Organizing tools to carry and work with

[khaosduke]

I was just curious and wondered, how do you guys organize the tools you need to carry for certain jobs. For example, the automotive stuff stays in the garage in tool sets, on boards on the wall etc... Recently I've had to carry around tools for doing things like data/comm cable installation and also electrical work. I ended up putting these things in small cheap harbor freight tool bags. One for "electrical" one for "data" tools etc...

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I’ve tried a few different configurations of bags similar to your electrical/tool requirements. But generally end up with half the truck brought in on an install. Try to take in everything in a couple of trips but generally end up walking numerous times for the right tool.
So I just try to park as close to the door as possible.

 

[californiaHank]

I have a bunch of hand-carry tool boxes, each optimized for certain jobs.
I think that a lot of people who do a variety of 'field work' end up with the same strategy.
It's a balance between carrying too much to a job and having everything you need at hand.
Mostly it works for me, but I still sometimes need to go back to the parking lot for something I forgot to bring.

 

[alcorelli]

I use small Veto bags set up for each task.

Sent from my SM-T837P using Tapatalk

 

[jgromada]

you don't mention whether you are a tradesperson coming in homes to perform different tasks or just a DIY homeowner. I fall in that second category.

I have a variety of bags and boxes to store the tools necessary to perform a task. For instance i have an electrical bag with the tools to run wiring, cut, crimp & terminate wires. Plus a meter, and maybe a small set of wire connectors (twist & otherwise) are in the bag as well so its pick up and go do some of those tasks.

Dry wall has another small set of tools. I am currently redoing a bunch of duct work so another bag has a bunch of sheet metal tools. Invariably I don't have everything that i need because of size limitations but pretty much.

Story these odd collections of stuff is a bit of a problem. Its not uniform as if i had a bunch of TStak containers or something, but I don't want to spend that kind of money.

 

[mdog892001]

Rubber made tote carry’s all my electric gear


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Professional Tool User]

There's tool backpacks, belts, two wheeled boxes you can pull... you go find something that you personally like using.

 

[nikerret]

I use this DeWalt bag. Got it as a gift. It’s very heavy duty and holds a ton of stuff. I keep some of my DeWalt power tools in it, between tasks. For a project, I load what I need and go. My truck has a lot of tools in it, so I try to load the bag with tools from the house, in case I forget something, that tool will still be in the truck.

 

[lilredex]

Kind of liking that ammo can idea.......overlooked in the past.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=428529

 

[khaosduke]

I do a little of both. I'm not a professional tradesman. I do a lot of DIY at home, recently as part of my side-job gig, doing IT; I've had to run a lot of cat5/6 for various installs.

 

[Szilagyi]

For my particular work needs I am happy with this Klein bucket bag. It has allowed me to organize way more than just the basic tool bags I used to use. I rarely need something that isn't in here.

 

[2mJps]

I work on trucks were there are 2 shops and a big parking lot. I have 3 toolbags.One has pliers,screw drivers and stuff that gets used on about every job, Second has wrenches sae and metric. Last one has 3/8 drive sockets and ratchets. Could you ever have every thing you need with you when you need it?

 

[speed bump]

Most of my individual task tools have a tub. Framing and finish carpentry, plumbing, sheetrock and taping, electrical, and painting.

 

[Aaron_W]

I really like Home Depots 12" and 15" Husky tool bags, and their 5" utility sack. Cheap and they go on sale frequently making them really cheap. I picked up several of the 12" bags a few months ago on sale for $4.97 each, the 15" go on sale for $8-9 fairly often.

Despite being cheap, they hold up well and look nice. The tool bags zip closed with a good heavy duty zipper. The utility sacks are nice for tossing in just a few tools needed for a very specific job.