Small general purpose tool box

[gdpolk]

A friend of mine is looking for guidance to replace his crappy tools with some mid grade stuff and a couple higher end pieces. He is a homeowner who will do the most basic of automotive work, but prefers to drop it off for major tasks while he is at work. He works on and fixes basic things around the house, but calls in the pro's for big jobs. And he tinkers around with common household chores assembling stuff or fixing things. He's asked me what all I would recommend him get. He currently has several inexpensive smaller mechanics sets/homeowners sets but they are all mixed up with parts missing and the kids get in/out of them all the time. He is kind of frustrated with it and wants to have a small set that he keeps aside just for himself as the go-to, general use box.

I have the following list, do you think there is something else missing?

My first recommendation was a quality handheld box that he can keep everything organized in that can be locked and that he keep the key on his keychain. Otherwise, he will be right back where he started. I told him I prefer a cantilever type box for this because when you open the handle the tools are all splayed out but he might prefer a box with drawers.

Sockets:

• 3/8" and 1/4" ratchets, I recommended a flex head design
• a few basic extensions for both 3/8" and 1/4" drives
• 1/4" drive: 6 point deep and shallows in SAE/Metric
• 3/8": 12 point deep and shallows in SAE/metric

Wrenches:

• Basic SAE and metric set, non-ratcheting
• 6" and 10" Crescent wrenches
• 10" Knipex Cobras or the Irwin knockoffs from Lowes

Screwdrivers:

• 8-pc Williams hard handle set
• Bit driver with assortment of bits for Torx, square, JIS, hex, etc and a 1/4" drive adapter to allow it to be used as a nut driver as well
• Bondhus L-shaped, ball end Allen keys
• Small set of precision drivers for glasses, electronics, etc - Wera or Wiha

Pliers:

• needle nose
• 8" slip joint
• diagonal cutters
• micro needle nose
• 12" arc joint with straight jaws

Measuring/Marking/Cutting:

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Sharpie
• Scribe
• Box cutter
• quality shears
• Lenox high tension hacksaw with a few blades
• torpedo level
• laser level for hanging pictures optional
• stud finder optional

Construction:

• Wonder bar
• Claw hammer
• Dead blow hammer
• Cordless drill with small quality bit set
• framing square optional

Misc items:

• Mechanix gloves
• Teflon tape
• Duct tape
• Electrical tape
• WD40
• lighter
• headlamp

 

[yjWrangler]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

I'd say Hazet 190 for a cantilever, but not sure that will all fit

 

[zendriver]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

Have to have some pretty big arms, to carry all that around in one box.

Not a fan of cantilever boxes myself.

Personally, I use several handheld boxes, hammers,pry bars etc. get their own box because they are heavy and not regularly used. I have the metal Cman 3 drawer, with separate drawers for SAE Metric and screwdrivers pliers. Also have the tool bag with general home maintenance tools DWM etc. that I just carry where needed.

I like the ability to grab individual boxes, depending on the job.

If your friend is disorganized, he will probably remain that way, despite your efforts, but it is nice of you to help.

 

[gdpolk]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

If your friend is disorganized, he will probably remain that way, despite your efforts, but it is nice of you to help.

He is organized, but his wife and kids are not. That's why he wants a locking box so the rest of the family can go at the conglomerate of tools he already has and he just wants to have a small, basic set that only he accesses to do what needs done.

He got jealous of my larger SnapOn box and the ease of finding what's needed last time he was over for a quick repair with me. Now he wants a smaller version for his needs.

 

[Mr_B]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

Why don't he pick up a small cabinet workbench from husky or yukon .
Plenty organised storage, locks and added bonus of worktop/countertop .
For basic DIY work he not going need anything overly fancy in terms of tool brand.
Plenty options of taiwan stuff that way good enough and few select items from HF do him fine too . being more picky on pliers, wrenches and screwdrivers will pay off but wasting loads on sockets and ratchets won't pay him back .

 

[ChrisLS8]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

Maybe just get a 4-5 drawer cart then a small 20-22 inch steel box to fill with tools as needed per job. For a home jobber that might be more convenient than digging through different boxes

 

[crewchief888]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

my suggestion would be either a CM or kennedy cantilever, or a smaller CM top box.

all 3 of these are vintage, purchased over the span of a couple years at flea mkts. i have about $50 invested between the 3 of them...

both can be loaded with enough stuff to do almost anything, and heavy enough that the wife/kids cant move it....

ive worked (const eq mechanic) out of the CM top box a couple times in the past...

 

[Coach James]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

gdPolk, I don't think you're going to fit your entire list in a hand carry box of any type. For that list, I would get a cart like the HF 5 drawer or something of comparable size then use a manageable hand box to take tools to a specific job I was doing.

That's what I do now.


Coach

 

[gdpolk]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

I'll mention the tool cart idea; thats a good one. Those are pretty small and lockable. Also that would be easy enough for him to keep everything in one place and move the tools to the location needed.

Actually, I may just text him this thread and let him look it all over.

 

[kctyphoon]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

Get the gearwrench promo deal with the 3/8 and free 1/4 socket sets.. they are self contained tool sets for like $104 with no skipped sizes, no junk filler pieces, just complete sets in all 6 points with shallow and deep sockets with extensions and 84 / 120 tooth ratchets.

Gotta keep the socket set outta the box, it'll just be stupid heavy and the sets having separate cases for the 3/8 and 1/4" sets, they are small enough to stuff on a top shelf in a closet or hidden somewhere.. if the socket sets are kept loose in a toolbox, you might as well just throw all the loose pieces in the box, cause that's how they will wind up.

Tekton 15 piece sae combo wrench set & 15 piece metric combo sets - online at HD $85 for 30 wrenches. They come with holders, but it's a portable hand held box he wants, look for wrench rolls, or get the $1.99 2 piece wrench ring sets from HF to keep the sets together in the box.

Basic channellock pliers, - Amazon / Home Depot / eBay are the cheapest, pass on Knipex they are unnecessary for basic tools and expensive.

$29 Milwaukee screwdriver set in hd on the rack. Milwaukee fastback utility knife. Everything else just go down the isle at Home Depot and pick up whatever you like. For a cheap box he can get a dewalt or Milwaukee plastic hand held toolbox with a top tray for like $39.. they are both water tight, and I believe the Milwaukee has a spot for a small padlock.

If he MUST keep the socket sets inside a locking box, look at the low profile rolling Husky plastic box.. it's short but wide and long, and should have enough room for everything listed.. I'll post a link.

Here - $50.. big enough to fit all you have listed, padlock eye included TO KEEP INTRUDERS OUT as advertised.. and al least it has wheels and an extending handle cause that thing will not be light with all that stuff in it..
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-35-in-Mobile-Job-Box-222167/205053257

Alternate stacking style $75 - might store better in a closet and keep some items more organized.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-22-in-Connect-Rolling-System-Tool-Box-230381/300658825

Gearwrench socket promo, now $110 might be a few dollars cheaper if you really wanna search around.. my pics on page 2 of thread. These eats are good cause there is no ******** included. Keeps the price down and the cases smaller.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=321931

Tekton metric wrench set - $43 - sae set featured on bottom of same page $42.. buy them separately online, as they have a combined listing which is always a few dollars more and I have no idea why. $85 total here.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/TEKTON-8-22-mm-Combination-Wrench-Set-15-Piece-18792/205730842

2 of these wrench rolls $12 each -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UXB1UKA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Or one of these from HF for $2. Wrench rings
https://www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-wrench-rings-37074.html

Milwaukee 8 piece screwdriver set -$25 (there is a 10 piece set but I can't find it, it includes stubby drivers, last 4 digits in model number are 2710). These are trilobe, hex shank with magnetic tips.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-Screwdriver-Set-8-Piece-48-22-2718/302174922

Channellock 4 piece plier set - $35
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Channellock-Ultimate-Plier-Set-4-Piece-HD-1/100190542
Add these to bridge the gap - $22
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Channel...ue-and-Groove-Pliers-Gift-Set-GLS-1/100029000

All in that's something like $340 (I'm guessing) and it's a very respectable tool set.. fill in everything else with whatever other **** you want.. you'd probabaly be looking at around $450 for everything you had listed, minus power tools and accessories. Oh, and throw in Dewalts 2 piece folding locking Allen key sets.. or cheap Husky for $9. get folding so they don't get lost. Doesn't sound like he needs them a whole lot anyway, but they are there for small things that might come up. HF dead blow hammer, if you really thing he needs it, they are the most for the money and warrantied for life.

If he has the room and money for a small stacking tool chest, then get one. Even a HF model.. but good luck keeping people outta something like that. At least the small box can be left outta sight and out of mind. You get a real tool chest and those locks and keys will only last as long as the first whining phone call.

 

[geartow]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

even the hulk wont be able to pick up a hand box with that amount of tools in it . I think a 26 inch roll box for that amount and I dont see vice grips on your list.

 

[bonneyman]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

When I was in the military he had this two-wheeled cart like box that we wheeled around the flight line. Maybe 3 feet tall, 4 or 5 drawer. Sort of like a small bottom box attached to a hand truck.
Don't know what it's called or who made it, but I think of it while working in the garage on my own cars.

 

[crewchief888]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

something like the milwaukee or dewalt container systems may work for him.
portable, stackable, and customizable .


socket & wrench sets in blow molded cases, maybe some smaller tool bags for pliers, screwdivers ect. all inside the containers, drill/drivers ect all in seperate containers.

 

[gregpack]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

Although I have no experience with them, the ridgid cordless drill seems like it would be the best option for the occasional user. Register it properly and you have replacement batteries and repairs for life.

Dewalt has a couple of awesome wheeled toolboxes that are waterproof. Inside this case you could fit a "grab and go" small tool bag with the basics, and keep the lesser used tools in the box.

 

[bobcatdan]

Re: Small general purpos tool box

After giving up not finding a smaller toolbox I liked, I bought a new Kennedy K24b. Little spendy at $120, but I like it a lot.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think a portable box is going to be too small. It might all fit right now but it'll get small after a while. You also have the fact that a few above mentioned of the weight of the box.

If he is drooling over your Snap On box, make a trip to HF and show him their 44" box. Not only can he store tools in it, he can use the top as a work space. Since it is a larger box, he can also put his (if he has any/future purchases) power tools in it. Having the capability to lock the box, allows him to keep prying eyes and foraging fingers out of the box.

A tool box purchase should be just for "right now" but for the future also.

 

[crewchief888]

It might all fit right now but it'll get small after a while.
A tool box purchase should be just for "right now" but for the future also.

after having tool boxes that were just big enough for what i had at the time, never worked out for me. my continuing journey of adding more tools always seemed to me i was running out of room...

i was always adding onto what i had....