Let's see your toolbox.

[Hawk321]

I would appreciate to see what you have inside your plastic boxes

 

[arkangel06]

only a couple of year ryan thats a pretty good collection for 2 years!

 

[ryannotbryan]

I would appreciate to see what you have inside your plastic boxes

I'll see what I can do with regards to pictures.

 

[ryannotbryan]

only a couple of year ryan thats a pretty good collection for 2 years!

Thanks, I've had a lot of fun hunting the past 2 years. It's definitely turned into a passion.

 

[arkangel06]

Thanks, I've had a lot of fun hunting the past 2 years. It's definitely turned into a passion.

you guys jut inspired me to go hit a local flea market ill post on how i do tonight if i get anything!

 

[ryannotbryan]

you guys jut inspired me to go hit a local flea market ill post on how i do tonight if i get anything!

That's where a lot of my collection stems from.

 

[bry@n]

Mine too......

 

[arkangel06]

That's where a lot of my collection stems from.

well i would love to have a flea market like that here.

 

[ryannotbryan]

well i would love to have a flea market like that here.

It's real hit or miss here as far as flea markets are concerned. The majority of my stuff comes from pawn shops or CL. But for the most part, I've been somewhat successful with the local flea markets.

 

[yogitech]

well i would love to have a flea market like that here.

Same here all we get are people re-selling Harbor Freight tools....

 

[Crizzle]

So, I was bored this morning, and I am waiting on my new blue CMan tool chest to get to the store. I spent some time organizing and cleaning the multitude of hand boxes that I have. You will see why I can't wait to get a full chest.

This is the first of two posts. First two pictures are the drawers from my Edsal tool cart. The have my impact sockets (mostly Snap-On), torque wrenches, and some other misc. stuff. The other drawer has channel-locks, calipers, nut drivers, and some larger SAE combos.


The next pictures are of the gray and red CMan box that has a bunch of sockets, wrenches, and drivers in it. You can really see why I need something bigger.

 

[Crizzle]

And here are 3 of the other 5 boxes I have.

The gray box in this post is a CMan, the red one a Waterloo, and i am not sure the manufactrer on the blue box.

Some more Craftsman sockets, and you can see some 1/2" S-K drive sockets right behind the lip in the top of the box. Also some Matco wood handles. In one of the drawers you can see some Mac flare nut and combo SAE wrenches. Looking for a metric set of the combos to pair w/ the SAE set.

More Matco wood handles, a Mac swivel head ratchet, and some assorted drivers in the bottom drawer of the gray CMan.


I really like the way the blue toolbox looks. I think it was the one that my grandfather carried with him when he flew. You can see some assorted wrenches, including a plomb and and old CMan ratchet.

The red Waterloo box holds almost the entireity of the metric stuff that I have. It is all CMan as you can see. The bottom of the box holds some metric CMan crow foot, flare nut, and combo wrenches.

 

[Mickey O]

Hey, you have the frull set of ratchets some other guy here was looking for, link.

 

[Crizzle]

Well look at that! I would try to work something out with him, but my grandfather left me these ratchets, so they won't be going anywhere soon.

 

[arkangel06]

Same here all we get are people re-selling Harbor Freight tools....

yeah and for twice as much or 2$ less then new

I still mannage to scrounge and get a few old goodies

 

[diogenes]

I’ve just finished up the current 138 pages of tool **** here and I thought I should “show off” what I’ve been using for twenty years or so of home auto repair. Mind you, I assembled a Jeep CJ7 with just these tools and a stick welder. By assembled, I mean: “The frame is here, the engine is over there, I gotta buy some seats I suppose… where is the body? Oh, yeah. It’s behind the hood over there in the other corner.”

I know some of the kids who’ve come here are intimidated by the volume and quality of tools that some of you guys have and think they have to catch up and quickly. Here’s my argument that you don’t NEED a lot of tools and the tools you do have DON”T need to be the top of the line. (It certainly doesn’t hurt if you DO have lots of top quality tools, in fact it’s a lot easier to do the job. But, NEED? No, not really.)

Here is my rolling tool cabinet (It replaced the CJ7 after the frame of the CJ rotted away.):

Let's look in the back:

And inside the "drawers":

This one has miscellaneous tools, my metric Craftsman wrenches, HF breaker bar, break line bender, hub nut socket for the front hubs on the CJ7, tire plugs, etc...

This one has my sockets, SAE Craftsman wrenches, pliers, screw driver, files, etc...

Back in the barn, I have my old Craftsman three drawer with my larger Craftsman (mostly) wrenches and some miscellaneous stuff.

They are dirty, some have rust (That's what happens when you wrench in the great outdoors more than you do inside.) I think I still have a few burst sockets made in Taiwan back in the eighty's... But the term I like to use is adequate. They are exactly that.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, anyone selling off a decent 3/8" and 1/2" ratchet? The no name 1/2" I got is ****... And don't start me on the Craftsman 3/8" drive one.

BTW, you guys who bought the US General chests from HF have just about convinced me to pull the trigger. Which, of course would mean that I will need to fill it...

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

I know some of the kids who’ve come here are intimidated by the volume and quality of tools that some of you guys have and think they have to catch up and quickly. Here’s my argument that you don’t NEED a lot of tools and the tools you do have DON”T need to be the top of the line. (It certainly doesn’t hurt if you DO have lots of top quality tools, in fact it’s a lot easier to do the job. But, NEED? No, not really.)

Some people DO NEED a lot of tools. As I am sure your aware, some of this board are day to day, pro mechanics, who work on everything under the sun, from some POS, to some expensive collectors cars.

That said, even the average DIY'er needs more today, then they did when I was a kid. So much stuff is either all metric or mixed, torx drivers/sockets, etc. It really comes down to the choice of vehicle, how much one wants to do themselves, and how much access to tools they don't have, do they have.

Some days, I wish I could go back to things like the old neighbors, Galaxy, that you could practically sit under the hood, next to the engine.

 

[diogenes]

Some people DO NEED a lot of tools. As I am sure your aware, some of this board are day to day, pro mechanics, who work on everything under the sun, from some POS, to some expensive collectors cars.

That said, even the average DIY'er needs more today, then they did when I was a kid. So much stuff is either all metric or mixed, torx drivers/sockets, etc. It really comes down to the choice of vehicle, how much one wants to do themselves, and how much access to tools they don't have, do they have.

Some days, I wish I could go back to things like the old neighbors, Galaxy, that you could practically sit under the hood, next to the engine.

My point was that someone, especially just starting out, doesn't need to have every tool in a truck catalog to be able to get the work done, and I acknowledged that being thus burdened does make things easier. I even admitted that I wish I was so burdened, but I'm so tight I'll never have what some would identify as the minimum required tools. I'll still keep my six vehicle personal fleet rolling down the road...

The reason I'm here on the forum is because I like turning wrenches for myself and I know I'm behind the curve on what tools are out there and what's worth the money. I've already learned a lot and I know my tools are about to get company. I did not show my pitiful air tool collection because I just started using air tools about a year ago. Now I have a new to me compressor that I got running last week that can run them properly and that is addicting...

As to sitting in the engine bay, a mechanic I knew, of admittedly short stature, startled the heck out of me one day when I walked into his shop and called his name and I heard a voice come from under the hood of a '90s vintage pickup truck around which nobody was standing. I walked around the front and there he was squatting in the engine bay elbow deep in the engine. Short folks got some advantages they keep hidden from us tall folks so we don't get too jealous.

 

[Teach]

Speaking of people "in" things...

I found this picture a while back when looking for Matco boxes. It gave me a chuckle.

I just bought a larger box. I sure hope I never open it up to find anyone inside.

 

[diogenes]

Speaking of people "in" things...

That's a rare Matco accessory. He teaches you how to use your new box and tools. No warranty, though.

Reminds me of those Verizon commercials from a few years back.

 

[jpoe]

I got this on 1/1/10 for around $460. I reccomend this to any DIYer.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Speaking of people "in" things...

I found this picture a while back when looking for Matco boxes. It gave me a chuckle.

I just bought a larger box. I sure hope I never open it up to find anyone inside.

Teach,

Getting inside the hutch and pulling down the door is the easiest way to bolt the top storage section down on my box....

 

[NUTTSGT]

I posted my tool box up earlier but I'll show the updated version.

The first pic is before.
Second is with the new 40" drawer and then what's in the drawer, air tools.

 

[Mickey O]

I posted my tool box up earlier but I'll show the updated version.

The first pic is before.
Second is with the new 40" drawer and then what's in the drawer, air tools.

I thought you would've used that drawer for stubby screwdrivers.








.

 

[Crizzle]

Sears called today. I was stoked because I thought they were telling me that my tool chest combo was in early.

Nope. Just confirming the date. Still the 20th.

 

[Crizzle]

Sears called today. Thought they were going to tell me that my tool chest combo was in.

Nope. Just confirming the date.

 

[luvmyhondas]

first, I want to apologize for crappy Iphone cam pics..

Alright, I finally got a minute to take a couple snaps of my current toolbox. KRA (now called Heritage) series 80th anniversary set, KRA roll cab and an older side cabinet (the one with 1 shelf and 3 small drawers behind the door). The roll cabs and top box are the 40" wide versions. Didn't have time to do inside shots, so don't ask if I have them...I'll get around to it (insurance is gonna need them anyway).

you'll also see the BluePoint 'roll-ee cart' just to the right. I've been scouring the net for another KRA 53" (with either bulk storage or drawers on the short side) for the home garage. I really need to get some fundage together first, but I like the thrill of the hunt.

 

[87GN]

Here's my hodge podge collection of boxes. The big Craftsman on the left was my first "real" toolbox. I got that for Christmas in 1972.

 

[87GN]

Here's some more. Plus the collection of blow molded cases taking up all the under bench space.

 

[eborcim]

Here's my hodge podge collection of boxes. The big Craftsman on the left was my first "real" toolbox. I got that for Christmas in 1972.

I like the blue floor diaper you have on for winter.....our daycare lady does the same with her house.

Cool collection of vintage boxes btw.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I thought you would've used that drawer for stubby screwdrivers.








.

nah, I don't have that many screwdrivers.

 

[mcmaster68]

Newer member, I think i've seen every toolbox posted. Great trend. I Finally got a digital camera to take some photos of mine.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks like you're slowly filling those boxes Nick. How cold is it in Delaware? I think I'd be investing in some insulation for that garage.

 

[mcmaster68]

Looks like you're slowly filling those boxes Nick. How cold is it in Delaware? I think I'd be investing in some insulation for that garage.

It's freezing here...but I just closed in the building a few weeks ago. Next step is insulation. Good thing I spent my money on tools & toys before a woman & house...thanks for the advice dad.

 

[PistolWhip]

Hey Mcmaster, do you have any pics of your garage on here? I'm right up the highway here in South Jersey and am looking to do a pole building hopefully real soon. I love to see other builds to get ideas. Also, who did you use?

 

[selohssa]

This is the first box that I ever bought. I bought it used in 1991 for $1500. I remember thinking that it was HUGE. I brought it into the shop to service the slides and give it a good cleaning as it has been sitting for the last 5 years. I noticed that it is stamped "MATCO" on the metal but all of the nameplates are "MAC"??? We don't have MATCO in Alberta, can someone explain the differences and similarities between these brands?

 

[Mickey O]

This is the first box that I ever bought. I bought it used in 1991 for $1500. I remember thinking that it was HUGE. I brought it into the shop to service the slides and give it a good cleaning as it has been sitting for the last 5 years. I noticed that it is stamped "MATCO" on the metal but all of the nameplates are "MAC"??? We don't have MATCO in Alberta, can someone explain the differences and similarities between these brands?

The similarities: They both sold tools
The difference: The letter T and O.

Does it say where those boxes were made, I was told that it was MBC that made those boxes as well but I don't really know other than being told. Whatever the case I think we can assume that Mac and Matco both had their tool boxes manufactured at the same plant.

Very nice boxes.

 

[90roadster]

hello all, this is my first post on this website. so far i have found lots of interesting threads and awesome photos, what a great forum!
here are some poor pictures of a mac tool box i recently picked up

and few of the garage
week or so after moving into this place

and about a month in

i will take better pictures of tools inside

 

[mooman]

Newer member, I think i've seen every toolbox posted. Great trend. I Finally got a digital camera to take some photos of mine.

Post some pics of that truck!!

 

[Mickey O]

Post some pics of that truck!!

Not the same truck, but until then: