Running two separate tool chests

[dink]

As time goes on and the collection rises I was thinking about the idea of having some of my tools separated into 2 different 2 chests...one for Fractional and one for Metric....this will keep clutter down and making things easier to find....does anyone do something like this....

I am not talking about 1 drawer for metric the other for fractional....I am talking about 2 totally different tool chests

 

[Canadian Charlie]

Why? I use one drawer for metric wrenches and another for SAE wrenches. All my sockets except my impacts go into one drawer.

I say get another box if you want to but you don't want to be running to 2 seperate boxes when working on an engine that has both styles.

 

[krooser]

I recently put all of my hand wrenchs and sockets in a seperate box 'cuz my old one was running out of room...

 

[bmwpower]

I, too, have been toying with the idea of 2 separate boxes. I have more need for metric, so the metric box will be bigger.

 

[kartracer55]

But honestly, do you think you can fill up a whole toolbox with JUST metric? or JUST Sae? MAYBE if your a pro and you need toosl to cover all different brands, but other than that, I cant see being able to fill up a box with just metric without wasting tons of space. Do you even have any fractional stuff?!? The Scion is a toyota right?


Jim

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Three rollaways so far. Two are old ones I used to have at work, retired one and replaced with another, then retired it and replaced it with the current rig at work. Third one is one my father kept all of his tools at home it.. Two sets of metal open shelving, closely spaced shelves, bolted back to back on a angle iron frame and casters, hold battery chargers, tap and die set boxes, multimeters in boxes, drills and angle grinders, etc.

Charles

 

[Fast Orange]

Dink-
IIRC,you're set up with a C-man rollaway with a top chest.With that box,if you do a well thought out layout and pay attention to organization,you can fit an amazing amount of tools in there.And remember,metric and SAE tools peacefully co-exist,so if you set up with socket racks and wrench racks,you won't have trouble finding what you need.
What I've found over the years is that multiple boxes take up too much room,cost more and always seem to gather ****-plus unless you label the heck out of the drawers,you'll spend a ton of time finding the tool you only use once in a great while.
Look at a pro's box simular in archetecture to yours- usually you'll find the top area under the lid is occupied by both metric and SAE sockets and the drive tools for them.Everything is layed out to be visible and easily accessable.Wrenches may be all in one drawer or may be separated into separate drawers,depending on space available and the amount of wrenches.

George

 

[gerry]

I have two chests, too. One around the car area of my shop, another in the machine shop area, so I do not have to be constantly walking back and forth looking for tools

 

[Tim240Z]

I have 2 seperate chest stacks. One is my 'good' one, which is all black (Craftsman) and the other is kinda mis-matched (green and red). I use one for my 'good' series of tools, and the other for my Harbor freight and other second rate tools. If I go to the Junk Yard, I pull tools from the 'seconds' tool box.

 

[EdNJ]

I have two boxes,but not by choice.

When we moved to the new service & parts facility,the higher-ups decided the shop must look uniform so we were all given new boxes. So now there's a Snapon and Craftsman at home.
Last week my brother and I did some sorting in the garage (so much junk starting to pile up from winter ****). He took any remaining tools from the Craftsman box and put them in the Snapon. The Craftsman now holds items like rod/main bearings,AN fittings,fuel injectors,assembly manuals,etc.

 

[Rickster]

With your tools seperated by metric & standard you will need to doubl-up on many tools: screwdrivers, prybars, hammers, ratchets and extensions. Still you will be searching out the other box for a favorite ratchet or correct length extension. I would concentrate one box on the good often used hand & air tools and keep the back-up box to retain the lesser used tools like test equipment, gear pullers, maybe larger wrenches and the like.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have 2 roll cabs and two top boxes, but not one for metric and one for SAE. I just keep out growing my boxes every few years and just add on

 

[chevy302dz]

Metric and SAE should be seperated but both should be kept in your main box. Unless you never use one or the other, but these days if you do any amount of work you will need both.

 

[eschoendorff]

Try it and then decide if you like it. If not, go back to one box. The only way you'll ever know if it works for you is to try it.

 

[Thumper]

I've done that for many years, one for metric , one for SAE. In my opinion its the only way to do it. If you do it for a living like I did for 35 years it ain't a problem fillin them up.

 

[oldgoat]

When I brought my roll away home from work I divided mine into a metric and a SAE box. With the duplicate tools I have built over the years it wasn't that hard to fill each box with enough screwdrivers, pliers and the like. Special tools like for brake work I keep in another cabinet with the other specialized tools. Since both of the roll aways are next to each other if it does come up that I need one from the other it isn't a problem So far it has worked out pretty good.

 

[Bill K]

Up to 3 sets now and have been considering a fourth to replace one of the cheezy ones, the other two are craftsman top and bottom with two snap on middle units and one matco side cabinet. The other is an old century top middle and bottom. the third is a auotzone/walmart special I picked up at a neighborhood yard sale for 15 bucks. My main box hold all wrenches ,sockets ,ratchets, screwdrivers,plyers, hammers etc. The second box hold a lot of my large wrenches,specitaly tools and trimmers tools. The yard sale box hold a lot of the odd stuff and some test equipment. Now all my cased tools are stored uder the one of the work benches,saws, bisquit jointer, routers etc.
You can never have too many tools or tool boxes!
Bill

 

[jstbecauz]

I have only one box and fit just about everything in it, I am contemplating getting a side cabinet/locker though

 

[sberry]

I use 3 chests, one is dedicated to seldom used specialty tools that I dont need to root thru daily and the 2 I use I try to keep to heavy use tools if I can, its hard to keep up with it but I keep basic metrics in each. I could still likely strip half out of the used boxes and wouldnt miss it much but the seldom used chest is getting fuller.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Depends on the case and drawers

I would like to seperate mine into two units (sae and metric), but a friend, bought a used cabinet, with fewer, deeper drawers, as a second. His use was to put the bigger items in those drawers, and keep the metric and standard in seperate drawers. As it was a home shop, he hung his wrenchs on the wall. At his job, they stay locked up.

 

[eschoendorff]

I would like to seperate mine into two units (sae and metric), but a friend, bought a used cabinet, with fewer, deeper drawers, as a second. His use was to put the bigger items in those drawers, and keep the metric and standard in seperate drawers. As it was a home shop, he hung his wrenchs on the wall. At his job, they stay locked up.

Hey wantedabiggergarage! Welcome to the madness!!!!

 

[milly]

I have two sets of boxes. The larger set holds all my tools I use most often, both SAE and Metric. The other, smaller set holds specialty tools and stuff I don't use on a regular bassis. They sit side by side so there in no problem if I need something out of either one.

 

[kblazer87]

Go for it. I have tool boxes all over my house, garage and autos. I have two rollaways and top boxes in the garage, I have a 7 drawer homeowner set in the basement for the plumbing and household stuff, plus I have a 4 drawer portable Craftsman in the Suburban, in the house, and another one in the garage for working in the driveway. All are full so that I don't have to go very far when I need a tool. I have been collecting tools for years and started selling on Ebay several years ago. When I find good deals and sales for quality tools I buy as many of them as I can. That way I can sell them on Ebay and make money and also keep alot for the tool chests for free.

 

[dink]

Yea I have decided when the time is right to buy another roller and keep one box for metric and another for SAE....Even if they are a couple of 4 drawer rollers...2 boxes is a good idea for me

 

[hotrod66paul]

Most guys have mentioned in other post that it seems that a garage is never too big. The reality of this is the majority of us have to get by with the smaller (pratical) garage where space is at a premium. Two boxes might be a dream of some but I have found that one larger box fits in the available space better than two smaller ones would . Just my 2cents.

 

[kartracer55]

Yea I have decided when the time is right to buy another roller and keep one box for metric and another for SAE....Even if they are a couple of 4 drawer rollers...2 boxes is a good idea for me

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Do you actually DO anything with them?

 

[dink]

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Do you actually DO anything with them?

Yep....I pick them up...admire....then lay them back down....atleast till I get a house

 

[Wolverine]

Why stop at 2 boxes?

 

[wythors]

Yep....I pick them up...admire....then lay them back down....atleast till I get a house

And a car to work on.

 

[dink]

And a car to work on.

Since when do you need a car to work on in order to have tools?


Is it a problem I dont have a beater to work on?

 

[kartracer55]

You dont need a beater to do general maintnance on your car. Hell, cars need brakes and belts sometimes too.

Jim

 

[wythors]

Who said anything about beaters?

You have made this post saying you're going to fill a second box with metric tools. You don't need metric sockets to change a sink washer and your X-Box is under warranty for another four years.

 

[dink]

True....but you do need metric tools to do general maintenance on cars that have metric fasteners....like my Scion

 

[wythors]

Okay, so you need a 19mm wrench to change the oil.

 

[kartracer55]

Wythors... sweet LX vert and an SN95. Looks like CAIs for both, what else??


Jim

 

[dink]

What I dont understand is the amount of attention that it takes to care about all the tools I have from people it really cracks me up

 

[EdNJ]

Okay, so you need a 19mm wrench to change the oil.

14mm for the Scion's drain plug

Everyone relax and have a beer

 

[kartracer55]

14mm for the Scion's drain plug

Everyone relax and have a beer

MMMmmmm underage drinking

 

[wythors]

Wythors... sweet LX vert and an SN95. Looks like CAIs for both, what else??


Jim

LX:
Full exhaust-
FRPP headers
Bassani catted x-pipe
SLP cat back
Cobra MAF and throttle body
Upgraded brakes
3.73 gears
3-row radiator
lots of dress-up stuff
17x8 PonyR wheels with 245/45 Goodyear Eagle VR's.
03 GT seats
Getting ready to undergo an AOD to T5 transplant.

Cobra:
SLP cat back
Upgraded brakes
3.73 gears
C&L inlet tube
More bling bling under the hood that I could hope to list here.
Black Bullitt replica wheels, 17x8 & 17x10.5 with 255/40 & 315/35 Eagle GS-D3 rubber.

 

[mikeyr]

I have 2 boxes, my old Craftsman one has all the tools my daughter and wife are allowed to use, basically all the house work tools, screwdrivers that have been hammered on, used as prybars are in that toolbox, skillsaw, sawall, plumbing tools, etc. All my old sockets/wrenches are thrown in there too.

The car work wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets, etc. are in my new toolbox. Kind of nice to have 2, it was not planned.