70s to Today- Tool Box / Tool Cart Drawer Changes

[CGarage]

Discuss the evolution and changes of tool box and tool cart designs from the 1970s/1980s era to the 1990s to today.

Discuss likes and dislikes.

Examples:

- Evolution from friction slides to ball bearing slides helped with load bearing ability for the drawers.

- Most modern tool carts now have a large, wide, deep top drawer to hold all sockets and ratchets in the hopes of increasing technician speed and efficiency compared to three short, shallow drawers of vintage carts which seem to me to be more modeled after something a machinist would use (Kennedy style drawer layout).

 

[Fedwrench]

Larger casters. Back in the day when a 26 inch wide Craftsman was probably one of the most common boxes, the casters were tiny. Now even budget carts have 5-6 inch casters to ease mobility and support increased weight.

 

[BTL-A4]

Griplatch. I miss those. I hate the feel of the newer drawers that have some sort of detent. I think there is a company that still has these style of drawers, but they want thousands for the box. They are also too deep; I need shallower ones to fit my limited work space.

 

[ecotec]

I think that the best way that roller cabinets have changed since the 70’s, is the top drawer socket drawer. I would not want to go back to a toolbox without it.

In my opinion, it was the Great Leap Forward in toolbox design.

 

[Rusted Nut]

Today’s semi hip roof top lids are really nice for taller items, compared to the old flat tops.

 

[matthew]

Todays boxes are big. But I don’t know what has been the driving factor, and what has been the cart following….

- one has to suspect a little bit of marketing of something new to sell has contributed to big boxes

- i see lots of well organized drawers here - was it more common in the old days just to cram stuff in smaller boxes?

- the increasing number of different tools available need more storage space. Not just metric, but XZN, E-Torx, 1/4 drive impact…

- more tools also means that instead of needing 3 wrenches and 3 sockets all the time, it is more critical to have a bunch of stuff quickly accessible

- on an inflation adjusted basis, stuff is cheaper to buy today (and the effects of current inflation spike will be judged years from now)

 

[crewchief888]

"back in the day" when you ran out of room in your 26" wide boxes, you added a mid box, and maybe a side box.
then possibly an upgrade to 33" or 36" wide boxes.
at the last shop i worked in, i had 2 36" wide rollers, 36" wide top, multiple side boxes, and a 26" roller. there were a lot of "smaller" boxes being traded into the tool trucks for them newfangled double wide boxes in the early 90's.
i was getting them really cheap, most of the tool trucks didnt want to haul them around or store them for very long.

 

[CGarage]

"back in the day" when you ran out of room in your 26" wide boxes, you added a mid box, and maybe a side box.
then possibly an upgrade to 33" or 36" wide boxes.
at the last shop i worked in, i had 2 36" wide rollers, 36" wide top, multiple side boxes, and a 26" roller. there were a lot of "smaller" boxes being traded into the tool trucks for them newfangled double wide boxes in the early 90's.
i was getting them really cheap, most of the tool trucks didnt want to haul them around or store them for very long.

A tragedy. It’s a lot easier moving two smaller, 26” wide boxes than a 36” wide box. Not sure why all of the obsession with the larger box being better when they are *a lot* harder to store and move around.

 

[crewchief888]

A tragedy. It’s a lot easier moving two smaller, 26” wide boxes than a 36” wide box. Not sure why all of the obsession with the larger box being better when they are *a lot* harder to store and move around.

especially changing jobs.
i dont have any boxes at work anymore,
i still have 1 set of 36" boxes, 2 sets of 33" wide boxes, 1 set with a mid box, and multiple side boxes in the garage.
1 set of 26" wide boxes with a mid box in the basement.

my current "toolbox" tips the scales at 19,300 lbs.
mine is the smaller F600

 

[CGarage]

Remember all of the step-stools that were sold for the 26” wide tool box guys going vertical? Needed a stool to get to the top box after adding the mid box back in the good old days.

 

[tyyost]

Once the need for metric and the plethora of specialized tools landed toolboxes have grown in size. Gone are the days of accessible components and rebuildable parts. What I was able to do with a 3/8‘s SK set, a set of craftsman rp wrenches and a few misc 1/2 sockets to my 80‘s squarebody takes a pile of tools on my 2015 Silverado without considering electronics and diagnostic tools.

Every day I read threads about semi deep sockets, impact swivels, nut grip sockets, no skip sets, and different configurations of wrenches and ratchets. And my box is full of them too. And that doesn’t count the pullers, drivers, and basic driveline tools modern cars need.

 

[CGarage]

What drivers and driveline tools are you referring to?

 

[speed bump]

The one thing I like that they have gotten away from is the bottom open area on consumer level tool boxes. I also happen to like the wider tool boxes as I have a lot of bigger tools that didn't fit in a 26" wide box

 

[CGarage]

The one thing I like that they have gotten away from is the bottom open area on consumer level tool boxes. I also happen to like the wider tool boxes as I have a lot of bigger tools that didn't fit in a 26" wide box

Agree……I really like the bottom open area on tool carts. I have a Snap-On KR 4200 that has that same open are and it is crammed with useful stuff:
- Jump Pack
- 1/4 and 3/8 Facom Expert tool kit in blow molded case
- 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 Hazet Vigor tool kit in blow molded case
- Bosch drill
- Scan Tool
- 3 or 4 hammers
- Bunch of other stuff like a 1/4” drive impact set in metric and SAE
There is still room for more. Big fan of the open area under the tool cart.

I do like having some complete drive sets in their blow molded cases in the event I need to grab something and help a neighbor or friend. It makes the tools much more “expeditionary” this way.

 

[tyyost]

What drivers and driveline tools are you referring to?

I’ve got two drawers of a lateral filing cabinet stuffed with a giant ball joint press set, an Astro 78825 front end bearing puller, a 78830 drum and rotor puller, seal drivers, slide hammer set, and a pile of cased misc tools, like rear brake wind back tools.

 

[bigfunwmu]

It seems like tool boxes have gone from tall and skinny to shorter and much wider. More deeper drawers and less shallow drawers, more organizers for stuff that goes in the drawers too.

Tool carts are a big thing now. So much **** in the giant toolbox that you need a smaller toolbox so wander around with.

 

[Alienbaby17]

I’m happy to see the end of the factory installed drawer dividers. I’ve drilled out the spot welds and removed those on several older boxes just to get what I need into them.

 

[mikedodge]

In ways I prefer the friction slides if they're working smoothly. The roller ones like to open further on their own.
I do like how newer ones have deeper drawers, makes it easier to fit organizers in them.

 

[LWB]

Tool boxes have strayed away from being tall and narrow and have become work benches with drawers. Less drawers equals less cost to build. One long drawer is far less cost than several smaller ones. I have both styles and each have a place. One big long drawer is nice to store stuff but you can't get to the work surface with it open. Great if you have a car to work on close by.

I like rolling around with a cart but nothing big. I'm on my 3rd now

 

[Zewnten]

I like tall and narrow. And I liked the older KRA 33"? boxes. All the guys in the shop have these monster 68" to 72" boxes with lockers and side cabinets. Can't move to the job so they buy carts. I used to fit the same amount of tools most guys had into 1 Lista 60" tall.

 

[CGarage]

I like tall and narrow. And I liked the older KRA 33"? boxes. All the guys in the shop have these monster 68" to 72" boxes with lockers and side cabinets. Can't move to the job so they buy carts. I used to fit the same amount of tools most guys had into 1 Lista 60" tall.

They are spending lots of money on tool storage and garage bragging rights, that is for sure.

 

[CGarage]

Tool boxes have strayed away from being tall and narrow and have become work benches with drawers. Less drawers equals less cost to build. One long drawer is far less cost than several smaller ones. I have both styles and each have a place. One big long drawer is nice to store stuff but you can't get to the work surface with it open. Great if you have a car to work on close by.

I like rolling around with a cart but nothing big. I'm on my 3rd now

I never thought of that……the smaller top drawers allow access to the work surface even if one is open, compared to one large top drawer. Good info.

 

[gfd_703]

I do like my wide top drawers but sometimes I wish it was smaller because of the weight and momentum it creates when opening and closing. Not sure why we even have wheels on the big boxes because they are so heavy it is difficult to move. Be better off using pallet jack or forklift to move.

 

[Zewnten]

They are spending lots of money on tool storage and garage bragging rights, that is for sure.

Yes. I saw an auto industry article show casing a tech that had a large box 72" with lockers on each side and an upper chest. Guy claimed he had $250000 into it and the tools, he was a certified Honda tech and had been his whole career. I know guys that work on big stuff of all kinds and they don't have that much in tooling. Best part was all that money is now sitting in his garage as he changed careers.

All the fancy storage I've seen has no room for the shop level tooling a lot of guys accumulate, jacks, jacks stands, smoke machines, AC gauges, etc.

 

[1982fxr]

The whiskey pint drawer is gone from mechanic boxes.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Yes. I saw an auto industry article show casing a tech that had a large box 72" with lockers on each side and an upper chest. Guy claimed he had $250000 into it and the tools, he was a certified Honda tech and had been his whole career. I know guys that work on big stuff of all kinds and they don't have that much in tooling. Best part was all that money is now sitting in his garage as he changed careers.

All the fancy storage I've seen has no room for the shop level tooling a lot of guys accumulate, jacks, jacks stands, smoke machines, AC gauges, etc.

That's the reason you end up with massive boxes.

You need room for the 3/4 drive, the ball joint presses, the pullers and splitters, the bushing tools, the special timing tools, the cooling system tester for 2017 porsche to a 67 camaro. I spend most of.my time working from a 6 drawer cart. But I need room for the scan tools, lab scopes, laptop, circuit tools, thermal images, boroscopes, and all the accessories. Sometimes you need 15ft of scope leads on 4 channels so you can drive down the road and log data.

It's not 1975 where you can time stuff by eye or just slip the gears over. You need cam locks, crank pins, tensioner wedges. And not for "ford". That's for a couple 4 cylinders they made. Plus the v6 tools, for ford. And every kit that needs bought is the techs problem, so space swells. Special punches for steering column pins, metric roll pin punches, diff seal tools, etc.


Yeah, I got 30 sets of wrenches. Each set has saved the day.

 

[Zewnten]

@2ndGearRubber I don't fault guys for needing what they need but it seems to go overboard, pot calling kettle haha, but as a dealer mechanic wouldn't you optimize to maximize your flatrate production? Had a coworker that did GM suspension, engines and transmissions didn't work on anything else. If a guy is a dealer and works on anything that comes through the door I think he's just going acainst himself unless its a time and materials job. Obviously indepent shops will probably take anything but again if I have to buy a specialty to do the job I think there is better ways of storing it than the typical tool box layout of long shallow drawers.

Outside of industrial boxes, I don't think tool boxes offer effective storage. I'd almost say they do the opposite, what good is a bunch of drawers 2" deep or under after the one drawer of screwdrivers and punches. The only way to store tools in them except to lay tools on their side where the tools take up the most room, unless I'm missing something? In a lista/vidmar I can get several different drawer depths: 12" to 3". I keep a wrench set from 3/4 to 2" on end and it takes up hardly any space vs my coworker laying his flat and taking up the entireity of his SO box's shallow full length drawer.

 

[MarkH]

Our big change is we need to use tool boxes. In the 1970s we had 3 drawer mounted ones on the pickups. The standard shop was 1 1/2 inch socket set in a caddy on the workbench. A box, open end, allen and ignition wrench set. A screwdriver set. A couple hammers and crescent wrenches along with a couple saws. Add a few files, punches, chisels, feeler gauge, a drill a tap and die set, a timing light and a few specialty tools. All in a couple drawers in the workbench or hanging on the wall.

We could fix everything we had. Tractors, trucks, combines, swathers, implements, buildings.

Now I have three tool boxes and a cart in my home garage and they are not usually used on the farm equipment. The house and personal vehicles. The farm shops each has multiple tool boxes and they are usually full.

 

[CGarage]

Our big change is we need to use tool boxes. In the 1970s we had 3 drawer mounted ones on the pickups. The standard shop was 1 1/2 inch socket set in a caddy on the workbench. A box, open end, allen and ignition wrench set. A screwdriver set. A couple hammers and crescent wrenches along with a couple saws. Add a few files, punches, chisels, feeler gauge, a drill a tap and die set, a timing light and a few specialty tools. All in a couple drawers in the workbench or hanging on the wall.

We could fix everything we had. Tractors, trucks, combines, swathers, implements, buildings.

Now I have three tool boxes and a cart in my home garage and they are not usually used on the farm equipment. The house and personal vehicles. The farm shops each has multiple tool boxes and they are usually full.

What field were you working in that had tool boxes mounted to pickup trucks? Background info needed, please.


Agree, the complexity of things has gotten out of hand.

That said, local top rated independent mechanic has all specialty tools in metal locking cabinets / garage cabinets. A fraction of the cost of a $25K tool box which is a ridiculous expense if you ask me.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

@2ndGearRubber I don't fault guys for needing what they need but it seems to go overboard, pot calling kettle haha, but as a dealer mechanic wouldn't you optimize to maximize your flatrate production? Had a coworker that did GM suspension, engines and transmissions didn't work on anything else. If a guy is a dealer and works on anything that comes through the door I think he's just going acainst himself unless its a time and materials job. Obviously indepent shops will probably take anything but again if I have to buy a specialty to do the job I think there is better ways of storing it than the typical tool box layout of long shallow drawers.

Outside of industrial boxes, I don't think tool boxes offer effective storage. I'd almost say they do the opposite, what good is a bunch of drawers 2" deep or under after the one drawer of screwdrivers and punches. The only way to store tools in them except to lay tools on their side where the tools take up the most room, unless I'm missing something? In a lista/vidmar I can get several different drawer depths: 12" to 3". I keep a wrench set from 3/4 to 2" on end and it takes up hardly any space vs my coworker laying his flat and taking up the entireity of his SO box's shallow full length drawer.

For a dealer? If they let you fall into a niche, yes, I would advise simply maximizing the niche. Issue being is if you're down on work, and now you're working on the used car trade ins, or waiting for a scan tool without which you cannot proceed on a car, etc. Do you have more than one bay? Or is it 20 bays and 20 techs? Or they may not do niches. So you're at VW working on everything from a 2003 beetle to a 2010 town and country rebadge to a 2022 Tiguan. Still easier than all makes, IMO, but at all make repair shops you're shipping wild stuff out the door anyway. I ain't pulling the chassis of a Rover to put chains in it, or dropping out the drive train for a rear main seal in an X6. Hell I'm not swapping an engine in that chevy truck either.


I 100% agree, shallow drawers are a big waste. I specifically look for boxes which don't have those, 4" is an acceptable height IMO for storage. Lockers are the way to go IMO for bulk storage outside industrial cabinets. I have one of those too, got it for a steal, and it's great. But without a fork-jack I can't move them much at all, and whatever price I can get on a lista adds a few hundred since I need a lift gate. The savings start to thin out IF one isn't loading drawers down in the lockers. For some of the heavier drawers, it's still sub 50lb in a locker. Mostly cases of threading and repairing tools. A drawer full of scan tools weighs next to nothing obviously. If I had a pallet jack? Or a fork lift? And the floor didn't massively leak through the foundation near my boxes? I'd be all over industrial cabinets, I love the look, the CLACK of the slides, etc.

Lista toolboxes? Very tempting.

What field were you working in that had tool boxes mounted to pickup trucks? Background info needed, please.


Agree, the complexity of things has gotten out of hand.

That said, local top rated independent mechanic has all specialty tools in metal locking cabinets / garage cabinets. A fraction of the cost of a $25K tool box which is a ridiculous expense if you ask me.

Where is $25k coming from? I have <25k in tool boxes..... two triples and two lockers on one triple. Tax, interest paid, purchase price of all the boxes I ever traded in together, sub $25k.

I guess somebody is buying this stuff at list price. Both my boxes rolled off the truck at ~50% off, new.

 

[CGarage]

For a dealer? If they let you fall into a niche, yes, I would advise simply maximizing the niche. Issue being is if you're down on work, and now you're working on the used car trade ins, or waiting for a scan tool without which you cannot proceed on a car, etc. Do you have more than one bay? Or is it 20 bays and 20 techs? Or they may not do niches. So you're at VW working on everything from a 2003 beetle to a 2010 town and country rebadge to a 2022 Tiguan. Still easier than all makes, IMO, but at all make repair shops you're shipping wild stuff out the door anyway. I ain't pulling the chassis of a Rover to put chains in it, or dropping out the drive train for a rear main seal in an X6. Hell I'm not swapping an engine in that chevy truck either.


I 100% agree, shallow drawers are a big waste. I specifically look for boxes which don't have those, 4" is an acceptable height IMO for storage. Lockers are the way to go IMO for bulk storage outside industrial cabinets. I have one of those too, got it for a steal, and it's great. But without a fork-jack I can't move them much at all, and whatever price I can get on a lista adds a few hundred since I need a lift gate. The savings start to thin out IF one isn't loading drawers down in the lockers. For some of the heavier drawers, it's still sub 50lb in a locker. Mostly cases of threading and repairing tools. A drawer full of scan tools weighs next to nothing obviously. If I had a pallet jack? Or a fork lift? And the floor didn't massively leak through the foundation near my boxes? I'd be all over industrial cabinets, I love the look, the CLACK of the slides, etc.

Lista toolboxes? Very tempting.





Where is $25k coming from? I have <25k in tool boxes..... two triples and two lockers on one triple. Tax, interest paid, purchase price of all the boxes I ever traded in together, sub $25k.

I guess somebody is buying this stuff at list price. Both my boxes rolled off the truck at ~50% off, new.

Can you show me some industrial cabinet manufacturers?

I came up with $25K based on what I was told a Honda tech paid for one of the giant Snap-On boxes / wall units.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Can you show me some industrial cabinet manufacturers?

I came up with $25K based on what I was told a Honda tech paid for one of the giant Snap-On boxes / wall units.

Lista, Vidmar, Equipto, those guys. Tekton boxes are made by a canadian cabinet maker, similar deal as the ones I listed. Mine is an older equipto, which amazingly has a tie to snap on. I used snap-on stationary cabinet detents as replacements for my equipto, they were identical and fit perfect.


I could see paying 25k for a "box". Like a triple with two lockers, a powered top, and a hutch. Apples to oranges when somebody like me can get a 6k triple bay, just a "box".

 

[CGarage]

I like the industrial storage solution you proposed….for the money, it is a better value by far.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I like the industrial storage solution you proposed….for the money, it is a better value by far.

It's surprisingly handsome as well. It seems very crude in pictures, but it has a very "official" look. While the gloss of the tool boxes certainly is nice, the industrial cabinets are a more dignified aesthetic. I wouldn't want to work out of an industrial cabinet like a tool box, but they can certainly swallow some bulk storage.

 

[MarkH]

What field were you working in that had tool boxes mounted to pickup trucks? Background info needed, please.

upper midwestern large scale farming. At that time almost every farmer in the area had the go to town pickup and field pickups. The field pickups had a toolbox mounted on the back passenger side. You welded a mount together and bolted it to the pickup. The box was bolted to the mount. The boxes were a three drawer sliding front covered style that locked. That was to hold it together. The key was usually in the lock.

Fields were up to 20 miles away from base at that time and has gotten worse. So you had to have a fairly complete service unit available.

 

[KnurledNut]

Can you show me some industrial cabinet manufacturers?

Used huge Lyon modular systems at the mine warehouses. Incredible stuff.

https://www.lyonworkspace.com/

 

[CGarage]

Yeah, I got 30 sets of wrenches. Each set has saved the day.

Tell me more! I feel deficient not having 30 sets…

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Tell me more! I feel deficient not having 30 sets…

35 sets, plus 11 sets of crowfeet style. Split between 75% metric, 25% SAE.

 

[CGarage]

35 sets, plus 11 sets of crowfeet style. Split between 75% metric, 25% SAE.

Brands? Different lengths and sizes I imagine?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Brands? Different lengths and sizes I imagine?

Basically all the brands LOL.

Most are by set. Some like the flare nut wrenches are by size. So all the 7/9 wrenches from all the sets, the. All the 10/8s, etc. First drawer is all SAE and crow feet. Second is all metric plus the SAE line wrenches, last is cart.

I don't like to suffer. The 3 sets on my cart do most of the work. Wright grip, a pile for bleeder and brake pins, gearwrench xl and mountain offset flex reversable.