Need recommendations for a small tool box for electrical stuff

[67carl]

I have a plastic bin that I keep electrical stuff in - linesman pliers, wire strippers, screw driver, cutters, wire nuts, voltage testers, etc. It's a mess and kinda embarrassing. I'm wiring my greenhouse and decided enough is enough - time to get something better. Any recommendations for a smallish, portable box that would be good for electrical stuff?

 

[grant00]

If you want to stay portable and have tools at easy reach maybe a bag like this would be good. Lots of variations at different price levels. Tools on the outside and receptacles, connectors, boxes, etc in the center area.

Husky Heavy-Duty 20 in. PRO All-Trade Tool Tote H-2220 - The Home Depot

Built for the PRO, the 20 in. All-Trade Tool Tote is constructed of durable 1680D Polyester, reinforced ripstop pockets and waterproof hard base to withstand everyday jobsite usage. The 20 in. opening,

www.homedepot.com

 

[The Cobbler]

Oh, so what you've pictured isn't a tool box then ?

 

[nadogail]

I have done a lot of work with a 5 gallon bucket fitted with a Bucket Boss liner.

 

[cgrutt]

Not sure what your budget is but I recently picked up a Klein tool bag that I have earmarked for networking and electrical so far I really like it.

Stock pics

 

[67carl]

Oh, so what you've pictured isn't a tool box then ?

Well, you mighta got me there! Technically speaking, is it a box if it doesn't have a lid?


I was thinking something that had individual storage for smalls, like various wire nuts, Wago connectors, tape, screws, etc. in addition to tools. All that stuff floats around the bottom of this BIN I've been using. Maybe something like a tackle box...

 

[67carl]

I looked at some tackle boxes on Amazon. There were some pretty cool designs that would work, but were just too big. It needs to fit on a shelf in a cabinet. I checked out Harbor Freight and think I've found what I was looking for.

18 in. Organizer Case

Amazing deals on this 18In Organizer Case at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Interestingly, one of the product pictures shows it holding electrical things.







Or this one

Small Modular Toolbox

Amazing deals on this Small Modular Tool Box at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[mrVanagon]

Well, you mighta got me there! Technically speaking, is it a box if it doesn't have a lid?


I was thinking something that had individual storage for smalls, like various wire nuts, Wago connectors, tape, screws, etc. in addition to tools. All that stuff floats around the bottom of this BIN I've been using. Maybe something like a tackle box...

I use a tool bag like others have suggested but I also toss in a box like this for small parts:

https://www.amazon.com/Plano-23730-05-Prolatch-Stowaway-Adjustable/dp/B001447AW2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[67carl]

Link didn't work, but I saw the name in the URL and searched for it. Could work...

 

[nadogail]

All of the people who do electrical work don’t need the same way to keep their tools and supplies organized, what works for you may not be appropriate for me.

If it works, it is good; if it doesn’t work than we keep looking for a different alternative.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I bought an inexpensive hard plastic fishing tackle box to hold and carry my most used electrical items. It has bins with covers that open and close to keep small to medium sized items in them, like wire nuts, misc hardware, a few receptacles and stuff like that. And the main open space of the box is large enough to keep the tools and some wire and a multi-meter and stuff like that.

It has a lid that closes and locks and it has a nice handle to carry it. I looked at all kinds of tool boxes that had lids or an open top tool tote, but the tackle box ended up being the best one to have for carrying the basic electrical stuff and it was also the least expensive.

Jim

 

[jdm5]

I like CLC myself https://goclc.com/product-category/tool-carriers/tool-pouches/
but any of these will work great

 

[Model A Fan]

I have a Ridgid brand box myself. It came with their three pack (rolling bottom case, larger center, and flat top case with small dividers inside). I use the smallest of the three, but I could not find the box on Home Depot online, but it works great so far. Holds tools in the center, wire nuts, electrical wire, small bits as I'm working, etc.

You could try this one and pop out the containers you don't need as the lid should hold the rest in place:

RIDGID 2.0 Pro Gear System 22 in. Compact Tool and Small Parts Organizer 254071 - The Home Depot

Space-saving organization is here. If you need a flexible organization solution, but are short on space, the RIDGID 2.0 Half Organizer is just right for you. You get 6 small compartment storage bins and

www.homedepot.com

Here's a link to the one I bought:

RIDGID 2.0 Pro Gear System Power Tool Case 254069 - The Home Depot

Are you looking for a tool case that offers safe and durable protection for your power tools The RIDGID Pro Gear Organizer 2.0 is the perfect addition for your tool storage. Keeping your tools in great

www.homedepot.com

 

[dave*99]

I have this:

 

[dave*99]

Sitting on this

 

[four.cycle]

one of our members has a fancy-schmantzy tool bag listed in the classifieds.

I throw everything into a large "Milwaukee" bag - effectively the same as what you have now, but soft-sided. It's a mess and a hassle to find the tool I need, and I never seem to toss that ONE item in that I need and find myself driving to the nearest hardware store to buy more tools.

I bought a couple "roll" things that have individual pockets, but haven't gotten to loading them up yet. I am fairly confident they will address some of the issues of having everything tangled up and not being able to find anything.

I am reluctant to go "hard sided" because I have to be careful about scratching surfaces in those places I get called to (dance studios, fancy living rooms, etc.) (When they make you take your shoes off, you can forget about lugging in a big steel box full of tools.)

 

[isb cornbinder]

Craigslist find. I have 4 of these, all CL. One is dedicated to tool for electric work.

 

[67carl]

I looked at some tackle boxes on Amazon. There were some pretty cool designs that would work, but were just too big. It needs to fit on a shelf in a cabinet. I checked out Harbor Freight and think I've found what I was looking for.

18 in. Organizer Case

Amazing deals on this 18In Organizer Case at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Interestingly, one of the product pictures shows it holding electrical things.

Update - I got the black box above, but it was just too big. It's huge. Interestingly, in the pic they show a multimeter in the box. Trouble is, the lid won't close with it in there. The stuff on the lid hits anything sticking up above the dividers in the box. Can't see them very well, but you'd have to break them to make the pockets bigger.

Back to HF to look at other options and I ended up getting a bag, as some above suggested. I've started loading it up and it's working perfectly so far. I also got the bin to keep smalls organized. They don't hold large quantities, but for projects around the house they hold enough.

 

[bronc076]

I found myself in the same situation as you a couple months ago. I was using a 5 gallon bucket and throwing tools in it from different drawers in my toolbox along with supplies and trash. I accidentally threw away my 3/8 drive 1/2" impact socket. At the end of the day I was cleaning up and I thought all that was left in my bucket was 2/0 wire scraps and strippings and I dumped it in the trash. Unfortunately I didn't notice till trash had been hauled off a couple days later and my socket was still in there.

So I decided I needed a dedicated electrical toolbox as I'm quite frequently doing electrical work either here or my house in AR, and I'm about to wire my shop when it's finished. So I picked up a husky bag from Home Depot I like except the sides are kinda floppy. It was also a good excuse to buy some nice screwdrivers and consolidate all my electrical tools so when I go somewhere it's easy to grab.

My current setup.




I don't typically like my supplies mixed in with my tools so I think I'm going to get some item to carry wire nuts, couplings, box connectors, receptacles, etc when I'm wiring my shop. I used to use a cleaning tote when I did plumbing and it worked great. Something like this.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubberm...15-in-x-7-4-in-RCP315488BLA/326918819#overlay

They are cheap and work great.