Single bank tool box in a professional environment

[Greg85mcss]

I’ve been looking for a 55” ish tool box mostly on the used market and companies like extreme. The biggest obstacle has been time and trying to get together transportation. Anyways I recently found a kra 40” top and bottom I’m thinking about. It seems like it would have about the same space as a 25” deep double bank and I could pick it up without a truck or trailer. Plus for $800 I can’t lose much on resale.
I like the idea of a big roll cab but realistically I don’t need a ton of space and we have work benches provided so the surface isn’t as big of a deal.
I’m hoping to get opinions from people that have run a setup like this. I have a cart packed with my most commonly used tools and only go into the main box once or twice a day


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[Mr_B]

Not keen on kra but if it tidy order it probably worth it .
You can turn it into a 2 bay with a side hanging box.
I personally like the countertop clean space over a top box and not keen on using top boxes but that all down to personal preference and what other spaces you have .
It will work and if price/condition good and you like and layout work for intended kit you got then that the main criteria .
indeed smaller boxes can be far easier for logistics, When I was first expanding I bought a matching second 2 bay over a 3 bay as gave me more for less and easier move and more layout options .
Like you also point out you can't loose much (maybe even make money) if condition good as resell fairly easy when tidy, don't be afraid offer less as kra not most desirable or expensive to start with .

 

[2ndGearRubber]

For the price, even a KRA, it may be worth while. If it fits your tools, and you dont see the need to expand, go for it. If you ever buy off the tool truck in sure you can get your money back on a trade in easily.

 

[Mr_B]

trade in never really gets your money back if you got decent box, sell private and haggle a real price or extras deal with driver not give him a box in belief he paying you for it .

 

[dsaabm]

I used a KRA top/bottom 40" and a cart professionally for a few years. I changed to a KRL without a top box because shop workbenches were never clear and I like the idea of wider drawers but for $800 I'd give the KRA a shot.

 

[Greg85mcss]

I’m not too worried about running out of space. When I was looking for info on it I saw a picture of one with 2 harbor freight side lockers hanging on it. Actually looked pretty decent together.
I’m not sure how I’d like the configuration but it’s not a huge investment. I had a mac 1080 triple bank before and it was a great box but tbh the new toy excitement wore off after a while and it was more of a status symbol than anything else. I sold that one because I took a chance to go inside to sell (bad idea) and I didn’t have room in my shed. That’s another reason I like the idea of a more movable box. I enjoy what I’m doing but you never know what opportunity might come up


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[2ndGearRubber]

trade in never really gets your money back if you got decent box, sell private and haggle a real price or extras deal with driver not give him a box in belief he paying you for it .

Eh, depends. However they want to play with the numbers.

I had a KRA set I paid 1800 for valued at 3500 trade in. Not getting that private party. Usually if you buy smart you can trade in and gain value. 800 seems dead center of the market IMO for a bottom single bay KRA. I'm sure if he wanted he could flip it for 1000 if it's in good shape. All depends on making the deals

 

[vavet]

Don't get too worked up about what everybody else has. It's likely they have a payment to go with those huge boxes. It's not about the box or even the tools that go in it (Ok, it's a little bit about that), it's about knowing how to use the tools.
For $800, I think it'll serve you fine....but I'd probably be looking at HF units if you're just starting out. They'll get you a nice start in the industry and then when you outgrow it, you can bring it home and have a nice home box.

 

[Mr_B]

Eh, depends. However they want to play with the numbers.

I had a KRA set I paid 1800 for valued at 3500 trade in. Not getting that private party. Usually if you buy smart you can trade in and gain value. 800 seems dead center of the market IMO for a bottom single bay KRA. I'm sure if he wanted he could flip it for 1000 if it's in good shape. All depends on making the deals

yeh but without trade in you haggle the price of what buying better or get big chunk of free credit buy hand tools ...
Can be worth trade it when your box tatty or not a easy private sale but besides that you normally crippling the deal potential .

 

[oldwino]

I’m not sure how I’d like the configuration
k

If the box doesn’t work for you it isn’t a bargain at any price

 

[Radio Flyer]

I have a coworker that went from a 2 bank snap on box to a single bank snap on cart style box. It looks like a single bank box with a flip up lid. Over time he started taking home stuff that he hadn't used in a year or so. Then he removed the shop supplies that were stored for convenience It's real nice being able to move it around the shop to where you're working.

 

[Greg85mcss]

If the box doesn’t work for you it isn’t a bargain at any price

That’s what I really don’t know but at the same time I work at least 90% out of my cart. That’s why I’m thinking an $800 box could very well save me a grand vs getting a double bank that holds about the same amount. I’ve also thought about maybe using the bottom as a roll around


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[Greg85mcss]

I have a coworker that went from a 2 bank snap on box to a single bank snap on cart style box. It looks like a single bank box with a flip up lid. Over time he started taking home stuff that he hadn't used in a year or so. Then he removed the shop supplies that were stored for convenience It's real nice being able to move it around the shop to where you're working.

That’s exactly what I did. I probably left half my tools home after selling the big box. I got a 40” matco cart with the same intention. It’s pretty much stationary because it’s too deep to roll between the lifts and I ended up going back to my harbor freight 5 drawer. I have a husky top box full of shop supplies and parts under my bench and a half height matco locker that holds most of my specialty tools. The locker absorbed probably 1/3 of what I had in the cart. I could probably get by with what I have for a while I’d like to separate my tools better though


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[richfinn]

In an ideal world I would just have 3 carts loaded up for different jobs

General service/repair tools

Electrical/Diag tools

Specialist tools

I dont understand having a $10k toolbox as a stationary storage locker and working out of a $1k mobile cart everyday, just buy more carts and specialize them for what you do most!!!

 

[Mr_B]

we all different in preferences, I detest working out of carts .
If the condition good or price flexible you could try the box out and if doesn't work for you flip it and move on.
If not big enough easy add end box or locker and if color red or black pretty easy match with other brands .
kra not snapons best, you likely find matco or mac options if got some time scan used market .

 

[richfinn]

we all different in preferences, I detest working out of carts .
If the condition good or price flexible you could try the box out and if doesn't work for you flip it and move on.
If not big enough easy add end box or locker and if color red or black pretty easy match with other brands .
kra not snapons best, you likely find matco or mac options if got some time scan used market .

Yep, I get that

If I could have my dream 2 bay workshop I would probably work out of one large stationary toolbox with a nice stainless steel worktop

Unfortunately in my 35 years I always had to move my tools to that dead P.O.S. everybody else had given up on and pushed into a dark corner of the workshop

Or work out the back of a van

 

[dscheidt]

when I was working in a shop, I had the fortune to work places where there was bench space available for the jobs that required it. For that reason, I liked having a top box, because the top of a single bottom cabinet just gets covered in junk. Helps I'm tall enough to see into the top drawers, too. If I'd had to work on top of a roll cab, I'd probably have different opinions.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

In an ideal world I would just have 3 carts loaded up for different jobs

General service/repair tools

Electrical/Diag tools

Specialist tools

I dont understand having a $10k toolbox as a stationary storage locker and working out of a $1k mobile cart everyday, just buy more carts and specialize them for what you do most!!!

I have two triples, one with a locker, and a big cart. And two cabinets for less valuable stuff.

IMO the specialty tools just begin to overwhelm and you need area to keep them all. My non-cart socket drawer is 72x30. I think there's something to be said for ALL the sockets of all types being in that one spot. Same thing for engine timing tools, or fuel line disconnects.

I do like the idea of a diagnostic cart, I looked into one. I was worried it would be stolen if the shop was robbed, as it would be easier to load up.



I think it all depends on what you work on. All makes/models gets wild in sheer volume. Being more of a specialist saves collecting some rarely used stuff for multiple brands, which saves space. I use my cart as the 98% job completion tool. The other 2% occupy the boxes and cabinets, approx 20' or so.

 

[richfinn]

I have two triples, one with a locker, and a big cart. And two cabinets for less valuable stuff.

IMO the specialty tools just begin to overwhelm and you need area to keep them all. My non-cart socket drawer is 72x30. I think there's something to be said for ALL the sockets of all types being in that one spot. Same thing for engine timing tools, or fuel line disconnects.

I do like the idea of a diagnostic cart, I looked into one. I was worried it would be stolen if the shop was robbed, as it would be easier to load up.



I think it all depends on what you work on. All makes/models gets wild in sheer volume. Being more of a specialist saves collecting some rarely used stuff for multiple brands, which saves space. I use my cart as the 98% job completion tool. The other 2% occupy the boxes and cabinets, approx 20' or so.

I realise it's a little different in the USA

In Europe typically the shop would supply any specialist tooling and techs would just supply general hand tools

The last 20 years it is heading towards the American model somewhat and the boxes are getting much bigger than my ancient 26" Snap-On stack

I would buy some diag equipment for myself as I was interested and wanted those tickets over servicing and heavy line work

I now find myself getting rid of duplicates or stuff I never use anymore in an attempt to go as minimalist as possible, although I still spend a small fortune somehow

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I always forget you and a few other members are based in Europe.

Yes, your traditional model of shop supplied specialty stuff would more easily lend itself towards the cart system. Assuming one has the real estate of course. A little disappointed to hear you're moving towards out system, assuming yours works as intended.

Is the push towards bigger boxes due to shops failing to provide required equipment? Or guys just expanding their hand tools?

 

[richfinn]

I always forget you and a few other members are based in Europe.

Yes, your traditional model of shop supplied specialty stuff would more easily lend itself towards the cart system. Assuming one has the real estate of course. A little disappointed to hear you're moving towards out system, assuming yours works as intended.

Is the push towards bigger boxes due to shops failing to provide required equipment? Or guys just expanding their hand tools?

I think slowly over my lifetime our whole culture has shifted towards the USA, obviously primarily we speak the same language unlike our European cousins, so TV and media has had a massive influence, American fast food arrived in the early 80s and now dominates to the point our traditional Fish & Chip shops are harder to find

When it comes to cars we now see more "Global models" and even Automatic transmissions are becoming popular (when I started only Jaguars/Rolls Royce's or exotics had auto boxes)

It's hard to say when the big toolbox thing started, I guess younger British techs watch a lot of YouTube mechanics and try to emulate that??

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

One box is totally doable if you have somewhere else to put your special tools that come in cases. Those are a massive space hog. I can just barely cram a full set of hand tools in a hf 44” box. Then I bought a Yukon box with the wood top and full top drawer on the bottom it’s 2 cabinet doors with shelves so I can put cases like ball joint press, pullers, seal driver kits, taps and die kits etc. It is nice having 2 boxes I can roll around as needed instead Of one massive box can barely move an inch

 

[crewchief888]

when i worked in the shop, ive been out in the field since 03, i had multiple 36" wide roller cabs, and multiple side boxes.

i worked off a 2 shelf SO cart. only thing i had to get into my boxes for were torque wrenches and 3/4" dr sockets.


i have multiple single bank boxes in my garage.

 

[sberry]

This is my once a week or so box,,, stuff I want to know where,,, dupes, extra, uneeded, set remnants, some specials I dont want on a couple carts so to speak I really work from. I am in my own shop though and have extra for all that case set **** and no battery tools in tool boxes. I got another one a little smaller for storage so to speak similar to this.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

One box is totally doable if you have somewhere else to put your special tools that come in cases. Those are a massive space hog. I can just barely cram a full set of hand tools in a hf 44” box. Then I bought a Yukon box with the wood top and full top drawer on the bottom it’s 2 cabinet doors with shelves so I can put cases like ball joint press, pullers, seal driver kits, taps and die kits etc. It is nice having 2 boxes I can roll around as needed instead Of one massive box can barely move an inch

I think this is a good description of when you can do a smaller box. A larger cart and a single bay box can work IF you dont have drawers full of pullers, bearing splitters, etc. I know some guys buy larger storage cabinets like what you would have in a home garage, and keep the tool box strictly for traditional hand tools.

 

[Greg85mcss]

when i worked in the shop, ive been out in the field since 03, i had multiple 36" wide roller cabs, and multiple side boxes.

i worked off a 2 shelf SO cart. only thing i had to get into my boxes for were torque wrenches and 3/4" dr sockets.


i have multiple single bank boxes in my garage.

The old pictures you’ve posted over the years are one of the things that have made me think about different storage options. When I started the 3 older guys had 2-3 craftsman stacks and maybe a cart. I keep going back and forth because I like the idea of having everything in one place. I usually have at least 2 cars going at a time so it’s hard to get away from keeping my most used tools in a cart


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[crewchief888]

The old pictures you’ve posted over the years are one of the things that have made me think about different storage options. When I started the 3 older guys had 2-3 craftsman stacks and maybe a cart. I keep going back and forth because I like the idea of having everything in one place. I usually have at least 2 cars going at a time so it’s hard to get away from keeping my most used tools in a cart


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as an added "plus" single bank boxes are (slightly) easier to move if you have to.

ive manhandled, by myself, my big SO boxes in and out of the back of a moving truck, in and out of my bronco, and pickup

my tool storage needs have changed over the years, i didnt see the reason for upgrading my single bank boxes to double bank, it was easier and cheaper to add onto what i already had, due to everyone else trading in boxes and going to double bank boxes

 

[Mr_B]

2 36" or 40" single bank equals a lot of storage .
I done similar with 2 bank boxes, rather than go bigger 3 bank I got a second used matching 2 bank as gave more storage for less plus easier logistics .
single banks and 2 banks generally great deals used with more price flexibility .