most of us have 5 gal buckets free or really cheap, so the bucket organizer even at half the cost of that is more cost effective.

Don't get me wrong I like it too, any of the Husky 'tool wall' bags are nice.

I only keep big/bulky items that don't have a permanent home in my Kobalt bucket organizer. I used to have several buckets, boxes, bags etc but I've tried to get more into shelving & tool chest recently so it gets used a lot less. Plus unless you have a Bucket boss that comes with the rain cover, there's that to deal with too. That's why I stopped using mine every day.

 

[Eric Commarato]

get a tool box

 

[jeremy v]

I have 2 main 5 gallon buckets with Husky organizers that I have filled with all my most commonly used general purpose hand tools. If the tool is not used for many different tasks that span at least a few different trades it does not get a place in one of the 2 main tool buckets. The buckets sit pretty permanently on top of a heavy duty rolling garage cart, because each bucket weighs about 60-70 pounds. The only time they ever really move from the cart is to go into a vehicle for a job away from home. I do it this way so I can have a very high tool packing density, clear organization, and easy one-handed access to any commonly used tool without needing to open multiple tool chest drawers, dig through a tool bag, etc. I place the bucket cart right next to me while working and I know where every tool is in the buckets, so I can grab many of them without even directly looking at my buckets while working.

I have several different types of tool belts that I fill from these 2 buckets for specific or more remote jobs as needed. After a tool has been removed and used it is then placed on a separate tool cart tray until the job is finished. When finished, all the used tools are cleaned off, lubricated if necessary, and put back in the buckets. Everything has a specific place and it is always put there, so a 30 second glance over both buckets will tell me if anything is missing at the end of a job. I store all wrenches and sockets elsewhere in tool chests and/or portable carrying cases. The couple open pocket and PVC pipe spots that you see in my bucket pictures are tools that I have removed for some custom add-ons I am making right now for my Ridgid tri-stand.

All lesser used tools, larger pipe wrenches, larger pry bars, larger strap wrenches, larger chain wrenches, etc. are all stored in other 5 gallon buckets without organizers around the shop so they are still easily accessed when needed. All of the more specialty or trade specific lesser used tools are organized in file cabinets, milk crates, etc. according to trade and I just grab the whole milk crate and bring it along to the task as needed. Things like propane torches, copper plumbing solder, pipe dope, reamers, plumber's putty, alternate types of oetiker clamp pliers, etc. would be things in my plumbing specific milk crate. I have individual milk crates for sheetrock finishing, cement work, electrical, plumbing, sanding, angle grinder discs, specialty hammers and mallets, etc.

Here are pictures of bucket #1. I will include bucket #2 pictures in a second post. First 3 pictures are clockwise views around the bucket and last picture is top down looking inside.

 

[jeremy v]

Here is bucket #2. First 3 pictures are clockwise views around the bucket and last picture is top down looking inside.

 

[thedrivingman]

I have a Husky on a three gallon rectangular shaped bucket (laundry detergent) with home repair tools. The rectangular bucket is easier to carry and has a lower center of gravity. My five gallon bucket tended to tip over. It carries enough tools to do most home repairs.

 

[MN4x4]

I have 2 main 5 gallon buckets with Husky organizers that I have filled with all my most commonly used general purpose hand tools. ...I do it this way so I can have a very high tool packing density, clear organization, and easy one-handed access to any commonly used tool without needing to open multiple tool chest drawers, dig through a tool bag, etc.

In my opinion, you definitely win the award for high-density tool storage. HOLY **** those buckets are packed!!!

I think I need to re-visit my bucket usage.

 

[bonneyman]

I have an older BucketBoss, and it comes in handy. I use it for when I go fix something at someone else's house.

Yeah, me too! Only when I'm going to get paid for the work I do.

I never work on stuff at my own house.

 

[jeremy v]

In my opinion, you definitely win the award for high-density tool storage. HOLY **** those buckets are packed!!!

I think I need to re-visit my bucket usage.

Haha, thanks. It was hard trying to take pictures in a way that allowed you guys to see everything in the buckets, but the pictures have a tendency to make everything just look like a jam packed two-dimensional mess, especially on the inside of the buckets. There are actually quite a few tools that don't even show in the pictures, because they are completely hidden from view by others in front of them.

When seeing and using the tool buckets in real life you can more easily recognize that the tools inside the bucket are actually organized in multiple layers of depth. For instance, all the hammers have heads that are quite bulky so they are positioned to make up the top layer. They are positioned (with spacers in the bottom of the bucket tubes) vertically so the heads are just high enough to completely clear all the tools underneath them. They can also all freely rotate within their vertical abs pipe sleeves to swing the hammer heads out of the way as needed to access any tool underneath them very easily. The layering makes everything look crammed when looking down at it in a picture, but in practice everything is actually very easy to grab as needed.

 

[rick carpenter]

Five gallon buckets will go down as one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century.

 

[zkling]

In my opinion, you definitely win the award for high-density tool storage. HOLY **** those buckets are packed!!!

Not only are they packed, but they are very well organized IMHO. I looked at the first bucket like. Dang, that is a well thought out setup. Then I saw the second bucket and thought DAMN. Those must have some heft to them

Five gallon buckets will go down as one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century.

 

[rixtrix1]

I'm a glutton for 5 gallon buckets. No fancy storage, just somethin easily movable you can throw cutoffs, scraps, what have you, in. Rather than spend $5 at one of the box stores for a non-UV resistant POS, if you live near a Firehouse Subs, they accept a $2 donation and give one of their FOOd GRADE buckets in return. I like the dill pickle smell, the buckets are clean, strong and won't fall apart if left outside for a week, or many. I even use some to store spare differentials and the gear oil doesn't hurt the plastic. I've left some stacked 2 high with 20-30# of stuff inside with no problems. Just a thought.

 

[KBigg]

I like my bucket boss. Always goes with me to the junkyard

 

[sberry]

I would have no problem going right to work from those buckets.

 

[bonneyman]

Still using my second Bucket Boss. Here it is all loaded as it was some years ago.

 

[DFB]

I keep one filled all the time, used one for years and years. Holds a lot of the tools I'll ever think I'll need on my job. Grab the bucket and I'm good.

Ya there's a few drawbacks using them. Ain't nothing perfect. Biggest issue for me is a bucket can fall over in vehicle transport if it not blocked in or tethered they often get top heavy.

Yup hard to locate things sometimes deep in the bucket and honestly a flashlight light comes in handy

Truly I don't think I ever once ever had to dump it out to find something.

Sure they ain't perfect but you either need it or you don't

 

[Magnum440d100]

When I did a lot of commercial glazing, I had a bucket boss. Mainly because I didn’t know what job site I was going to be at. I kept my major tools in the truck, and had the bucket for specific jobs. If I knew I was caulking, it had my sausage gun, sausages, paper towels, butter knives, masking tape, denatured alcohol, etc... And if I was vinyling, I’d have my roller, cutters, mallets (different angles cut into the handles) etc...

Glass setting bucket was basically a bucket with blocks and temps, beyond what fit into my tool belt.

The way my truck was set up, it would take me about 5-10 minutes to go from a caulking prepped bucket to a vinyling bucket or a glass setting bucket....

I really really liked the buckets and organizers. I tried tool boxes but they always got beat up and broke at the hinges...

 

[Fialaja]

I like them for electrical work. The tools all fit easily in the pockets, while the inside acts as a great trashcan for defective devices, wire scraps, insulation strip offs, stripped off romex jacket, etc.

 

[Fialaja]

 

[Fialaja]

Bucket boss seems to make the most durable bucket pocket system. They also made one that worked with a milk crate called the crate boss better than the bucket for stability in the truck.
I also like the version that only has pockets on the outside so I can put stackers on the inside with cable clamps, wire nuts, staples, nuts, screws, etc. I can fit 4 stackers in a bucket and they each have 4 compartments.

 

[Fialaja]

 

[Fialaja]

As you can see, I have a couple bucket organizers, 2 are cheapies from wal mart, a bucket boss and occipital leather brand for electrical tools a outside pocket version withstackers inside to hold hardware, and a crate boss.oh, and one for plumbing stuff....

 

[BigSteve63]

Do they still make the one for milk crates?

Steve

 

[Fialaja]

Haven’t seen them in a long time. Maybe someone copied the design

 

[kctyphoon]

I find it amazing that SOMEBODY hasn't created a bigger/better organizer kit for 5 gallon buckets.

I have such a good idea for 5 gallon buckets, I don't even wanna post it..

I have a great idea for an outdoor trash can too btw.. lol