Ok, I have at least five rolling Snap On boxes, and maybe eight top boxes I'd consider them vintage newest is 1984 ish. They're completely full except for the Taco box. I really want easy opening drawers ball bearing slides. Sell everything and get two used triple bank boxes? Sort out everything into better weight distribution and maybe drawers are easier to open? My free time was just interrupted by both of my full grown daughters................................
Consolidating into fewer toolboxes?
- Thread starter 930dreamer
- Start date
I've had a vague idea for the last year or two of consolidating and letting go of some tools so I can let go of at least one tool box stack, in order to open up some valuable floor space in my undersized "2 car" garage. Mind you, I haven't actually *done* much of anything about it...
OP
At 60+ I really want my elective work as easy as I can make it. All the tools are staying but the boxes need to change.
BTL-A4
Well-known member
I say sell and get some nice, new, ball-bearing drawers. Treat yourself.
PS: show us photos!
PS: show us photos!
OP
Stelzer
Well-known member
For me the deciding factor on when to get bigger is when a certain group of tools don't fit in 1 drawer so they end up continuing in another drawer, and if I need to pull from several boxes just to perform certain tasks. Maybe ask yourself if deeper/wider drawers would simplify your life? How often do you use your tools? Is the time you spend using the tools consumed by navigating to several boxes before having most of what you need to complete a certain task? If you do a lot of mechanical work, bigger boxes coupled with a service cart can check most of the boxes. Ball bearing slides are nice, but that'd be among the low end of criteria for me when making such a decision. This is GJ though, so I'm obligated to also advise you to keep your current boxes and also buy new.
Yeah, friction slides don't do real well with heavily loaded drawers. You would probably do better with a couple of big rollers with lots of drawers and heavy duty ball bearing drawer slides.
Sell and start with a new big box. Takes up less space and makes a happier life. If you get a 72x30 Master series or even a 68x30 Epiq you'd be surprised how much **** you can pack into one....especially if you are good at organizing. Done right it looks to me like all those tools will fit in one decent sized 30 inch deep box easy.
richfinn
Well-known member
Treat Yourself to one (or two) of the Tekton toolboxes, that's what I would do 
mreisner
Well-known member
A little over a year ago I did exactly what you're contemplating. Went from a 72 inch US general with two side hangers and a hutch and a 40 inch newer Snap-on roller and top box and a 42 in US general and top box and side locker to a 30-in deep three Bay Master Series Snap-on. I got a good deal on the box and a good trade in on the other Snap-on stuff and the harbor freight stuff so for surprisingly close to what I had into it. Basically for about $2,800 out of the pocket I got the Snap-on box with the power top and power drawer. A couple of months later I found a side cabinet for a smoking deal and hung that on there. Other than bigger boxed items like polar sets Etc that I keep in a cabinet in the shop it is terrific to have everything in one box with deep drawers and fantastic slides. I actually had to put a little bit of concrete patch in the back corner to get the Box level as the drawers would slowly close themselves, even the ones that are very heavily loaded with sockets or the one that has a couple hundred end wrenches in it. The heated area in my shop is not real big so not only did I gain a fair amount of floor space but I'm much more efficient with everything being basically in one box now. After 40 Years of pulling wrenches I can honestly say I wish I would have bought this box a decade ago.
OP
BTL-A4
Well-known member
Are you sure you need/want to keep all the tools? I count 20 ratchets in the back of the drawer in the first photo. They all appear to be the same size. What do you use them all for? I'm curious.
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
Have you tried Snap-on’s recommended drawer slide lubricant technique? It makes a world of difference.
Remove all drawers and clean every bit of old grease and dirt off with solvent. Then wipe off all of the solvent
Then rub a bar of paraffin wax on all sliding surfaces. You can buy bars of paraffin wax for canning purposes. It is cheap from grocery stores or mail order.
Reassemble the top drawer. Slide in and out about 10 times to knock off excess wax. Continue to work your way down the tool box with each drawer. Before you install the bottom drawer, vacuum up the paraffin wax bits at the bottom. Then install the last drawer.
You do not need a huge amount of wax. I tend to used more than I needed and it slightly increases the drag force.
The nice part is wax is a dry lubricant and tends to not collect Dirt like oil.
I find it usually makes a big difference, even on heavily loaded drawers.
This technique works well on most all tool box drawer slides, except for Kennedy which tends to be more hit or miss on the shallow tool chests (520, 526, etc.).
Remove all drawers and clean every bit of old grease and dirt off with solvent. Then wipe off all of the solvent
Then rub a bar of paraffin wax on all sliding surfaces. You can buy bars of paraffin wax for canning purposes. It is cheap from grocery stores or mail order.
Reassemble the top drawer. Slide in and out about 10 times to knock off excess wax. Continue to work your way down the tool box with each drawer. Before you install the bottom drawer, vacuum up the paraffin wax bits at the bottom. Then install the last drawer.
You do not need a huge amount of wax. I tend to used more than I needed and it slightly increases the drag force.
The nice part is wax is a dry lubricant and tends to not collect Dirt like oil.
I find it usually makes a big difference, even on heavily loaded drawers.
This technique works well on most all tool box drawer slides, except for Kennedy which tends to be more hit or miss on the shallow tool chests (520, 526, etc.).
OP
dr_clyde
Well-known member
So, having asked this question before myself I think the answer boils down to the following. Is this a working shop with clearly defined goals or a place to store your collection of tools?
Its ok if its both, but the design and layout of the shop is usually defined by the uses it needs to accomplish. If your collection is making it hard to do the work you want to do, time to change that.
Start by defining what your tools are for, then how often you need them. You mention having too much, and wanting to save some for your grandchildren. Separate out ALL your extras and the stuff you want to pass on to your heirs. That stuff doesn’t need to be in your everyday boxes. It can be stored very densely in storage totes out of the way in a mezzanine, attic, basement or even a separate storage unit if you like. You can sell off the truly extra stuff too. Once you have pulled out all the surplus and stuff you’re saving for the grandchildren, you can now define what your shop does, and how best to sort your tools you actually use so that they’re the most useful.
I personally find it more useful to have smaller, purpose built tool kits at the place they’re used vs one massive tool box with everything in it.
For example, I have a toolbox dedicated to the CNC department, it ONLY contains tools I use when running those machines. It has carbide inserts, soft jaws, cutters, work holding tools and the specific and unique hand tools I use on those machines. It doesn’t have a socket set in it, because I don’t use any sockets on these machines. By doing this, it’s within arms reach and it’s not cluttered by unnecessary stuff used working on cars or welding stuff or whatever. The welding department has its own box, as does the general repair and mechanical work area.
I find this approach much more effective than walking all over the place to get to the big main box when you really just need the tools where you’re at.
This also allows you to more effectively utilize the duplicates in your collection. Its much easier to justify owning 4 sets of wrenches if you have a set in the auto repair box, the fabrication box, the machining box and the mobile kit.
This assumes you have space to do this. This approach doesn’t work in a 2 car garage as well as a pole barn or large workshop. This also doesn’t work as well if you’re working in someone else’s space like an auto mechanic or industrial maintenance tech. Those guys need to move their box to the job and have most everything they need ready to go. But if you have the space and the ability to actually parse what is useful and what is a collectible, I think multiple boxes is the way to go.
Its ok if its both, but the design and layout of the shop is usually defined by the uses it needs to accomplish. If your collection is making it hard to do the work you want to do, time to change that.
Start by defining what your tools are for, then how often you need them. You mention having too much, and wanting to save some for your grandchildren. Separate out ALL your extras and the stuff you want to pass on to your heirs. That stuff doesn’t need to be in your everyday boxes. It can be stored very densely in storage totes out of the way in a mezzanine, attic, basement or even a separate storage unit if you like. You can sell off the truly extra stuff too. Once you have pulled out all the surplus and stuff you’re saving for the grandchildren, you can now define what your shop does, and how best to sort your tools you actually use so that they’re the most useful.
I personally find it more useful to have smaller, purpose built tool kits at the place they’re used vs one massive tool box with everything in it.
For example, I have a toolbox dedicated to the CNC department, it ONLY contains tools I use when running those machines. It has carbide inserts, soft jaws, cutters, work holding tools and the specific and unique hand tools I use on those machines. It doesn’t have a socket set in it, because I don’t use any sockets on these machines. By doing this, it’s within arms reach and it’s not cluttered by unnecessary stuff used working on cars or welding stuff or whatever. The welding department has its own box, as does the general repair and mechanical work area.
I find this approach much more effective than walking all over the place to get to the big main box when you really just need the tools where you’re at.
This also allows you to more effectively utilize the duplicates in your collection. Its much easier to justify owning 4 sets of wrenches if you have a set in the auto repair box, the fabrication box, the machining box and the mobile kit.
This assumes you have space to do this. This approach doesn’t work in a 2 car garage as well as a pole barn or large workshop. This also doesn’t work as well if you’re working in someone else’s space like an auto mechanic or industrial maintenance tech. Those guys need to move their box to the job and have most everything they need ready to go. But if you have the space and the ability to actually parse what is useful and what is a collectible, I think multiple boxes is the way to go.
OP
Just my shop to do whatever in. Nothing is permanent because I haven't decided if it's worth the cost to re-skin the building, insulate, wire etc or just build new.
Packard V8
Well-known member
For true. Comes down to it, I do it both ways. There's the large ball-bearing stack with mechanic's tools in it. Then, there are Kennedy 7-drawer chests to keep the small stuff, taps, dies, drills, reamers, hole saws, files, chisels, punches, et al, in its place. Then, as you suggest, there's a chest by each machine with the tooling and tools appropriate to the function.
And yes, agree, get all that duplicate shite out of there. Those are not working toolboxes; they're a garage sale waiting to happen. If "saving it for the grandkids" is the goal, as suggested, get the surplus out of your working boxes and into storage and half the perceived problem goes away.
Anyway you go, a good problem to have.
jack vines
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
What's your budget and what do you use this stuff for? Looking at some of the pictures, like the pliers, you have a drawer layout issue. I agree with others about trying to get down to exactly what you need and what you're collecting or planning to give away to others. I took my OBDI adapters home, all the pre-2000 specialty scan tool adapters, etc. Wasn't worth the space for once a year or more between uses, it was more than a cubic foot of very important space.
wkndwarrior29
Well-known member
I always like to think that I prefer to spend my money where I spend my time, so if some new toolboxes will bring more enjoyment out of your hobby time in the garage then do it! I personally like wide and deep drawers, I think the Epiq 68 is nice for a home garage. It's also not too big to roll around.
An example of consolidate is a company w/10 employees buying a company w/10 of their own employees.
When the purchasing company fires 15 of the 20, then hires 25 more most being friends, family and distant relatives that are clueless that's consolidating.
When they keep the original 20 and put them in the buyers location when they only had room for 7 originally so they lay off 13, that's downsizing.
bassJAM
Well-known member
OP I had your intention a few years ago although I was only working out of 3 boxes, a 26" Craftman 3 tier, a cheapo 22" 2 tier, and an older Craftsman work table with shelves and some drawers, and then there were also a few metal shelves scattered with tools. I thought "if I only had a big nice toolbox" everything would be more organized and I'd get more room in my shop because I could get rid of the 3 older boxes/bench.
So I got a US General 44" bottom and top box, and was able to organize and fit everything from the other boxes inside of it.
Then before I could get rid of the older toolboxes, I slowly started putting other tools and odds and ends in them. Now all 4 tool boxes are full. It is nice that all of my mechanic's tools are consolidated in the US General and having roller bearing drawers is REALLY nice, but I'm even more strapped for space now.
So I got a US General 44" bottom and top box, and was able to organize and fit everything from the other boxes inside of it.
Then before I could get rid of the older toolboxes, I slowly started putting other tools and odds and ends in them. Now all 4 tool boxes are full. It is nice that all of my mechanic's tools are consolidated in the US General and having roller bearing drawers is REALLY nice, but I'm even more strapped for space now.
GW Butch
Active member
Before
GW Butch
Active member
After
OP
Shop use is oil changes, routine maintenance for six vehicles. Two large blasting cabinets and stuff.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
So, general use maintenance and repair. Are you hurting for space or just want to relieve some clutter?
Any machining, fabrication, paint work, woodworking, or similar such thing?
If the primary use is one thing, it makes sense to consolidate into a single box that can accommodate that thing.
If I was in your shoes, I'd buy a nicer roll cab with ball bearing drawers for my main mechanics tools, then make smaller specialized kits for the rest. If all you do in your shop is mechanics work, you don't need 4 boxes for that.
Most of the time, plumbing, electrical, carpentry and that kind of work is done right at the job, so it makes more sense to have those tools be extremely portable.
OP
My original goal was a general fab type shop for me. Time and now going back to help my mom out is putting everything on hold. Shop is 3200 sq ft with a few unfinished projects.
Like the responses so far.
My suggestion is to buy a roll cart. Hear me out.
Pick yourself out a roll cart, and not a big one. Put in that what you think you need and adapt as your work dictates. You have a drawer full of old ratchets. Pick 2 from each drive size and put them in the roll cart. Judging from the pics, you might want 2 carts. One for modern automotive that’s all metric, and one for tractors and heavy equipment that’s bigger SAE sizes. Then you will know what you need day to day and what you are storing.
Said before but worth repeating: if it’s tool storage you are after, you cannot beat ziplock freezer bags and rubbermaid storage boxes. Tool boxes are listed in catalogs under tool storage, but their function is accessibility. Separate the two.
My suggestion is to buy a roll cart. Hear me out.
Pick yourself out a roll cart, and not a big one. Put in that what you think you need and adapt as your work dictates. You have a drawer full of old ratchets. Pick 2 from each drive size and put them in the roll cart. Judging from the pics, you might want 2 carts. One for modern automotive that’s all metric, and one for tractors and heavy equipment that’s bigger SAE sizes. Then you will know what you need day to day and what you are storing.
Said before but worth repeating: if it’s tool storage you are after, you cannot beat ziplock freezer bags and rubbermaid storage boxes. Tool boxes are listed in catalogs under tool storage, but their function is accessibility. Separate the two.
Boogerman
Well-known member
Looking at both your cabinets and overall shop, you're an accumulator/collector. You're also getting up to the age where it will get away from you, and end up a pile of **** that your kids have to throw much of it away when you're done. I speak from experience, I'm in somewhat the same boat, or was a couple of years ago.
You've articulated the solution, in your first post, but are still denying it in your followups.
You need to consolidate. That also means getting rid of excess that is beyond your needs. And, saving for the grandkids needs to be very selective, not general clutter.
From what I see of your tools, one decent rollaway would take all of your functional tools, organize them, and have room to spare. But, it will have to be a year 2K plus one, not the 1970's antiques you've been accumulating. I'd personally go for a KRL 29" deep master series. I'd suggest a KRL 1001 double bank or a KRL 1003 triple.
Then, put in what you will use. Don't put in the multiple redundant 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchets, you don't even need 1 of those. Put in your best/favorite ones, one of each type and drive size; i.e. long, short, flex, bent. So maybe 15 or 20 ratchets maximum. Could probably get by easily with 10. Out of the selection you showed, I think I would keep 4. The rest are redundant, and quite frankly, non-functional due to obsolescence and low quality. Organize one drawer with full sets of 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" sockets. Keep the 3/4" separate like you have them now, if you use them. Buy wrench racks, and make up complete sets of wrenches that are organized. 2 or 3 sets max plus specialty, store the rest. Organize your pliers so you can see and get to them, and eliminate redundancy.
Take all the redundant tools, and if you can't make yourself get rid of them, store them in boxes or totes on shelves, or if you can't bear to get rid of the old tool boxes, in them. Personally, I'd sell all the redundant tools and tool boxes, except the tool boxes I repurposed to hold woodworking, plumbing, electrical or other tools.
If you work that way, Adam's suggestion of a tool cart makes sense. I don't work that way, so I have a couple of rolling tool tables/carts that I fill as needed for each job. I return the tools at the end of the job, and missing spaces on the racks or socket holders or such show me if I've misplaced anything.
The stuff that you don't use, either store or get rid of. I would highly suggest getting rid of much of what you showed. Don't save it for your grandkids, they won't want it. If you save them anything, make it nice clean, newer compact tool sets that they're likely to be able to store and use. Your grandkids aren't going to grow up and have a 60 year old hoarder mindset when they hit 16. They don't want antique Craftsman and Williams 16 or 20 tooth 1/2" ratchets and 3/4" drive SAE sockets. If they want tools at all, it's a blow molded case with a nice 3/8" drive metric set and a nice ratcheting screwdriver with storage for 60 bits.
The space to work in your shop is worth much more than the junk. As Dr Clyde said, organize the tools by area and type, rather than mixing them up in one big tool box. You need one or two floor jacks. Sell the others. Stack your wood blocking in one area, and return it to that area when you're done. Put shelving against the walls, and sort and consolidate your chemicals, paint, oils, etc so you can find them and use them. Make large clear spaces, 20 x30 feet or more in the shop, to use as workspace. Don't permanently store junk there, move it back out to it's storage area when you're done with the job, so the space is clear for the next one.
What is very important at our age is to get ahead of the clutter, and then keep it down in the future. We get less and less capable, so to keep working and using our space, it is important to not get it so cluttered that we just give up and work in the mess. It gets overwhelming to clean up if it gets past a certain stage. 3200 SF will be too much to keep up with easily when you get to 70, and if it's full of redundant clutter like your ratchet drawer, it will not get cleaned up then. Clean it up now so you have easy to work in space, and then keep it clean. That strategy will be most successful for keeping you working in your shop for the next 20 years. Someone told me a while back that outside of car storage and a working bay for vehicles, about 1000 sf is all a single person can keep up with for shop/storage space. I believe that's true, outside of space for big things like a table saw, woodworking bench, layout table, lathe or mill etc.
In your space, I'd consider putting in a partition and seal and insulate a space of about 20 by 30 feet or less, and heat/cool that space and keep it clean. Move your high quality tools to there, make workbenches, pegboard on the walls, shelves, etc in your preferred storage configuration. Put a large worktable in the center, and workbenches on one or more walls. Then, keep that space clean, uncluttered and organized.
Use the gross space outside of your finish shop for vehicles, working bay and materials storage. Keep it organized and clean too, don't use it for junk storage.
Your space doesn't look too bad yet. I'd guess a good weeks worth of cleaning/sorting and a decent yard sale would make it pretty usable. The money made from redundant tools and 2/3 of the antique tool boxes would easily pay for some storage cabinets and a nice modern rolling double or triple bank that would store all the useful tools.
Good luck!
You've articulated the solution, in your first post, but are still denying it in your followups.
You need to consolidate. That also means getting rid of excess that is beyond your needs. And, saving for the grandkids needs to be very selective, not general clutter.
From what I see of your tools, one decent rollaway would take all of your functional tools, organize them, and have room to spare. But, it will have to be a year 2K plus one, not the 1970's antiques you've been accumulating. I'd personally go for a KRL 29" deep master series. I'd suggest a KRL 1001 double bank or a KRL 1003 triple.
Then, put in what you will use. Don't put in the multiple redundant 1/2" drive Craftsman ratchets, you don't even need 1 of those. Put in your best/favorite ones, one of each type and drive size; i.e. long, short, flex, bent. So maybe 15 or 20 ratchets maximum. Could probably get by easily with 10. Out of the selection you showed, I think I would keep 4. The rest are redundant, and quite frankly, non-functional due to obsolescence and low quality. Organize one drawer with full sets of 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" sockets. Keep the 3/4" separate like you have them now, if you use them. Buy wrench racks, and make up complete sets of wrenches that are organized. 2 or 3 sets max plus specialty, store the rest. Organize your pliers so you can see and get to them, and eliminate redundancy.
Take all the redundant tools, and if you can't make yourself get rid of them, store them in boxes or totes on shelves, or if you can't bear to get rid of the old tool boxes, in them. Personally, I'd sell all the redundant tools and tool boxes, except the tool boxes I repurposed to hold woodworking, plumbing, electrical or other tools.
If you work that way, Adam's suggestion of a tool cart makes sense. I don't work that way, so I have a couple of rolling tool tables/carts that I fill as needed for each job. I return the tools at the end of the job, and missing spaces on the racks or socket holders or such show me if I've misplaced anything.
The stuff that you don't use, either store or get rid of. I would highly suggest getting rid of much of what you showed. Don't save it for your grandkids, they won't want it. If you save them anything, make it nice clean, newer compact tool sets that they're likely to be able to store and use. Your grandkids aren't going to grow up and have a 60 year old hoarder mindset when they hit 16. They don't want antique Craftsman and Williams 16 or 20 tooth 1/2" ratchets and 3/4" drive SAE sockets. If they want tools at all, it's a blow molded case with a nice 3/8" drive metric set and a nice ratcheting screwdriver with storage for 60 bits.
The space to work in your shop is worth much more than the junk. As Dr Clyde said, organize the tools by area and type, rather than mixing them up in one big tool box. You need one or two floor jacks. Sell the others. Stack your wood blocking in one area, and return it to that area when you're done. Put shelving against the walls, and sort and consolidate your chemicals, paint, oils, etc so you can find them and use them. Make large clear spaces, 20 x30 feet or more in the shop, to use as workspace. Don't permanently store junk there, move it back out to it's storage area when you're done with the job, so the space is clear for the next one.
What is very important at our age is to get ahead of the clutter, and then keep it down in the future. We get less and less capable, so to keep working and using our space, it is important to not get it so cluttered that we just give up and work in the mess. It gets overwhelming to clean up if it gets past a certain stage. 3200 SF will be too much to keep up with easily when you get to 70, and if it's full of redundant clutter like your ratchet drawer, it will not get cleaned up then. Clean it up now so you have easy to work in space, and then keep it clean. That strategy will be most successful for keeping you working in your shop for the next 20 years. Someone told me a while back that outside of car storage and a working bay for vehicles, about 1000 sf is all a single person can keep up with for shop/storage space. I believe that's true, outside of space for big things like a table saw, woodworking bench, layout table, lathe or mill etc.
In your space, I'd consider putting in a partition and seal and insulate a space of about 20 by 30 feet or less, and heat/cool that space and keep it clean. Move your high quality tools to there, make workbenches, pegboard on the walls, shelves, etc in your preferred storage configuration. Put a large worktable in the center, and workbenches on one or more walls. Then, keep that space clean, uncluttered and organized.
Use the gross space outside of your finish shop for vehicles, working bay and materials storage. Keep it organized and clean too, don't use it for junk storage.
Your space doesn't look too bad yet. I'd guess a good weeks worth of cleaning/sorting and a decent yard sale would make it pretty usable. The money made from redundant tools and 2/3 of the antique tool boxes would easily pay for some storage cabinets and a nice modern rolling double or triple bank that would store all the useful tools.
Good luck!
Amazing what junk you would throw away fetches on ebay. I know its effort for not much money, but i like the idea that my stuff isn't just going into the trash.
Some of the above is hard for me to hear, but it has been my experience with my kids. They don't want stuff I MADE for them, let alone pristine and valuable tools I've collected. Maybe when they are 35, they will feel differently. Sadly, I probably won't be around then. This is part of the problem with aging. I've accumulated stuff that's been useful to me, stuff I saw value in. What my kids need of mine are money and USB charging wires, not Snap On socket sets. They also like that my cars all start, but have no interest in why that's so.