cody1325
Well-known member
I've been helping a family friend (and learning in the process) do several maintenance/restoration jobs on various (mostly '80s GM) vehicles.
Thus, I've decided to build a box I can throw in a car/UTV easily--based on automotive work only, as opposed to my current hand boxes being pretty well disorganized and poorly equipped compared to my rollers/chests (Granddad kept one set each in the garage, farm shop, and basement).
First of all, boxes. These are what I personally own, though I'd love a sizeable cantilever box.
Popular Mechanics (Stack-On) 24" Mechanic's Box.
Seems a lot of apprentice/starter kits come in similar boxes.
Pros--**** ton of room, and should have no problem holding long tools like my 24" breaker bar or a hacksaw.
Cons: two feet long means it's unwieldy to carry. Also, HEAVY, even empty.
Vermont American 20" box.
Mine's color reversed and has short chrome pulls (so, presumably older). Haven't cleaned it up yet.
Pros: because of the two drawers, easier to find stuff and I'm foaming them. Also, drawers stay in when lid is shut.
Cons: Poor Condition, shorter (meaning less room for longer tools). Several dents, slightly bent frame, and drawers don't open or close very well.
Contents: I'm basing it off the Snap-On apprentice kits. I'm sure all of this will fit in the 24" PM without issue.
While next to nothing's actually Snap-On (save for a couple gaps in metric soon to be covered by some CAT offerings, plus a decent set of metric sockets from them as well), I have most of this stuff on my own from various brands, so it's just stocking the box. I'll get some Mayhew punches and chisels from TSC.
For his '80s-90s GM, I've mostly used metric tools. Thus, I'm sure I'll stock the box with ONLY metric, except for things like my spark plug set. Anything else SAE I may need to add? What about specialty bits/sockets?
To save room, I'm thinking bit driver and bits. The one I like and use best is the rebranded Facom Lowe's had as V-Series last Christmas season.
Standard stuff in the set, plus one of those huge Kobalt "everything" bit sets repacked into a Dewalt case.
Also, I'm thinking about buying him an inexpensive secondhand roller and top chest (or even service cart) for his tools. His tools aren't organized very well, and are all over the place. Thus, I bring my own. Most of his mechanic's tools are stuffed in the original packaging/hard cases, shoved into an undersize hand box, or hung up.
Thus, I've decided to build a box I can throw in a car/UTV easily--based on automotive work only, as opposed to my current hand boxes being pretty well disorganized and poorly equipped compared to my rollers/chests (Granddad kept one set each in the garage, farm shop, and basement).
First of all, boxes. These are what I personally own, though I'd love a sizeable cantilever box.
Popular Mechanics (Stack-On) 24" Mechanic's Box.
Seems a lot of apprentice/starter kits come in similar boxes.
Pros--**** ton of room, and should have no problem holding long tools like my 24" breaker bar or a hacksaw.
Cons: two feet long means it's unwieldy to carry. Also, HEAVY, even empty.
Vermont American 20" box.
Mine's color reversed and has short chrome pulls (so, presumably older). Haven't cleaned it up yet.
Pros: because of the two drawers, easier to find stuff and I'm foaming them. Also, drawers stay in when lid is shut.
Cons: Poor Condition, shorter (meaning less room for longer tools). Several dents, slightly bent frame, and drawers don't open or close very well.
Contents: I'm basing it off the Snap-On apprentice kits. I'm sure all of this will fit in the 24" PM without issue.
While next to nothing's actually Snap-On (save for a couple gaps in metric soon to be covered by some CAT offerings, plus a decent set of metric sockets from them as well), I have most of this stuff on my own from various brands, so it's just stocking the box. I'll get some Mayhew punches and chisels from TSC.
For his '80s-90s GM, I've mostly used metric tools. Thus, I'm sure I'll stock the box with ONLY metric, except for things like my spark plug set. Anything else SAE I may need to add? What about specialty bits/sockets?
To save room, I'm thinking bit driver and bits. The one I like and use best is the rebranded Facom Lowe's had as V-Series last Christmas season.
Standard stuff in the set, plus one of those huge Kobalt "everything" bit sets repacked into a Dewalt case.
Also, I'm thinking about buying him an inexpensive secondhand roller and top chest (or even service cart) for his tools. His tools aren't organized very well, and are all over the place. Thus, I bring my own. Most of his mechanic's tools are stuffed in the original packaging/hard cases, shoved into an undersize hand box, or hung up.
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