I really need a new box...

[cgrutt]

Currently have a Snap-on double stack approx 40" wide which has served me well and I love it but pretty much out of space. I'm not a pro so not using on a daily basis but have recently been getting involved in more complex projects and adding tools as a result. It takes me a long time to sort out what I need for a project and then putting it all back together when done. Most of drawers are double stacked and have a hard time just getting drawers to open and close freely.

So next issue is I don't really have a lot of room for additional or even larger boxes. In a perfect world I'd like to add a new box and keep my Snap on. Not sure that's going to happen.

Been looking at US General and ICON 56 and 72 inch boxes. The ICON seems more similar to Snap on but also carrys higher price tag. I'd love to get a 72 and keep top free for a bench but don't think that will work.

Any recommendations greatly appreciated.

Some pics of current dilemma...

Screwdrivers



Pliers



3/8 and 1/4 ratchets/sockets



1/2 ratchets/sockets



Wrenches



Hammers

 

[Dig Doug]

What about a US General 34 inch cart - keep some basics in it for mobility & quick access Thin out the main box. The top deep well can keep most of your sockets on racks

The new series 3 box in the 72 inch are pretty cool looking… if you have wall space for another box


Your storage organization could use some help, storing sockets vertically takes up less space than laying on their side
plier rack where you store them on their side vertically

you also have a few multiples of the same thing

like steel handle hammers I counted 5
wire strippers at least 4

I bought a cart and keep all my electrical stuff in it mostly home 110/220 volt tools & meters, wire and connectors etc

 

[cgrutt]

Organization is definitely an issue both socket drawers are two deep so pics only show 1/2 of whats in there. The pliers are in a shallow drawer I don't think they would stand on end.src

 

[kbeefy]

Whats your space? I buy USG used and have lots of drawers....

 

[cgrutt]

Whats your space? I buy USG used and have lots of drawers....

Space is definitely an issue. I probably have 4x the tools in box in other cabinets, 5 gal buckets etc. I have 4 30" x 72" Craftsman cabinets that are fully loaded as well as some others. Just looking for better solution to whats in box.

 

[kbeefy]

Oopps.... didn't see your mention of lack of space.

I'm in the middle of repurposing space. Even though I have alot, most is really in the wrong place.... most of the time.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

You need to sort the box. Use hair ties or wrench rolls to minimize piling and group wrenches. A max of two sets each, metric and sae. Duplicates need to be stored elsewhere. I know it hurts. Torque wrenches need to be removed from cases, safe the case under your bed if you're worried about calibration at a future date.

I know this is hard. I've been trying to boot a HF fuel pressure tester out of a drawer for several years now. Perhaps today is the day.

Somebody told me about home clutter - if you haven't used it in 24 months, throw it out. You don't need to throw things away, but stuff need to leave if you want efficient use of space and of your time spent working out of the box. Organization is paramount. Digging for stuff and scratching the paint trying to jam drawers close wastes time and isn't fun.

 

[pbon]

I started with a 28” craftsman lower and 3 drawer toolbox on top. Added the middle. Then bought another set of the same but with a 4 drawer upper toolbox on top of the middle. Then changed to 3 of the 42” USG in a row with bench on top except put one of the 28” middles with a 4 drawer tool box in top of that. Also added wood upper cabinets.

Now I have 14’ of new age pro 5 drawer chests with benches on top and 15’ of the lockers. When I bought, they made only 28” chests. Now they make 42” so I have ordered 2 of those to replace 3 of my 28” and 1 of the new 42” lockers to replace 1 of my 36”. Wider is better for fitting stuff once you have a bunch of tools. This will help me keep more of the same stuff together.

In hindsight, maybe I should have skipped the New Age Pro 5 drawer chests and put two 56” chests or a 72” and a 28” in between the lockers instead. Bottom line, GO WIDE. It is much easier to organize and see what you have.

 

[ecotec]

It’s already been said, but storing sockets, the way you do, is inefficient. They all need to be stood up.

Also, you have too many of the same tools, in your drawers, to be efficient.

You want the densest socket storage that you can pull off. Standing up your sockets will double or triple what fits in a socket drawer.

You can easily get rid of some of those screwdrivers.

You want all the tools… not dozens of the same tools… if you have limited space.

Give away or donate some of those claw hammers, so your hammer drawer is not a game of Tetris every time you grab a hammer.

Move some of the tools to a workbench or cart, if you mentally cannot get rid of tools.

Adding a side box would give that setup some breathing room without a huge outlay of money. You might want to consider that first.

This is my 6pt metric drawer. It is only 48” wide. There is a lot of extra space in it to grow if I take out the redundant socket sets and the long bit socket trays.

 

[cherokee]

Can you go up? Perhaps a middle box, get yourself a little stool go get up to the top box. It may not be ideal but if you put the stuff you don't use all that often up there it might work.

I just "made the space" I like you was packed to the gills and needed more storage, my work around was way overkill and I built a loft, but it allowed another box, and finally I have the space that I need.

Things have moved around quite a bit, but the tool boxes are still there. The small USG in the middle is the newest box I have, it is quite a bit deeper then the old craftsman it is sitting on. Something to keep in mind.

 

[Ohmthis]

I know this is sacrilege and may instantly get me banned, but you’ve got way too many of the same tools. That screwdriver drawer seems to have 5x the same driver. The pliers drawer is similar, and I counted 5 or 6 claw hammers. Thin those out. I don’t even have a claw hammer in my main box. I have three pairs of trippers, and tons of space. I bet if you thinned out some tools, you’d have more useful space.

 

[m6z]

Yeah, you need to thin out the duplicates and you need to get your socket drawer organized.

 

[4 FN 27]

In everything I do I start with the "subtract before you add" concept.

To avoid being ostracized by this tool loving community perhaps adding second Tool Box for another purpose (portability, convenience, road box, ect) and taking the duplicates and moving them to that box.

Will make room and keep you in good graces.

 

[m6z]

 

[cgrutt]

Yeah the black handled claw Hammers were my dad's don't really use those but don't want to get rid of them. As for others they really aren't duplicates they're different size/weights and I do use them for different tasks. I probably have three other claw Hammers in my truck at the moment, which are also variations of the same thing but still different.

Same with pliers, lot of wire strippers for example but most of them are different sizes or for different types of wire. I use them all at different times.

The screwdrivers in middle of drawer all get used. The ones in sets not so much but I like having them.

In my view of this world the tools aren't the issue it's the space lol. The two socket drawers and wrench drawer are what bothers me most way overpacked. I know Snap on did make a middle box for this set but believe it was only two (maybe three) drawers. I wish I had bought one when they were available (used) haven't seen many around lately. The narrow drawers bother me most about this box. Wish they were a bit deeper.

 

[CJM8515]

remove duplicates, store in totes or elsewhere and thin out the herd for duplicates. i have a HF 44 with sidebox and 26 HF stack filled and everything fits. i dont have any way to go up really since my garage is 9ft high inside and they dont sell the older less deep HF boxes anymore so i can get a top box.

 

[Jgaz]

I had a similar, but not as large, problem when I tried to combine my work tools and home tools after I retired.
I also was moving everything into a much smaller space. I got rid of my top box. Built a bench over my larger work box. Built my older Snap on bottom box in my miter saw bench.


Many of my duplicates were sold, some given away to kids starting out.

I’ve also set up two tool bags with duplicates as well.
One bag is an assortment of everyday stuff that goes with me every time I go to my son’s.
The other tool bag Is more wrench turning duplicates including 3/8” drive items.
Almost forgot, I have an old plastic Craftsman “truck box” that stores a nice selection of 1/2” drive tools.

These ideas have allowed me to keep my tool box drawers at very efficient storage levels while keeping duplicates packed for travel as well as maximizing bench space.

 

[bdbecker]

Something has to give... If you feel you need to keep all the tools you have it'd be worth reviewing the other items you have stored in your garage to make space for an additional box.

 

[cgrutt]

Something has to give... If you feel you need to keep all the tools you have it'd be worth reviewing the other items you have stored in your garage to make space for an additional box.

Lol... the other things are... well.... more tools!

 

[MovingAlong]

It takes me a long time to sort out what I need for a project ...

Any recommendations greatly appreciated.

You've motivated me to cull my duplicates!

"A man with one watch knows what time it is, a man with two is never sure."

I'll bet it does take time to get through those selections but fail to see how "more" is going to help you. Add me to the group who's recommending you trim the quantity first.

 

[bdbecker]

Lol... the other things are... well.... more tools!

I guess you're screwed then.

If your current box won't hold all of your tools and you are unwilling to compromise on what you are keeping in the box, then you need a larger box (or a second one). If you don't have space in your shop for a larger box (or a second one) and you are unwilling to compromise on what you are keeping in the shop, then you need to either build a bigger shop or get rid of some tools from the box. Referring back to my previous post, something has to give.

Every cubic foot matters when working out of a smaller space. This weekend, I'm going to post my floor belt/disc sander for sale and will be replacing it with a bench top version. I'm doing this because I need to make room so I can bring my work tool chest home (changing roles, won't need it anymore). The bench top sander is a downgrade over what I currently have. The reality is that I don't need the capacity of my current sander for the majority of the work I do, especially considering the size of its footprint. Will there be times when I miss having the larger sander? Maybe... but that rare occasion where I might wish that I still had the larger sander will be offset by the daily convenience of having a second tool chest.

 

[cgrutt]

I guess you're screwed then.

If your current box won't hold all of your tools and you are unwilling to compromise on what you are keeping in the box, then you need a larger box (or a second one). If you don't have space in your shop for a larger box (or a second one) and you are unwilling to compromise on what you are keeping in the shop, then you need to either build a bigger shop or get rid of some tools from the box. Referring back to my previous post, something has to give.

Every cubic foot matters when working out of a smaller space. This weekend, I'm going to post my floor belt/disc sander for sale and will be replacing it with a bench top version. I'm doing this because I need to make room so I can bring my work tool chest home (changing roles, won't need it anymore). The bench top sander is a downgrade over what I currently have. The reality is that I don't need the capacity of my current sander for the majority of the work I do, especially considering the size of its footprint. Will there be times when I miss having the larger sander? Maybe... but that rare occasion where I might wish that I still had the larger sander will be offset by the daily convenience of having a second tool chest.

Yeah I get all that. Part of the problem is the space we're living at isn't ours and hopefully a temporary situation, but it's been a few years now. So don't have much say in modifying space or changing layout and were also storing some furnishings etc in the garage. I've got many totes and four cabinets filled with other tools. Also 5 gallon buckets. This wasn't a problem in our house. I can make room for a larger box, I'm leaning towards a 72 double stack but will either have to sell the Snap on, which I really don't want to do, or sell another cabinet which is also full and has another Matco box on top of it. Probably going part with the Snap-on... or I can just deal with it the way I have been until we get our own space again...

 

[CS454]

I'm also going to echo the call to trim your duplicates.

 

[Max]

I know this is sacrilege and may instantly get me banned, but you’ve got way too many of the same tools. That screwdriver drawer seems to have 5x the same driver. The pliers drawer is similar, and I counted 5 or 6 claw hammers. Thin those out. I don’t even have a claw hammer in my main box. I have three pairs of trippers, and tons of space. I bet if you thinned out some tools, you’d have more useful space.

My son - you have sinned. To compensate for this, you must buy at least three items from Harry Epstein before noon tomorrow.

Seriously, I agree with you. He needs to move duplicates to a box somewhere or sell them.

 

[kbeefy]

My main box is my '90%' box, I have many other boxes for the 'less used' stuff.

I also took duplicates and put together a house tool set, truck/travel set, and sxs/4x4/off road emergency tool roll.

 

[tyyost]

What model is the snap on box? I’m having a hard time visualizing the whole box with the pics you posted. What is in the taller top drawer? It looks like a decent sized box and you have a ton of stuff in it.

On one hand I see your dilemma, you need more drawers to fit the tools you have, but it is a nice box, and a step up from most HF boxes. You don’t seem to want to reorganize based on your responses to other posts. Space is an issue, so you need to make some concessions.

Given what I’ve gleaned from this thread I’d suggest you look at sending the snap on down the road and putting that $$$ into a HF stack. What you are storing in the current box is just too inefficient, the drawers are too shallow to take advantage of pliers racks, socket trays, and even wrench racks. Hell, a deeper hammer drawer would allow you to stand most of your collect on their faces with handles opposing. The big top drawers on a lower HF box will swallow all the sockets standing up I see in your pics, a huge gain in space.

 

[cgrutt]

What model is the snap on box? I’m having a hard time visualizing the whole box with the pics you posted. What is in the taller top drawer? It looks like a decent sized box and you have a ton of stuff in it.

On one hand I see your dilemma, you need more drawers to fit the tools you have, but it is a nice box, and a step up from most HF boxes. You don’t seem to want to reorganize based on your responses to other posts. Space is an issue, so you need to make some concessions.

Given what I’ve gleaned from this thread I’d suggest you look at sending the snap on down the road and putting that $$$ into a HF stack. What you are storing in the current box is just too inefficient, the drawers are too shallow to take advantage of pliers racks, socket trays, and even wrench racks. Hell, a deeper hammer drawer would allow you to stand most of your collect on their faces with handles opposing. The big top drawers on a lower HF box will swallow all the sockets standing up I see in your pics, a huge gain in space.

I think it's KRA 4107/4114 heritage series. I swapped some of the drawers so the shallow ones are up top and deeper ones on bottom so may not appear as configured by Snap-on. I replaced all the slides when I got it. Very happy with it aside from running out of space. Really prefer not to get rid of it.

Taller top drawer has some electronics, DMM, Laser Level, Stud Finder etc as well as saws and tin snips. It's pretty much full as are drawers on bottom.

 

[cgrutt]

Oh another issue is I really prefer to have sockets on rails as I have them. Most of the time when I'm doing projects that require these tools I'm on the road not in the garage (or driveway). I have a couple of Kennedy cantilever boxes that I use, grab what I need and go. Socket pegs in a drawer really wouldn't work for me.

 

[Death Row Dave]

A larger tool box would be a great help , only issue is same as me , 72 in top and bottom will be over loaded in a short time also . Another issue for me is I never have a claw nail hammer in my mechanics tool hammer drawer , just me , I guess .

 

[Walkers]

Some unsolicited advice, get rid of duplicate tools. How many times are you going to need 3 Estwing claw hammers? I can see maybe 2 pair of channellocks, but 3or 4?. Then pull your hammers out and make a rack on the wall to hold them. Next, get rid of all those plastic boxes inside the tool box. Unless it is a specialty tool with lots of small parts then ditch the blowmold case.
Now that yourbox is cleared out, if you still need more room just buy a side box, even the ones from HF look fine and should hang right on the side of your snappy box. Need more room, then look into finding if there is a hutch for yours, or a top box.

 

[cgrutt]

So I just looked at middle box and a side box for this set up it's about $3k and doesn't really add that much space. I can get a 73" Icon roll cab for that much so doesn't really seem like a good choice, even though I'd prefer to keep the Snap on.





As far as claw Hammers, I'm not a mechanic I happen to use the Hammers more than anything else. In fact I have two or three others in my truck. I'm pretty much a Handyman at this point get involved in all sorts of projects and most of them have nothing to do with automobiles, aside from my own.

 

[tyyost]

Oh another issue is I really prefer to have sockets on rails as I have them. Most of the time when I'm doing projects that require these tools I'm on the road not in the garage (or driveway). I have a couple of Kennedy cantilever boxes that I use, grab what I need and go. Socket pegs in a drawer really wouldn't work for me.

I totally get that, but there are several threads that show folks using the single rails vertically in a deep drawer or top well in a cart that really get some dense storage. Same with pliers in a pliers rack. I don’t want to tell you what to keep in your box, but that looking up that model it looks like you have some flexibility with a few mid depth drawers.

Given the way the thread is going I’d suggest considering pulling everything out of the box and rethinking how you use the drawers. This will be hard. There are lots of ideas on here and I’m sure more to come to help you make the storage more “dense”. I see lots of cases mixed in drawers, I’m not one of these ditch the case guys, but my cased tools often get stored together where I can take advantage of the drawer and space. Get all the sockets on rails, eliminate any space eating “trays”.

The hammers seem to be a touchy subject, but there is room there as well if you think about efficiency and density. Seems like a fun way to spend a rainy day. Good luck.

 

[tyyost]

As an aside, I would also suggest the Hf Full cart for $700 will be a big help if a reorg doesn’t get you closer and you want to keep the snappy.

 

[yellowbox]

Yeah I get all that. Part of the problem is the space we're living at isn't ours and hopefully a temporary situation, but it's been a few years now. So don't have much say in modifying space or changing layout and were also storing some furnishings etc in the garage. I've got many totes and four cabinets filled with other tools. Also 5 gallon buckets. This wasn't a problem in our house. I can make room for a larger box, I'm leaning towards a 72 double stack but will either have to sell the Snap on, which I really don't want to do, or sell another cabinet which is also full and has another Matco box on top of it. Probably going part with the Snap-on... or I can just deal with it the way I have been until we get our own space again...

I'm confused reading this.....

 

[housewolf]

Oh another issue is I really prefer to have sockets on rails as I have them. Most of the time when I'm doing projects that require these tools I'm on the road not in the garage (or driveway). I have a couple of Kennedy cantilever boxes that I use, grab what I need and go. Socket pegs in a drawer really wouldn't work for me.

Not all the vertical organizers are the same. Earnst & Tekton have a twist lock type that works great for grab & go. They are very versatile too, you can add/remove pegs, mix drive sizes etc… The Hanson type, not so much. You could put a LOT of sockets in that top drawer.

 

[legenddc]

Maybe get the non-automotive tools out of the box then. If you're doing a lot of handyman work some dedicated portable boxes might help. One for plumbing, drywall, electric, etc. You seem to have enough duplicates you could create them without needing more tools.

 

[AEAdam]

What may or may not be obvious is the $$$$ cost associated with storing tools. It’s sweet to be sentimental about Dads hammers. It’s practical to have crappy craftsman screwdrivers sharing space with Snap On instincts. But obviously, there’s a price tag associated with this.

To say they are all different, while true, isn’t the point. If you didn’t have a drawer FULL of hammers (for example), you’d make do with the few you had and be fine. And that would give you space to store something more important, more practical.

So while you might think, “I hate to throw/give away a perfectly serviceable tool”, or, “I might need that jar of random screws one day”, storing those items costs you money in how they prevent you from storing something more important/valuable.

You will also soon be in the place where you’ll need that ancient craftsman screwdriver, but won’t be able to find it, which makes saving it, really feel dumb.

Been there.

 

[AEAdam]

Something else:

My snap on tool box only has automotive tools in it. No carpentry, plumbing, household wiring tools. And darned few SAE tools. Only my lawn mower is SAE.

Toolboxes are systems. I have different tool kits for each different sort of thing I work on. Like separate trades.

My problem emerges when there is overlap between the toolkits. I tend to want equal quality in every box. That can be a waste of space and money. But I really dig instinct screwdrivers, and Snap On hammers (for example), so I have some for my carpentry kit. I have KNIPEX pliers in my plumbing kit. I have beautiful Snap On screwdrivers in my automotive box, and just recently bought Kleins for my electricians kit. But I’m trying to keep all these toolkits, independent and compact. Those two (independent and compact) are mutually exclusive.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Would a $300 Harbor Freight roll cart give you room, plus the ability to maneuver it around as needed?

Probably could find something used just for the time being. Minimize cost.

 

[Ohmthis]

I think a makeover in how you think about organizing is in order as well and a physical organization of your tools. I’ve seen several people suggest different “kits” for different trades/ jobs. That’s my system and it works out very well. I have carry boxes (plastic HD, stackable, but nothing too special) for Plumbing, HVAC/ductwork, O/A torches, machining, carpentry, tile, painting, and so on. I am an electrician/HVAC yet work an industrial maintenance job. I keep a tool bag with my most used tools for side work/ handyman projects. When I need to do something I grab the tool bag and the “kit” needed for that job. I have a smaller snap on (KR 655) and a side cabinet with a **** ton of auto tools. Rethink your idea on organizing, I don’t want you to get rid of tools, figure what you “need” in your tool box and take the rest out. Make kits and store them other places (I have a cheap cabinet that I got second hand). For the record, my shop is 17.5’ wide x 22’ deep. I have a welding cart, compressor, three roll around boxes, work bench, and a two post lift in it. Not a lot of room. You can do it bud!