First Tool box for Automotive Tech

[Paco Pena]

Not so much a question of brand but more of size and features. I understand that some employers place a restriction on the size of box for their techs. Whats the recommendation on size for a bottom roll cabinet for a new kid starting out?

Paco

 

[Skin]

get a cart/workstation, box later when thats overfilled.

 

[Motor-Mechanic]

get a cart/workstation, box later when thats overfilled.

^^^what he said

 

[ihateminimumwage]

get a cart/workstation, box later when thats overfilled.

Yup.

 

[cascivic]

start slow with something like this....eventually youll fill it up!

most of the ones i see for sale saying " bought and got out of the business" type of things are like 41" roll cabs.. do you have any school discounts that you can take advantage of now? if not i would say like the people above me geta nice rolling cart with some drawers and a lidded top and work from there

 

[dsmnickk90]

get a cart/workstation, box later when thats overfilled.

What if you have enough tools already to over fill that?

 

[Skin]

What if you have enough tools already to over fill that?

for a new kid starting out? Unlikely. Have you seen the size of carts lately?

But lets say that was the case, personally, i'd still get a nice cart and then if strapped for cash after i'd get a HF box to use as a backup storage for seldom used items.

 

[Paco Pena]

The young gent gets the Snap On student discount. Carts a good idea but it doesn't make sense to pass up on the discount. I'd rather see him buy a good box that will last and he could add a top box if he needs it later. He can always sell it in the unlikely event he changes careers and doesn't need one for home use.The question is what size is most appropriate. I'm thinking about 40 inch or so. Does anyone's job set a maximum size on the box. Some shops are tight on space and I see senior guys with 26 inch boxes with mid and top box.

Paco

 

[dsmnickk90]

for a new kid starting out? Unlikely. Have you seen the size of carts lately?

But lets say that was the case, personally, i'd still get a nice cart and then if strapped for cash after i'd get a HF box to use as a backup storage for seldom used items.

Im a kid that work on cars on the side and plans to attention school as I sort some things out. I have a 26in mid and top box and I'm out of room. Some kids buy tools before they worry about buying a big snap on box with nothing to fill it up.

 

[concealer404]

I'd just start with the HF box and save the money...

 

[jetmech09]

I like the 53" or so wide boxes. No top box. Makes for a good work bench, provided your shop is big enough for that kind of footprint.

 

[lennoxlennox]

The young gent gets the Snap On student discount. Carts a good idea but it doesn't make sense to pass up on the discount. I'd rather see him buy a good box that will last and he could add a top box if he needs it later. He can always sell it in the unlikely event he changes careers and doesn't need one for home use.The question is what size is most appropriate. I'm thinking about 40 inch or so. Does anyone's job set a maximum size on the box. Some shops are tight on space and I see senior guys with 26 inch boxes with mid and top box.

Paco

keep in mind that the student discounts don't give you access to the top quality boxes, i.e. krl (so you may want to pick up a solid cart now and hold out for a dealer discount later on a better box)

you do get access to some great carts on the student discount programs


that being said, every thanksgiving Matco do a crazy "black friday" deal which has an insane price on a tool box and they throw in their best cart for free

if you or he can wait until then, it's well worth it

 

[concealer404]

Sorry, i didn't see the original post...

I'd say at minimum a 40-45" range box, ideally a 56" or larger.

 

[Skin]

The young gent gets the Snap On student discount. Carts a good idea but it doesn't make sense to pass up on the discount.

Carts are discounted through the student program as well and would have much better resale than a classic 78.

Im a kid that work on cars on the side and plans to attention school as I sort some things out. I have a 26in mid and top box and I'm out of room. Some kids buy tools before they worry about buying a big snap on box with nothing to fill it up.

The carts i'm referring to, being the Cornwell 700/800 series, Snap-On KRSC46, Matco JSC750, are all substantially larger than your Craftsman box.

 

[lennoxlennox]

here's the current deal by matco and the pic of the cart they are giving away for free - deal ends today though! (who knows it might be good for august)

 

[Zephyr]

If you're just starting a 3/4 drawer service cart should be good for a while. If you're neat and organized it will hold a good amount of tools. Next step up that the guys at one of the shops I work at move to is a 7 or 8 drawer cart by Cornwell not sure if SO has something similar

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[dsmnickk90]

Carts are discounted through the student program as well and would have much better resale than a classic 78.



The carts i'm referring to, being the Cornwell 700/800 series, Snap-On KRSC46, Matco JSC750, are all substantially larger than your Craftsman box.

I like those. When you said cart I imagined the 3 drawer type cart. Those are more like bottom boxes with a lift top.

 

[jjjrmx5]

If a box, 41" minimum roll cab. That way you can add a top box and use the bottom rall cab as a work serface til' ya add the top box.. Most folks I know use 56" boxes as mid-term pros unless they've been in the industry a long time and traded that 56" for a 72" or 96".

The new large 30" and 41" Snap-On lift lid full dwr. carts (really roll cabs to me at least) are nice and hold a lot of tools. But they are not cheap.

If me, I'd buy either the 41" HF bottom roll cab , 5 dwr cart or 26" 3 box stackers to start til I know I wanted to stay in the business while keeping an eye out for a good used truck box over time, unless he has the money for a small truck brand box.. It's a tricky market, but spending your money on tools , to me, is where a starter needs to be,

I've seen too many young guys with big boxes and no tools always asking to borrow tools or using daddy's.

HF cart and 13 dwr roll cabs can be bought new cheap and flipped if you find a good box for very little money. Upgrading to bigger boxes with a truck box trade in can get you pretty deep in loss.

I've seen too many to count.

 

[dragonballz]

Get something small like this...especially if you havnt worked in the industry yet and dont know if you like it. Trade up as you need more space.

Buy a cart AFTER you've gotten promoted from Lube Technician. Only having a cart wont give you enough space for your tools. How will you move up if you dont have the tools to do bigger jobs? A cart is useful once you start doing other things.

My opinion on the automotive industry:
Leave while you're not even in it yet. There is no money unless you are the best of the best and are fast. If you go to a dealer or other flat rate shop, you will work for free at some point and often. If you absolutely want to do this, find an hourly shop or a fleet shop.

I am lucky I left retail automotive service.

This is a good read http://www.angrymechanics.com/page.html.

 

[pipsters]

I sold my 42" Harbor Freight box to a fairly new Toyota tech who bought it to move up from a small Craftsman box IIRC. $250-$300 used $375 new (w/ tax) it's pretty cheap and very durable, and can be sold for almost as much as you paid for it (if not more).

 

[Original Man]

For someone starting out I'd invest in a large cart. You have many to choose from, from all the truck brands as well as others. They'll be helping various people in the shop and a cart is come in handy as you don't have to walk back and forth to the box to get tools. Its right there. Then I'd get a box...especially since they may decide this career isn't for them.

 

[Streetsweepergto]

I'm new to the auto field.
completed tech school.
i work at an hourly local garage.
been here for almost a year now.

very busy we have been open for 26 years.

i work with 3 master techs, and one certified ase guy who is better then the other 3 master techs LOL. factory certified training etc etc all the bells and whistles for certification.

anyways i have a ton of tool's and everything is literally piled onto a small cart.
a cart the size of the $75 harbor freight rolling cart.

imo i would invest more money into tools then buying any truck brand tool box or service cart.
if you look around you'll see how many of these 4-10,000 boxes are being sold for about half off if not more. they don't make you the money.
i rather have my tool unorganized then have none at all.

I've been debating buying a hf service cart, or the 44 inch unit.

don't get me wrong all my tools are snap on or high quality.
but i couldn't see the use of a 4k+ tool box if you don't have 4k in tools for example.

just my honest opinion.

 

[d_rock]

I would use my money for good tools and a good cart. Then get the HF bottom cab. When your ready to upgrade you can use the HF for a home box.

 

[jeep450]

What's your budget?

 

[JKady]

i work with 3 master techs, and one certified ase guy who is better then the other 3 master techs LOL. factory certified training etc etc all the bells and whistles for certification.

Anyone can take a test, certs on the wall doesn't make one a better tech.

I started with a 40" Craftsman Top-Bottom set when I was in tech school. I still have that box, mostly full and recently added a Snap-On KRSC40 that has all my most used stuff on it. I had a single drawer cart before the KRSC, and it was full before I got everything I wanted to have with me all the time loaded onto it. It was great for $20, even better for the $150 trade in value I got out of it, but it wasn't enough for me.

I'll either buy a bigger roll-cab or an additional box eventually. Thinking about taking a 26" box I have sitting empty at home to set on on my bench for organizing small parts if nothing else. IMO, storage is like horsepower, no such thing as too much.

I'm lucky, where I work doesn't put limits on box size. Most of us have a 40" or bigger cab + a cart, or multiple boxes. One guy has a 26" set, a cart, and actually brought in a shelving unit on wheels that's equal easily to a 56" cab, but way deeper than any on the market. I think a 40" is the bare minimum for someone working full time and should keep you within anyone's limits on box size.

As far as working in the industry, especially at flat rate goes, if you can't make flat rate on a job you've done more than once or twice, you need to work on your methods and put down your hand tools. I'm not that fast and I can pull flat rate on most jobs or be close. I'm fortunate enough to be on a split-pay system (one hourly rate for the flat rate hours billed, less than that for any additional time) in an independent shop, I work on EVERYTHING from the early 50's on, from Honda to HD truck. I don't know a single one make, dealer tech that isn't 150-200% efficient.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

I have been working without my usual WAR WAGON
borrowing stuff from the other guys ***** hahahah
I don't think this asian car dealer will be open much longer

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

Anyone can take a test, certs on the wall doesn't make one a better tech.

I started with a 40" Craftsman Top-Bottom set when I was in tech school. I still have that box, mostly full and recently added a Snap-On KRSC40 that has all my most used stuff on it. I had a single drawer cart before the KRSC, and it was full before I got everything I wanted to have with me all the time loaded onto it. It was great for $20, even better for the $150 trade in value I got out of it, but it wasn't enough for me.

I'll either buy a bigger roll-cab or an additional box eventually. Thinking about taking a 26" box I have sitting empty at home to set on on my bench for organizing small parts if nothing else. IMO, storage is like horsepower, no such thing as too much.

I'm lucky, where I work doesn't put limits on box size. Most of us have a 40" or bigger cab + a cart, or multiple boxes. One guy has a 26" set, a cart, and actually brought in a shelving unit on wheels that's equal easily to a 56" cab, but way deeper than any on the market. I think a 40" is the bare minimum for someone working full time and should keep you within anyone's limits on box size.

As far as working in the industry, especially at flat rate goes, if you can't make flat rate on a job you've done more than once or twice, you need to work on your methods and put down your hand tools. I'm not that fast and I can pull flat rate on most jobs or be close. I'm fortunate enough to be on a split-pay system (one hourly rate for the flat rate hours billed, less than that for any additional time) in an independent shop, I work on EVERYTHING from the early 50's on, from Honda to HD truck. I don't know a single one make, dealer tech that isn't 150-200% efficient.

what ?? if the work isn't coming in the door ..oh if you leave at 12 and only make 4 hours ..that is a 100 percent efficient

 

[JKady]

what ?? if the work isn't coming in the door ..oh if you leave at 12 and only make 4 hours ..that is a 100 percent efficient

200% efficient would be flagging 4 hours and working two. I feel the no work coming in the door every time I go to cash my bi-weekly insult, trust me, the last two have been 50-55 hours in a 2 week pay period, other times we've got the doors open 12 hours trying to get stuff done. There were lots of days I went home early working in another shop as an hourly tech.

 

[Fedwrench]

A quality truck brand tool cart like the Cornwell 700 series costs more than the HF 40 inch tool cart.

Tools make money. A cart or box is a house for your tools and only helps you make money by being able to quickly find your tools.

Although I feel I am commiting a crime by saying this, I would buy better tools and get the HF 40 inch cart. When I worked for the city, many techs starting out got either the HF bottom cart or the Craftsman 40 inch unit and either cart seemed to serve them well.

By the time you grow out of the HF unit, you'll know if you want to stick it out turning wrenches or find a better way to make a living.

 

[Woodward_Dreams]

I used a large matco cart starting out. While i filled it up quickly, it was one of the best purchases ive ever made. Trade in value was really good when i bought a box, and its way better to have a solid cart than a cheaper toolbox (off brand ect).

Buying tools is more important than buying a nice big box when starting out. As cool as it is to have a huge box, the tools are what make you money.

 

[TwoInch]

at $350, i dont think you can go wrong with a 44" Hf box, even if he only uses it for a year or two. its got some storage space, and it may not last a lifetime, it will last for at least a couple years of daily use. that will give him time to sort out some tools, and not have a payment on a box.

once he has a good tool base, and knows what he wants in a box, has developed brand preference, and all that other jive that comes along with shop life... he will be much more likely to be happy with such a large purchase.

my .02

 

[countryroad82]

For starting out I would say a HF box. I would use that student discount to fill the box up before I would buy a snazzy cart or box. Just my opinion but I would buy up all my hardline tools that I would have to the day I retired with the discount and use an el-cheapo box until I absolutely needed a nicer one.

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

200% efficient would be flagging 4 hours and working two. I feel the no work coming in the door every time I go to cash my bi-weekly insult, trust me, the last two have been 50-55 hours in a 2 week pay period, other times we've got the doors open 12 hours trying to get stuff done. There were lots of days I went home early working in another shop as an hourly tech.

there is just not that much work coming in the door ..anymore

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

a lot of places don't have room for these big carts

 

[chammyman]

For years I never had a proper toolbox, but I never had an issue of theft etc to contend with.

Just starting out theres no point in buying a toolbox or even a cart (unless its cheap).

An old school barn toolbox you can put a padlock on is a good choice, it won't hold a lot but holds enough.

Or another option which I have seen lots of old boys use is an old ammo case, these can be padlocked and can be had up to 4 feet in length and a good depth, sure things won't be tidy but it will hold a lot and you can stick it in a truck etc later if you do stick it out and get a tool box.

Theres often no need for lots of tools either. I have 5/6 sets of sockets etc, most of the time I only use one, even then most of the sizes are never needed.

When I started otu I had some secondhand stuff and bought what I needed as I worked, and tbh that worked out cheaper and just fine. I later bought stuff for completeness and some of it despite having it for years I have never used.

 

[Bullet_101]

When I first started, my wife bought me the big Mastercraft tool set from Crappy tire. 4 years later, I still have the sockets left, but I broke most of the rest of the kit. You don't need to spend a lot of money on tools, especially starting out. A Mastercraft socket turns a bolt the same as a snap on. Wait a few years until your apprenticeship is over. Also you will get 2000$ from the government for getting to 2nd year and 2000 when your all done. Re-invest this money into your tool box.

 

[Dthreap]

I have a Menards top and bottom box (I can't remember what size) and I have a snapon cart. The only arts are great when doing an alignment since you just roll it on over.

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[lennoxlennox]

last months matco toolbox special is over, this months special is on this cart

 

[ironmutt]

start out with at least a fifty incher most shops have room for that but dont buy the first shiny one you see ask your truck guy if he has any thing used or trade in dont feel bad if you dont have enough tools to fill it get the rest as you go for the sake of cost buy small off the truck and pay it off quick keep doing thatfor a couple of years then they will beg you take a biggger line of credit and keep track of what you borrow if you are always borrowwing the same tool buy it cause you know you will use it and if the tool guy is trying to sell you somthing see if one of the other guys have it and will let you try it cause it ***** to buy a tool then after a week of using it relize you dont like it especialy like impacts cause snap on and mac have differant controls for the reverse and power control

 

[superman09]

When I first started I had this same question. I went with a Mac 3 drawer cart with a lid and expanding shelves. Keep it organized and it can hold a lot. I am really glad I went with a cart over a truck brand box(which I would suggest if you decide to get a box) because after 3 years I had worked from broom pusher to heavy line and my cart held everything I needed. Granted it was very organized and I can't fit anything else in it but after 3 years I decided to get out of that line of work and I had nice high quality tools and no expensive box payment. Summary buy a cart run it till you have no more room then decide if turning a wrench is for you, if so then buy as big a truck brand bottom box and money/space allows and repeat the process of filling every last inch before expanding again. On a side note, I worked with a guy who bought a 56" bottom and top truck brand box to begin with but then because of the box payment never had money for tools. Yeah he had a sweet set up but always borrowed my stuff cause he had no money.

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