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Portable tool box organization

stickshift

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I started a thread a while back on picking out a tool box. I ended up with the Husky 20" tool tote:
65c3878a-43a2-42a2-85eb-3baea0f00703_400.jpg


It holds pretty much all my hand tools. And it's fairly easy to find what you need, or rather, it's easy to locate the area the tool should be (if one is organized), and then you might have to pull out a few tools to find the right one. The fatal flaw I'm finding with this is that it is a real pain in the *** to put stuff back in once you're done with it. If it is used to half its capacity, then it would function perfectly, but at nearly full capacity, I'm finding I scratch up my hands putting stuff back in, or have to struggle to hold a pouch or band open to fit something into a dark tight spot (and not the kind of dark tight spot I like :D ). And since it's a tote, it's not readily stackable, so getting another one to solve the access problem isn't an option. Bottom line: my brother, who has fewer, and probably the perfect number of tools for this, will be getting a lightly used tool tote as a gift. As a side note, I also have the smaller 16" Husky tote, and that works great as a trunk bag, but partly it's because it's smaller and you're not tempted to cram as much stuff in there, and partly because you don't need that many tools in a trunk bag for personal use.

I think I'm going to get a standard portable tool box. Maybe something like this Dewalt box:
0dd1ea8f-bc27-413a-ad71-2082fb3d911a_300.jpg

which separates like so:
41cVwN6yzWL.jpg


or this Dewalt box:
34b0577a-8576-439f-a74f-a4375c60f5fd_300.jpg


or this Stanley 28" FatMax
stanley_B000KN470Q_2-L.jpg


I've got a couple of power tools, but they came with their own box, so I'll only be storing hand tools in the box. I imagine getting stuff into and out of the box will be much easier than with the Husky tote, but the challenge is organization so that I don't have to empty half the box to find what I need.

Any suggestions on how to store stuff in these standard boxes that have a top tray and a large lower compartment? Maybe I could insert some kind of divider into the bottom tray to separate drivers from ratchets from pliers, etc. Would it be too much to expect to keep socket rails in one of these boxes?

Oh, and I might end up getting two boxes, which would help with organization - I could devote one to all things ratchet. That Husky bag once loaded was pretty heavy and not much fun to pick up and remove from my closet every time I needed to hunt for a tool that wasn't easily accessible in an outer pocket.
 
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Outlawmws

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You might try two boxes like this, in the 20" wide size with the top carry handle. Half of your tools in each. This allows you to carry a balanced load.

Or you could set them up for stacking and use a cart to wheel them.

Just using this pic as an image. Almost any maker has them. from Kennedy to Sears, to I'm sure, HF...

B0000EI9BI.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
 
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bobcatdan

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I liked what Outlaw posted. My travel box is a 6 drawer craftsman chest. I never care for small tool boxes. It's a normal size top box 26" x 12" deep. Stuff is easy to find and box can still be picked up, but I wouldn't carry far.
 

toolmaker1

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I have the fatmax water resistant box you posted above. There is no good way to organize it but I really like the water resistant feature. I keep it in the bed of my truck under the tonneau cover and the seal works great if you keep a desiccant pack inside. I also keep a camphor block in there and have had no trouble with tools rusting even with crazy temperature swings.

The only problem I have had is the top handle broke because I have mine way overloaded. Just use the side handles and you will have no problems. Wrench rolls are definitely your friend in these kind of boxes.
 
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stickshift

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You might try two boxes like this, in the 20" wide size with the top carry handle. Half of your tools in each. This allows you to carry a balanced load.

Or you could set then up for stacking and use a cart to wheel them.
I don't really need to move it far, but do need to be able to easily take it out of my closet (which isn't the easiest thing with any one box full loaded with my hand tools and my small closet). If I went this route, I'd probably go with a plastic box to reduce both cost and weight. Maybe something like this:
b558eca0-1abd-4542-bb87-ca2f61c7fb69_400.jpg


I'll have to check if the drawers are deep and tall enough to be useful.
 
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Stuey

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These drawed boxes aren't too useful - I found them to be too shallow and narrow even in the largest portable boxes.

What about the Tough System tool box?

Husky's tool box is also quite nice.

That Dewalt one-touch model above is a very nice model, and I would rank it just a hair behind the Husky. The 2-part Dewalt one is okay, but I'm not exactly in love with it. They're sold in stores, so check it out in person to see if it's right for your needs.
 

cderalow

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I have a wide mouth husky portable box that I keep my ryobi power tools in. Works great as a portable house box, with power tools on bottom, hammer, hand tools on top tray.
 
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stickshift

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For the money, I don't get enough of what I need (space) and am really paying for things I don't need (tradesman quality toughness, waterproof). For the price of even the small box (~$50), I can get two larger standard tool boxes.

Husky's tool box is also quite nice.
Yeah, this looks pretty good. Nice review, but not sure why you were so enamored with the fact that the box doesn't flip over when empty, LOL. When is anyone's tool box ever empty except for when they first bring it home?

That Dewalt one-touch model above is a very nice model, and I would rank it just a hair behind the Husky. The 2-part Dewalt one is okay, but I'm not exactly in love with it. They're sold in stores, so check it out in person to see if it's right for your needs.
What didn't you like about the 2-part Dewalt box?
 
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CecilTheTurtle

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I've got the FatMax toolbox and I like it a lot. Plenty of room for all your big tools, and it's pretty tough. You can stand on it no problem. Only downside is everything is just piled in the bottom, so not super organized.
 

Outlawmws

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I don't really need to move it far, but do need to be able to easily take it out of my closet (which isn't the easiest thing with any one box full loaded with my hand tools and my small closet). If I went this route, I'd probably go with a plastic box to reduce both cost and weight. Maybe something like this:
b558eca0-1abd-4542-bb87-ca2f61c7fb69_400.jpg


I'll have to check if the drawers are deep and tall enough to be useful.

That husky is another good option and is already setup for stacking with those lugs. :thumbup:
 

Outlawmws

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These drawed boxes aren't too useful - I found them to be too shallow and narrow even in the largest portable boxes.SNIP.

That all depends on the tools he uses every day. in the three drawer setup, they are deeper than the 7 drawer technicians/machinist boxes, as the box itself is the same overall as the 7, but with only three drawers.

One of the old school racing crew chiefs (back before it took a million dollar car carrier rig fully equipped to go racing...) used the setup I described and it carried ALL his basic hand tools needed for the race cars he worked on...

IIR it was Steve Smith.
 
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Stuey

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For the money, I don't get enough of what I need (space) and am really paying for things I don't need (tradesman quality toughness, waterproof). For the price of even the small box (~$50), I can get two larger standard tool boxes.

Yeah, this looks pretty good. Nice review, but not sure why you were so enamored with the fact that the box doesn't flip over when empty, LOL. When is anyone's tool box ever empty except for when they first bring it home?

What didn't you like about the 2-part Dewalt box?

Points well taken. Regarding tilting tool boxes, I've had boxes tilt and even fall over surfaces without warning. Granted improvements have been made so that many boxes will be stable even with a couple of tools inside, but many older plastic boxes were very top-heavy.

The 2-part Dewalt box is nice, but I don't like how the bottom part has no cover when the top part is removed. This decreases the space efficiency, if that makes sense. Also, part of the grip is damaged. I'm not sure if this happened during transit or testing, but I cannot quite forget about it.

A lot of people I've showed it to absolutely love the design. Just not be - I prefer the Dewalt One-Touch even if it's a bit simplistic.

That all depends on the tools he uses every day. in the three drawer setup, they are deeper than the 7 drawer technicians/machinist boxes, as the box itself is the same overall as the 7, but with only three drawers.

One of the old school racing crew chiefs (back before it took a million dollar car carrier rig fully equipped to go racing...) used the setup I described and it carried ALL his basic hand tools needed for the race cars he worked on...

IIR it was Steve Smith.

It is dependent on kit. I had a 4-drawer Craftsman and 2-drawer with large top compartment. They just didn't really suit my needs. The drawers couldn't fit my hammers, larger pliers, or certain screwdrivers. The JD one you showed does look quite a bit larger than the C-man boxes I had.
 

crewchief888

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a cantilever box is the way to go.

lot of the smaller 3 or 4 drawer boxes out there are only 10"-12" deep. the one i had would fall over if i looked crosseyed at it. :eyecrazy:

the only time i use a tool tote or bag is if the equipment i'm working on is in a place that i cant access with my service truck.
last one was on the 4th floor of a parking garage, of course at the opposite end of where i could park my truck.
i load up whatever i need from my truck, every repair takes something different, i dont carry any more than i have to.
if the load of tools is more than i really want to carry, i load the bag(s) on a hand truck.

:beer:
 
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stickshift

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That husky is another good option and is already setup for stacking with those lugs. :thumbup:
I checked this out at Home Depot. The drawers ****. You can tell they will get bogged down and not slide smoothly once you weigh them down with tools.

And to get one with ball bearing rails is very likely way outside of my budget.

I saw this at Home Depot. Interesting design and some compartmentalization to make organizing a little easier and will hold lots of tools. Unfortunately, my closet isn't wide enough to wheel this into it, which means I'd have to pick it up and put it in sideways, otherwise I'd have bought it. Definitely not for tradesman use as it didn't seem sturdy enough to withstand much movement or abuse once loaded with tools, but could be great for DIY use.

8fead30f-762a-42d5-8b98-df54372c7961_300.jpg


ProductDisplay
 
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stickshift

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The 2-part Dewalt box is nice, but I don't like how the bottom part has no cover when the top part is removed. This decreases the space efficiency, if that makes sense. Also, part of the grip is damaged. I'm not sure if this happened during transit or testing, but I cannot quite forget about it.
I could see how the lack of cover would be a turn-off, especially when used outside. For me that's not an issue as the box will always be indoors. The ability to take the top part and go isn't particularly useful for me, but I like the organizational features of that top portion compared to the usual top tray in typical portable tool boxes.
 
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