dla
Well-known member
I'm looking for suggestions, comments, advice on how to deal with the cases and boxes and kits that tools come in and with. Here's the situation:
I typically keep boxes from almost everything. Part of how I was raised. The habit has proved incredibly useful at times, moving between houses or apartments, storing things while away for months at a time. Moving into my house last fall would have looked like I bought everything brand new that day. Pots and pans even came out of their original box which they'd been stored in while I was living in shared apartments for several years.
Step into my shed (for now until the garage is built) and the theme continues. All these tools that come in a plastic molded case are kept in them, along with whatever may have been included (drill chuck keys, grinder wrench, included bit sets, even manuals and purchase receipts). Some of these are even kept in their original cardboard box. I can even see that's a little far fetched but it's a habit that was taught to me since birth.
Now before you start thinking that I have a pristine collection and don't really use anything, I'll fess up to the dirtier details. Anything that didn't come with a case or reasonable cardboard box (like pliers in plastic molded packaging) are a free-for-all. No real spot to call home, lucky if they can keep close with others from their set, mostly scattered across a bench or in a crate with other loose tools possibly related in jobs they perform. I have a good excuse in that until this evening i've not had proper tool boxes for everything.
As a person, I am competent at maintaining a system of organization if it is already existing. Coming up with my own system is painful, difficult and the quest for perfection hits a roadblock when one detail doesn't fit the proposed method. Think pry bars and wrecking bars, it's all good with everything up to 36", then the 48" is on it's own so I give up on the whole idea and they all go back to leaning in the corner and falling down every time I try to pick one out. To keep a tool or set in an existing package means it is neat and tidy, but involves opening a cardboard box, plastic case, and unwinding the cord every time to use my hand drill. And all back when i'm done the job. Not time efficient.
So what are the forum's thoughts on tool cases and kits? I'd absolutely love to wrap my drill cord around it's handle and hang it on a hook ready to roll, but where do I keep the chuck key? Or that plastic second handle that i've never used but might someday? Or the cheap drill and spade bits that came with? Repeat for almost every power tool I own...
PS love this forum, wish I had all the time in the world to read every thread I see on here. Blows me away to see the skill and creativity of the community!
-Dan
I typically keep boxes from almost everything. Part of how I was raised. The habit has proved incredibly useful at times, moving between houses or apartments, storing things while away for months at a time. Moving into my house last fall would have looked like I bought everything brand new that day. Pots and pans even came out of their original box which they'd been stored in while I was living in shared apartments for several years.
Step into my shed (for now until the garage is built) and the theme continues. All these tools that come in a plastic molded case are kept in them, along with whatever may have been included (drill chuck keys, grinder wrench, included bit sets, even manuals and purchase receipts). Some of these are even kept in their original cardboard box. I can even see that's a little far fetched but it's a habit that was taught to me since birth.
Now before you start thinking that I have a pristine collection and don't really use anything, I'll fess up to the dirtier details. Anything that didn't come with a case or reasonable cardboard box (like pliers in plastic molded packaging) are a free-for-all. No real spot to call home, lucky if they can keep close with others from their set, mostly scattered across a bench or in a crate with other loose tools possibly related in jobs they perform. I have a good excuse in that until this evening i've not had proper tool boxes for everything.
As a person, I am competent at maintaining a system of organization if it is already existing. Coming up with my own system is painful, difficult and the quest for perfection hits a roadblock when one detail doesn't fit the proposed method. Think pry bars and wrecking bars, it's all good with everything up to 36", then the 48" is on it's own so I give up on the whole idea and they all go back to leaning in the corner and falling down every time I try to pick one out. To keep a tool or set in an existing package means it is neat and tidy, but involves opening a cardboard box, plastic case, and unwinding the cord every time to use my hand drill. And all back when i'm done the job. Not time efficient.
So what are the forum's thoughts on tool cases and kits? I'd absolutely love to wrap my drill cord around it's handle and hang it on a hook ready to roll, but where do I keep the chuck key? Or that plastic second handle that i've never used but might someday? Or the cheap drill and spade bits that came with? Repeat for almost every power tool I own...
PS love this forum, wish I had all the time in the world to read every thread I see on here. Blows me away to see the skill and creativity of the community!
-Dan
