Let's see your toolbox.
- Thread starter wythors
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old salvage
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Posts in this thread.
Frank Elson
Well-known member
and on page 101 as well.
Spooky
Spooky
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
1005 -the best thread ever
terabyte
Well-known member
tera wants to see what is inside ellory's boxes
rickairmedic
Well-known member
I want to know where a speed shop sticker on Elroy's tool box cme from it says American speed center ( Augusta ,Ga. ) I lived in Augusta there was only one trafic light and the town wouldnt be there if it were not for Fort Stewart military base being there. .
Rick
.Rick
Dust
Well-known member
Here's my set up at at the Dodge dealership where I apprentice. The Stack-On box is mine, while the Matco chest was provided to me as part of the apprenticeship, as well as a basic toolkit. However, they took so long in actually getting the tools to me I just brought in my own two weeks after I started and don't use more than three or four of the ones they gave me.
I was working out of a Craftsman three-drawer road box for a while before I brought in the Stack-On. The table the Stack-On is sitting on is an old typewriter table, which had been in my garage for years just taking up space.
I apologize for the bluriness of the photos, they were taken with my cell phone.
My whole setup. The cabinet above is mine as well. Forgive the mess, the shop is very old, and to quote my senior mechanic, "Ridden hard and put away wet."
The top of my Stack-On box. I keep all my most used tools here except the wrenches. The strip that holds my deep sockets I got at Lowes for about thirteen bucks. It's great, but I wish the magnetic strip was more powerful. If I close the lid any harder than feather soft all the sockets drop off it. The magnet holding the three bits is off a tweeter that I replaced in a car. The air ratchet is a Craftsman 3/8" drive, and the photo is of my wonderful girlfriend. Awww.
The top three drawers.
Drawer 1: Needle files, punches, hose pliers, solder, automatic center punch, and brad driver.
Drawer 2: Torx drivers, picks, and ratcheting screw drivers.
Drawer 3: Battery terminal remover.
Top long drawer. All pliers and cutting tools.
Middle long drawer. 1/4" drive ratchet, Husky twist handle ratchet, locking extensions, and Torx and Allen sockets and wrenches.
Bottom long drawer. Standard sockets (All the cars I work on are metric, so I don't bother sorting these), battery terminal cleaners, assorted tools.
Top drawer of the Matco box. All my daily needs tools. I'm essentially a glorified lube tech right now, so this drawer has everything I need to change oil. I usually just use the 13 wrench and my grandpa's hammer. Box end over the plug, and wail on the open end. It's a Craftsman wrench, and Sear's is right across the street, so no biggie. The hammer head started to come off the handle, but I just put a small coat of gray silicone on the end, and it's holding up great.
Drawer 2. Gearwrenches. The rest of the stuff is just there because I have no where else to put it right now.
Drawer 3. Assorted knick-knacks. I occasionally use the 1/2" drive stuff, usually for differential services and crankshaft turning. The rest is just "Will Need Every So Often" stuff.
Drawer 4. Impact wrench stuff, gloves, and battery and electrical service tools. I have never used any of the electrical stuff, mostly because I haven't needed to yet.
A very blury Drawer 5. Torque wrench, 3/8" impact set (Never opened), and one tackle box that I use for holding bolts when doing heavy line jobs.
Drawer 6. The bottom, deep drawer. I keep the majority of the Matco tool kit in here, as well as my other tackle boxs. The bit set I got from Home Depot, where I used to work, for fifteen bucks. It's a great set, and if my electric screwgun hadn't died, I'd use it a lot more. I'm saving up for a Makita 10.8v driver kit.
The work bench. I like my rags and fender covers folded up nicely, and the bench organized. My senior mechanic doesn't really care too much. That's his pile of **** in the corner. The iPod radio is mine.
My cabinet. I keep an assortment of oil filters, inspection sheets, fluids, gloves, and pens in here. The top shelf is my personal effects shelf, where I stow my jacket every day.
The underside of the cabinet. The tool chest has a work surface which I use quite a bit, but come 3PM it starts getting dark around my area of the shop. So I went to Home Depot and got some halogen puck lights. To mount them I bought some neodymium magnets and siliconed them to the back of the light with gray engine silicone. Then I mounted a power strip to the side of my cabinet and ran an extension cord to the nearest outlet, which you can see in the work bench photo. The result can be seen in the next photo.
As you can see, the surface is quite well lit. I have one more light that I need to mount, but I need to replace the bulb in it.
There's my set up so far. It works well enough, but there is definitely room for improvement. I know I need to get a tool cart, since this is located two bays away from where I usually work, and I keep having to walk back and forth to get tools. I'm also going to get some extra lube tools and keep them in a carry bag, as my bays aren't big enough for the pick up trucks to rack safely. I usually rack them on the drive-on racks in the actual lube bays, which is all the way on the other end of the shop. Whenever I get a large truck to work on I can grab the bag, rack the truck, and do the job without ever having to walk back to my bay for a tool.
I was working out of a Craftsman three-drawer road box for a while before I brought in the Stack-On. The table the Stack-On is sitting on is an old typewriter table, which had been in my garage for years just taking up space.
I apologize for the bluriness of the photos, they were taken with my cell phone.
My whole setup. The cabinet above is mine as well. Forgive the mess, the shop is very old, and to quote my senior mechanic, "Ridden hard and put away wet."
The top of my Stack-On box. I keep all my most used tools here except the wrenches. The strip that holds my deep sockets I got at Lowes for about thirteen bucks. It's great, but I wish the magnetic strip was more powerful. If I close the lid any harder than feather soft all the sockets drop off it. The magnet holding the three bits is off a tweeter that I replaced in a car. The air ratchet is a Craftsman 3/8" drive, and the photo is of my wonderful girlfriend. Awww.
The top three drawers.
Drawer 1: Needle files, punches, hose pliers, solder, automatic center punch, and brad driver.
Drawer 2: Torx drivers, picks, and ratcheting screw drivers.
Drawer 3: Battery terminal remover.
Top long drawer. All pliers and cutting tools.
Middle long drawer. 1/4" drive ratchet, Husky twist handle ratchet, locking extensions, and Torx and Allen sockets and wrenches.
Bottom long drawer. Standard sockets (All the cars I work on are metric, so I don't bother sorting these), battery terminal cleaners, assorted tools.
Top drawer of the Matco box. All my daily needs tools. I'm essentially a glorified lube tech right now, so this drawer has everything I need to change oil. I usually just use the 13 wrench and my grandpa's hammer. Box end over the plug, and wail on the open end. It's a Craftsman wrench, and Sear's is right across the street, so no biggie. The hammer head started to come off the handle, but I just put a small coat of gray silicone on the end, and it's holding up great.
Drawer 2. Gearwrenches. The rest of the stuff is just there because I have no where else to put it right now.
Drawer 3. Assorted knick-knacks. I occasionally use the 1/2" drive stuff, usually for differential services and crankshaft turning. The rest is just "Will Need Every So Often" stuff.
Drawer 4. Impact wrench stuff, gloves, and battery and electrical service tools. I have never used any of the electrical stuff, mostly because I haven't needed to yet.
A very blury Drawer 5. Torque wrench, 3/8" impact set (Never opened), and one tackle box that I use for holding bolts when doing heavy line jobs.
Drawer 6. The bottom, deep drawer. I keep the majority of the Matco tool kit in here, as well as my other tackle boxs. The bit set I got from Home Depot, where I used to work, for fifteen bucks. It's a great set, and if my electric screwgun hadn't died, I'd use it a lot more. I'm saving up for a Makita 10.8v driver kit.
The work bench. I like my rags and fender covers folded up nicely, and the bench organized. My senior mechanic doesn't really care too much. That's his pile of **** in the corner. The iPod radio is mine.
My cabinet. I keep an assortment of oil filters, inspection sheets, fluids, gloves, and pens in here. The top shelf is my personal effects shelf, where I stow my jacket every day.
The underside of the cabinet. The tool chest has a work surface which I use quite a bit, but come 3PM it starts getting dark around my area of the shop. So I went to Home Depot and got some halogen puck lights. To mount them I bought some neodymium magnets and siliconed them to the back of the light with gray engine silicone. Then I mounted a power strip to the side of my cabinet and ran an extension cord to the nearest outlet, which you can see in the work bench photo. The result can be seen in the next photo.
As you can see, the surface is quite well lit. I have one more light that I need to mount, but I need to replace the bulb in it.
There's my set up so far. It works well enough, but there is definitely room for improvement. I know I need to get a tool cart, since this is located two bays away from where I usually work, and I keep having to walk back and forth to get tools. I'm also going to get some extra lube tools and keep them in a carry bag, as my bays aren't big enough for the pick up trucks to rack safely. I usually rack them on the drive-on racks in the actual lube bays, which is all the way on the other end of the shop. Whenever I get a large truck to work on I can grab the bag, rack the truck, and do the job without ever having to walk back to my bay for a tool.
terabyte
Well-known member
you are proof that you don't need a 10000 tool box to start making a living on cars.
good start and the pic of the girl is a nice touch
good start and the pic of the girl is a nice touch
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
most of us started small like you are..........you'll get there but don't over extend yourself. the shop looks like an old building btw..........not that there's anything wrong with that, i kinda like the history of old buildings too!
mkdive
Well-known member
Dust, where are your posting from..... (where abouts to you live)?
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Dust
Well-known member
I work at Tustin Dodge, and live in Santa Ana, CA. From what I've been told, the dealership was built back in the '70s, along with most of the rest of the auto center. The most recent improvement was the construction of a parking garage about six or seven years ago, and refacing the front of the dealership to Chrysler standards.
I actually prefer having a slightly smaller box, since it forces me to come up with unique organizations and solutions. That said, having a bigger box right now wouldn't hurt!
I actually prefer having a slightly smaller box, since it forces me to come up with unique organizations and solutions. That said, having a bigger box right now wouldn't hurt!
mkdive
Well-known member
Dust... you've got quite a nice little start going there. As mentioned good proof you don't have to own a bunch of $$ in tools to make a living working on them. Although as you gain more skill, etc you'll grow to appreciate specialty tools to make the job quicker, etc. Just don't get caught up in the "tool truck credit" racket. I'm not saying don't buy from the tool truck... no certainly keep on making purchases... just pay cash. See if your guy will give you a little discount for cash vs. credit.
terabyte
Well-known member
goodfellow
Well-known member
Good point! "tool envy" is a dangerous thing. Usually the lowest guy on the pole get's a lot of grief because of the basic tools that they have, and the box they keep them in. They are encouraged by truck vendors, and many of their peers to buy off the truck, and go into debt. Not a good thing!!
Stay lean, buy when good stuff is on sale (that includes Craftsman, KD and Lisle) and pick up tools that get repossessed from the guys that did go into debt.
Good luck --
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Dust... we want to see more of the girl in the pic in the Stack On box...
goodfellow
Well-known member
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terabyte
Well-known member
Elroy's pleasure.
Now there is some *********** for ya.
tera likes ****....
I also like how you have a kit of tools that would get used together.
i know it's not American but these look pretty nice...
Deafautotech
Well-known member
Here's my set up at at the Dodge dealership where I apprentice. The Stack-On box is mine, while the Matco chest was provided to me as part of the apprenticeship, as well as a basic toolkit. However, they took so long in actually getting the tools to me I just brought in my own two weeks after I started and don't use more than three or four of the ones they gave me.
I was working out of a Craftsman three-drawer road box for a while before I brought in the Stack-On. The table the Stack-On is sitting on is an old typewriter table, which had been in my garage for years just taking up space.
I apologize for the bluriness of the photos, they were taken with my cell phone.
My whole setup. The cabinet above is mine as well. Forgive the mess, the shop is very old, and to quote my senior mechanic, "Ridden hard and put away wet."
The top of my Stack-On box. I keep all my most used tools here except the wrenches. The strip that holds my deep sockets I got at Lowes for about thirteen bucks. It's great, but I wish the magnetic strip was more powerful. If I close the lid any harder than feather soft all the sockets drop off it. The magnet holding the three bits is off a tweeter that I replaced in a car. The air ratchet is a Craftsman 3/8" drive, and the photo is of my wonderful girlfriend. Awww.
The top three drawers.
Drawer 1: Needle files, punches, hose pliers, solder, automatic center punch, and brad driver.
Drawer 2: Torx drivers, picks, and ratcheting screw drivers.
Drawer 3: Battery terminal remover.
Top long drawer. All pliers and cutting tools.
Middle long drawer. 1/4" drive ratchet, Husky twist handle ratchet, locking extensions, and Torx and Allen sockets and wrenches.
Bottom long drawer. Standard sockets (All the cars I work on are metric, so I don't bother sorting these), battery terminal cleaners, assorted tools.
Top drawer of the Matco box. All my daily needs tools. I'm essentially a glorified lube tech right now, so this drawer has everything I need to change oil. I usually just use the 13 wrench and my grandpa's hammer. Box end over the plug, and wail on the open end. It's a Craftsman wrench, and Sear's is right across the street, so no biggie. The hammer head started to come off the handle, but I just put a small coat of gray silicone on the end, and it's holding up great.
Drawer 2. Gearwrenches. The rest of the stuff is just there because I have no where else to put it right now.
Drawer 3. Assorted knick-knacks. I occasionally use the 1/2" drive stuff, usually for differential services and crankshaft turning. The rest is just "Will Need Every So Often" stuff.
Drawer 4. Impact wrench stuff, gloves, and battery and electrical service tools. I have never used any of the electrical stuff, mostly because I haven't needed to yet.
A very blury Drawer 5. Torque wrench, 3/8" impact set (Never opened), and one tackle box that I use for holding bolts when doing heavy line jobs.
Drawer 6. The bottom, deep drawer. I keep the majority of the Matco tool kit in here, as well as my other tackle boxs. The bit set I got from Home Depot, where I used to work, for fifteen bucks. It's a great set, and if my electric screwgun hadn't died, I'd use it a lot more. I'm saving up for a Makita 10.8v driver kit.
The work bench. I like my rags and fender covers folded up nicely, and the bench organized. My senior mechanic doesn't really care too much. That's his pile of **** in the corner. The iPod radio is mine.
My cabinet. I keep an assortment of oil filters, inspection sheets, fluids, gloves, and pens in here. The top shelf is my personal effects shelf, where I stow my jacket every day.
The underside of the cabinet. The tool chest has a work surface which I use quite a bit, but come 3PM it starts getting dark around my area of the shop. So I went to Home Depot and got some halogen puck lights. To mount them I bought some neodymium magnets and siliconed them to the back of the light with gray engine silicone. Then I mounted a power strip to the side of my cabinet and ran an extension cord to the nearest outlet, which you can see in the work bench photo. The result can be seen in the next photo.
As you can see, the surface is quite well lit. I have one more light that I need to mount, but I need to replace the bulb in it.
There's my set up so far. It works well enough, but there is definitely room for improvement. I know I need to get a tool cart, since this is located two bays away from where I usually work, and I keep having to walk back and forth to get tools. I'm also going to get some extra lube tools and keep them in a carry bag, as my bays aren't big enough for the pick up trucks to rack safely. I usually rack them on the drive-on racks in the actual lube bays, which is all the way on the other end of the shop. Whenever I get a large truck to work on I can grab the bag, rack the truck, and do the job without ever having to walk back to my bay for a tool.
oh man!! i missed Chrysler dealership job!! i am former chrysler technician and i love to work for chrysler but my dealership closed down chrysler and transfer me to Mercury and Lincoln dealership. they want keep me work for them even they knew i tried to find other job but they keep pay me to stay.
so i has small box when i started internship for independent shop 6 years ago (2003). but while 2.5 years, i got upgraded to 40 in wide boxes. then i quit because pay **** and too much hours in less pay for part time. so i got other job offered by my friend at chrysler dealership (i am still work same job when i got offered) i got upgraded again from 40 in wides to 54 in snap on KRl1001.. then 2 years later i found used KRL1203 for 600 dollars but i offered the tech 450 dollars, i paid cash and took it home. i told my snap on guy to find me a used KRL1003 to match my snap on top chest. he did it and i am happy to have both same color boxes.
there is a picture when i has craftsman 40 in chest, mac tool bottom, and craftsman bottom when i started work for chrysler dealership. after almost three years at same dealership, i already own biggest boxes in my work... Worse is techs will ask me for borrow the tools or need some of tools to work... i am not happy but i keep tell them to buy themself!!! my KRl1203 and KRL1003 keep all tools and special tools that i can do damn anything on chrysler, jeep, and dodge vehicles!!!
the one problem is i don't have girlfriend picture... so i am single and busy to make money for living...
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speed bump
Well-known member
Figured I would go on a nice pictorial tour of most of my tool boxes I had handy this afternoon.
First the inside box that sits in my room for building computers and other Misc. Got it when I was probably 6 or so, which means it has seen lots of abuse
Outside
Contents of box
Next up is the welders box I found at the scrap yard this summer which still needs refinished.
Outside
Inside it stores my Ridgid reamers, Toledo pipe threaders and occasionally my 36" Ridgid pipe wrench. These tools were all an impulse auction buy and for all of that I paid a total of $25.
Next up is my 1/2 drive chrome stuff. I would have this in the tool box but I ran out of room.
Outside
Insides
Finally the contents of my main tool box.
Outside.
Top
First drawer of screwdrivers and hex Keys
Next drawes is pliers, mostly Craftsman and Channellock
SAE wrench drawer. Most of those wrenches in the Ernst rack are Protos or Challengers with a NB made Black hawk, some Armstrongs, some Napas and 1 Cman thrown in.
Metric Wrench drawer, mostly loaded with Allen wrenches along with a couple of Protos and a Napa.
Misc drawer, loaded with alittle bit of everything that wouldn't fit anywhere else.
Hammers, 18" pipe wrench, pry bars, hack saw, some body tools.
There it is and I hope you enjoyed it.
First the inside box that sits in my room for building computers and other Misc. Got it when I was probably 6 or so, which means it has seen lots of abuse
Outside
Contents of box
Next up is the welders box I found at the scrap yard this summer which still needs refinished.
Outside
Inside it stores my Ridgid reamers, Toledo pipe threaders and occasionally my 36" Ridgid pipe wrench. These tools were all an impulse auction buy and for all of that I paid a total of $25.
Next up is my 1/2 drive chrome stuff. I would have this in the tool box but I ran out of room.
Outside
Insides
Finally the contents of my main tool box.
Outside.
Top
First drawer of screwdrivers and hex Keys
Next drawes is pliers, mostly Craftsman and Channellock
SAE wrench drawer. Most of those wrenches in the Ernst rack are Protos or Challengers with a NB made Black hawk, some Armstrongs, some Napas and 1 Cman thrown in.
Metric Wrench drawer, mostly loaded with Allen wrenches along with a couple of Protos and a Napa.
Misc drawer, loaded with alittle bit of everything that wouldn't fit anywhere else.
Hammers, 18" pipe wrench, pry bars, hack saw, some body tools.
There it is and I hope you enjoyed it.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
i'm curious as well, a buddy has one. i have seen them called both a hubcap tool and u joint tool.
Moose-LandTran
Well-known member
I've only known then as universal joint tools, they hold part of the universal joint together while you assemble it.
chad s
Well-known member
S-9580 Chevrolet U joint tool
It counts close enough; very cool construction!
garfunkle24
Well-known member
I just got my two new boxes, a KRL722A and a KRA62C Heavy Duty Road Chest. I've shown my old boxes for comparision, quite a step up!
ZRX61
Well-known member
I use this for BA & Magneto wrenches..
garfunkle24
Well-known member
Thanks for the kind words. I've been waiting a long time to to be able to get boxes like these. I ordered the KRL722A specifically because of it's lower height but whilst waiting for it to arrive I'd started to question my choice.
Now that's it's here I'm doubly glad I got the 722 as I can see into the top of my Road Chest easily. From a 40", Mastercraft, twice-dropped, twice welded-up, much-abused roll cab and $300 26" top chest to these two boxes was quite the upgrade for me!
I'll have everything transfered and organised some time this week and will post pics at that time.