Anyone ever downsize in toolboxes?

[78C-10]

So has any professional techs out there ever downsize their toolboxes? I'm a heavy equipment mechanic. I have a 66" Mac Macsimizer box. I recently hung a Menards Masterforce locker on it and now this past week I bought a blue Snap On side box that was a killer deal and hung it on the back of the box.
I've recently brought some tools home that I never ever use to relieve some space in the 66" Macsimizer. Since buying this side box I thought of just buying Snap On's 35" box, hanging the new used side box on it and possibly a Snap On KRSC46 cart. That way I get rid of this huge Frankenstein box I've got going and still have roughly have the same cubic inches. Any of you ever downsize toolboxes? Let's see your set up if you have. I know here on GJ everything is big, huge, and bigger. But it can be a pain moving this huge box around from bay to bay. I'm thinking, smaller/modular may be easier. Thank you.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I run a 6 drawer sunex cart which I push around bay to bay. I have two snap on triples among other things as home base.

I'm a believer in a large cart, and possibly a tear down/diagnostic rolling tray. Make it so 95% of your work can run with that cart, and use the box when you need it. I might use that toyota 4wd wheel bearing socket once a year, but when I need it I need it. I'd keep your maximum space setup, and add a cart for your normal use. What do you work on?

That's a toolbox tour many many tools ago (and a box) but the cart is basically the same. Aside from diagnostic which takes up tons of space I can do most everything with that.

 

[78C-10]

2ndGearRubber, I work on heavy equipment and we don't have dedicated bays like in some auto shops. I have to push my box to where the job is. My other thing is I don't understand the whole cubic inch thing. Three KRSC46 carts have over 60,000 cubic inches of space but a 17k dollar Snap On Epiq box has 55,500 cubic inches. Think I'd rather spend a third of the price on three carts versus a $17,000 Epiq box. Can someone explain the cubic inch thing?

 

[richfinn]

Yep, I had to downsize when I started working mobile travel light and like tools that do multiple tasks are your best bet, dont carry any Imperial sized tools anymore

BTW I live pretty close to Fred Dibnah's old stomping ground (Bolton), just over the border in Yorkshire. He was a great guy and passionate about our industrial heritage, absolute "balls of steel" too

 

[redwrench60]

My other thing is I don't understand the whole cubic inch thing. Three KRSC46 carts have over 60,000 cubic inches of space but a 17k dollar Snap On Epiq box has 55,500 cubic inches. Think I'd rather spend a third of the price on three carts versus a $17,000 Epiq box. Can someone explain the cubic inch thing?

A 5 gallon bucket has 1,155 cubic inches but none of us would dream of storing all our sockets and ratchets in one. For tool storage we need drawer space which is more accurately measured in square inches. Think of cubic inches like how much water would each drawer hold if filled to the brim and square inches as available surface area of a drawer.

 

[crewchief888]

Heavy eq mechanic here too.
I've been working out in the field since 2004. I sold a couple boxes in 2005 to a young guy we had working for us at the time.
Theres no way the tools I have in my service truck will fit in my remaining kr555/550.
I'm not planning on going back to working in the shop. I'll retire from the field.

 

[emort007]

I did.

I semi-retired from the automotive repair business in 2017 and downsized from a Montezuma elite 30X72 to a US General 22X56 box with two side lockers. It was a bit of an issue at first, but I slowly sold off the tools I knew I would no longer need to the next generation of techs.

A few years later and I don't regret it. The thought of moving that massive Montezuma box again was a no-go.

 

[78C-10]

Yep, I had to downsize when I started working mobile travel light and like tools that do multiple tasks are your best bet, dont carry any Imperial sized tools anymore

BTW I live pretty close to Fred Dibnah's old stomping ground (Bolton), just over the border in Yorkshire. He was a great guy and passionate about our industrial heritage, absolute "balls of steel" too

That's awesome to hear you're near Bolton. I discovered Fred here on GJ a few years ago and have been amazed by him since. I can't get enough of his videos. I bet he was a great guy to sit and have a brew with. Would've loved to hear his stories.

 

[richfinn]

That's awesome to hear you're near Bolton. I discovered Fred here on GJ a few years ago and have been amazed by him since. I can't get enough of his videos. I bet he was a great guy to sit and have a brew with. Would've loved to hear his stories.

Fortunately after "discovering" Fred in the late 70s
The BBC managed to record quite a lot of stuff over the years with his unique style

You might also like Guy Martin's programmes, truck mechanic/motorcycle racer/tv presenter in that order

 

[rsanter]

Never really downsized, but what I have done is as the main box gets full I migrate specific tools out of it.

I now have several toolboxes that are setup for specific use or specific storage.

Engine building box. This has all my engine building specific tools in it and is only pulled out when building engines. Also serves as the base for the valve grinder.

Clamp box. I now have one box that is just for C clamps, vise grips and such. Used mostly when doing fabrication.

Machine tool. This box holds all the drills, reams, bits, collets, chucks, ets used for the mill and lathe.

Precision measuring box. This box has the calipers, indicators, mics, as well as broaches and specific tooling/fixtures used with the mill or lathe.

Woodworking box. This holds the hand planes, saw blades, router bits, etc that go with the wood working tools

Everyday box. This is an older 33” snap on box that is used like a tool cart. Has the basic sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers and such that are needed right at hand when working on stuff. Also gives a work surface to deal with stuff.


For the way I work I think this is the best. Most of my equipment is on wheels as I don’t have enough room for dedicated space on most things. Depending on the job I am doing I bring out the things I need and tuck the others under pallet racks or in corners (so to speak).

As much as I would love to have the giant toolbox, I feel like that would actually be a step back in organization (not to mention costly). It also will not make working for me easier but likly make more walking as I will not be able to bring the big box to the work

 

[tonyciambrone]

Ha...no

 

[LMS]

Turn in your man card!

 

[78C-10]

I just keep thinking how the old timers I started out working with worked their entire careers with a 26" or 30" tool box. Now most of us have to have these landing strips of tool boxes that cost 15 plus thousand, and if for some unfortunate reason I had to move jobs I don't need a a wrecker to move it for me.

 

[softailgarage]

I went from having 14 at one time, including a KRL1022 to 0

 

[dffay]

You’re kidding, right?
Downsize other things but never a toolbox.......

 

[78C-10]

You’re kidding, right?
Downsize other things but never a toolbox.......

It's getting to be a pain in the *** to move my gargantuan box around. I have to move where the work is. That's why I thought a couple smaller boxes would be easier.

 

[Zewnten]

Yep went from a krl1003 to a blackhawk 42"x18" all full length drawers with a craftsman top box and a montezuma lower that I use as a cart. Also just picked up a craftsman grip latch side locker and put it on the cart. Currently thinks of getting a security cage to replace the blackhawk craftsman setup.

 

[CS454]

I work with several guys who swear by (an admittedly crammed) 26" Stack with a side locker. That's all I have plus a 5 drawer cart that's purely for convenience. Diesel fleet environment, formerly dealership.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Never really downsized, but what I have done is as the main box gets full I migrate specific tools out of it.

Same here !

About 10 years ago, I added a middle box. I kind of regret it because I need a step stool to truly see what is in the top, where I keep my sockets and drive tools.

The top was so full, I finally moved ALL of my 1/2" drive stuff to the back of my bottom most drawer in the base. Other than lug nut flip sockets, at my age, I doubt I will ever use them again ! (Although, I did buy a Pittsburgh 1/2" drive 25" breaker bar a couple of years ago ! )


Advice to DIYers : Think twice and then think again before investing in 1/2" drive ! Same with 3/8" impact, except maybe swivel impact.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Thoughts on the snap-on TUV (tool utility vehicle)? It's designed to be easier to move. They do pop up used occasionally. I'd be annoyed moving a fleet of carts from job to job.

Any way to get a few carts and separate tools into common sets? Meaning you can bring you diagnostic cart, and leave the sockets on a diagnostic job. Doing a turbo, leave the giant sockets and diag stuff elsewhere, etc.

 

[rsanter]

I just keep thinking how the old timers I started out working with worked their entire careers with a 26" or 30" tool box. Now most of us have to have these landing strips of tool boxes that cost 15 plus thousand, and if for some unfortunate reason I had to move jobs I don't need a a wrecker to move it for me.

Cars have become more complex.
Now often we have both metric and SAE
Then the addition of torx, triple square, and other non-hex based fasteners.

Then there are the tools that are time savers, yes you can do without them but they save you time which means you can make more money in the same amount of time (if you are on flat rate)

I’m going to guess that unless you change careers to something working on less complex equipment, or unless you change to a very specific job that just needs a limited number of tools.....then no you won’t be downsizing

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

No I could never do that I have way too many tools they don’t all fit in all of my boxes or tool carts anyway and at work we can only have one box and One cart per tech so I have the big US General box and one of the 5 drawer carts the box has the top box and side locker on it too. At home I have tools stored away in cardboard boxes that don’t fit in any of my home boxes and luckily for me I know what each box has in it and have caught my mom trying to get rid of some of them saying I don’t need them luckily I caught it before she sent them to Goodwill. So no I couldn’t downsize but I can add more lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[milwaukeephil]

Advice to DIYers : Think twice and then think again before investing in 1/2" drive ! Same with 3/8" impact, except maybe swivel impact.

Hi, this is interesting. Could you expand on this? My 1/2" stuff gets used all the time, especially on suspension stuff.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Cars have become more complex.
Now often we have both metric and SAE
Then the addition of torx, triple square, and other non-hex based fasteners.

Then there are the tools that are time savers, yes you can do without them but they save you time which means you can make more money in the same amount of time (if you are on flat rate)

I’m going to guess that unless you change careers to something working on less complex equipment, or unless you change to a very specific job that just needs a limited number of tools.....then no you won’t be downsizing

Bingo. The things the old timers worked on were infinitely simpler than todays vehicles and the amount of specialty tooling was much lower. One could likely fill up one of those old single bay top/bottom boxes exclusively working on subarus. My drawer of tools just for replacing ball joints is 30x30".

 

[theoldwizard1]

Cars have become more complex.
Now often we have both metric and SAE.

Not for cars ! They changed to all metric in the 1980s.

Well, maybe you work on "vintage iron" !

 

[theoldwizard1]

Hi, this is interesting. Could you expand on this? My 1/2" stuff gets used all the time, especially on suspension stuff.

And that is the ONLY thing my 1/2" stuff EVER got used for ! I have a 22 yo truck. In that time I have had the ball joints replace twice and the shocks once. Each time I weighed the cost vs my time/effort and had the job out sourced.

About 5 years ago, I did replace most (all?) of the steering linkage. That was the last time I used anything 1/2" drive except my flip lug nut sockets and torque wrench.

At my age, I don't think I will be that ever again ! The rest, I can do with 3/8".

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

The OP is a heavy equipment mechanic, it WILL be a mix of sae and metric, and 1/2 and 3/4 drive are a necessity.

I work on equipment and trucks, and recently converted from a service truck to an enclosed trailer to haul my toolboxes and compressor and hardware around. If you’re in the shop, a smaller box may be hard to do. Sounds like you need a service truck to move your tools from job to job