The evolution of tool storage inside the tool box

[CGarage]

Gents:

It seems that we have gone from

- Loose tools inside tool drawers

to

- Tool sets fitted into plastic molded trays

to

- Tool sets fitted into foam laser cut trays

to

- Tool sets fitted into small plastic boxes which then fit inside a large shop tool box



Is this a fair assessment of the progression with respect to tool storage inside tool boxes?

When did we begin to start seeing the “box within a box” concept start to take off?

Thank you!

 

[Hammer1963]

I have been compartmentalizing my tools since day one, but I think it has a lot to do with professional traits moving over to the DIY sector. If your income requires that you work with tools everyday like mine does, you want and need to find a tool quickly instead of fumbling around as time is generally money. Anytime a new innovation occurs in tool development, a trickle down affect is inevitable. That's just my theory.

 

[m6z]

Not sure I'm following your last one. Are you talking about blow molded storage cases or those packout systems?

I store very little in those blow molded cases as they take up a lot of room.

 

[AKJeeper]

I've noticed the same progression with tool storage, CGarage. Seems like the box-in-a-box concept is something that has come about within the last 10 years, from my observation.

With that said, the majority of my stuff is either in foam laser (or hand cut) trays, or in magnetic plastic socket trays. The box-in-a-box seem to take up too much real estate for my liking, but I can see how some DIY'ers (like my dad) would like that.

 

[CGarage]

Not sure I'm following your last one. Are you talking about blow molded storage cases or those pack out systems?

I store very little in those blow molded cases as they take up a lot of room.

Please explain what you mean. Pack out system? I’m not familiar.

 

[m6z]

Please explain what you mean. Pack out system? I’m not familiar.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Storage-Solutions/PACKOUT

 

[CGarage]

Interesting!

My post was focused on tool boxes specifically.

I was not aware of that Milwaukee portable tool storage system.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Seems like racks for wrenches, rails for sockets, and dividers or divided trays for screw drivers, punches, chisels etc (possibly stands for screwdrivers) have been common for decades but don't even make your list.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I pack mine in tight as I can yet still organized to make use of maximum box space

The only way I’d do shadowing would be if I worked in a FOD critical facility/field.

The laid out trays are nice but I don’t have a giant toolbox to utilize them

 

[samss]

A place for everything and everything in it's place. As others have said, I'd rather not have to fumble around and hunt for a tool. Even the blow molded tool cases can be modified to fit more stuff in them.

 

[richfinn]

I think what's really happened is toolboxes have gradually increased in size so much from what they were

Tool box drawers have definitely become deeper in the past 30 years, as more blow molded cases are used

There are a lot more specialist tools available (in my trade at least) and more companies have seen the opportunity to sell organisation products like Kaisen foam/plier racks/socket trays etc

I remember working in old garages that had all the tools and equipment hung on homemade shadow boards or under the work benches in old WW2 ammo boxes

They were still well organised just in an old school way you would load up a trolley with a cantilever box with your personal hand tools/tools from the wall and wheel it to your assigned job, whereas now everyone has an enormous fully loaded tool cart and a massive box full of special tools and equipment

 

[Olafur]

I believe in prioritizing. Minimize having to sort through several drawers for every simple task. Most frequently used tools in the most easily accessible place. For space I have resorted to cutlery trays from Ikea, Hanson Trays etc.

At work my solution is:

"Big" (actually not that big) top drawer is assembled like a road kit. Selected 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" metric sockets sets, two ratchets for each drive size and some extensions. Four screwdrivers most frequently used, favorite hammer, diagonal cutters, needle nose and Cobra pliers. Metric hex keys, utility knife, Set of combination wrenches from 8-19mm

It's not picturesque but it works very well for me. Great many jobs get finished from just this one drawer.

The rest of the box is somewhat organized on tool type basis. One small drawer for punches and chisels, one for the rest of the screwdriver arsenal. One crammed full of circlip pliers etc... But not quite - for example I have one small drawer packed full of SAE sockets, wrenches, hex keys. Used only several times per year these tools are prioritized close to the bottom of the box.

From this perspective - cramming all sockets into one drawer makes no sense. Some are hardly ever used! Separate screwdriver drawer - why if you use PH2 and a couple of flats 95% of the time? Why keep the 3/8" and 1/2" impact wrenches in the "air tool drawer" when they are used daily and the rest much less frequently?

This took me some time to figure out but I love my system. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Olafur]

Gents:
- Tool sets fitted into small plastic boxes which then fit inside a large shop tool box

I think we are on the same page but I can't be sure. Got any pictures?

 

[CGarage]

I think we are on the same page but I can't be sure. Got any pictures?

It seems to be the new Facom system. Where the tools are designed to fit into a blow molded case. These plastic cases, available in 3 sizes, can then be configured based on small, medium, and large size to fit with one another inside each drawer of a rolling tool box / tool chest.