Giving Boys a Hope/Tool Chest

[SouperGrover]

I saw this idea on a big box store website when reading some tool reviews and thought it was kinda cool. The idea is a Hope Chest like item for boys. Girls get them to hold linens and whatever else to prepare for when they get married. Well, for boys you could put tools in it instead. Starting at 16 or so you put tools in it for every birthday and Christmas. Then, when they move out, you get them a cordless set and they are well on their way to have the gear they need around the house. I know when I moved out and got my own place I had nothing like that. I had to buy wrenches and screwdrivers and everything else you need to fix stuff around the house.

What do you guys think? Sound like a cool idea?

 

[jd_1138]

Good idea. My dad bought my brother and I each a "treasure chest" when I was 10. Still have it 33 years later. I keep old watches and small collectibles in it.

As for tools, I had to buy mine own. But it was fun. I was 1,500 miles away from my dad's toolbox, so I went to Sears and bought a 300 piece general mechanic's set and a top box.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Instead of a "hope Chest" for a boy, why not a tool box like a 3-4 drawer Cman or equivilant ?

http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...r-steel-portable-tool-chest-20-1-2-in-l-black

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-dr...p-00965337000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1


BTW, these boxes (are/were) made by Waterloo I believe at one time. Identical other than color and price, TSC brand was $10/box 3 or 4 drawer.

 

[SouperGrover]

As for tools, I had to buy mine own. But it was fun. I was 1,500 miles away from my dad's toolbox, so I went to Sears and bought a 300 piece general mechanic's set and a top box.

I had the same problem. Of course it's fun to go buy tools. We all love doing it. But when you are just starting out you may not know what you need.

 

[SouperGrover]

Instead of a "hope Chest" for a boy, why not a tool box like a 3-4 drawer Cman or equivilant ?

I think you should definitely put a toolbox IN the chest as one of the items. And I wouldn't call it a hope chest either. Not sure what you'd name it, though. If we follow tradition, though, the hope chest was usually crafted by the girl's father by hand. Personally I'd like to do the same thing for my son, I think. AND my daughter for the more traditional stuff.

 

[Ben7203]

Started buying my son tools on his 10th Christmas. Wish I could say he appreciated or likes them. But he starts driving in 3 years and he'll be getting an older car. Started off with a CM socket set, then wrenches and CL plier set last year. He was eyeing a big Stanley tape at Lowe's, so I went back and got it for this year. To avoid forgetting it, I went ahead and stuck in the wrapping paper. I think screwdrivers this year

 

[SouperGrover]

Started buying my son tools on his 10th Christmas. Wish I could say he appreciated or likes them. But he starts driving in 3 years and he'll be getting an older car. Started off with a CM socket set, then wrenches and CL plier set last year. He was eyeing a big Stanley tape at Lowe's, so I went back and got it for this year. To avoid forgetting it, I went ahead and stuck in the wrapping paper. I think screwdrivers this year

Very cool!

My son turned 14 this year. And, honestly, up until a few months ago he has shown zero interest in tools. He surprised me at school and signed up for machine shop. He's genuinely excited to be in there. Your son may turn around yet. Keep at it!

 

[Itsahobby]

I got my son a Craftsman roll away to use for a dresser, when he was little. He is 19 now and doesn't want a new dresser.

 

[PassnThru]

I see that you all are still in denial.

Why have all those duplicate tools - he isn't moving out. He'll still be there using yours when he puts you in a home

 

[Kent_B]

I got my son a Craftsman roll away to use for a dresser, when he was little. He is 19 now and doesn't want a new dresser.

My son did exactly the same thing while he lived at home. Now he actually uses his roller to hold tools. I think the whole "tools as gifts" idea is a great one.

 

[logical]

I bought a Craftsman Heavy Duty Ball Bearing (which is maybe 2 notches above a cardboard box) 26 inch roller and top chest for this very reason. Actually its not made all that badly. By waiting for clearance or sale prices I have less than $250 in the box combo.

I started the collection by putting the Craftsman 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 socket sets that my Dad gave me 30 or so years ago in it. Over the few years or so I've been filling it with all USA Craftsman pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, etc. Mostly new stuff, some used. I didn't start out to make it all Craftsman but midway thru pulled any non-Craftsman stuff out and went all in. I even restored a little Craftsman vise to include. I still need to round it out with some basic homeowner stuff like pipe wrenches, hacksaw, tape measure, maybe wood chisels......... it's hard to know where to stop. Maybe I'll find some plastic organizers and load them up with hardware?

My son is in college now, living in apartments... and doesn't know the set-up exists. He has basic tools in a hand carry box now but when he gets his first garage I'll spring this on him as a sort of garage warming present.

 

[Bessy]

Definitely a great idea! I know my dad has been getting me tools for probably the last 7 or 8 years (I'm 21). started out with an SPG 20" carry box, a couple of Princess Auto screw drivers, tape measure, claw hammer, PA pliers. Now a days 's usually consist of a few P/A stocking stuffers, and usually some better quality hand tools if he finds something I don't have. I figure I'll do about the same for my kids one day. Start them out with cheap stuff so that when it gets lost/broken/left in the rain (not if, but when), it's not as a big a deal to replace. I'm quite thankful for it, to be right honest, as that little carry box got me out of quite a few jams!

 

[Gogo300]

I started doing this for my son a few years ago. His birthday is right after Christmas. He gets toys and clothes for Christmas and tools for his birthday. He has screwdrivers, combo and adjustable wrenches, 1/4",3/8" and 1/2" ratchets and sockets mm and fraction both deep and shallow. For an 11 year old he has a decent start. Also keeps him out of my tools. I bought some of his stuff from harbor freight so if he loses some it's not a huge loss but started buying him craftsman tools. Also started buying tools for my stepsons but all theirs come from harbor freight. They're old enough to buy their own tools if they want them but since they don't have any, these are better than nothing.

 

[Alan Douglas]

I think I was five when I got my tool box and a homemade bench. "Handy Andy" and not very good quality of course but at that age they're going to be damaged or lost anyway. From the set of brass nesting screwdrivers I only have one left now. But it worked: I built stuff and learned to use tools.

 

[kaymccampbell]

And why not the same for a girl?
One of the first Xmas presents I got was one I bought for myself. It was a Craftsman top box so I could take my tools out of 5gal plastic pails.

 

[rsanter]

start them earlier. boys will be working on their bike or gocart long before they are 16

bob

 

[Stuart in MN]

Starting when I was about 12, I got tools for birthday or Christmas gifts. First was a small toolbox from JC Penney and a cheap (Oxwall) socket set, then came a combination wrench set, screwdrivers, and so on. I'm nearly 60 now, and I still have and use many of those tools.

 

[94_C/1500]

Around when I started driving my dad gave me a cheap box of tools. He got in a deal from a pawn shop. It was mostly cheap tools in it but had some quaity stuff too. I'm 24 and when he finds a good deal on tools he'll usually buy it for me as a surprise still. The last time was an old snap on impact driver that was the big set complete and stil in its steel box that he paid $40 for. Just recently while I was getting some of my tools back from him that he had borrowed he told me to get whatever I wanted out of his old stuff. Majority of it is Asian stuff, but I managed to find an arm load of good stuff. He'll just bring his stuff to me to get it worked on or just borrow the tools anyways. I did realize one of the boxes full of stuff was a Kennedy. Until I seen a thread on this site I had always thought it was just a cheap box, I had never heard of them. Explains why I found the better stuff in that box.

 

[rsnip988]

I love this Idea!
Thanks for sharing, although I know a few teenage girls who would use the heck out of a tool set too!

 

[gtae07]

And why not the same for a girl?
One of the first Xmas presents I got was one I bought for myself. It was a Craftsman top box so I could take my tools out of 5gal plastic pails.

I was thinking the same thing.

Guys, your daughters are just as capable of using tools as your sons. They ought to know how to do at least basic tasks (everyone should), and if they show any interest or mechanical aptitude at all, encourage it. I'd even go so far as to say, go out of your way a little to introduce them to it. Don't force it, but be very careful you don't discourage them, even implicitly. Our society still does a pretty effective job of discouraging women and girls from tools and their applications (and according to my wife, other women are sometimes the worst about it). They don't need their parents sending the message of "you're a girl, why do you care?".

I bring this up because it's something I've seen in the family. My dad's sisters have told me how they wish their father had taught them some of the woodworking and mechanical stuff too, instead of just teaching my dad. And my brother's wife (the youngest, with four older brothers) is still irritated that her brothers always got tools for Christmas and got to work on things, but she never had her own tools until she had a job and bought them herself. She and my brother now build their own furniture and fix up motorcycles.

As I don't have children yet, I've been buying my sister tools every Christmas since she went to college. Her interest showed up late relative to my brother and myself, but recently Dad's been showing her how to work on the car and use some of the larger tools (radial saw), and she's been helping some with his airplane, too. She trends more to the artistic, though--she makes things like fancy wood chests, she restores guitars, and a year or two ago she made a couple of functioning longbows from raw stock. She also makes and sells chain mail on the side.

 

[pgilmore7]

Do you think seven is too young for a double bank tool box? I saw a nice Husky at Home Depot for like $230. My son looked interested but he likes everything there. he has some Harbor Freight tools but not a box of his own. I should have room in my 30x60 shop for another box and it might keep him away from my Snap-On box.

 

[Jon_E]

I have five kids. So far three of them have graduated from high school and gone to college. Two boys and a girl. My daughter is the only one who took classes in mechanical design and fabrication and she is the only one of the three that I trust in the shop. The oldest son has no clue and can barely handle a screwdriver as far as I can tell. His younger brother is an accomplished chef but his tools are limited to knives and other kitchen gadgets. So I agree with the thought that it shouldn't be just for boys. My youngest son is showing some interest in the shop at age 11, my daughter even more so at age 9. I think both of them will be the ones to really get into the tools as they get older.

 

[christopher7390]

MANN I wish my parents did that for me. I actually got one of those craftsman tool sets from my grandfather when I first started driving, still have most of them, I'll never get rid of them even though im slowly upgrading. Some are still in my car/ apartment.

 

[jives]

My two older sons received tool boxes with rudimentary tools for their 14th birthday. Son #3 is 16 but he has not shown any tool-related interest. He'll get a set, though. My three girls will also get sets, but at a later age or when they show interest. They did all receive pocket knives (Swiss Army) by age 11.

My dad made sure my sisters left for college will a small, yet fully equipped, tool box. They could change a tire, check fluids.

 

[dgithens1]

I saw this idea on a big box store website when reading some tool reviews and thought it was kinda cool. The idea is a Hope Chest like item for boys. Girls get them to hold linens and whatever else to prepare for when they get married. Well, for boys you could put tools in it instead. Starting at 16 or so you put tools in it for every birthday and Christmas. Then, when they move out, you get them a cordless set and they are well on their way to have the gear they need around the house. I know when I moved out and got my own place I had nothing like that. I had to buy wrenches and screwdrivers and everything else you need to fix stuff around the house.

What do you guys think? Sound like a cool idea?

The summer after 8th grade (1974 for me) my dad bought me a Sears tool set with the open end, box end and combo wrenches. It had 3/8 & 1/2 ratchets and lots of other stuff. I still have that set and have added plenty add-ons. I have lost a few things over the years but replaced them....one of the best gifts I ever received. It's a great idea for young people that like working with their hands.

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

My dad gave me a 4 drwr Craftsman box mechanics set for Christmas around age 15 or 16. Mainly to keep me out of his stuff I think. I had already recieved a tool belt, hammer etc earlier. I was using these things way before I ever moved out.

My son is 6 and already has his own tool box, with tools. I'm sure his collection will grow with him from the "kiddie" (Lowes Build nad Grow size stuff) tools he has now to tools that will potentially last the rest of his life as his skill and interest grows.... again, well before age to move out.

I've got a buddy who already has his 10 yr old setup with a pretty decent welder and associated gear..... I'm about to get him (10 yr old) to give me lessons!

 

[Chris4x4Gill2]

Oh... and my Grandfathers version of the hope chest for his grandkids - He only had one Granddaughter, who recieved the taditional hope chest and items from my grandmother and him, the grandsons recieved our first shotguns from him.

 

[Milton Shaw]

My dad gave me a cheap set of jap wrenches for my 8th birthday. I still had all of them and by my 9th birthday my dad gave me SK socket sets and good tools for birthdays and Christmas from then on. Made it a lot easier on him as he sold SK and Proto plus some cheaper brands as a truck jobber selling to service stations. By 15 I was working as a mechanic after school and worked as a mechanic for most of my high school and college years. Still have most of those tools but have added to them just a little over the years. My grandson already has a tool box at age 8 and he gets them out and helps his mother repair stuff around the house. Tradition goes on. She helped me and now he helps her. He loves ir when he visits that we get to take things apart and see how they work and run motors/fans etc that we take out.

 

[SouperGrover]

First off I think it's awesome that so many people are already doing this - or had it done to them as kids. I did not. And I don't blame my parents or anything like that. Just trying to make my kids' lives better.

Just to clarify - when I posted this it was in no way to discourage giving tools to girls. I agree wholeheartedly that girls should be encouraged to use tools as well. And, as quite a few have also stated, my daughter seems more interested in being in the shop with me than my son does. So, if she wants to learn how to cut mortise and tenon joins, I'll teach her to cut mortise and tenon joints.

I started going on this long winded rant about how we raise our kids these days. But, as usual, I just kept going on and on and it became a 3 page post . So I will sum up by saying I want to do this for my son because I feel as a parent it is my responsibility to make sure he is equipped with certain life skills once he leaves the house. Not just "manly" things either. He will know how to do laundry and dishes, too. Nothing against my daughter. She can learn this stuff, too. I just feel like I need to be able to put my son in a position to "Man up" and take care of things and not pay someone to repair a fence or install a door knob, know what I mean?

To be fair it doesn't have to be "tools for boys". Traditionally Hope chests were filled with things like linens, dishes and family heirlooms for a girl to take with her when she gets married. I don't even know how many people still do this anyway. I just thought it was a cool idea to do the same kind of thing for boys. Start buying things they will need when they move out.

 

[nit2wn]

It wasn't my son, but had an older friend who turn wrenches for years. He'd retired from it and didn't need a top box made by Snap On anymore. It was entry level box but well made and still pretty nice. I had an older riding mower and we traded. Anyway, I out grew it and had bought a 56'' top/bottom Harbor Freight. He had a grandson getting about that age, so I cleaned it up and gave it to him for Christmas one year. While I don't think it was a hit at the time, I think now that Grandpa has passed it means a little more to him.
Not sure how I will do with ours as he's our only one. Honestly, I imagine he'll be able to use anything of mine he wants.

 

[SouperGrover]

It wasn't my son, but had an older friend who turn wrenches for years. He'd retired from it and didn't need a top box made by Snap On anymore. It was entry level box but well made and still pretty nice. I had an older riding mower and we traded. Anyway, I out grew it and had bought a 56'' top/bottom Harbor Freight. He had a grandson getting about that age, so I cleaned it up and gave it to him for Christmas one year. While I don't think it was a hit at the time, I think now that Grandpa has passed it means a little more to him.
Not sure how I will do with ours as he's our only one. Honestly, I imagine he'll be able to use anything of mine he wants.

Based on my own personal experience I think they will eventually appreciate it. It took a long, long time for me to be able to appreciate the things I did with my Dad. He was a carpenter. And now that I want to get back into woodworking I happen to live 2500 miles away from him and can't get the tools he would more than willingly give me.

 

[gungatim]

I am a firm believer in kids need a treasure box for those special things. pocket knives, dead bugs, whatever....I make these for my son, friends, nephews, etc. super simple to make and the kids love them...you could easily make it longer for tools if you wanted...

the toolbox I made for my son and filled it with about $10 of cheap dollar store tools...figured they were better than the toy/kids tool sets...he is at college now and uses them to hang pictures and fix his skateboard...when he gets older and a house, I've got a full mechanics set of good tools set aside for him.

 

[SouperGrover]

Those look great! My daughter would love the treasure chest for sure. Might steal that one from you.

For the tool chest I was looking at something a little more like this one attached. The top of this one has tills for saws and planes as it's more for a traditional woodworker. I'm thinking a little more modern and will put holders for cordless drill/impact driver and chargers. I was thinking one drawer for misc, one drawer for screw drivers and one for wrenches. Probably buy him a socket set in a little plastic case for now and put in the top somehow

 

[gungatim]

Those look great! My daughter would love the treasure chest for sure. Might steal that one from you.

For the tool chest I was looking at something a little more like this one attached. The top of this one has tills for saws and planes as it's more for a traditional woodworker. I'm thinking a little more modern and will put holders for cordless drill/impact driver and chargers. I was thinking one drawer for misc, one drawer for screw drivers and one for wrenches. Probably buy him a socket set in a little plastic case for now and put in the top somehow

Woodsmith has a few different issues with plans like those, I've got the mags but you can buy reprints or order the plans here. http://www.woodsmithplans.com/category/workshop-storage/

if you want to build the treasure chest, I will try and help, I designed it myself.

off top of head, it's all 1x pine, cut base, sides,front and back to size, trace the round hump from a coffee can, I think it's like 6x10" but not sure. you but join everything, nail and glue. I use a 1.5" 16 ga brad nailer.

then cut 3/4" strips of pine for the top to length, glue and nail on the top of the sides.

then you have to slice the top off on the table saw.

then I glue either felt or thin cardboard or manila folder on the inside of the lid.

I have a detailed set of plans/drawings, but they are just that. drawings. on paper. with a pencil...old school....if you want i'll take a pic/scan and post them.

you can make one for under $10 in about an hour. I sell them for $35...use rope for handles, or cabinet handles or whatever...

 

[GettinJunkDone]

I don't have any children of my own, but my future stepson is 12 and this is a great idea. I have an old Remline tool box that I'm looking to restore, maybe it could be his 18th birthday present, or something to give him when he moves out on his own. That gives me plenty of time to find a decent set of tools for him too without hitting the wallet too hard all at once.

 

[Lassen Forge]

And why not the same for a girl?
One of the first Xmas presents I got was one I bought for myself. It was a Craftsman top box so I could take my tools out of 5gal plastic pails.

My dad did - each of us got our own toolbox with a fairly good basic set of tools. I still have and use 2 of the 3 boxes (my brother still has his, and uses it for his troubleshooting, smog and A/C gear; my sister decided she didn't want a big box (she "downsized" to a number of kennedy boxes) so I wheedled it from her.

Probably the most important thing were all 3 of the sets had "real" tools in them - no pink screwdrivers, dinky hammers, or diecast wrench sets. They were not only a good "general" set, but also had some specialized stuff - my brother's were heavy on Auto Diagnostics (he won the Plymouth/AAA challenge one year), my sister's had a lot of home repair stuff, and mine (since I was doing competitive shooting sports) had a bunch of gunsmithing tools. Of course we all built on what we had as time went on, but that "leg up" benefitted all of us, and dad in so doing gave all of us the "family legacy" of being good with our hands.

Oh... and my Grandfathers version of the hope chest for his grandkids - He only had one Granddaughter, who recieved the taditional hope chest and items from my grandmother and him, the grandsons recieved our first shotguns from him.

THERE'S your plan for a son's "hope chest" - space for one or 2 (or 3) tool boxes with tools, a longer part to store a few fine firearms, maybe a built in safe for valuables.

 

[SouperGrover]

Woodsmith has a few different issues with plans like those, I've got the mags but you can buy reprints or order the plans here. http://www.woodsmithplans.com/category/workshop-storage/

if you want to build the treasure chest, I will try and help, I designed it myself.

off top of head, it's all 1x pine, cut base, sides,front and back to size, trace the round hump from a coffee can, I think it's like 6x10" but not sure. you but join everything, nail and glue. I use a 1.5" 16 ga brad nailer.

then cut 3/4" strips of pine for the top to length, glue and nail on the top of the sides.

then you have to slice the top off on the table saw.

then I glue either felt or thin cardboard or manila folder on the inside of the lid.

I have a detailed set of plans/drawings, but they are just that. drawings. on paper. with a pencil...old school....if you want i'll take a pic/scan and post them.

you can make one for under $10 in about an hour. I sell them for $35...use rope for handles, or cabinet handles or whatever...

Thanks for the details. I'll be sure to refer to them when I get started

 

[specialev]

My dad did something like that for me too but the house burned down when I was 15 (~1995)
and we lost everything. The thing that still bugs me is that my dad the Kennedy box from grandfather who was a tool maker for Douglas and we lost all of it. I did get a replacement brand new mechanics set from craftsman and a 3 drawer Rally Box. Still have most of it.

My boy is three and loves tools, so does the two year old girl. I ride a bike to work and I find a lot of tools on the road (funny enough always in the same spot) and they all go to the kids who just play with them for now. I'll start buying them stuff even their older for sure.

 

[ez-duzit]

Better than a tool box or roll-away is a small tool bag. Lighter and easier for him to carry/move, and it won't scratch your furniture.

 

[RossABQ]

I was once charged with providing a project for my son's Cub Scout pack. Since many of these kids were in households with only a mother, I wanted to do something "manly". So we built simple tool boxes out of 1x6's and dowel rod. I cut out the pieces, left them rough, the boys sanded and glued/screwed them together, then coated them with urethane. I also had a wood-burner that they could use to put their names on them. Two of my sons still have their boxes, they are still useful, and they still have pride in "making it themselves".