New tool box or move current box to new building?

[dlwilson]

I have a rental property a few blocks away where I keep the use of the garage for myself. There's various project cars rotating through it while they wait to come to my garage. I've found it really useful to keep a set of basic hand tools there for quick jobs like replacing the battery, wheel swaps, brake work, and whatever other random work is needed to get the car capable of driving to my garage.

 

[humpty]

I had a similar issue, I built a new garage finally but in the interim I had set up a nice basement shop.
I had two big boxes in the basement. So when was ready to move tools to the I took the opportunity to sell one of the boxes, it was a nice big Kennedy but it had a fair amount of shallow drawers. I replaced that one with a 72" USG cabinet. It has worked out very well.

One issue has been with the tools. You think you have a ton of tools until you want tools in two seperate locations. I have separated what I own into the two categories of the work that will happen in the garage and what will happen in the basement shop. I have now embarked on the process of filling the holes of created.

humpty

 

[Maxcustody]

I have a rental property a few blocks away where I keep the use of the garage for myself. There's various project cars rotating through it while they wait to come to my garage. I've found it really useful to keep a set of basic hand tools there for quick jobs like replacing the battery, wheel swaps, brake work, and whatever other random work is needed to get the car capable of driving to my garage.

Thank you!

 

[Maxcustody]

I had a similar issue, I built a new garage finally but in the interim I had set up a nice basement shop.
I had two big boxes in the basement. So when was ready to move tools to the I took the opportunity to sell one of the boxes, it was a nice big Kennedy but it had a fair amount of shallow drawers. I replaced that one with a 72" USG cabinet. It has worked out very well.

One issue has been with the tools. You think you have a ton of tools until you want tools in two seperate locations. I have separated what I own into the two categories of the work that will happen in the garage and what will happen in the basement shop. I have now embarked on the process of filling the holes of created.

humpty

Thank you! I was at HF today and they have some nice boxes, but man they seem expensive for HF. I think I will probably move my Milwaukee box and keep the smaller boxes in the old garage.

I Totally agree, you think you have a lot until they are split up. I have been looking at tools as well

 

[Bucko]

Previous house had a 3 car attached garage so everything was in it of course. House before that had a 2.5 attached and a 600sq' detached about 50 feet from corner of house to the door of the shop, I kept pretty much everything in the shop.
My new house of 6 months has a attached 3 car and a detached 2600sq' shop and it is about 125' from side door of garage to the shop door. Plan is for everything tool and auto in the shop with exception of some general tools and a pancake compressor in the attached garage.

This allows me to keep all the storage stuff for Christmas in the attached garage along with things like bicycles and smokers, pool stuff, etc. Sometimes its a pain running to the shop for something but its a good problem to have vs. My old house with everything in one spot and cramped.

 

[humpty]

The HF boxes are good value. They punch above their weight for sure. I doubt they'd hold up like my old Kennedy did or hold it value like it did either but they fit a need.

With coupons and sales I got it for right about $1,000. The boxes priced below did not seem as heavily built and going to a better brand was at least double that or a lot more.

As far as tools I am trying to be targeted and deliberate and get things that will get used and/or add value. I have a whiteboard in the both shops and when I come across one of those "man I really could have used one of those" or "XYZ would have made that job way better" moments I write it on the board. Case in point last night I could have really used a 10mm magnetic socket. Ordered a set today.

 

[Maxcustody]

Previous house had a 3 car attached garage so everything was in it of course. House before that had a 2.5 attached and a 600sq' detached about 50 feet from corner of house to the door of the shop, I kept pretty much everything in the shop.
My new house of 6 months has a attached 3 car and a detached 2600sq' shop and it is about 125' from side door of garage to the shop door. Plan is for everything tool and auto in the shop with exception of some general tools and a pancake compressor in the attached garage.

This allows me to keep all the storage stuff for Christmas in the attached garage along with things like bicycles and smokers, pool stuff, etc. Sometimes its a pain running to the shop for something but its a good problem to have vs. My old house with everything in one spot and cramped.

Thanks. New shop will be around 125' away for us as well from current detached. Having more space is always a great problem to have............

 

[Maxcustody]

The HF boxes are good value. They punch above their weight for sure. I doubt they'd hold up like my old Kennedy did or hold it value like it did either but they fit a need.

With coupons and sales I got it for right about $1,000. The boxes priced below did not seem as heavily built and going to a better brand was at least double that or a lot more.

As far as tools I am trying to be targeted and deliberate and get things that will get used and/or add value. I have a whiteboard in the both shops and when I come across one of those "man I really could have used one of those" or "XYZ would have made that job way better" moments I write it on the board. Case in point last night I could have really used a 10mm magnetic socket. Ordered a set today.

HF has some boxes I saw today labeled ICON, they seem real nice, but crazy prices......... Snap-on, Matco prices but a HF box. I can't see spending a ton on a new box. I am really leaning toward a 30'' roll cart with a slide top. I think something like that as well as moving my larger box would be a good setup.

 

[humpty]

I didn't spring for the Icon, not for a hobby mechanic garage. Just the US General.
If you are going to move it around a lot I'd go smaller as well. The big boxes are harder to move around.
Depending on need you could do a service cart, they have different models with different quantities of drawers.

You could outfit it with your most used tools, make it super efficient and handy.
Once you fill that up you could buy a bigger box, shift the lesser used stuff over and keep your service cart nimble.

A service cart and a rolling workbench might get you by for quite awhile.
I would like to do that but my garage isn't that big so I have the big box and then just a regular Rubbermaid utility cart.

humpty

 

[humpty]

Side note...

At my last job, we used to get the larger Rubbermaid utility carts and put pneumatic casters on them and they hauled tools, parts and what-not between buildings. Might be nice for you if you need to move things between the house and shop. 125' is a long way too haul a bunch of beer to the shop.

humpty

 

[Maxcustody]

I didn't spring for the Icon, not for a hobby mechanic garage. Just the US General.
If you are going to move it around a lot I'd go smaller as well. The big boxes are harder to move around.
Depending on need you could do a service cart, they have different models with different quantities of drawers.

You could outfit it with your most used tools, make it super efficient and handy.
Once you fill that up you could buy a bigger box, shift the lesser used stuff over and keep your service cart nimble.

A service cart and a rolling workbench might get you by for quite awhile.
I would like to do that but my garage isn't that big so I have the big box and then just a regular Rubbermaid utility cart.

humpty

This sounds like a great plan!

 

[Maxcustody]

Side note...

At my last job, we used to get the larger Rubbermaid utility carts and put pneumatic casters on them and they hauled tools, parts and what-not between buildings. Might be nice for you if you need to move things between the house and shop. 125' is a long way too haul a bunch of beer to the shop.

humpty

I do have one of the plastic HF carts I use a lot and I saw today they have a larger version. Those things are heavy duty and work well.

I think I will load the beer in the back of the pickup bed.........

 

[Maxcustody]

Update 1/29/2022 I have decided to go all in. Unfortunately, anything I get involved in I sometimes go overboard. All good though as I have never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.

Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments. As well as helping me spend my money.

I have been on a tool buying spree......................For weeks I have been searching tool sites and even contacted both my Local Snap-On and Matco tool truck guy's . Both are awesome by the way.

I ordered a Snap-On slide top roll cart in Midnight Blue with blackout badges, trim, etc. I also picked up some Snap On work lights, a t handle driver set and a small pick set.

40" Sliding Lid Eight-Drawer Bed Liner Shop Cart (Midnight Blue with Blackout Details)​

Tekton, I already received all of the following with super fast shipping:

-1/4 drive 6 point socket set 55 piece
-1/4 drive 15mm deep socket
-1/4 drive 15mm socket
-3/8 drive 6 point socket set 74 piece
-1/2 drive 6 point socket set 84 piece
-3/8 drive 6 point impact socket set 72 piece
-1/2 drive 6 point impact socket set 87 piece
-1/4 and 3/8 universal socket set 33 piece
-38 piece combo wrench set
-3/8 and 1/2 split beam torque wrench set
-3 and 10 compartment organizers
-hex key wrench set 30 piece
-high torque and hard handle screwdriver sample set
-36 oz. ball peen dead blow hammer
-both high torque nut driver set in standard and metric
-high torque screwdriver set 16 piece

Ordered from my Matco guy: 1/4= Orange 3/8=Green

-16v 1/4 sealed head ratchet in Orange
-16v 3/8 stubby impact gun kit with 2 batteries and charger in Green
-16v 3/8 long reach ratchet in Green
-16v extra battery
-10 piece screwdriver set in Blue
-adjustable oil filter wrench in Orange
-3/8 12" locking flex head in Green
-1/4 9" locking flex head ratchet in Orange
-3 piece 3/8 locking impact extension set
-4 piece curved pry bar set in Orange
-3 piece pry driver set in orange
-Knipex 3 piece cobra plier set
-3 piece mini magnetic parts cups

I ordered all Westling Machine socket holders

Precision-Machined Tool Organization Products | Westling USA

Westling USA specializes in designing and manufacturing high quality tool organization products. All products are MADE IN AMERICA and precision-machined!

westlingmachine.com

 

[toolmanmark]

Update 1/29/2022 I have decided to go all in. Unfortunately, anything I get involved in I sometimes go overboard. All good though as I have never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.

Thanks to all for your suggestions and comments. As well as helping me spend my money.

I have asked a couple questions in regards to my new shop build. We will have a new 40 x 60 shop in April. I have a current detached Garage with all current tools, etc. It is an "L" shape, not small, but there is no way our F250 would even fit in there for any work. So obviously, I will use the new shop for all work on vehicles and will also have a 4 post lift.

So do I move my Large box out of current garage into the new one, or buy an additional tool box? My first thought is move it, why not...........then I second guess myself, will I still need the tools in the current garage for other projects? Even as I type this, I am thinking it would be dumb not to just move it, why spend additional money on a new box.

*Both old and new shop will be about 200 feet from each other.

I am sure there are many here with 2 (garage) or more shop locations. What are your thoughts?

I was going to reply. I work out of two shops on the same property and if you don't buy another set of tools your first purchase will be a golf cart.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Nice!

 

[johnny_boy02]

I have the same cart. The only thing I don’t really care for is larger pry bars don’t fit. Otherwise I love it.

 

[Maxcustody]

I have the same cart. The only thing I don’t really care for is larger pry bars don’t fit. Otherwise I love it.

@johnny_boy02 , I was going back and forth due to no pry bar storage. The Matco similar cart does have this option. However I love everything else about the Snap On especially the small drawers that slide out from under the top.

I got several of these and going to place them on my lift to hold my pry bars,etc. I received them yesterday good quality and very strong magnets.

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