To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Tool box wax

russlaferrera

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Messages
2,035
Location
Central Virginia
I went to Northern Tool on Labor Day checking out the sales. As I was walking down one of the isles I seen a container "Tool Box Wax" After all these months of BS-ing everyone an waxing their tool boxes and tools, there is a product out there.

I guess it's true "If you tell a lie long enough it becomes true" Now I wonder if someone will come up with an AM/FM toaster?
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
12,074
Location
Now Leaving , NJ
the only tool box waxers I have ever witnessed were newbie tech school grads with a shiny new toy
people don't wax their cars , why wax shop equipment ?
 

chad s

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
2,483
Location
Baltimore, MD
When I wipe down my box every few weeks (after brushing off all of the bondo dust!), I wipe it down with WD-40. It cleans the red paint and stainless top well, and I guess adds a bit of protection, and doesn't stay tacky.
 

danc333

Well-known member
Joined
May 18, 2008
Messages
191
Location
Southern New Jersey
You're not suppose to wax your tool box?:headscrat

I find it odd that you wouldn't want to take exceptional care of some thing that costs as much a some of them do. I've seen tool boxes that cost more than nice new cars. I only have a Craftsman set worth a couple hundred and I've waxed it. It only takes a few minutes. Ans looks great too
 

Sunrise

Well-known member
Joined
May 20, 2008
Messages
188
to be honest, i waxed KRL tool cart. i used car wax, and it feels soooo nice :)

after dust sitting there, just blow it away.
 

ImportTuner

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 9, 2007
Messages
5,855
Location
SF Bay Area
I don't wax my tool boxes, but I do occassionally (couple time in a year) wipe them down with Meguiars Ultimate Detailer ...
 

nissan_crawler

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2008
Messages
9,638
Location
Wichita, KS
only a NERD waxes his toolbox

Quite a few mechanics at work do. Well, the ones that want to look professional, anyway.

the only tool box waxers I have ever witnessed were newbie tech school grads with a shiny new toy
people don't wax their cars , why wax shop equipment ?

So you look like a professional mechanic that cares care of things, rather than some backyard hack with a ratty *** toolbox. I've had customers comment on how good my 6 year old Craftsman looks, then turn around and make comments on how horrible a 2 year old Snap-On looks, and how that mechanic must not take care of his stuff.

If you rolled up to my vehicle with a ragged out toolbox, I would tell you you could roll it right back where it came from. If you can't take care of the equipment that earns your bread and butter, then why in the hell would I trust you to take care of my car?

I use mother's carnauba wax on mine.

DSC00834.jpg


It also makes getting dust, grease, paint overspray, and anything else that comes along much easier to get off.
 
Last edited:

billymade

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2008
Messages
7,461
Location
New Mexico
Nissan, did you end up getting that Mac box?
We have all it seems made fun of the Craftsman AXS boxes; well, for the person who buys one of those, they sell a wax kit to keep it shiny!
00995445000

Craftsman 4 oz. Wax & Cloth
Sears item# 00995445000 Mfr. model# 95445
Quote: "This wax finish from Craftsman coats and protects your AXS unit, keeping it safe from dust, dirt, sawdust, etc. Includes a microfiber cloth for application."

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00995445000P?vName=Tools
 
Last edited:

nissan_crawler

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 12, 2008
Messages
9,638
Location
Wichita, KS
Not yet, I probably will, but it's going to be staying at home if I do. I like my Craftsman better, so it will stay at work.
 

ossaguy

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 7, 2008
Messages
258
I guess I'm a nerd then.....At least once a month,I wax my SO boxes on my lunch break,using McGuiers cleaner wax,then the other days I'll give it a quick wipedown with a spray of the quick detailer wax-spray.Always use 100 percent cottom soft rags,too_Only takes a couple of minutes on my own time to keep them looking brand new,even after all of these years.I've invested so much $$$ into my setup,I always want it to look it's best.

Scratches are always kept touched up,and the slides are cleaned and lubed about every 3 months.

I have over 40 drawers,and none have junk or clutter in them.I fabricate special holders to make everythings super fast to grab,then put back.It's fun for me to come up with a better way to organize a drawer,worhing on one at a time,so it doesn't seem so overwhelming.

I keep my work stall really clean and uncluttered too,as I like to make a good,professional impression with my steady customers,and new ones that peek into the shop.It also makes me faster.The bosses I've had over the years have always complimented me on keeping things up so good.
 

billymade

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 2, 2008
Messages
7,461
Location
New Mexico
Uh, how about some pics of your setup and explanation of your "organizing" concepts that you have found that worked for you? Would be interested in seeing your "workstation"!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

ossaguy

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 7, 2008
Messages
258
Uh, how about some pics of your setup and explanation of your "organizing" concepts that you have found that worked for you? Would be interested in seeing your "workstation"!

I will be sure to,as soon as I get a digital camera.Hopefully when the season slows down.I've made some pretty neat,time saving special tools for working on small engines,that I'd like to pass on if there are any other small engine-outdoor power equip.techs here,as it might be helpful.
 

chammyman

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
882
Location
Glasgow, Scotland
I used to wipe my box down everyday as where I worked some idiot always got diesel, oil or some other **** all over them.

They got a good waxing every month or so anyway.
 

Detroit Diesel Man

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
177
Location
MN
I leave my greasy oily fingerprints on mine to protect it.
Seriously..I wipe mine down with a basic soap mix to get the prints off and thats only when its really slow at work.


DDM
 

dps

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2007
Messages
610
I guess I'm a nerd then.....At least once a month,I wax my SO boxes on my lunch break,using McGuiers cleaner wax,...

You might want to consider switching to a non-cleaning wax. The "cleaning" part of a cleaner-wax is a fine abrasive that will eventually wear through the paint when applied that often. You can get some idea of this if you use white applicators.

...and yes, we'd love to see pics of your layouts!
 

toolfreak

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
1,273
Location
Illinois
Quite a few mechanics at work do. Well, the ones that want to look professional, anyway.



So you look like a professional mechanic that cares care of things, rather than some backyard hack with a ratty *** toolbox. I've had customers comment on how good my 6 year old Craftsman looks, then turn around and make comments on how horrible a 2 year old Snap-On looks, and how that mechanic must not take care of his stuff.

If you rolled up to my vehicle with a ragged out toolbox, I would tell you you could roll it right back where it came from. If you can't take care of the equipment that earns your bread and butter, then why in the hell would I trust you to take care of my car?

I agree with you, if a tech don't take care of his tools that make him a living why would he care about doing a good job on whatever he is working. I have alot of money in tools and I take very good care of them and my toolboxes.
 

Moose-LandTran

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
15,945
Location
The Brink of Insanity (England)
When I wipe down my box every few weeks (after brushing off all of the bondo dust!), I wipe it down with WD-40. It cleans the red paint and stainless top well, and I guess adds a bit of protection, and doesn't stay tacky.

Same as what i do. Mostly i just wipe off the marks from my greasy paws when i'm working. Then once a month or so a quick shot of WD-40 and wipe it off keeps it shiny and clean.
 

Moose-LandTran

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
15,945
Location
The Brink of Insanity (England)
So you look like a professional mechanic that cares care of things, rather than some backyard hack with a ratty *** toolbox. I've had customers comment on how good my 6 year old Craftsman looks, then turn around and make comments on how horrible a 2 year old Snap-On looks, and how that mechanic must not take care of his stuff.

If you rolled up to my vehicle with a ragged out toolbox, I would tell you you could roll it right back where it came from. If you can't take care of the equipment that earns your bread and butter, then why in the hell would I trust you to take care of my car?

Well said.

I like to keep everything in my toolbox clean and organised. I don't abuse tools, rarely do i leave tools dirty or out of their places overnight. If i do, it's because i've left late and will be carrying on the job first thing in the morning. If everything's organised, i know where it is. I look after my tools and they look after me. I've always stuck to that and its always held true.

I have customers/friends/colleagues comment on how clean and tidy everything is, and how i must take great pride and care in my tools. They're right. I've had customers tell me that when they returned to collect their car and they saw me cleaning each tool and putting it back in its place, they knew their car would be treated the same way. If i break something intentionally, it's out of pure neccessity. It is rare, but sometimes unavoidable. (although i'm struggling to find an example)

If i took my car to a workshop to have something done, and the tech had a battered unclean box and all his tools looked abused, my car would be out that place so fast the draft would knock him over.
 

Frank Elson

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Messages
1,375
Location
Lancashire, UK
agree with everything you say above Moose.
I'm not a professional but, I guess semi-pro in so far as I know about my type of vehicle.

But it's more than that. It's having a pride in doing a job properly, and cleaning up and tidying at the end are just all part of it.

Plus, like you say, knowing where everything is.

friend of mine. His son says "Where's the 13 mil spanner?"
Dad, "if it's not between the 12 and the 14 who had it last?"
Son, "I did, but I don't know where I put it."

proves the point I think.
 

WSMC633

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
484
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Well said.

I like to keep everything in my toolbox clean and organised. I don't abuse tools, rarely do i leave tools dirty or out of their places overnight. If i do, it's because i've left late and will be carrying on the job first thing in the morning. If everything's organised, i know where it is. I look after my tools and they look after me. I've always stuck to that and its always held true.

I have customers/friends/colleagues comment on how clean and tidy everything is, and how i must take great pride and care in my tools. They're right. I've had customers tell me that when they returned to collect their car and they saw me cleaning each tool and putting it back in its place, they knew their car would be treated the same way. If i break something intentionally, it's out of pure neccessity. It is rare, but sometimes unavoidable. (although i'm struggling to find an example)

If i took my car to a workshop to have something done, and the tech had a battered unclean box and all his tools looked abused, my car would be out that place so fast the draft would knock him over.


Agree!

I always clean my tools and put them away between projects and at the end of the day. It's a personal pride thing. Plus it let's me know if anything is missing. Ex. an 8mm socket fell under the lift. I wouldn't have know it was missing until I needed it again then wouldn't have known how long it was missing.

As for the Boxes;
I wipe them down at least once a week, along with the tire changer, the benches, the lifts the cabinets, etc. etc. with a mild dilution of Simple Green.
The floors get mopped every 2-3 days, except for spills etc. that get mopped immediately. I work hard to present a clean, professional, shop for my customers. As I feel it is an indication of the quality of our work. My Girl's Step Father also owns his own Shop. It's a disaster and that is how he is perceived. That simply doesn't work for me!
 

toolfreak

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
1,273
Location
Illinois
I work with a guy who never puts his tools away and can never find his tools. He is the same way with parts that he takes off, when I work with him I usually end up ordering lots of new stuff that didn't need replaced to begin with but he can't find them so I just order new instead of looking for them all day.
 

Elroy

Banned
Joined
Oct 15, 2005
Messages
3,467
Location
kentucky
I am the #1 custimer satisfaction pontiac gmc tech in the country for 2006

No **** ? Elroy would venture to say that is not an easy task to accomplish. :bowdown:

Were you actually recognized for this feat with a worthless piece of paper? Please be advised that if in fact a national award was received from GM that you have in deed excelled in your craft. Most excellent. :thumbup:
 
OP
R

russlaferrera

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 24, 2006
Messages
2,035
Location
Central Virginia
No **** ? Elroy would venture to say that is not an easy task to accomplish. :bowdown:

Were you actually recognized for this feat with a worthless piece of paper? Please be advised that if in fact a national award was received from GM that you have in deed excelled in your craft. Most excellent. :thumbup:

Elroy, since the sale of Budweiser you been acting more like Darth Vader. The sale must have really bummed you out. :lol_hitti
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom