Do you use a service cart?

[MushCreek]

While many of you have spacious shops where you can drive right up next to your main tool box, many of us are still wrenching in the driveway, or anywhere else the car happens to be. My main tool box is a chore to move, so I'm thinking about getting a service cart, such as one of the HF offerings. I figured I could stock it for the project with appropriate tools, and use the top section for parts, rather than balancing them on the inner fender.

Anyone else use a service cart? What kind? How do you have it set up? Or is there already a massive service cart thread that I missed?

 

[CraigStu]

Used to use one a a Lexus tech for the same reason. I recommend you get one that is all plastic.
http://www.harborfreight.com/30-in-...ypropylene-industrial-service-cart-61930.html
It is really nice to know that it will not damage you car. We always put tools in the top. Mine had a cover that I could lock onto it so the most used tools stayed there.

 

[North Run Grader]

We always just used a 3 shelf cart. Tools on top, and 2 lower shelves for parts. All the shelves had about a 2" lip to keep stuff from rolling off. If you keep it clean and empty between projects, it's nice, if not, it just becomes inconvenient storage in a hurry. It was very nice to have the needed tools at hand.

 

[PartsGuy27]

I bought the harbor freight metal 2 shelf one and it works pretty well. Use plenty of loctite on the bolts! If you're tall like me (6'7") you'll find that it's too short and I have to bend over far to use it. Other than that I'm happy with it.

 

[sberry]

I can drive up to the work but still use a couple carts. I really don't have what one might consider a "main" tool box.

 

[Fastfish]

Howdy,
Thought about this a lot. You can really improve your effeciency in working on cars with a cart instead of going back and forth to put tools down on the bench. I have a metal 3 shelf with a small vise mounted on one corner. In retrospect a plastic one would be good. I have no work bench in front of my lift so I always use one.

 

[malibu101]

I use a cart around my garage when working on something that takes a lot of tools.
Like the OP said, it keeps all the tools in 1 place that way I'm not laying things around under the hood where they get bumped and fall into the engine bay.

It is not "stocked" I use it to hold what I pull out of the big box.

 

[dlcwent]

Here's a simple portable tool caddy. It's a battery rack that we added casters and wooden shelves to.

 

[MushCreek]

I was more thinking of this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/tool-carts/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html

Overkill? I would probably keep the drawers stocked with my automotive go-to tools all the time.

 

[CJM8515]

I have a slightly damaged plastic cart I found in the trash lol. The kind the teachers would use for the overhead projector at school in the 70's-80's. Works well enough for me, 3 tiers and a lip on each shelf.

 

[homebuilt burner]

I use one all the time. I keep all my pipe dope, Loctite, antisieze and rags on it all the time and also use it as a place for the tools I'm working with. Biggest problem you have to clean it off or it gets very full.

 

[icenfire01]

I have one I got from Sears back in the day. It came stocked with some cheap "Champion" brand tools. Its actually a handy little guy. Id say go for it.

 

[midwesta]

I was more thinking of this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/tool-carts/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html

Overkill? I would probably keep the drawers stocked with my automotive go-to tools all the time.

I was also thinking of something like this. Move all your common tools to it that you almost always use into the drawers so it is their permanent location and then you free up more space in the "main" tool box for the specialty tools.

The plastic carts and what not are good to have if you have the room but moving your socket set over to it every time you want to start a job could get a bit tiresome.

 

[sberry]

There are all kinds for sure but my Bud had an HF and it was dandy.

 

[velillen01]

I was more thinking of this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/tool-carts/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html

Overkill? I would probably keep the drawers stocked with my automotive go-to tools all the time.

I have this one and enjoy having it. I keep my common tools in it. (ratcheting wrenches, sockets, ratchets, pliers, screwdrivers, ect). Plus all my cordless tools too. Its nice to roll the cart to the truck when working on it and Im not sure what all I will need.

I do want to get a basic plastic cart when I get a bigger garage. For jobs I know what I need Ill grab the tools, toss them on the plastic cart, and use that.

 

[brycez28]

I've been thinking about making a cart with only the bottom shelf. I don't have space in my 1 car garage to store a full-sized cart. This way I can hang the cart on the wall when not in use, or easily put in the rafters. I was thinking of putting in a couple folding drawers, like in tackle boxes, that would hold small parts as I remove them from the vehicle.

 

[Iroc-Z]

I have this service cart from when I wrenched for a living. In my two car garage it became worthless because I could pull the car right up to my tool box. But With the new shop I intend to use it allot. I would say plastic is the way to go. Never rusts and easy to clean. Just remove everything and power wash.

 

[zkling]

Yes, driveway carts can be a double edged sword, especially if your driveway has a decent slope to it. Large carts are tempting to load down then they get pretty heavy and cumbersome to move around, even with good casters. For me a flat top work surface is a must, no flip lids here.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I do not currently use a service cart but have really been looking in to getting one as well. I work on several trucks and tractors. Usually if I can't pull what I'm working on right next to my main box I can at least have it with in 10 or 15 feet.

However I'd like a cart for doing regular maintenance on things. All our fluids, funnels, and containers for fluid are in a whole other section of the shop. It would save time to load up everything at once instead of making so many trips back and forth. Also, with talks of expanding I may soon need a cart to use for tools to move from my main box to whatever I'm working on. I'm just unsure what I want.

I've been possibly considering a HF cart. The one and only thing I believe I would ever purchase from there. For a box for tool use I believe I'd go the 5 drawer HF. Only because of all the good reviews I've read about it all over. But I'd still like a cart to use for parts, fluids, etc.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mine is just an old plane Jane Snap-On tool cart, no drawers or lift top, but I use the hell out of it and my shop is stuffed to the brim. It is one of my most used items in the shop.

I use it whether I am working on something outside. I load it up with whatever tools/supplies I need and push it outside.

Or inside it gets well used.

Seems as though I always have a need for placing something. The nice thing is when done with a project/job, I simply roll it right up next to my big toolbox, clean off the tools and put them in the drawers where they go.

Mike.

 

[_Stang_]

I use one of the HF 3 self rolling carts for all my detailing supplies and it works beautifully for that. Various assortment of spray bottles, polishes and towels on top. Applicators, dual action polisher, more towels in the middle. Shop rags, oil, funnels on the bottom. It generally just sits nicely between my two bays (about 6 feet between bays) where I have a little workstation setup. It beats running back and forth to the wall cabinets.

 

[BioNerd]

I just cant imagine how it will be to drag around tools and parts from a bench.

We keep things we dont use that often somewhere else but all of the personal hand tool arsenal is in our carts.

We kinda use tools from each others cart depending of where we are at, for convenience.



This is my HF, I took this pic when it was storaged while I was woodchipping.

Now its In the shop as Im wrenching mostly. This Is the top shelf today:

 

[crewchief888]

at home i just use a simple rolling work stand/shelf, my cart ended up being re-purposed into a drill press stand.
i have a HF 4 drawer cart at work for the times i need it. it rarely gets used, as i'm in my service truck 99.9% of the time..

 

[shortykorte]

I was more thinking of this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/tool-storage/tool-carts/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html

Overkill? I would probably keep the drawers stocked with my automotive go-to tools all the time.

You will love this cart. I would suggest the one with 4 swivel casters if available. I wish I would have gotten one a long time ago. I also use the typical shelf cart to supplement the HF cart as needed.

 

[taumac]

Even though I do like the 5 drawer HF cart one issue I see is that you start to fill it up with tools then you have tools here and there. I personally like to keep all my tools in my main boxes and just take what I need for each job. I used to have a 24 by 36 3 shelf cart but now I use this from IKEA.


Think it was like $40. I have a 2 car garage and having a small lightweight tool caddy has worked out nice.

 

[sberry]

That's super nice. Cheap enough too.

 

[hotdogstand]

I used to have a 2 ft by 4 ft cart that I made from 2x4s. It was so useful that I kept adding shelves, then a hinged lid on top, then it became too heavy to move and ended up as a semi-mobile workbench. I recently gave the whole thing to a friend who just moved into a new house (first garage). I like that Ikea deal ^ might end up with one of those soon.

 

[lakeroadster]

When you do most of the work in your shop alone, they are a must. The next best thing to having a helper to hold stuff for you.

 

[taumac]

That's super nice. Cheap enough too.

I used to have a 2 ft by 4 ft cart that I made from 2x4s. It was so useful that I kept adding shelves, then a hinged lid on top, then it became too heavy to move and ended up as a semi-mobile workbench. I recently gave the whole thing to a friend who just moved into a new house (first garage). I like that Ikea deal ^ might end up with one of those soon.

Its really super handy for guys that don't have room for a smaller 16 X 30 or bigger traditional service cart. It's 31 tall and 12 x 16 (17 overall ). It's actually nice enough that I often bring it in the house when doing projects.

 

[countryroad82]

Taumac, I just got one of those for my daughter to use as a diaper caddy. As soon as I saw it I knew where it will eventually wind up lol. Great minds think alike!

 

[jsaw]

My cart is my most used tool. At work, our main tool boxes are kept inside a cage that we keep locked when we are not at work. I keep all of my high use tools on my cart which I just wheel to where I am working. The cart is always right where I am working, At the end of the day I lock it inside the cage.

 

[OldNeons]

How about this new tool caddy from Red Baron Tools, www.redbarontools.com?
Saw it at SEMA and loved it! Well made AND US Made. It's on my Christmas list!

 

[ADSR]

I have an older MAC cart, but I plan to upgrade to this.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001F0GASU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[MikeF2316]

I have a cart, my shop is a small extension on the back of my garage. When I work on a car or the bike, it's out front. I load what I think I'll need on the cart,but of course I go back multiple times for more. When I'm done, everything get tossed on the cart and it's rolled into the shop. I have a lockstone walkway to the back door of the garage, so I replace the tiny casters with 10" pneumatic ones.

 

[taumac]

Taumac, I just got one of those for my daughter to use as a diaper caddy. As soon as I saw it I knew where it will eventually wind up lol. Great minds think alike!

[emoji106]

 

[MushCreek]

The plastic ones are probably practical, but I'm rough on stuff. Sooner or later, every plastic thing I've owned has broken in some way. That, and they're ugly. It looks like a plastic factory reject. If I go steel, I could always put plastic bumpers on the corners to protect the car I'm working on.

 

[over40pirate]

I have this one. I like having the drawer where I leave basic tools.

 

[rburke65]

I have the 5 drawer red HF roll around tray and its a lot for the money.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm trying to decide between the black 4 drawer and the red 5 drawer. About a $60 difference when on sale. 1) The red one is significantly heavier, and just feels more solid. 2) The red one would match my two HF 44" rollers and one upper HF tool box. 3) The black one IS less money, though.

 

[hh76]

I'm trying to decide between the black 4 drawer and the red 5 drawer. About a $60 difference when on sale. 1) The red one is significantly heavier, and just feels more solid. 2) The red one would match my two HF 44" rollers and one upper HF tool box. 3) The black one IS less money, though.

Red one seems like it is well worth the extra $60. A lot better quality.