Any mechanics ever downsize?

[78C-10]

Hello everyone. I'm thinking out loud on a forum so I'm ready for all opinions and thoughts. I'm a heavy equipment tech and we move from bay to bay, we techs don't have our own personal bays so we move our boxes a lot. For about two years now I've been working out of a Macsimizer MB1357 box and recently bought a Snap On KRSC46 cart for my everyday tools.

Well I got to thinking lately that I really love that Snap On cart and I thought if I could fit everything in the Mac box into two more Snap On carts I thought maybe it would be a little easier to have three smaller carts rather than the big aircraft carrier box and cart. I also thought in the unfortunate event that I lose my job that moving three carts would be easier than moving that giant Mac box. Anyone ever downsize like this? Thoughts, opinions, and comments are welcomed and wanted. Thank you all

 

[Phantom552]

Never done it myself, but I've worked with guys that worked out of 2-3 smaller boxes. Looked like a PITA to me... probably because at least 3 of the guys ive seen with the smaller boxes kept them in different parts of the shop for some reason.

I stick to a "big" box ~56" wide for specialty tools and other stuff that doesn't get used every day, a roll cart for the basics that get me through the day, and a rubbermaid utility cart for the job at hand. My logic being that if/when it's time to move on, I can still move everything relatively easily. 2 trips with my truck, or 1 trip with a drop deck utility trailer and I'm done.

 

[gdpolk]

I think it makes sense to have a small, mobile, highly versatile kit of quality basic tools and another comprehensive mother load of everything and the kitchen sink. 90% of what I've done could be handled with a relatively small set of tools. That other 10% often requires a specialty tool, odd size/configuration of a more common tool, or tools for jobs that I don't really do a lot of. For these instances it's not hard to go to the big box.

 

[Wes J]

I used to work as a truck mechanic and have a Mac Tech 1000 double bay box that I've used for years. Full up it weighs around 1500 lbs.

Now I work as a field service engineer fixing machine tools. I travel 100% and work out of a pair of Kennedy hand boxes. I have a few other trays and boxes.

I find it kind of liberating. I don't have to drag all that **** around with me. I can't have every tool I want for every job, but I have what I need to accomplish 95% of my work in those two portable boxes.

 

[Mastermind]

I've thought this out myself. I have a 68" epic with a locker, an overloaded Matco cart, and a plain jane two shelf cart. The matco gets rolled over for engines, trans, heavy suspension. Brake job or something just throw a couple things on the little cart and roll it around. Parts etc. Go on it. Always wanted a big snappy cart with the sliding lid, Never done it.

 

[Formula]

I also thought in the unfortunate event that I lose my job that moving three carts would be easier than moving that giant Mac box. Anyone ever downsize like this? Thoughts, opinions, and comments are welcomed and wanted. Thank you all

Myself and a lot of techs I know have big tool boxes. If we switch jobs, we all get them moved by a flat bed tow truck. Its not that expensive. Last time I had mine moved, I think they charged me $120. They wrapped it with protective blankets and strapped it down nice and secure, better and safer than I could ever manage. A small price to pay to save me a lot of time and hassle.

 

[Outnumbered76]

I was forced to down size when the shop added 5 extra guys per shift and then a 3rd shift. Most dropped back to a cart for a few months. Once the shop had to start buying all the specialty tools that the tech's had in there big boxes, the big boxes where brought back at there expense. A couple guys sold there big boxes and went to the big snap on carts, some stayed there. Most have moved back into mid size boxes and carts.

We have the same problem, large heavy equipment and truck shop. No room to store all the tool boxes, and no assigned bays. And even with a cart, some days I walk back and forth dozen times. On bad days my pedometer can hit 17,000 steps in 10 hours.

 

[gdocktor3]

You could create 3 different carts that cater to different needs. One cart can have cordless tools, saw's and blades, air impact tools and impact sockets, accessories, air hammers and bits, grinders and wheels, drills and bits. Then other stuff that go along with it like taps and dies, extractors, etc. The next cart can have basic hand tools sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pry bars, etc etc. Then the last cart could have diagnostic and specialty tools, nuts, bolts, zip ties, tubing benders, the stuff that you occasionally use. I have two full size boxes that are separated like that. One has hand tools the other has pneumatic, cordless and specialty tools.

 

[Know Wosad]

You could create 3 different carts that cater to different needs. One cart can have cordless tools, saw's and blades, air impact tools and impact sockets, accessories, air hammers and bits, grinders and wheels, drills and bits. Then other stuff that go along with it like taps and dies, extractors, etc. The next cart can have basic hand tools sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pry bars, etc etc. Then the last cart could have diagnostic and specialty tools, nuts, bolts, zip ties, tubing benders, the stuff that you occasionally use. I have two full size boxes that are separated like that. One has hand tools the other has pneumatic, cordless and specialty tools.

You nailed it.
I hate mega boxes and house trailers. I like multiple stacks and multiple carts.
A buddy had about 5-6 carts. Brake and chassis cart
Body-sheet metal cart.Welding cart. Tune up cart. Metric. SAE carts.
He even had a cart-table with fold ups for wood working. Toss on a miter saw and the router, jigsaw,sanders, chisels and stuff were in the drawers below.
He was disgustingly efficient( military guy).
Some of it rubbed off on me.I'm a slob in comparison but those things are always in my memory(what's left)

 

[geartow]

I went from a 54 inch mac top / bottom with 3 side boxes and a couple of 26 inch cman bottoms stacked a 2 tray cart and a stand alone locker to a plastic tote when I changed jobs. To hard for me to move the stuff 400 miles for me. I took what was really needed for the job and left the rest . I choose wisely on what to take and have been doing fine.I now work from a 40 inch so bottom with a 32 inch mac top and a hf side locker. Occasionally I wish I had some thing from the big box in moms garage but ussally it is a shop supplied tool any ways. That's my rant.

 

[goingtoarizona]

My experience is that you make time when you have all your common tools in a cart. If you're flat rate the benefit is obvious, if you're not, your foreman and service manager will think more highly of you and raises might be in your future.

As an automotive tech, we had tire pressure gauges, brake and tire depth gauges, wrenches, sockets,extensions, screwdrivers, fluids, torque sticks etc all on the cart. It increases productivity tremendously, you only need to get into the box for specialized tools.

 

[Rarified27]

This sounds like a great idea for home as well, especially when it comes to cleaning a garage/work area.

Moving one of the large boxes by yourself can be dangerous or impossible depending on the weight.

 

[crewchief888]

at the last dealership i worked at, my boxes never moved.

everything i needed on a daily basis was on a 2 shelf cart.