Small portable toolbox contents?

[AceofSpad3s]

Hello, I like the idea of a small compact box but every time I try to set one up it always ends up like an anchor because I cram as much **** as possible into the box. After a the weekend run of yardsales I have a little flambeu tacklebox that is 12" x 6" x 4.5" and has a small fold out tray. What do you guys put in yours? I have a 8ft tape,sharpie,fasteners,Stanley utility knife,bahco aligator,7in curved jaw petersons,5.5" proto slip joint pliers, tongue and groove pliers, hammer and 2 double box end wrenches,flashlight and a klein 6 in one. What you take out or add?

 

[BioNerd]

What are you going to put in it? depends of your own needs dude!

 

[Rarified27]

Not sure if this will help, but I thought it was worth sharing. After years of attempting the same thing, I've found the reason the box always ends up too heavy or cluttered is that I'm trying to fix everything out of one box.

I finally broke everything down and was fortunate that I had enough duplicates of tools to do so.

I have a few hand boxes, all job-specific. One for plumbing, one for electrical, etc. It's a little more expensive to have redundancy in tools, but grabbing one box and not having to spend time putting together everything I need to change a light switch or replace a sink trap is great. None of those boxes are filled with Snap On stuff either, it's all home owner level stuff.

Good luck!

 

[Beenman]

Not sure if this will help, but I thought it was worth sharing. After years of attempting the same thing, I've found that the reason box always ends up too heavy or cluttered is that I'm trying to fix everything out of one box.

In 2012 I finally broke everything down and was fortunate enough that I had duplicates of tools to do so.

I have a few 17" Craftsman hand boxes that are all job-specific. One for plumbing, one for electrical, one for masonry and one for automotive. Sure, it's a little more expensive to have redundancy in tools, but grabbing one box and not having to spend time putting together everything I need to change a light switch or replace a sink trap is great. None of those boxes are filled with Snap On stuff either- it's all home owner level stuff.

We're in the middle of a move, so I can't get a shot of the boxes on the shelf right now (can't wait to get in my new garage!).

I do a keep an 18" DeWalt bag filled with a big enough compliment of tools that I can grab it and go help a friend, supplemented by the small bag I have in the cars.

Sure, there are a lot of tools floating around and my nicest stuff stays at home, but nice to me is an Armstrong ratchet. I'm not a pro and will never need anything bulletproof.

Last thing- I've completely switched to the M12 stuff for power tools and have them in a separate bag as well. If I need to drill in masonry or something heavy, I go corded.

Good luck!

I've taken the same approach as you. Works much better.

 

[hangfirew8]

Hello, I like the idea of a small compact box but every time I try to set one up it always ends up like an anchor because I cram as much **** as possible into the box. After a the weekend run of yardsales I have a little flambeu tacklebox that is 12" x 6" x 4.5" and has a small fold out tray. What do you guys put in yours? I have a 8ft tape,sharpie,fasteners,Stanley utility knife,bahco aligator,7in curved jaw petersons,5.5" proto slip joint pliers, tongue and groove pliers, hammer and 2 double box end wrenches,flashlight and a klein 6 in one. What you take out or add?

It sounds like you are talking about a homeowner's maintenance box? I read the title and was about to wax rhapsodic on in-car tools.

At home, I gave up on small and went specialized. I have a wall hanger box, a 12V LiIon drill driver bag, a plumbing bag, an electrical phone, sockets and switches box, etc. On top of that I have a Bucket Boss I use for "special projects", it has a few common tools like those you listed, and space for whatever I need off of the pegboard.

 

[Hojin101]

i do the same as a couple above. i got a few boxes from my dad and father in law. i made one plumbing box... one small tool hobby box with small screw drivers and exacto..etc