Older Kennedy Organization

[oldjalopys]

I currently use a 44 us general series 2 that I will admit is filled pretty full. I recently got a Kennedy 39" 15 drawer tool box that was from family so it holds sentimental value and I would like to switch to using it instead for a home tool box. Just looking for advice as I am struggling to all my tools in it. Its a 315xb brown with the extra side cabinet. I am working on thinning out some tools as well as selling some and replacing them with higher quality. Right now I am working to get to either Snap On or Icon for the most part. Attached some pictures of loading up the drawers.

How do the vintage toolbox guys organize them? I tired searching for posts but kennedy searches let mostly to the smaller portable metal ones.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I’ll snap a couple of photos out of my Kennedy on Wednesday once I’m back at work. But sockets and wrenches are just not the best with the drawer layout. I literally condensed mine to the bare needs. My Craftsman also has the same dimensions. I can snap you some photos if you want. I have that arranged pretty smooth.

 

[1982fxr]

Had one of those under my lathe. Great for machinist stuff. As said above, just not ideal for general or mechanic tools.

Sockets, wrenches, hammers, all have to go down low. Great box though.

 

[crewchief888]

drawer layout/size will dictate how you arrange things.
personally, i wouldn't have a problem organizing my "home" mechanics tools in a box with that layout.
my widest boxes (at home) are 36", also have 2 sets of 33" wide boxes, in the garage, and a set of 26" wide boxes in the basement.

 

[ching0n]

I missed out on a versacart w/a side cabinet and fold out shelf for 100$

 

[oldjalopys]

I’ll snap a couple of photos out of my Kennedy on Wednesday once I’m back at work. But sockets and wrenches are just not the best with the drawer layout. I literally condensed mine to the bare needs. My Craftsman also has the same dimensions. I can snap you some photos if you want. I have that arranged pretty smooth.

I would love some pictures to get an idea.

 

[oldjalopys]

I spent the weekend trying to get it organized. I updated the pics in the main post. I am working on the main drawers for right now as I am waiting on new liners for the narrow drawers from kennedy.

I was able to get 2 full sets of wrenches in the short drawers and might use a side drawer for stubbies and line wrenches. I ended up using the deep drawer for socket's. Had to use a drawer per size (1 drawer for 1/4, 1 drawer for 3/8) but combined all sae & metric sockets with ratchets plus extensions. Its not super efficient but think can make due for now. I have a feeling Im going to buy a 52" us general series 3 and use this as extra. I only have a 2 car garage so trying to save all the space I can.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I would love some pictures to get an idea.

So, I didn’t take any of my 3” drawers just cause they have machinist stuff in them which isn’t going to probably help you. I also don’t use a ton of sockets for work so I condensed a ton of my hand tools into one drawer, so like my socket sets and wrenches are all thrown into one drawer. But I took some photos of my skinny drawers. I use those Ernst trays and they hold a **** ton of stuff. I use them for my home box too.

 

[GrayFlattop]

How do vintage toolbox guys organize them? Simply buy more / larger toolboxes as long as you keep buying tools. There is no magic involved. The shallower drawers of your (and my) Kennedy have limitations, consequently I use mine for machinist tools and drill bits. I was never able to pare down the tools needed for my job to fit completely in the Kennedy top & bottom.

Don’t get me wrong, I really like my Kennedy boxes, I would never give them up, but you can only fit so much in a limited amount of space.