Most Impressive SO Box I've Seen

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Its funny how some find this dudes stuff so repulsive.

It’s also interesting that so many people expect professional techs and tradies to be working out of and with cheaper toolboxes and tools. I’m in and out of my box a thousand times, daily. I’m going to want something nice and that something is going to have stickers and personal items all over it. I’m literally looking at it more than my wife or kid.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Thank you for taking the time to explain that. It mostly makes sense now. Back in the early 80s when I started in the business, a 26/27 inch stack was the basic standard, with maybe an intermediate cabinet plus a side cabinet. The richest mechanic I ever knew worked out of a 3-drawer Craftsman bottom box and retired at 45. He wasted no money on any tool that wasn't profitable at the time.

What we called "Taco wagons" were just appearing at that time. 40-50-something inch stacks were just really getting popular when I changed careers in 1999. So these 8 foot tall 12 foot long ginormous stacks that literally cost more than my first house still seem weird to me. I can't figure out how filling that tool condominium could possibly work out profitably for a flat-rate mechanic given the severe erosion of pay rates since I was turning wrenches. Back when the 27 inch stacks were normal, we mechanics generally got paid 50% of the labor bill. But obviously, I've been out of the business for over a quarter of a century and the pay deal must work very differently now.

I'm sure the poor, struggling, destitute shop owner could never pay 50% these days. IMO what happened was the labor rate got separated from percentages. Labor rates went up, tech pay stayed the same. Extrapolate that 50 years and there you go. You mention profitability for the mechanic - there's a shortage of qualified mechanics. Hmmm..... I have said numerous times here and in my life, the 50th percentile mechanic experience working on vehicles for the public makes zero sense. Thus, shortage. These mega boxes are the top percentages of workers, income wise.


I should do a tool box tour, it's just stupid what you need. I have a 6x6x4" case of threaded adapters to fill transmissions with. No dipstick, no fill hole, you need to pump the fluid up a stand pipe and let it equalize. Its also about having what you need to save time. I bought a 3inch horizontal extension from Snap On, like a piece of steel with a female and male lug 3" apart. Saved pulling a coolant bottle, battery, battery tray, and fuse box to deal with motor mount bolts to change trans lines. It's a balance, you'll pick some stuff that never pays back.

 

[blown94conv]

All These comments make me laugh. Thanks for the entertainment.

 

[STClurker]

Ooooh, look at you with those fancy casters on that chair!

am I the only one wondering about the quantity of hair in the wheels?

 

[NUTTSGT]

For those talking about the white wall of Snap-on boxes, you need to "read between the lines."


From the article....
“I knew what I wanted to do and so I started accumulating my set at the time,” Stitzinger says as the now lead fleet technician for his family's business.

Stitzinger works on everything from passenger cars and trucks to small engines and large heavy duty equipment.

“I put all my extra money, time, and resources into getting this box done,” he says.


Now if you check out the business website, you might see what all they do. From Tree care, to include what looks like to me include a few cranes to ag services.








He's the lead tech for the family business, so you have that factor. The business might actually be footing the truck payment ? He mentions all his time and money ? No bad habits, single, & no kids ? Maybe living at home with his parents ?

Throw in the Ag services, there's probably farm write offs to help cover cost. What you and I might be pulling out of our wallets, may not cost his a single dollar out of his.

 

[joel63]

After a few minutes of fiddling, they’d forget why they came, and left me alone. I’d change the pile slightly in case they came back too soon. Melted relays, interesting rotary switches, melted plastic pieces, so many options. All things I discovered during. troubleshooting and brought back to life.

For those who haven't seen objects such as those you have displayed ,it should help broaden their visual experience.
It provides a learning experiance, "what happened here?"

 

[joel63]

Yea but it’s only 20 bucks a week. For the next 60 years.

It's his money as it's often said.

 

[Steve from Socal]

You folks that see these giant took kits as a scam or some tool fool?

Have you ever considered these folks are making enough to use buying tools as a way to offset taxes? I have a on old friend that was a Ford mechanic for years he was the highest paid guy in the shop. He bought tools like a drunken sailor, why? He could either buy stuff he wanted or pay it in taxes, not dollar to dollar but close enough.

The top part and Star wars stuff is just an expression of the owners interests. While it is kinda unusual for a mechanic to display hey, it's their work space and if they are pleased by it great! People collect all kinds of stuff, this stuff is not offensive or rude. Who knows, perhaps there is a connection to the franchise in some way?

 

[PMD1966]

Keep guessing. It was kinda tongue in cheek.
And the Cape buffalo's head was on the wall in his living room.

Had a neighbor who had a large moose head in his living room. The room was 10 by 12 feet. Head was really impressive.

 

[PMD1966]

Black with orange trim? Halloween everyday.

Harley Davidson?

 

[Wamsutta]

Harley Davidson?

Halloween is suing Harley-Davidson right now for copy write infringement.

 

[tarbellb]

Halloween is suing Harley-Davidson right now for copy write infringement.

Ha but in reality these days it would be the (failing) cooperation that would be sueing
Halloween
spending time and resourcing blaming the holiday instead of fixing their crappy bikes

psst don't let Disney see this, they'd eat him alive

 

[Fixr]

You folks that see these giant took kits as a scam or some tool fool?

Have you ever considered these folks are making enough to use buying tools as a way to offset taxes? I have a on old friend that was a Ford mechanic for years he was the highest paid guy in the shop. He bought tools like a drunken sailor, why? He could either buy stuff he wanted or pay it in taxes, not dollar to dollar but close enough.

The top part and Star wars stuff is just an expression of the owners interests. While it is kinda unusual for a mechanic to display hey, it's their work space and if they are pleased by it great! People collect all kinds of stuff, this stuff is not offensive or rude. Who knows, perhaps there is a connection to the franchise in some way?

I don't see it as a scam or necessarily a tool fool. I just can't reconcile what I've seen and read about the severe erosion of technician compensation and the explosion of ginormous tool storage and tool collections. Where is the money coming from if the techs are getting paid less and they are buying far bigger toolboxes?

 

[Snapped-off]

I don't see it as a scam or necessarily a tool fool. I just can't reconcile what I've seen and read about the severe erosion of technician compensation and the explosion of ginormous tool storage and tool collections. Where is the money coming from if the techs are getting paid less and they are buying far bigger toolboxes?

Welcome to the world of finance. Now let's see just how low we can get that monthly payment for you.

 

[Fixr]

Welcome to the world of finance. Now let's see just how low we can get that monthly payment for you.

BTDT. Could have retired significantly more comfortably. I'm just glad I got out before drowning.

 

[Snapped-off]

BTDT. Could have retired significantly more comfortably. I'm just glad I got out before drowning.

GJ literally steered me away from an automotive career after high school.

I'm fortunate it's just a hobby.

 

[Fixr]

GJ literally steered me away from an automotive career after high school.

I'm fortunate it's just a hobby.

Boy Howdy, you ain't kidding!

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I don't see it as a scam or necessarily a tool fool. I just can't reconcile what I've seen and read about the severe erosion of technician compensation and the explosion of ginormous tool storage and tool collections. Where is the money coming from if the techs are getting paid less and they are buying far bigger toolboxes?

You're looking at outliers. The largest boxes and biggest tool setups aren't the norm. It's also about what you work on, the Honda master tech who's the best in a 100 mile radius may need fewer tools to work on just Honda/Acura products than the used car dealer tech working on 10yo german cars, F350s, and a few honda products. Depends if the special tooling is all together as well, if the tool room is chaos of lost and broken tools, that's more for the techs to buy.

Welcome to the world of finance. Now let's see just how low we can get that monthly payment for you.

That's certain a factor. Although quality tools are more accessible than ever. Whether one takes advantage of that is another story.

 

[DAustin]

You're looking at outliers. The largest boxes and biggest tool setups aren't the norm. It's also about what you work on, the Honda master tech who's the best in a 100 mile radius may need fewer tools to work on just Honda/Acura products than the used car dealer tech working on 10yo german cars, F350s, and a few honda products. Depends if the special tooling is all together as well, if the tool room is chaos of lost and broken tools, that's more for the techs to buy.




That's certain a factor. Although quality tools are more accessible than ever. Whether one takes advantage of that is another story.

Don't you know all you need to work on a Honda are 8,10,12,14,17,19mm sockets and wrenches.

 

[rharman]

Don't you know all you need to work on a Honda are 8,10,12,14,17,19mm sockets and wrenches.

Don't forget all the spare 10mm's to replace the ones that wander off...