Tool cases. Feeling guilty.

[eagleknight]

Light-hearted topic. Most tools now days come with some pretty nice cases. I almost feel guilty not using them sometimes, but they take up more room. I just bought a 52" Husky Tool Box and in the process figuring out some socket organization. Several of my sets like my Tekton impacts have a nice cases, but I want to put everything on rails for ease of access and visual identification. Anyone feel the same way about these cases?

 

[PureLeaf]

Yep, Sometimes I use them (like if its staying in my car), but if its staying at home in my real tool box, then I try to ask any friends/family that might want it, and then dump them. Always a shame to throw out quality organization though!

 

[gdocktor3]

I keep my 3/8" SK set and 1/4" Gearwrench set in the cases in my tool box, but with the lids off. I can grab individual sockets, bring entire set to item being worked on, or Snap lids back on and take on road.

 

[CoogarXR]

I take them to the recycling center. Maybe they can melt them down and do something productive with them. Some have the recycle-number on them, some don't. I take them all though, they can have the guilt if they have to throw them away, lol.

 

[Astro_Pneumatic_Tools]

Don't feel too bad.

Those storage indexes for wrenches and rails for sockets ect. that come in the box are only fractionally more expensive than putting the tools in a standard type of packaging that would prevent them from damaging each other.
Those holders are used for many different brands and made by the 10's of thousands per run then sold to the tool factories en masse.

Wasteful in a material sense, but it's considered "packaging" either way - which is often tossed.

 

[dwasifar]

For power tools, I prefer a tool with a case. I have a shelf for those right above my tool chest:

(Not everything was on the shelf when the pic was taken.)

Hand tool cases are stored in the basement in case my tool storage needs change in the future.

 

[ecotec]

I incorporated some of my trays into my toolboxes, even though it may not be the most efficient use of the space.

 

[ecotec]

It also stops me from overloading the drawers, weight wise.

 

[b7labelle]

I incorporated some of my trays into my toolboxes, even though it may not be the most efficient use of the space.

I did this too, works well although I had to do some trimming

 

[ecotec]

I did this too, works well although I had to do some trimming

I had to do some trimming, as well. I do not have a table saw, so I used a circular saw.

 

[bcradio]

I have been tossing mine due to the large amount of room they take up. It is hard, but I usually don't regret it after they are gone.

 

[James E]

You know, that's a really good idea, ecotek. A sharp knife or saw could easily fillet the original box into a handy tray that fits in a toolbox drawer.

Very clever.

 

[ecotec]

You know, that's a really good idea, ecotek. A sharp knife or saw could easily fillet the original box into a handy tray that fits in a toolbox drawer.

Very clever.

It is a 1960's box, and it is great method to not overload it. Also, I know right away if a socket is missing... I have no intention of getting rid of the trays. It really works well for me. That particular drawer is a 2" drawer.

 

[eagleknight]

Looks nice ecotec. Nice idea.

 

[Duster346]

I pitched all of them, and haven't needed them since.


My whole top drawer is full of socket rails and works very well.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

the blow molded cases are great for sliding surprisingly heavy hings on concrete wood or metal floors.

 

[Moparman390]

I keep some of the tools in cases if they are small, sometimes I use the cases or packaging as storage racks/trays even if I have to cut the packaging to work. Most power tools I keep in the cases. Any cases that I am not using and are better than just cheapo packaging, go above the garage.

 

[F150tech]

On the socket sets I cut out the inner molded portion and use the case to store spare parts, or I make dividers and use them to store nuts and bolts

 

[SirNik84]

My hand tools are all in my took box. But specialty tools are in cases, labeled, and in an over head cabinet. The cabinet came from my neighbor, its from an office remodel, cubicle parts.

 

[mcmtech]

I pitch the socket ones. Most of the specialty tools are still in cases

 

[FigureItOut]

I always toss cases from socket sets and wrenches and such, in favor of racks and rails. Odd tools with lots of parts though, I'll sometimes cut the box in half at the hinge and put the bottom half in a drawer. I've got an SK replaceable tip hammer set and my Astro rivnut set in shallow drawers done this way.

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[deberly12]

I know what you mean... I even have a couple cases without tools that were just too nice...I got them in a box off stuff from an auction and didnt get rid of them yet..... Usually I am really happy about the cases as my tools get moved back and forth to my dad's farm very frequently. And the ones stored at the farm would be completed submerged in dust without the case.

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[wafrederick]

My #3342 Sunex set,I keep the sockets,extension bar and universal joint in the case intact.I use it as my carry around set at work if I have to take something off outside using my Milwaukee 3/8 drive fuel cordless impact wrench.It is my go to set as well.

 

[crewchief888]

i still have a 1/4" dr SK set in a blow molded box,
the only other socket sets i had in blow molded cases are over 30 years old, socket sets got added onto, so the old blow molded cases didnt work anymore.
i still have the cases laying around somewhere...

i've gotten a few larger blow molded cases dumpster diving, they get repurposed to fit stuff that either didnt come in a case, or to keep something related to the tool with the tool. ie: wrenches, ect.
i tend to keep less used stuff in a blow molded case, and stored out the way.

 

[jimmy-ray]

i bet for service trucks those cases really come in handy. for shop or home stuff they take up to much space to be useful. i keep all mine though because i feel guilty also. and if you ever decide to sell a set it would be nice to still have the case.

ive been thinking about finding a place that does blow molding thats not crazy expensive. i use a lot of jims tools and they only come in a white cardboard box, whats funny is those cardboard boxes hold up for years lol. it just doesnt feel right to have a 500 dollar jims machined tool banging around in a cardboard box. i want to get all my jims stuff blowmolded cases

 

[mcmlvif100]

I incorporated some of my trays into my toolboxes, even though it may not be the most efficient use of the space.

It is a 1960's box, and it is great method to not overload it. Also, I know right away if a socket is missing... I have no intention of getting rid of the trays. It really works well for me. That particular drawer is a 2" drawer.

I really like how that turned out. Downloaded the picture for future reference. Thanks.

 

[TNBurban]

No guilt, but understand. Got a socket set, Gearwrench impact that came in a nice case. Case went in the recyling bin. Same for a crowsfoot wrench set I got, and a flarenut set as well.

The cases they came in were nice, but didn't fit in my toolbox so no need to keep them.

Also have thrown out some tool wrench rolls. I don't need my wrenches in a roll, have no use for them. Wish they'd just sell tools on their own, no rolls, no trays. Save a few dollars and less trash.

 

[crewchief888]

i bet for service trucks those cases really come in handy. for shop or home stuff they take up to much space to be useful.

all my air and hand tools are in a couple boxes in my service truck. cordless impact and drill are hanging off the side of one box. cordless grinder is in a repurposed case.
1/4" drive stuff is in another repurposed case.
bearing/bushing drivers, extractors, tap sets, 1/4" hex drive set, radiator tester, ball joint press, ect are all in the original blow molded cases.
long ratchets, extensions, prybars ect wont fit in a box anyway.

most of the "garage" stuff, with the exception of hand tools, dont get used much, and a lot of it didnt come in a blow molded box, so i repurpose a box, and keep the stuff wherever it "fits", that way i'm not taking up space in a box that i dont have to.

 

[ecotec]

I really like how that turned out. Downloaded the picture for future reference. Thanks.

I did it a few years ago. It is in a few threads. If you look close, the two trays are cut at different widths. That is on purpose. Any more off the 3/8" drive side, and the ratchet would not fit right. I just wanted to point that out...

I have zero regrets. I am proud of how it turned out.

 

[jd_1138]

You can give them to Goodwill or another thrift store if the relatives/friends don't want them. They make nice little cases for car sets of tools or to keep in the shed to consolidate small things. Even the el cheapo sets of tools come with pretty nice little cases. I found a nice red case that some Ultra Steel tools (Wal-Mart) came in. Someone had taken the tools out and dumped the case on top of a trash can. I snagged it and consolidated all the loose tools in my car into it.

 

[Jkinpa]

Ha ha ha ....I just today did the exact opposite. I ordered two blow-molded cases for some of my sockets that I currently have on rails.

 

[bob from indiana]

I have a Dewalt cordless drill case that I cut the dividers out of. It is handy for taking a few tools to a job or a junkyard trip. It fits behind the truck seat and works well for me.

 

[PelicanPines]

Yea I had... key word had... a mountain of blow molded cases... put them all on the street with a free sign.

One guy rang my bell... wanted to let me know ... there were no tools in the grinder boxes.

Guess I shoulda put EMPTY FREE...

 

[eagleknight]

Yea I had... key word had... a mountain of blow molded cases... put them all on the street with a free sign.

One guy rang my bell... wanted to let me know ... there were no tools in the grinder boxes.

Guess I shoulda put EMPTY FREE...

Omg, some people. Yea because you are just going to toss a mound of tools.

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