not many top chests

[maxebitda]

new member...i've had a krl756 rolling cart and the matching krl751 chest for about 5 years and have filled it up. getting ready to buy a double bank krl7022b and chest. started flipping thru the endless/priceless "show me your box" thread and didn't c as many combo's...alot of times i see just the rolling cart w/o the chest on top.

i'm sure everyone works differently...i have a home shop and have separate work benches; is the thought that the top of a cart is a workbench in a auto shop environment?

was curious as to everyone's view/feedback...

 

[bobcatdan]

Big bottom boxes have become more the norm as guys like the work space. Hutches have become very popular because it combines work space and lockable storage. I'm the only one at work with a top box and mine isn't a matching top. I have krl 1022 with a kra 62c on top.

 

[Mr Ratchet]

It's nice having the extra work surface. I've found myself using my box more often as my main work surface since my tools are right there.

 

[sberry]

As an ergonomic standpoint its just easier to find stuff at a bit above desk or bar height. I find myself up on my toes looking in my top storage box. Some places at work need the space, vertical holds more, at home where your world is your own would do what floats your boat, personally like bottom box with all the stuff I really use on top, a service cart but since I dont need to lock no top.

I got a bud that is pretty good but 1 change I would make to his shop would be to park the big cab back out of the way and strip a few things he uses 95% and put on a table hi cart with a couple drawers, light. His shop is small enough he could step a few to the big box once a day but its kind of tall. I would cherry pick the couple dozen tools he uses like a mad man and toss on the cart.

I have been working a little in that respect, less is more, keep taking away the stuff we really dont use. Sorting the stuff we do better. I need 3 or 4 more 7/16 wrenches. Maybe I will do a little round up and come up with a couple but when I walked in to the shop for a week it was a shortage I could "feel"

I bought another pair of channeloks in the middle of the season, I got 10 pairs but 4 I like here and there and believe itor not could "feel" it too as well as when I added a couple new razor knives and could feel it tank when I broke a couple tape measures. Its weird but in "fleet" service there is a "volume" for tooling.

As someone said,, a lot of men can work with one tube flare set in a shop provided it wasnt a specialty place but everyone needs some common wrenches, some places not even every one at that. My career, up and down like a yo yo so I got enough stuff to man up without having to make a great effort, we can have men working, next job does not require the stealing of tools from the first etc. They dont got to take wrenches and sockets from each other even in mild manpower spikes.

I amaze myself on occasion,, yesterday there were 5 knives and 10 crecents, now 2 and no 1/2 wrenches or all of a sudden it seems all the 3/4 wrenches are out but it will be a concidence where 2 men each took 2 or a couple got left or set on a job etc. It isnt that we dont have one but it seems the racks havnt been full all summer with the little wrenches.

There is suposed to be a minimum of 6 and the optimum number is 9 and could be 10 to 12 if we wanted to seed a couple extra tool boxes in busy places with them.

 

[sberry]

The reason for sockets is power drive, all this fuss over a ratchet gives me giggles and any scheme I can get to do simple with a combo wrench is a good one too. As someone said,,, the box only to store with at home would park as much out of the way as I could get before I kept adding more.

I have been thinking about how much stuff the avg guy really needs, even a trade mechanic I bet could get buy with a couple boxes he could carry for the most part. I mean how much stuff does it take to take the intake manifold off a car? If I ridded myself of all the duplication that 300 pcs sears set isn't far off, you can take an engine out of a car with it.

My bud is a part time farmer, electrician, bought a grand, 1k set, 900 pcs or so, I don't remember when we were 25 and probably hasn't spent 50$ since on hard line tools.

 

[joedodge]

Holy **** sberry......ya the big bottom roll cabs are popular I haven't matco at the shops work at as does everyone else accept 2 guys have stack boxes. It's just easier gives u a work surface and desk as most of us have laptops in shops

 

[jmm]

For me, it's one large roll cab with an old Kennedy machinist's chest on top. I used to have a proper top chest, but I found that Kennedy for cheap and really got to like it once it was cleaned up. I cleaned out my locker for tools in blow-mold cases and put those in there; it took some finagling and lots of organizing, but I made room in my bottom box for a lot of my tools, and switched out the old top with the Kennedy. It leaves me plenty of room to work on parts, or open up a book, or pull up a chair for lunch. I work on machinery, so there's not really any need to plan ahead with room for more tools -- only upgrades. So for my purposes, it's the perfect set-up.

 

[sberry]

It can be a habit to collect more, some of the best in this biz I have seen hit that early on. One of my buds, has a few nice tools he really leaned on, souple sk socket wrench sets and a few cman things pretty much all fit on a small service cart. Probably buy everything on it today for 1500 or not to far from it. Once these guys hit the wall with the needey stuff they quit buying 20 yrs ago.

 

[dtt454]

after turning my box over on a rut in the floor, i started thinking low and wide is good.

 

[spotco2]

I've got 2 normal sized stacks and a long stack. All 3 are full of everything. I hardly ever use any of them. I have the tools I use every day (extra's of specific tools) on tool carts and benches. That way the tools I normally need are already out and ready to go. If I need something special, it's always in a box and put back as soon as I'm finished with it.

 

[sberry]

Yes. same here.

 

[maxebitda]

thx for feedback...it just never made sense to me to put all my sockets in one drawer...having to open a drawer every time i need a socket. i prefer to put them in to top chest and leave the lid open...everybody works differently...

 

[crewchief888]

i'm mostly in the minority, i dont care for double/triple/quad banks.
they do give the option for a worktop space, at the cost of having a box thats 5ft wide.
i have a cheap parts store brand work shelf/table at the shop, to set my laptop on if i need to
in my case it's easier to reconfigure multiple smaller stacks of boxes for the space i have available, or as storage needs change. especially at home.
in my garage right now, i dont have room for all my boxes, it was easy to wrestle a set of 26" wide boxes down the stairs to use for in house tool storage.

currently have 4 roller cabs, 1, 26" 2, 33" 1, 36"
all have top boxes on them,
2 sets also have 3 drawer mid boxes
5 side boxes of various shapes and sizes.

they get moved around in the garage as my needs change, i can put a 33" wide box just about anywhere i want to, not so easy with a double/triple/quad bank.

 

[MikeF2316]

Back when I started collecting tools, you got a few tools and then a small portable box to put them in. When you got too much for that box, you got a top chest with drawers. You still lived at home, or in an apartment, so what you had was still portable, and could be taken downstairs to work on your car, or even stored in the trunk. It wasn't until you got established and had a garage that you could get the roller cabinet, because you finally had room for it.

 

[Mister Laugh]

new member...i've had a krl756 rolling cart and the matching krl751 chest for about 5 years and have filled it up. getting ready to buy a double bank krl7022b and chest. started flipping thru the endless/priceless "show me your box" thread and didn't c as many combo's...alot of times i see just the rolling cart w/o the chest on top.

i'm sure everyone works differently...i have a home shop and have separate work benches; is the thought that the top of a cart is a workbench in a auto shop environment?

was curious as to everyone's view/feedback...

I don't post here much at all, but I feel this is a conversation I can add to. I will add a disclaimer here at the beginning, these are my views, and the way I feel. Take it with a grain of salt, ignore it, don't read it, do whatever you want with it but don't be offended.

I feel when reading this board that there are a lot of people on here who don't really understand what it is like to be a mechanic in a modern world, whether heavy duty (like me at a heavy duty dealer), or flat rate automotive. I currently work out of the 68" wide EPIQ series snap on box. I love it, its got enough space for me, it give me a surface to do my light work on (I use work benches for anything heavy), and I plan on adding a hutch to the top when I can afford it.

That being said, everyone has their own work style, and this varies with the type of work you do as well. I don't think there is a one size fits all for tool boxes. One guy here mentioned 26" boxes because he could get them down the stairs easily, if looking for a home box that would certainly be something to consider, where as at work i have 48" prybars, and 56" breakerbars no way to make them go in a 26" box. Buy what works for you.

 

[roadracer97]

I just work out of my garage and i have a 26 inch top and bottom set. this works well for me becuase i have a work bench rightt beside it. but like one guy mentioned if you have bigger tools such as long breaker bars or pry bars they wont fit inside a small box.. If i worked out of a shop i would want a 68inch roll cab with no top set for the workplace. a hutch would be prefered beucase it could lock. it is all just a matter of personal opinion.

sorry if that dont make any sense.

 

[crewchief888]

i'll add this, the last time i bought a set of new boxes, double bank roller cabs had just hit the tool trucks. a triple or quad bank hadnt been thought of yet....

if you wanted anything bigger than 36" wide, the only options i can recall were a SO "taco cart" ora set of brackets from matco or mac that you could bolt 2 roller cabs together.

 

[joedodge]

I'd really like to have a snap on krl single bank top and bottom with a side box but I'm scared I could never go back from my double bay matco 4s I use a craftsman stack at the dealer I'm at part time with a home made side shelf for my computer and its deffinatly different

 

[Packard V8]

As already said, there's no one best box. A working tech has a very different need than even a good weekend mechanic.

Personally, in my shop, there are workbenches down two walls, so no need to use a big box as workspace. Smaller/medium/large top-and-bottoms are much more affordable, so I just keep adding those along the third wall when I find a too-good-to-pass-up.

The other thing is a big box full of tools, whether tall or long, isn't really mobile unless one has a forklift to tow it and they wouldn't last long if moved regularly. Hey, now we're back to the taco cart ;>)

jack vines

 

[skulldrinker]

How do you guys use those laptops in you jobs? AllData or something like that? Or maybe scanner software?

I have a 44" top and bottom mainly cause I can't fit everything in just a bottom. I had the bottom delivered first then about a week later the top arrived. I have to say that I did like having the work surface for that week. I now need and would like to add 2 sides and another bottom and that would give me my work surface back. Them hutches are awesome wish I had one.

 

[joedodge]

I use my lap top for gm global connect,ford installer support, all data and all the dealer associated software and such and for hooking up scan tools for programming. I like my matco being a double bay open top but when I think about it all I do is set the puter on top of it really

 

[crewchief888]

I'd really like to have a snap on krl single bank top and bottom with a side box but I'm scared I could never go back from my double bay matco 4s I use a craftsman stack at the dealer I'm at part time with a home made side shelf for my computer and its deffinatly different

for a week, try not to put anything on the top of your double bank....

i toss everything i'm using in the top of a 2 shelf cart, and have a cheap torin rolling work shelf for my laptop when i need it.

 

[joedodge]

One of those rolling shelf is actually a hell of an idea for that dang. One thing
Too is the krl single bank top and bottom and side box is hell expensive. It's like the same as a double bay if not more

 

[rmc115]

I personally hate opening a drawer to get a socket (that i do 100 times a day). You have to find the right combo that is not to high. my laptop is on my side cab. Mike

 

[joedodge]

So you have a stack box also?

 

[cgv69]

I think its great to see how others work and how they organize their stuff. It gives you ideas that you may have never thought of yourself. Just keep in mind that we all have our own needs, preferences and limitations so what works or may be the best for others may not work for you.

So what I'm saying is see what the options are (and the reasons for them) but in the end, go with what's right for you and don't worry about what's popular or common.

 

[SGASA204A.MASTER]

Tool storage is a personal decision; color, layout, size and level of quality. The trend that I have seen this past year (2012) on my route (based shop mix; 50% auto, 30% Truck/HD, 10% body, 10% other home/industrial. I sold over 50 pieces of tool storage)

80% of boxes sold were roll cabs with work surface, mainly Masters series or Epiq - reasons I see were, lack of bench space in busy shops, and access to tools while performing light - mid duty work on box work surface.

10% were top and bottom boxes, usually to Techs who have always had that lay-out and did not want to change

10% were carts, which is an extension of their main tool box.

Color is interesting, as I only sold 1 red box in 2012. Extreme Green, Flat Black, Gloss Black and Midnight Blue were popular. This year so far, White is gaining traction and Electric Orange has been steady.

Another trend I see (in my route) Armour guard tops are, hands down, the most popular work surface.

This assessment is on my route only. My route is located in mid size city full of busy shops and a strong economy, in the outer suburbs of a very large city. So most shops do not have much extra space.

 

[joedodge]

Ya I've noticed alot of the older guys have stacks and the younger have work surface double bays because that's the trend now lol.if they weren't so expensive I'd upgrade in a heart beat

 

[dsimatt]

I've got a krl 1022 and almost got a smaller top box but didn't wanna lose the top space so i got a HF side box. I work in a truck shop and there isn't alot of room for putting tools and such so everything gets piled on top of my box. I'd like a hutch but to dam expensive.

 

[Eddie B]

Anyone interested in a Snap-On KRA 412B side shelf? It's in excellent shape, no rust, I'll post pictures in anyone is interested. $75.00