Do you keep tools in the plastic boxes they came in?

[TLCDino]

Here is question that been nagging me. I have really been focused on organizing my two car garage into a proper workshop and as you can imagine space is an issue.

The cornerstone of my storage plan are 4 Stronghold cabinets (Thanks, Jack, for your 12g garage inspiration). As I start to organize, I am looking at all these tools that came with "carrying cases". You know, the molded plastic holder that hold it and any little pieces just so. These boxes take up a on of space and I don't know if I need them.

What are you guys doing? Are people saving them? Is there value in saving them? When I throw them out, will I be kicking myself down the road?

Case in point below. I would open that whole shelf and many others If ditched the cases and put tools in my rolling cabinet or other little spots.

What's your vote?

 

[domain]

That is a very tough question as I have ran into it many times. As a general rule, I try to keep the cases if I have the space. I also personally keep the high dollar tool cases (Makita, Dewalt, Bosch) just to keep the complete package. On cheaper branded low dollar tools I would think good and hard on them and make a decision. My .02.

 

[Sokoloff]

For the most part, I keep tools that I don't use every month or more in their cases. I find it makes it much more likely that I'll find all the accessories (blades, cords, tools, etc) that way without having to search at all. Takes a little more space but is easier on balance I think.

I've also packed specific tool kits for plumbing (in a sears metal toolbox with a drawer), brake service (a plastic tackle box style toolbox), and two electrical bins with integrated folding lids (one AC and one low-voltage) with all the specialty tools, nitrile gloves, anti-squeak and brake clean in the brake kit, etc.

Sure, it means more space and that I duplicate a few common tools in the specialty kits, but it saves a ton of time and if I have to go help a buddy out at his place, it's easily portable.

I say keep the boxes.

 

[rsanter]

generally yes I do
I pull them out with the box and take them to where they are to be used

bob

 

[justanengineer]

I always keep them and use them. I prefer to make my storage space fit the tools, not the tools fit the cases. I suggest some high shelves mounted on the the wall to get most of the occasional use items out of the way. Most of the tools I own that have cases are either precision, special, or construction. For the first two, it just makes sense to keep them in the case to prevent damage from moving other tools around etc. when theyre not in use. Some of these also occasionally go out for calibration, which makes a case necessary. Regarding construction tools (drills saws etc.), I like to keep them in the case to organize the accessories, extra blades, etc, and because they get moved throughout the house and travel with me to where I need them. When Im done for the night, even if the job isnt over, they go back in the case to prevent damage as they sit at the work site.

My tools have cost me a lot of money over the years (and made some too btw), and even though I am a cheap SOB when it comes to buying them, I want to make sure they stay nice and last as long as possible.

 

[John in OH]

+1 on what domain said.

I also like to keep the tools in their boxes, but it does depend on the specific tool/s in question. Often the tools have accessories that fit nicely in the original boxes along with the tool ... keeping track of the accessories becomes a problem if one tries to store them in a common tool chest.

 

[metal1313]

depends on the tools. most i keep the boxes but do not keep the tools in them unless they are seldom used or hard to store otherwise. certian high dollar tools need to be kept in their cases to protect them, but others like my cordless tools hardly ever go in their tote bag unless i need them all. space is at a premium in my tiny little garage and i have a wide range of tools

 

[Mike F]

I keep them in the boxes for a few reasons. For one, it keeps all blades, accessories, wrenches/keys with the tool without a chance of losing them. The box then gets taken to where I will use it and I will not have to run back to the garage because I forgot something. Also, more importantly, where I live everything rusts like mad. I find that keeping the tools in their cases totally eliminates rusting. I will also scavenge a case that someone may be throwing out to put tools in if they had not come with their own. For example my Metabo angle grinder now resides in a blow molded case that was originally meant for some medical equipment. A friend told me to take a sharp sheetrock knife and cut around the inside perimeter of the case. This then lets you remove the formed inside plastic piece leaving you with an empty case to use for storage.

 

[Greatbear]

For me, it depends. If it's a kit box for, say, a power tool, then it stays in the original case with accessories and such. If the case contains something like (only) sockets and is not space efficient, the case gets retired and the sockets go on rails. If the tool has a lot of accessories and accumulating more and had no case originally, I will procure one and make a kit.

 

[noggin]

I usually keep the case until it busts. Cleaner that way.

 

[jrherald420]

I cant seem to bring myself to throw cases away, even the stupid plastic holder my screwdrivers,wrenches,sockets came in. If i had the space i would just keep everything in its case and in the toolbox drawers, intill then ill keep boxing up the cases in cardboard boxes!!!

 

[nissan_crawler]

Unless the case protects a high dollar tool, or is quite efficient, I chuck it.

 

[koditten]

Mine are usually tossed along with the owners manuals. My tools are used often only in my shop. They rarely leave the shop. If I was a mobile tech, I might keep the boxes for some very specialized tools.

 

[Doug B]

I keep the cases. sawzall,drills,saber saw,sander.I find that I can keep all the accesories for each tool in the case(blades,wrenches,drill bits,screw driver tips ,etc.)Makes it much easier to find all that stuff. Plus,I work out of my truck,so I can just grab the case and go into a job knowing that I have all the blades and other stuff I'll need with me.I bought a 4" grinder that didn't come with a case-I bought a tool box that it fit in pretty well.Now I have all the grind/cut/sand wheels in the case all the time....grab and go. Skil saw is the only power tool I don't keep in the case.

 

[sscustom]

i do now but i t was a cheap tool i would rather throw the case and just put it it in my toolbox other wise i keep them in the original box it came with

 

[NUTTSGT]

Power tools or air tools, construcution types, stay in their cases. They store easier and transport easier in their cases.

Now the type of cases that most other tools come in, get chucked. I have picked up a few small cases that I keep certain tools in, like vaccum gage or steering wheel puller. Those cases fit in my tool box.

If I had a case that I didn't use and wanted to keep, it would go into the attic.

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have over 100 tool cases, either plastic or steel. What I've done/started to do is there are tools I take out to work elsewhere, like my farm in Tennessee or a friends hose, etc. those tools stay in cases, unless it is a specialty tool like my Milwaukee Drain rodder, or Milwaukee Deep Cut portable bandsaw. Everything else I'm putting into tool box drawers or shelves where I can grab them when needed. In my garage's attic I have two 3' wide by 1' deep shelving units that have 6 shelves on each and I'm storing the cases of the tools there, so worse case, I just have to pull grab one from there.

TheGrooveking

 

[plinker]

I keep service/speciailty tools and torque wrenches in them. Main reason, no other place to put them plus it keeps the small parts (if any) in one place.

If any other tools come with cases they either get stored (If useable), or repurpoused, IE those nice metal boxes S-K tools came in get used for taps, feeler gauges, other bits & pieces.

The only power tool case I use is the one that came with my Bosch mini drill- driver.

 

[pj_rage]

I struggle with this decision at times as well.

I generally keep the cases, especially if there are a lot of little accessories, or multiple tools in the kit that I will surely lose. But I'm terrible with organizing and keeping track of little stuff like that, so the cases are a Godsend. Especially for tools I don't frequently use. It's nice to go back to the tool after a year or two and know that everything is there. But, if you are confident that you can track the accessories/etc without the case, and you don't need it for travelling with the tool, then there really isn't much need for them.

One other nice thing about the cases for me, though, is that it makes the tool easier to find and keep track of. If it's a smallish tool, or a set of tools, and you take them out of the case, it's easier for them to get pushed to the bottom or back of a drawer or cabinet, making them a lot harder to find when you need it. The case tends to stand out due to it's size and shape, which can make it easier to find. At least IMO anyway.

Then again, I'm not yet bursting at the seams. When I eventually am, I think my decisions will be a lot harder.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Torque wrenches, precision measuring tools, and meters YES. Hand tools NO!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yes, I keep them and being ill, I even put a Brother P-Touch label on one side so when I line them up on the shelf I keep them in I can see which holds what. On the plastic boxes with pebbled surface I grind a smooth spot so the label will stick

 

[DoyleDee]

I keep mine in their cases and I have a two door stand up black cabinet that the cases and power tools stay in. I currently have everything in my garage, it will be eventually be moved to my 30x36 shop..... so I do have room as well.

 

[onelochevy]

The only tools that I keep in the cases are my sawzall, brad nailer, jig saw and my stud welder for dent pulling. I dont keep hand tools in the cases.

 

[Trucky]

Mics, calipers (dial/digi), telescoping gauges, etc. They all stay in the cases for obvious reasons.

 

[Cargo]

A friend told me to take a sharp sheetrock knife and cut around the inside perimeter of the case. This then lets you remove the formed inside plastic piece leaving you with an empty case to use for storage.

Acquired about 15~20 cases after a local business flooded. Tried the knife bit. Didn't work out so hot for me. A cut out tool, however, works great. Just make sure to leave enough of a lip around the edges or your case will be like jello. You can always cut off more, so be generous at first with how much 'extra' you leave. Tried using air to blow out the shavings. Once again, not the best due to static. The garden hose floated them right away though. A sharpie and a little blue painters tape on a clean spot for a label and on the top shelf they go. Extension cords to doorknobs to all the hoses and attachments for the shop vac in the big Milwaukee's. Yard sale tools and all extra things and bits that go with them in the others. (Well, they did before the divorce anyway.) I could reach cases on the top shelf so the lower eight feet were free for everything else. Worked out great for me. YMMV.
So, I kept some tools in their original cases. Others went in the toolbox and the cases were repurposed.

 

[RivennHewn]

I find most cases intentionally bend the cord to the point of failure.

It's called "Planned Obsoletion".

The tighter the bend, the fast the cord fails, and faster you go buy a new one.

Ka-ching! Money in their pocket.

 

[Zeke]

Half and half. Recently I tossed a worm drive Skillsaw case in the recycle bin because the thing was 2wice as big as the tool (and that's big!). However, some cases are well designed and hold the accessories well. Something like my biscuit cutter will always be in the case it came in.

 

[canuckian]

smaller or often-used power tools are kept in the toolbox, in the top section of the cart or on my bench. Larger powertools are kept in their cases and stored in a locked locker along with the cases the often used ones came in (never know when I'll want to sell something!). My torque wrenches stay in their cases and up until now, I've kept the plastic trays my hand tools came in. The problem with that is that they take up a lot of room and my toolbox is getting full. Ernst rails are ordered and plier racks are next.

 

[nate379]

Same.

Unless the case protects a high dollar tool, or is quite efficient, I chuck it.

 

[crewchief888]

Mics, calipers (dial/digi), telescoping gauges, etc. They all stay in the cases for obvious reasons.

Torque wrenches, precision measuring tools, and meters YES. Hand tools NO!

i generally put hand tools in my tool box, and the empty cases get stored up on a shelf out of the way, same with grinders, and cordless tools, i do keep my corded drills in thier cases, but i really dont know why.
i do keep my sk 1/4" dr set in it's case, in a drawer in my toolbox.
all my 1/4" dr stuff in my service truck is in a (fluke) case, so eveything stays together.

most of the empty cases get used for something eventually, i have a problem throwing away something "new" even tho it's unused

 

[jeffmoss26]

I keep my cordless drill in its case because I am always taking it somewhere. All my other power tools either don't have cases to begin with, or just sit on a shelf in my shop. The cordless drill gets most of the use anyway.

 

[-Brent-]

I wish I had some of the original cases that some of my power tools came in. It'd be MUCH easier to stow them away. I've got a shelf on the bottom of my bench for power tools. Some of them have their original boxes but a few don't and it makes for an eyesore as well as a mess if I don't keep after it.

 

[mayhemman]

depends on the item.

items in cases:
dremel kit and other dremel items
cordless drill
my grinders
jigsaw
random orbital sander
one of the routers
my small cordless screwdriver

rest is in the toolbox or in a particular spot where used readlily.

for items that may be taken out of the shop, depending on where. i have two toolbags one small and one large. these get filled with items that i will take with me to supplement my tools that i already have in the truck that are taken to the job.

this system works for me, not always perfect but does the job.

 

[rvr6000]

The only power tools that don't remain in their case are cordless drills and other cordless drivers. I'm using them all the time and I dedicated a couple small drawers in one of the tool boxes for bits so they are easy to find. Otherwise pretty much everything else stays in its case til needed.

Kept runnung into problems with having a lot of Bocsh and Bostich tool cases lined up and not knowing what was in each one (Really not a bad problem to have I guess) but labels quickly solved that.

 

[reinhardt]

most all of my tools are taken out of the cases and stored in drawers of toolchest or workbench. the cases are stored in the attic of the garage. if i am taking the tool to a friends house, work, etc i put it in the case to keep it safe.

for routine use tools i find they get in the way and slow me down during projects.

ben

 

[onemore]

I keep them in the case, more than half my work is out of the shop and it's a lot easier to transport in the case. Power tools at least.

 

[TheGunCollector]

The only thing I really keep in the plastic cases are my air powered construction tools. Mostly nailers. Roofing, framing, finish, etc.

 

[rwhite692]

I usually toss the blow-molded plastic cases, since they typically have no extra space in them whatsoever, and getting the tool put back into one of those things, WITH the cord, so that it will actually close, is usually damned near a futile exercise.

The case that my Milwaukee Super Sawzall came in, on the other hand, is metal, and it is the picture of simplicity, fully open space inside, plenty of room for cord, extra blades, etc.