Metric and SAE in separate or same big box?

[Danglerb]

I am about to evict all my SAE tools from my main box since despite all the cars I work on being metric, all the old stuff I am buying is SAE and I am running out of room. I think I am going to end up with three boxes, big main box with metric stuff and ratchets etc that are universal, working SAE box, and a third for all the stuff I am hoarding, eh collecting, but don't plan to actively use.

I am kind of wondering if I am going to get into some weird practice of digging out some old socket just to use it on occasion?

 

[tatra]

yea, time to seek help...............

 

[ghettoluxury]

I have 2 boxes, the one on my roll around has Metric and the one on the bench has SAE.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's an excellent idea to have MM and SAE boxes. However, I would take it a step further and have Brand boxes. All of your craftsman stuff goes into a Craftsman setup. All of the Snap on tools go into a Snap on box, etc. Your vintage stuff could go into some type of vintage cabinet since mega tool boxes weren't around back in the day.
You would definately be past the point of no return trying organize your tools this way.

 

[Mickey O]

I would get one more box for Whitworth wrenches and sockets.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

I have a 56" Clarke HD box that is evenly split down the middle. Metrics are on the right and SAE is on the left...

 

[Mickey O]

I have a 56" Clarke HD box that is evenly split down the middle. Metrics are on the right and SAE is on the left...

Shouldn't the metrics be on the left and the SAE on the right.

 

[selohssa]

It sounds like a good idea but you would want to have a set of common tools in each as well. Ratchets, extensions, impact wrenches, etc.

 

[Stick Figure]

At work i kept my more used metric stuff in my cart, but even working on 99% Nissan product, i still have to go back for SAE wrenches for the JIC fittings and things like that. It got annoying, and required a longer clean up. Now i just keep everything together.

So personally i would buy a bigger box, and use what you have for the "collection" stuff. There are not too many things that really are 100% metric or SAE in my experience.

 

[Gary S]

Most of my tools are SAE, so the metric tools are banned to live in two drawers where they don;t get in my way.
I drive all old vehicles with SAE hardware. Most metric things aren't repairable anyway, so I don't need tools for them.

 

[chevy302dz]

The way I do it is same box different drawers for wrenches, and for sockets I split them in the top of the chest Metric on the left and SAE on the right. This works well for me since my usage is about 50/50. Unused stuff goes in completly seperate storage so it's not in the way.

 

[Old Donn]

Yep, metric wrenches in one fractional in the other. Sockets are in a third, in Hanson trays. Red=SAE, grey=metric. Only exception is anything in it's own carrying case, it stays there.

 

[justinmc]

My metric/standard is only segregated in the wrench dept. I have many more metric than sae wrenches. So metric gets its own drawer as does SAE (albeit smaller than the metric).

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Shouldn't the metrics be on the left and the SAE on the right.

I guess it could be done that way, but I didn't give it a lot of thought when I set it up. I mostly use the metric stuff and I'm right handed, so I guess thats why I did it that way...

 

[jeepnut24]

There is hardly any SAE on my Jeep, and the new GM V8 going in has all Metric on it. The other cars are all metric so I have little use for SAE.

What is left that is SAE other than the really old US vehicles? My Jeep is 94 and is half metric.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

One big box. I am thinking this one.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=20780&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

With a couple of these on top.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=21846&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

There tool storage solved. When you fill it just get another one.

 

[Fubar]

I use my stuff so much that I know automatically what is where. If I had to break it all up (and put everything I have in a box) I could probably fill the biggest box Snap-On makes..

 

[Fubar]

One big box. I am thinking this one.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=20780&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

With a couple of these on top.
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...group_ID=21846&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

There tool storage solved. When you fill it just get another one.

If ya got an extra 30K kickin around that is.....

 

[crewchief888]

It's an excellent idea to have MM and SAE boxes. However, I would take it a step further and have Brand boxes. All of your craftsman stuff goes into a Craftsman setup. All of the Snap on tools go into a Snap on box, etc. Your vintage stuff could go into some type of vintage cabinet since mega tool boxes weren't around back in the day.
You would definately be past the point of no return trying organize your tools this way.

wow, great idea!!!

now i need a bigger garage, and i have to scrap all my MAC stuff, no way i'd have a MAC box. been there, done that

 

[hilld]

Shouldn't the metrics be on the left and the SAE on the right.

That sounds like a political statement.

 

[mastertech2329]

I have a set of boxes for the SAE and another set for the Metric plus a separate box for Specialty tools. And my wife bought me a new old stock Craftsman 41" cabinet a couple of years ago at a Sears repair center store that was closing down for 1/3 of retail price because of a scratch. I use it for all my duplicates and some miscellaneous tooling.

Sam

 

[jride200]

What is left that is SAE other than the really old US vehicles?

Aviation.

Can any more experienced A&Ps comment please comment on this? As far as I understand, even european manufactured aircraft us AN hardware.

 

[knucklehead]

i keep mine in different boxes...

 

[E Gap]

Aviation.

Can any more experienced A&P's comment please comment on this? As far as I understand, even European manufactured aircraft us AN hardware.

In General Aviation SAE is the standard with the exception of the Rotax engined ultralights witch are metric.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

What is left that is SAE other than the really old US vehicles? My Jeep is 94 and is half metric.

Harleys have a mixture of both SAE and metric fasteners. Polaris ATV's have quite a few SAE fasteners. I imaging Victory motorcycles do as well, but I've never owned or worked on one...

 

[knucklehead]

Harleys have a mixture of both SAE and metric fasteners. Polaris ATV's have quite a few SAE fasteners. I imaging Victory motorcycles do as well, but I've never owned or worked on one...

all my harleys are SAE. no metric cruisers in my fun factory!

 

[Danglerb]

It sounds like a good idea but you would want to have a set of common tools in each as well. Ratchets, extensions, impact wrenches, etc.

Too confusing to split the ratchets, extensions, etc between boxes, and too many of them. My plan is to get a fair sized intermediate box and put it on one of the heavy shelf units in the same garage, roll away likely right next to it. Kinda handy really to be able to have the ratchet drawer and the socket drawer open at the same time.

Sockets and wrenches are only about a third or less of all the stuff in my box anyway.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

all my harleys are SAE. no metric cruisers in my fun factory!

Those old ones are. Lots of metric fasteners can be found on new ones, not to mention the foreign made parts (Showa forks, Keihin carbs).

 

[jride200]

In General Aviation SAE is the standard with the exception of the Rotax engined ultralights witch are metric.

I had heard that the Rotax engines were metric. These seem to be growing in popularity, especially if the LSA industry ever gains steam. Do you happen to know about the big iron or european helicopters? Are these metric? My instructor has led me to believe that 99.9% of aviation is SAE, but I have some doubt. Maybe because he's only worked in GA.