Do you use the tool trays that come with tools?

[woodstockva]

Something I thought about today were tool trays. Specifically the blow-mold, foam, plastic, etc trays that come with many tools/tool sets. Sets and/or specialty tools I do keep in their boxes, I am more-so talking about screwdriver sets, extensions, ratchets, etc.

I personally think that they are a huge waste of space in a toolbox & a ploy to make you fill your box up faster, so you will have to upgrade boxes faster. I refuse to use them.

The way I think about it is this... (for example purposes...no specific box in mind)

- 14 drawer box @ $2,800 = $200/drawer
- Each drawer is 18" x 30" = 540 sq inches
- That is $0.37/square inch
- A 3/8" drive extension tray is 12" x 6" = 72 sq inches
- 72 sq inches x $0.37 = $26.64
- Without the tray, all would fit in 10" x 2" = 20 sq inches
- 20 sq inches x $0.37 = $5.40

You are losing 52 sq inches AKA $21.24 by putting them in the tray.

However, on the other side of that coin are those with very nice tool boxes, very nice tools, and their workspace look like showrooms. I applaud you....I just dont know how you do it.

So. Whats your feelings on them? Yes, No, or sometimes?

*** Disclaimer : I have Vidmar & Lista cabinets, that have many partitions in them....so organization is very easy for me. ***

 

[muddinguy]

At work: Yes
At home: No

Main reason it makes it much easier to stay organized.. at home im not that worried the toolbox being organized plus space is at a much higher premium in the home garage..

 

[pepi]

The only one I have ever used is the one for sockets, cut the top of it and laid in the drawer

 

[Mazdaspeed]

The only one I have is from a set of sockets...the rest is loose. I have no problem keeping things organized without them. In a 36" home box, every square inch of the box is precious and I'm not wasting space with those trays.

 

[Fedwrench]

I keep them in an old file cabinet in case I want to later dispose of the tools but, they take up far too much space to be used. Wrench rails and mag rails TL have a much smaller footprint.

 

[3baygarage]

Funny thing is for every tool tray/rack that gets thrown away, somebody else is looking for that exact same one.

 

[spoonsports86]

most of my tools are not in there case other then my drill accessory, small screwdriver set and exacto knife kit

 

[hofferwood]

Sometimes Wood. (old pic)

 

[ihateminimumwage]

All my wrenches end up in Snappy rails or Ernst racks, sockets are on rails or Kobalt trays, pliers are in a homemade rack.

Only factory trays I use are what my Snap-On pick set and 3/8" wobble imapacts came in and the tray my GW wobble extensions came in.

Most use too much space, and I have A LOT of stuff packed into my cart.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

For the most part; yes. I like things organized and easy to find, I know it takes up real estate, but it's worth it (to me.)

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

 

[Deception]

I used to use the cases/trays when I didnt have as many tools, but at this point my top & bottom boxes are pretty packed. I do use hansen socket trays, wrench racks & a pliers rack though.

 

[Rico.]

I think if you have the space, as John aptly demonstrates, tools are super easy to lay
your hands on and easy to see if something is missing.

As for myself, I'm only a DIYer with a small one car garage and I have two 27" tripple
stacks and they are jammed packed, so for the most part things in the original cases are
my socket sets... all the specialty sockets (Torx, Hex, Spline etc) are on rails, or if the
plastic trays they came in are very compact I do have a couple of sets still in them.

Everything else is out of the cases and placed in my boxes like a championship winning
game of Tool Tetris. I know where everything is though... Mostly...

 

[dankicksass]

Some things like radiator pressure tester adapters you can't help but keep in their original box/tray. Most things though, I'd rather not keep in original packaging. It's often too tall to keep in a shallow drawer or wastes a lot of space. The only things I have aside from specialty tools in stock boxes are Snap-On Instinct screwdrivers, Blue Point panel pry tools, and a master Torx set with way more pieces than I can find Hansen trays for.

 

[Valsmere]

Been a long time since t I posted on here but yeah I use the Hansen socket trays, wrenches in rails mostly everything else is out of the trays they came in. There are a few things that can't be stored out of the tray it came in


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[90zcar]

Only thing I still have in the trays are a 3 piece mac flip socket set...mini snap on pick set
I find they usually crack and also makes me more OCD to have the brand name facing up...haha



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[Outlander]

If I used them how can I spend hours re-arranging my drawers? I do keep one socket set (gift from my daughter) in it's original case and pull it out when needed. Otherwise they sit in storage.

 

[wvrailroader]

No. I just don't have enough box space to justify using them.

 

[warweapon762]

I tend to keep all my automotive specialty stuff in their trays, but things that get used alot either get put on a peg board or on karabiners in a drawer (if they can be put on some).

Sockets and stuff I never leave in the plastic tool trays because they take up WAY too much space and sockets tend to fall out all the time when you open the damn things (100+ piece sets in particular). When I was in high school I bought a taiwan set that came with a rigid plastic tray/box (not the blow molds). I got so sick and tired of the damn sockets falling out of the slots they belonged in that I took like 100+ small rare earth magnets and drilled and glued them into every single socket slot so they would stay. Worked really well but had a nasty habit of ruining my cellphone screens if I would rub the case near my pocket while walking around!

 

[oldldh]

So far, the tray that came from Gearwrench, for the 1/4" drive socket set, is the only one...

But when I get the 3/8" and the 1/2" drive sets, I'll use them, too...

It would depend on how ell the trays are made, and how much space I have...

 

[cotjocky]

Some I do, some I don't. Sometimes they take up a lot of space, sometimes it is minimal. I hate my **** rolling around when the drawers slide back and forth. My Snap-on Screw Drivers have always been kept in their tray. I like my extensions in their trays. My 3/8 tray wore out long ago. :-(

 

[nicksnothereman]

Something I thought about today were tool trays. Specifically the blow-mold, foam, plastic, etc trays that come with many tools/tool sets. Sets and/or specialty tools I do keep in their boxes, I am more-so talking about screwdriver sets, extensions, ratchets, etc.

I personally think that they are a huge waste of space in a toolbox & a ploy to make you fill your box up faster, so you will have to upgrade boxes faster. I refuse to use them.

The way I think about it is this... (for example purposes...no specific box in mind)

- 14 drawer box @ $2,800 = $200/drawer
- Each drawer is 18" x 30" = 540 sq inches
- That is $0.37/square inch
- A 3/8" drive extension tray is 12" x 6" = 72 sq inches
- 72 sq inches x $0.37 = $26.64
- Without the tray, all would fit in 10" x 2" = 20 sq inches
- 20 sq inches x $0.37 = $5.40

You are losing 52 sq inches AKA $21.24 by putting them in the tray.

However, on the other side of that coin are those with very nice tool boxes, very nice tools, and their workspace look like showrooms. I applaud you....I just dont know how you do it.

So. Whats your feelings on them? Yes, No, or sometimes?

*** Disclaimer : I have Vidmar & Lista cabinets, that have many partitions in them....so organization is very easy for me. ***

Wrenches? Yeah all the time. Sockets? Rarely, typically on craftsman. I'm not a real organized guy.

 

[zbadass28]

I keep them and use them. I can look in any of my drawers and can tell you the exact tool that is missing. Missing tools is a no no in my garage. While I agree they do take up space, they keep my tools organized, and that saves me a ton of time looking for the right tool, or clean up time to make sure tools don't get left behind. I have a lot of money invested in them, (as well as most of us on here) and no way in hell I'm losing/leaving a 100.00 ratchet behind.

 

[absolutelybillsmood]

I like the plastic boxes, I keep my tools in the shed behind the house but work on the cars in the driveway. It's nice to be able to pick up the whole set of whatever I need.