Running two separate tool chests

[Uncle Buck]

I run several boxes, my 40" Cman for most everthing, a small 3drawer Snappy box for metric only, no other tools in that box, another 6 drawer Dayton box for timing light, brake tools, anything specialty, another Cman top box and 3 drawer middle box for body tools only, hammers dollies, spoons files, etc.. and a shallow wall cabinet with all my pullers layed out and nicely displayed. My organization is great and with a small garage, everything is close at hand. I have another smaller machinist chest and roll cab at the end of my lathe for any mics dials tooling etc... I also have a small Kennedy 7drawer machinist top box and three drawer mid box for a lot of oddball cutting tools and the like. There is no way I could ever get all my stuff into one big box and still fit it into my puny garage plus get a car in there. Also, these days, my priorities have changed and there is no way I could afford to go to one huge bigger than 40" box even if I wanted to! I do like having boxes seperated though.

 

[joecaver]

I have 2 of them but I use one for mechanic tools and the second for home type tools, hammers saws, etc.

 

[Elroy]

Multiple tool boxes make life much easier. Elroy has his divided into: Machinist tools ie: Precision mics, calipers, drills and taps, files etc. in one box and "wrenches" in another. Then again you could say each drawer is a tool box in itself. Elroy also utilizes several hip roof cantilever boxes that are portable to the job site. One for "tune up" parts like the timing light and vacuum gauge and even the dwell meter and VOM. Elroy has another one dedicated to "carburetor" parts. That one is flat over flowing! Then there is the one I have full of “brass” pipe fittings that also I store my propane torch and solder, solvent glue and Teflon tape in. Yep Multiple boxes for sure!

 

[kartracer55]

I do the same thing as Elroy. I actually "inherited" an old kennedy box (owned by a tool& die maker) and thats pretty much where I started My collection. It had 2 old micrometers and quite a few older taps, just about all of them have been replaced, but it was a pretty good foundation. Ive since bought more micrometers, files, taps, dies, handles, all that other fun stuff, but its definetly a necessity to keep this sort of stuff seperate from the regular tools. Ya dont want taps and files banging around and against each other.


Jim

 

[dink]

I feel based on what people have said is it is a good idea to run 2 separate boxes...even if it is a couple 4 or 5 drawer rollers for metric and SAE

I mean if you think about it...this is how it would break down sorta

1/4 metric sockets short and deep
3/8 metric sockets short and deep....both in chrome and impact
1/2 metric sockets short and deep....both in chrome and impact
Misc. socket types in metric...whatever they could be
All assortments of wrench types from standard length to stubbies
A few ratchets 1/4 3/8 and 1/2

And other misc tools......this box alone could fill up easily....then you would do the same for SAE

And have a box for screwdrivers and those sorts of things

 

[oldgoat]

I pretty well have mine like you decscribed except for the impact sockets. I have a cabinet that I keep the air ratchets and impact wrenches and all the impact sockets together.