aircraft mechanics......let's see your tool box!

[brandini109]

Aircraft mechanics...I wanna see you tool box set-ups. I use a roll cart and main box and thinking about changing it up.

 

[Bagherra]

What do you work on?
I use to do Cobra's & Huey's, then transitioned to Black Hawks.

 

[brandini109]

GA singles and twins. Nothing cool like cobras.

 

[fuddinator]

I am a line mechanic for a regional airline and use the homak 22in cantilever box. Yes it is big and heavy but it lasts through the abuse. It also lets me keep things some what organized. I also carry a mil surplus green mechanics tool bag that holds things like gloves flashlights batteries etc.

http://m.northerntool.com/products/shop~tools~product_200388071_200388071

Will get a picture when i go back to work wednesday

 

[gagreen]

I'm in general aviation / crop dusters

 

[kbeefy]

I work on Helicopters, Bell 412's lately (think of it as the modern Huey), previously 212's, 206's, and AStars.

I used to have one of these, it was too cramped.

When I'm in the field I have a craftsman clamshell and an xtra long snap on cantilever box.
I always have a small surplus GI bag I can do most of my daily stuff out of.

I had a large long box similar to the SO above ^^^ and a matco 6 drawer cart before I moved, that worked well if your in the same place all the time. My issue was if I unpack my field box I might forget something, so the field boxes just lived on top of the roll cab, fully packed. That was probably my favorite setup.
Hey, I found a pic!

 

[brandini109]

my main box/cart set-up

 

[66354dream]

Just curious, Why do you guys have small tool boxes? ( compared to a lot of auto mechanics boxes that I see)

 

[gagreen]

Just curious, Why do you guys have small tool boxes? ( compared to a lot of auto mechanics boxes that I see)

hardware standardization mostly, but there is no simple answer. I have a pretty large snap on box that is quickly filling, but I've got a bit of a tool buying problem. Many of the bigger operations have tool cribs in order to have more control over tools.

 

[gooblunar]

I'm in general aviation / crop dusters

What ag planes do you work on most?

 

[brandini109]

When you work with smaller aircraft and crowded hangars smaller more maneuverable tool boxes are essential. I bought an epic a few years ago but it was land locked at the back of the shop so I traded it for a 1972 buick.

 

[ZRX61]

I work out of a bucket

 

[ZRX61]

ok, slight understatement..
I work out of 5 or 6 rollaways, but my work is resto/fab/maint so I have more than the guys at airlines etc.
I have to go get me some learnin' at the college now, but I'll post pics later.

 

[gagreen]

What ag planes do you work on most?

Pawnees

 

[fuddinator]

Just curious, Why do you guys have small tool boxes? ( compared to a lot of auto mechanics boxes that I see)

Several different reasons really. For the most part all the hardware on airplanes is all 6 or 12 point SAE. Some airplanes are different but they are the exception. So that cuts out half the tools by not buying full metric sets. If there is something metric or odd ball we'll just buy that one piece. Also majority of the work is done using 1/4 drive. I don't even own any 1/2 in drive stuff.

It also depends on where you work. GA guys tend to have more than airline guys. I work for a regional and anything specalized they provide. Torque wrenches, large sockets for tire nuts, crowsfeet, etc is all provided. Also hangers get cramped and smaller boxes get around easier.

 

[22george]

Also with cars, the car is moved to your toolbox. With airplanes you move your toolbox to the aircraft - in the hanger

 

[ckblum]

I think the big Snap-On tool "carts", KRSC46 are the best bang for the buck, all around tool box for aviation use. A few extra thin drawers and it's pretty much perfect. Easy to roll, compact and lots of space.

I was about to pull the trigger on one just before switch careers. I am now in the heavy duty trades, big tools, big boxes.

 

[kbeefy]

For the most part all the hardware on airplanes is all 6 or 12 point SAE..

I do 95% of my work with a #2 phillips, a 12 pt 1/4" ratchet set (1/4, 5/16th and 3/8 mostly) and a flashlight.

 

[MF'er]

I do 95% of my work with a #2 phillips, a 12 pt 1/4" ratchet set (1/4, 5/16th and 3/8 mostly) and a flashlight.

Truth. Its almost depressing when you realize how much we don't need.

 

[fuddinator]

I do 95% of my work with a #2 phillips, a 12 pt 1/4" ratchet set (1/4, 5/16th and 3/8 mostly) and a flashlight.

If we're being honest, most of my work is done with a leatherman and a pilot g2 .5 pen.

Between my green bag and my brown box I have everything I need. There are things I am working on getting that make some jobs a lot easier.

 

[wiens80]

If we're being honest, most of my work is done with a leatherman and a pilot g2 .5 pen.

Between my green bag and my brown box I have everything I need. There are things I am working on getting that make some jobs a lot easier.

And the Timber Wolf helps the day go by faster [emoji39]

 

[gagreen]

If we're being honest, most of my work is done with a leatherman and a pilot g2 .5 pen.

Depends on the area of aviation. In small shop GA and ag, the variety of tools and specialty equipment can be a little overwhelming.

 

[Hootbro]

Just curious, Why do you guys have small tool boxes? ( compared to a lot of auto mechanics boxes that I see)

Many places you are working the same model aircraft and the same scheduled maintenance jobs over and over again. Unless you change employers and/or working other models and makes, you do not need an extensive set of tools.

Also, the bigger facilities is going to have the specialty tools on hand and company owned as most aviation specialty tools are way more expensive than than they are in the automotive world.

 

[ollie76]

If we're being honest, most of my work is done with a leatherman and a pilot g2 .5 pen.

Between my green bag and my brown box I have everything I need. There are things I am working on getting that make some jobs a lot easier.

What's that, about 8 lbs of lockwire? LOL

 

[ollie76]

Truth. Its almost depressing when you realize how much we don't need.

Oh ****.....it's an 11/32"!

 

[66354dream]

Many places you are working the same model aircraft and the same scheduled maintenance jobs over and over again. Unless you change employers and/or working other models and makes, you do not need an extensive set of tools.

Also, the bigger facilities is going to have the specialty tools on hand and company owned as most aviation specialty tools are way more expensive than than they are in the automotive world.

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[fuddinator]

What's that, about 8 lbs of lockwire? LOL

Two are safety wire. 1 .032 and 1 .025. One of them holds a bunch of #30 drill bits and snap on easy outs. The last 1 I store a bottle of super glue and couple packets of 5 min epoxy. That way they don't bust and leave a mess in my box.