Technicians: tool cart or a roll cab
- Thread starter Inkncraig
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LGMechanical
Well-known member
Do you already have a tool box? Or are you just starting out?
It depends on your situation...and the cart itself. A cart is mobile...but will not hold all the tools you will need. you can load it up with heavy use tools, and use a cab as a stationary box with your least used tools, as many techs like myself do. If you have a dedicated work area, a cart may not be necessary, but I do recommend a cart,as well as a rollercab.
oilslick
Well-known member
I work in a 5 bay shop and use them all. I work out of a tool cart 90% of the time only making trips to the big box the other 10%. I cannot believe I got by without the cart my first 8 years.
I am a tech with many years experience. I do heavy line, diagnostics, light line and any work that will increase my paycheck at the shop.
I have had a cart the entire time. (Mac)
I need to increase my efficiency
What I am asking is, does a roll cab get in the way.
I have a KRA 555. Single bank.
I have had a cart the entire time. (Mac)
I need to increase my efficiency
What I am asking is, does a roll cab get in the way.
I have a KRA 555. Single bank.
I am just starting out and I almost upgraded my cart because I was running out of room in my tiny tool box lol. Anyway long story short I got a great deal on a SO 68" epiq so I wen that way instead. Now I only use my cart to store my tools currently being used for that job. Granted id still like to upgrade my cart but before buying the box my mindset was geared more towards investing in a cart because you can keep all your most used tools on a cart. Like 3/8" and metric wrenches. However, after buying a box my mindset has changed. My box is my main now and my cart only holds what I am using at that time for that job. All my sockets are in trays though so its easy to move from box to cart and keep working at a good pace. Also I only have 2 bays so unlike these guys with 5 bays im not slowed down by the constant back and forth to my box. If I had 5 bays id have a monster cart with big wheels and lots of my main tools.
I think this question your asking can best be solved by determining your situation. A cart is very much a need in my book but do you need to rely on it because you are constantly traveling with tools 25 yards away. Also carts can be a cheaper alternative to buying a bigger box for people starting out like me. I was going to get a cart to store my main tools and use my little box to store the rarely used tools until I could save the coin for a big box.
I think this question your asking can best be solved by determining your situation. A cart is very much a need in my book but do you need to rely on it because you are constantly traveling with tools 25 yards away. Also carts can be a cheaper alternative to buying a bigger box for people starting out like me. I was going to get a cart to store my main tools and use my little box to store the rarely used tools until I could save the coin for a big box.
danielhp89
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2013
- Messages
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I am an electronics tech installing light sirens radios etc in police and government vehicles when I'm not out in the field on service calls. I keep my go to wiring tools and zipties/heat shrink in my cart. In my rolling box I keep my wrenches, sockets and other tools that aren't normally used. Works great for me, basically I would suggest both a smaller cart like my little 2 drawer homak with your go to tools and a box to keep your other tools that are needed but not constantly used.
MattPersman
Well-known member
I wouldn't say a roll cab gets in the way it's a place to store your less used tools, a cart is gonna be your most efficient because you can bring it closer to your work and not have to walk back and forth to your roll cab if you are working right in front of your roll cab no big deal but in the bay or 2 next to it, the cart has the edge. Plus you can roll it outside, to the alignment rack, another random bay, etc.
sberry
Banned
Listen to this guy, he has the numbers about right. Park all the stuff you rarely use out of the way and whittle it down to as lean as practical on a cart. You dont need full sets of anything usually, cherry pick it all.
ex-x-fire
Well-known member
I started working out of a red HF cart recently, I only put in tools that I use daily. Not much use for sae wrenches or sockets lately, those stay in the main box. I like the ability to grab my cart & know that I can tackle the normal everyday jobs & not have to search through specialty tools that have taken up residence there. Shelving is everything too, I built two folding shelves, there less likely to add clutter b/c I have to fold them to park the cart, which is next to a workbench. I see some guys keep old parts & stuff from jobs piled in their carts, I'm like "how do you work out of that?"
jamesc
Well-known member
I am about to transistion to a cart loaded with most used tools and then keep my box for seldom used or bulkier tools, I work in a 7 bay shop so I may not always be in my bay. If I was in a smaller shop or never worked outside of my bay then the big loaded tool cart would be unnesscary, so it all depends on your shop setup.
nahuebsch82
Well-known member
Diesel mechanic--> Don't have a dedicated bay per say, however the pit is located right where my box is, but I am assigned jobs where ever needed. Having a cart with your most used tools is a must unless you wanna either walk back and forth/carry tools to your area or cart around your tool chest (which some do).
I like having "my area" and mobility so I have both. So when I have a job over the pit "my bay" it's a bit more, uh "homey."
I like having "my area" and mobility so I have both. So when I have a job over the pit "my bay" it's a bit more, uh "homey."
olsenmotorsports
Well-known member
Service cart is a must have.......... best thing I ever bought. I used to have the small snap-on one with the sliding top but it wasnt big enough so I upgraded to the Matco with the sliding top and all drawers. Totally worth the money in time savings especially when doing alignments on the other side of the shop 
sberry
Banned
I am glad someone asked whats the point,,, my shop is different than yours etc. I rarely actually move the tools, I move the project to the tools.
sberry
Banned
If I had to move like some techs do rolling a big cab would get old fast. flat top to set stuff on is a must, a cab is just a glorified cart with a couple more drawers, the great thing about the cart is that it just limits the amount of pieces you dont use, its a plus.
The pics below are an example. I dont need my top to set tools during use, I am next to my bench and along the "pit" if you will. My portable tote is the exact amount of tools needed to function, put that on a cart with the sockets you see in the last pic, a 1/2 impact and 2 or 3 air ratchets and I can do 99% of the functions humanly possible with hand tools along with power drive.
My cart is slightly specialized, I dont roll it but to sweep and it serves all, is a "pit" for very common tools, duplicates, etc. Someone can come along and take a knife or common plier to outfit and no one has to panic, returning tools is a toss back kind of system.
The pics below are an example. I dont need my top to set tools during use, I am next to my bench and along the "pit" if you will. My portable tote is the exact amount of tools needed to function, put that on a cart with the sockets you see in the last pic, a 1/2 impact and 2 or 3 air ratchets and I can do 99% of the functions humanly possible with hand tools along with power drive.
My cart is slightly specialized, I dont roll it but to sweep and it serves all, is a "pit" for very common tools, duplicates, etc. Someone can come along and take a knife or common plier to outfit and no one has to panic, returning tools is a toss back kind of system.
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I am just a home DIY'er, but can appreciate the tool cart. I primarily use it to pull into the driveway to work on the boat motor.
I personally like a craftsman or other medium quality (light) 26" wide bottom chest, with 4 locking swivel casters. To me the 4 swivel casters are important for maximum mobility compared to the usual 2 fixed, 2 swivel. Mine has 5 drawers and an open bottom compartment for heavy bulky stuff and fluids.
I can't imagine working out of a cart that has a lid like some do. All to often I use the "cart" as a bench top to assemble or clean sub assembles. I also am not a fan of the sliding top carts. But to each their own. Just my 2¢, which probably isn't even worth that.
I personally like a craftsman or other medium quality (light) 26" wide bottom chest, with 4 locking swivel casters. To me the 4 swivel casters are important for maximum mobility compared to the usual 2 fixed, 2 swivel. Mine has 5 drawers and an open bottom compartment for heavy bulky stuff and fluids.
I can't imagine working out of a cart that has a lid like some do. All to often I use the "cart" as a bench top to assemble or clean sub assembles. I also am not a fan of the sliding top carts. But to each their own. Just my 2¢, which probably isn't even worth that.
X2
A good roll cab is nice but having a cart loaded with your regular tools is a huge time saver. Even if your in the bay with your roll cab, having all those tools and a shelf right there at the fender is a HUGE plus.
crewchief888
Well-known member
today with all the options available in carts from simple 2 shelf units to multidrawered units that were bigger than my 1st real toolbox, and toolboxes themselves becoming bigger and not having the ability to moved around cramped shop spaces and cart makes sense.
i'm a const eq field service mechanic, if i'm working in the shop i have a cheap torin shaelf unit i can put my laptop and supplies on, and use a cart to throw tools on while i'm working.
last dealership i worked at i was in a rebuild room, and kept all my most needed tools on a 2 shelf cart. if i had to go out ito the shop area to do a teardown, i had everything i needed on the cart, when the teardown was done just wheel it back into the rebuild room, only things i needed from my box for engine reassembly were torque wrenches, and multiples of sockets.
i'm a const eq field service mechanic, if i'm working in the shop i have a cheap torin shaelf unit i can put my laptop and supplies on, and use a cart to throw tools on while i'm working.
last dealership i worked at i was in a rebuild room, and kept all my most needed tools on a 2 shelf cart. if i had to go out ito the shop area to do a teardown, i had everything i needed on the cart, when the teardown was done just wheel it back into the rebuild room, only things i needed from my box for engine reassembly were torque wrenches, and multiples of sockets.
mikemolzahn
Well-known member
Roll CAb gives you your own work bench, tool cart is great for smaller jobs. I have my Roll-Cab for most work, but I have a tool Cart for my aircraft sheetmetal tools.
Mike
Mike
working a newer job that requires a larger set of tools most of the time (as opposed to a steel foundry that requires a smaller set, and more brute force than finess) means that we need a larger tool set at all times.
the shop wanted everyone to be uniform, so they buy everyone the same boxes, enough room for quite a few things, but you tend to overflow with extra, like, where to put spray bottles of cleaners, rattle cans, rags, etc.
so i added on a side box i made with a few spare minutes in the night out of some scrap sheetmetal. a good place to put chemicals, gloves, rags, etc.
as for this vs a tool cart? we use both, some guys will load up a tool cart for the area they are in, instead of taking every single thing they have with them. others like to take their whole set with them because they don't like to unload and load their box every day. they just buy the simple plastic tool carts from northern tool and put better wheels on them.
^ before i added on the side box, it was getting to be a pain to store rags inside, and hang bottles on my handle, etc.
the after, its not perfect, but i didn't get to spend more than an hour on it or so, and i'm not complaining because it works perfectly for what it is. these tool boxes see some miles on them, and they recommended that we reinforce the box because simply using the casters it came with + no frame means that your wheels would soon be embedded with all kinds of metal bits from the floor, and over time a loaded tool box would begin to break welds (years later, and daily moving over uneven concrete sometimes).
so i made a frame out of 1/4"x2" angle iron frame, and 1/2"x4" flat stock supports in the center with a nice foot stop. it sits inside the frame evenly and flush so i shouldn't ever have an issue with weight tearing the welds apart on the box over time as it moves on uneven surfaces.
i'd take a pic of th etool carts, but they are pretty simple 2 level carts with tiny bins on the handle side, any cart would be equal
the shop wanted everyone to be uniform, so they buy everyone the same boxes, enough room for quite a few things, but you tend to overflow with extra, like, where to put spray bottles of cleaners, rattle cans, rags, etc.
so i added on a side box i made with a few spare minutes in the night out of some scrap sheetmetal. a good place to put chemicals, gloves, rags, etc.
as for this vs a tool cart? we use both, some guys will load up a tool cart for the area they are in, instead of taking every single thing they have with them. others like to take their whole set with them because they don't like to unload and load their box every day. they just buy the simple plastic tool carts from northern tool and put better wheels on them.
^ before i added on the side box, it was getting to be a pain to store rags inside, and hang bottles on my handle, etc.
the after, its not perfect, but i didn't get to spend more than an hour on it or so, and i'm not complaining because it works perfectly for what it is. these tool boxes see some miles on them, and they recommended that we reinforce the box because simply using the casters it came with + no frame means that your wheels would soon be embedded with all kinds of metal bits from the floor, and over time a loaded tool box would begin to break welds (years later, and daily moving over uneven concrete sometimes).
so i made a frame out of 1/4"x2" angle iron frame, and 1/2"x4" flat stock supports in the center with a nice foot stop. it sits inside the frame evenly and flush so i shouldn't ever have an issue with weight tearing the welds apart on the box over time as it moves on uneven surfaces.
i'd take a pic of th etool carts, but they are pretty simple 2 level carts with tiny bins on the handle side, any cart would be equal
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redwrench60
Well-known member
shockwave
Well-known member
Get a nice cart first and then upgrade to a box as u upgrades your tools as most of the time u will work out of your cart and not your box
That's what I intend to do (not that I'm a technician... Well, land survey technician). Probably get an HF cart to tide me over 'till I can afford a Snap On, then I'll likely get about a 40" or so stack.
Simz144
Well-known member
what is the model of this box?
redwrench60
Well-known member
It's a KRA4107D
Thanks for all the input. I was taking about a single bank small roll cab. I took time in between jobs to re-arranged my tools into the cab.
It worked out great. I was thinking that I should have done it sooner. I just have to fine tune it the origination now.
It's a single bank kr series from S.O.
Redwrench hit the nail on the head
It worked out great. I was thinking that I should have done it sooner. I just have to fine tune it the origination now.
It's a single bank kr series from S.O.
Redwrench hit the nail on the head
skulldrinker
Well-known member
That's how my top looks like when I start a new job. LOL sometimes i was so exhausted or it was late after closing time when I finished I just left it there and cleaned up the next morning.
My ideal cart has to have a work surface.
Here's a shot of right after a brake job.
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ex-x-fire
Well-known member
I used to know a guy who put a vise on the top of his roll around box.
redwrench60
Well-known member
Funny you mention that. I have a small USA made vise to mount to mine when I get some free time.
I have both cart and box.if you get a dedicated stall and lift then you really won't need a cart, if your at a shop like mine,you will need a cart to move around when all the racks are used or when working on an rev outside and stuff.
I used a Snap-On KRA2007 as a service cart for a few years. It was great.
My shop at home is 24x40. While it is not giant, after a while you do get tired of walking back and forth. The service cart has been a savior for me.
If I was a tech starting out, I would start out with a large service cart first. Some of the new Snap-On's are as large as a rollaway almost.
Ed
My shop at home is 24x40. While it is not giant, after a while you do get tired of walking back and forth. The service cart has been a savior for me.
If I was a tech starting out, I would start out with a large service cart first. Some of the new Snap-On's are as large as a rollaway almost.
Ed