How do you use / when do you fill your carts

[RBailey]

I have everything stored in a couple of main boxes (inside the house I'm only a shade tree) and for big jobs I wheel them both outside, however, this is a PIA so I think I want a service cart.

My question is how do you use your carts ?

Cheers,
Richard B.

 

[Danglerb]

More than one cart, and I tend to use the shelf on my rolling stool for the job specific stuff and put it away after each use. Some bigger items currently live on one of my 3 tier rolling carts, but thinking they will go elsewhere eventually.

 

[Drew_flux]

load cart with tools: a) when working away from my bay. b) when working on large overhaul job,i like the tools right next to me.not 7' away in the main box.cart also gets broken down and taken home for afterhours work.
some times im tempted to buy a pitbox and just roll the main box to the work lol

 

[Seanbev24]

I keep my most used tools in my 5 drawer cart, and also use a basic 2 shelf cart for parts and job specific tools. Both carts get rolled to the vehicle I'm working on. I can do 80-90% of my job from the cart and only have to walk to the big box for more specialized tools.

 

[Stick]

My cart is set up so I can do 80-90% of my daily work without going to my main toolbox. Most of what I've got in the cart is duplicated to some extent in the main box, but it's not really a set of "duplicate tools" per se. The majority of what I work on is metric, so the standard tools stay in the box until I need them.

Parts go on the side shelf if they fit, otherwise they go on a workbench, or a dedicated parts cart.

Take a look:

Top of cart contains sockets and ratchets in the main area. Sets are 1/4" deep sockets, 1/4" wobbles in the five most needed sizes, 3/8" shallow impact, 3/8" wobble impact, 3/8" deep impact, 1/2" wobble impact, 1/2" deep impact. Six or so different ratchets in assorted sizes. Also have gloves, a couple different types of markers/pens, P/S hose cutter, carbon scraper, flat bladed putty knife, cordless impact, cordless screwdriver, cordless worklight, hood prop, square plug wrench for differentials, mirror, magnetic retriever.

On the left side: Prybars, extensions, radiator picks (not just for hoses), wire grommet tools.

On the right side: Nutdrivers in 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" (for hose clamps and switches), 8mm battery terminal wrench, 1/4" handled extension, 25" straight screwdriver (for winterizations), Serpentine belt routing tool, bent prybar for brakes, straight bladed prybar with striking cap.

Drawer contains disconnect tools, refractometer, IR temp gun, hose clamp tools, headlamp, filter wrenches, brake lining gauges, door buzzer sanity tool, tire pressure gauge, you know.. general service type stuff.

Electrical diagnostic and wiring tools. I've since moved my Teslite leads from my Fluke meter to the Vantage because I use it far more often than the Fluke.

Ratchet wrenches, stubby wrenches, long pattern wrenches, assorted pliers, paramedic shears, etc. The assortment of pliers seems to vary according to what I've been doing.

Hammers, impacts, air ratchets, serpentine belt tool, air chuck, allen key sets, UV dye, etc. are the standard items in this drawer, but additional contents vary wildly depending on what I've been doing.

The bottom of the cart usually has a tacklebox with electrical connectors in it, a couple of spools of assorted primary wire (I do a lot of wiring), common aerosols, brake caliper compressors, etc. kicking around in it.


At the end of the day my cart usually ends up looking like this:

 

[Subyroo651]

My HF 5-drawer cart is my first quantifiable "toolbox", I bought it after joining this site but it is filling fast - also because of this site.

 

[hershey66]

I took my cart home and use it for my second set of tools there.

 

[Fedwrench]

I have a 7 drawer Cornwell cart that contains what I need to do 95% of what I do. There is no space left over in the main box or set aside for cart contents. Loading a cart each time for a specific job is a huge time waster in a professional setting.
A second all steel two shelf unit is used for parts.
No tools are laid on the vehicle while working. They go on the cart side shelf. That way tools aren't lost.

 

[countryroad82]

I have both my carts at work and home set up with common tools. 1/4 and 3/8 sockets, screwdrivers, common wrenches, hammers, and pliers. It works for me and keeps me from having to make as many trips to the main box as often.

 

[greasemonkey44]

90% of what i need for the day is on my cart
8-19 ratchet wrenchs
3/8 short, deep and swivel impact sockets from 8 to 19
1/2 impact sockets 7/8, 13/16, 3/4 for lugs; 3 torque sticks(80,100,140)
1/4 deep, shallow and swivel sockets from 5 to 14
3/8 and 1/2 air and cordless impacts
3/8 air ratchet
1/4 air ratchet
1/4 milwalkee impact driver
long, normal and stubby 3/8 ratchet
2 1/4 ratchets
various extensions
36" prybar
large channellocks
slip joint pliers
dykes
knipex 10 in channel locks
drilling hammer
ball pein hammer
softface hammer
2 flathead screwdrivers
5/16 nut driver
and a few punches
by the end of the day my cart looks like sticks; stuff overflowing everywhere.....i just lock it and sort it out when i get there in the morning

 

[Davo3]

My cart is my only tool storage, so I always work out of it unless I'm going back and forth among multiple jobs - then I load up the too lbelt with needed items.

 

[Quint]

Unlike many that posted, I'm just a weekend warrior and don't use my tools quite as often. I've got the HF 42" box and a Cman 3 piece box that houses most of my tools.

I use my cart mostly for air tools, impacts, prybars etc.
It works for me!

There's not a REAL reason for me to have it, but it's SOO damn nice, I couldn't pass it up! Doesn't even fit anywhere nice in my 20x20 but I love it.

 

[Red Green]

My cart is currently filled with assorted bolts and **** left over from cleaning the bench. I don't have any tools in it.

I didn't see a choice for that in the poll

 

[scbird94]

Here are my carts...

This one lives at home and functions as a ornament in my garage... it came with my 6s matco box... stayed at work for about 6weeks then was demoted to home. Holds random stuff but even there my tools mainly live in my KRL snapon box.

Here is my go-to at work. Mac cart i modified. It came with a locking top lid, i thought that was retarded. So i flipped it upside down, drilled four holes in it, and put it underneath as a shelf. It is supported by hose clamps. It is awesome for sorting bolts and parts during big jobs, speeds things up pretty good. The dividers, made for support, work perfectly. The top portion i transfer my socket rails into and whatever wrenches i think i need for any particular project

Heres "mr. McCarty" as he has been named, use this for hauling of nasty t-cases, or etc. Its indestructable.

 

[lauver]

I have everything stored in a couple of main boxes (inside the house I'm only a shade tree) and for big jobs I wheel them both outside, however, this is a PIA so I think I want a service cart.

My question is how do you use your carts ?

Cheers,
Richard B.

Your situation is noted. My advice to you-- Get a decent cart and put duplicate common tools in it that will handle 90% of the projects you work on. Leave your other tools where they are.

But, you failed to mention if you have a garage, which would be the logical resting place for your service cart. If you don't have a garage, where are you going to store the service cart when it's not in use?

 

[Jeeper]

Electrical diagnostic and wiring tools. I've since moved my Teslite leads from my Fluke meter to the Vantage because I use it far more often than the Fluke.

Do you have a vantage or vantage pro? That looks like the old vantage but I thought you use the newer one.

 

[Stick]

Do you have a vantage or vantage pro? That looks like the old vantage but I thought you use the newer one.

I've got two old style Vantage units and a Vantage Pro. I still primarily use the older style because they are quicker to set up for quick problem checks. The Vantage Pro gets pulled out for more in-depth troubleshooting.

 

[Dust]

Stick's setup is almost identical to the heavy line guy I work next to, though he doesn't do much electrical.

I keep my HF black four drawer cart as a stationary tool station. I don't do a lot of work that requires a cart moved around, but I love having a fliptop for common tools. Whenever I need a cart, usually when doing a brake job, I just outfit my little three tray service cart with the tools I need. Since I'm a dealer tech, I basically know all the tools I'll need just by looking at the car, and can quickly throw them in the cart. Otherwise it's used as a catch-all shelf during my daily activities.

I have both my box and cart organized as well as I can for maximum efficiency, with tools basically grouped by use, not by type. Until I get a bigger box and start doing more than electrical, HVAC, and brakes, I don't think I'll need to readjust for the time being.

 

[SC-AW11]

nice thread

 

[Rico.]

I am a DIYer and my main toolboxes are only a couple of feet from the car I'm working on.
I wanted a cart to use just a table to put my tools and parts I remove from the vehicle on.
Also to keep all the nuts and bolts together on whatever I'm doing.

It took me a devil of a time to find just the right cart I wanted but eventually struck gold
with an auction on ebay for a brand new one. It's basically a 3 shelf type cart with one
drawer under the top shelf. Perfect for my needs, it gives me loads of space to keep all
my parts and tools... and when working on an engine to have all your tools to hand
waist high has been lovely, and no more keeping nuts and bolts and spanners on the
windscreen or the inner wings.

When I'm done... just roll the cart the few feet next to the tool box and put them away.
I've never seen the use of having a flip top cart as it robs you of a nice surface to use
to put things on.

 

[richfinn]

When I worked in a shop I would take my 26 inch stacked toolboxes to the job with all my tools (most carts seem bigger than this nowadays which seems kind of crazy to me).

I used a simple open 3 shelf cart with a few magnetic trays to put all the parts and consumables on and keep organised.

I think I could probably get everything I own in a modern service cart and just work out of that with a shelf on each side to be honest.

As I've got older I find I don't need as much stuff and try and keep my tools to the bare minimum for what I have to actually do (no more fractional sockets or spanners for me).

One day I would like everything condensed into a small lightweight roll cab like aluminium version Beta makes.

 

[BK13]

One day I would like everything condensed into a small lightweight roll cab like aluminium version Beta makes.

Whoa, this sounds cool. Do you have a link? (not that it's likely I could get it in America...)

 

[ADSR]

Here are my carts...

This one lives at home and functions as a ornament in my garage... it came with my 6s matco box... stayed at work for about 6weeks then was demoted to home. Holds random stuff but even there my tools mainly live in my KRL snapon box.

Here is my go-to at work. Mac cart i modified. It came with a locking top lid, i thought that was retarded. So i flipped it upside down, drilled four holes in it, and put it underneath as a shelf. It is supported by hose clamps. It is awesome for sorting bolts and parts during big jobs, speeds things up pretty good. The dividers, made for support, work perfectly. The top portion i transfer my socket rails into and whatever wrenches i think i need for any particular project

Heres "mr. McCarty" as he has been named, use this for hauling of nasty t-cases, or etc. Its indestructable.

I have the same mac cart and i love your mods. I know this is an old thread, but thanks for sharing.

 

[richfinn]

Whoa, this sounds cool. Do you have a link? (not that it's likely I could get it in America...)

Google Beta c39 and you'll find it

 

[Mr.Nutcase]

normal tools like impact guns and few rails of sockets, wrenches, and pliers
if I need anything else I will open my snap on box.

 

[BK13]

Google Beta c39 and you'll find it

Cool, Rich, thanks. Looks like it might be available here, after all!