Tool Cases - Throw them away? What else?

[RTMotors]

I have 50+ milwaukee drill and impact boxes if anyone wants to try and make a buck on them? central Wi.

 

[bob from indiana]

I have a Dewalt case that keep an extra socket set in. A Porter Cable case is my junk yard carry all. It holds what I need for the job and the lid opens 180 degrees. This allows me to set tools in the lid as I use them. The case will fit behind my truck seat or under it.

 

[Northislander]

I try to buy bare tools i already have dozens of chargers and batteries (Milwaukee) If i'm getting a plastic case i usually leave it at the wholesaler that i bought the tool from.

 

[laser3kw]

if there is anything that "American Pickers" show us is that keeping the original box / case adds value!
Imagine 30years in the future:
Mike: WOW! look at this pristine DeWalt drill / Swiss army knife! and everything still works!
Frank: Hey Mike - I found the original plastic case.
Mike: You hardly ever see those things, people just threw then away or cut them up to use as slides.
Owner: So - what will you offer?
Mike: by itself $250, with the case, well that makes it $1500!
Owner: Sold!
(handshakes all around)

This could be you

 

[Tejay]

I took a plastic makita circular saw case to the reuse centre at the landfill yesterday. I know I won’t ever put the saw back into it’s case so it will sit and take up space in the shop. Hopefully someone can find a use for it but for me they are formed specific to the saw and therefore not multi use.

 

[Jon_E]

I found a use for an old Makita drill/driver case.

Had to paint it black.

You just gave me a great idea. I'm going to take one or two of my cases, tear out all the guts, put some rubber gasket on them and put my chainsaw tools in them, mounted to the carryall for my tractor.

 

[BikerDad]

...
Sorry for the rant... this thread got me going. I truly hate blow molded... it's DUMB

Give me OPEN SPACE... or compartments for what the tool would need in real life... instead of to package the freaking thing to make it PRETTY for sale.

I hate it also, but blow molded isn't about making it pretty for sale. It's about protecting the tools during shipping. Blow molded is a less expensive solution than a metal case with some sort of insert. It's less expensive because the BM (yes, the other meaning applies) case won't rust, the paint won't chip off, the cheapo crappy fragile insert won't fail, the case is less likely to be dented, etc. The other thing BM does is it makes it very easy during packaging to see if anything is missing, which lowers production costs, reduces returns, etc. Now, the underlying reality of making "it PRETTY for sale" is the manufacturer attempting to increase profits by controlling their process, not by catering to the customer's needs. While the rationale I describe for BM is different, it's goal is the same.

I'd rather have a tool shipped in a cardboard box with Styrofoam around it than BM. I'm conflicted on tool bags. Hell, if they would just line the damn bags with a LIGHT COLOR FABRIC they would be a lot more useful. Like the older DeWalt cases, but wish that EVERYBODY (or at least everybody making quality powertools) would go to a unified system a la Tanos Systainers / L-Boxx / T-Stak. No, you don't need to sell every tool with a "Systainer". But EVERY power tool should come with an INSERT for the "Systainer", and the inserts SHOULD be better designed to avoid space wastage that makes BM so craptastic.

And last, will the tool storage system making knuckleheads design a "long box" for tools that are too large for your biggest system box. Yes, it's a specialty item, but having a tool like a portable bandsaw that can't be stuffed into any of the existing system boxes is annoying as all heck.

 

[bushmechanic]

Griping about free luggage with a tool purchase... Never seen the like. You're going to pay the same price whether you get that case or not.

Sell them on Ebay. People buy the things; but if you keep complaining, they'll stop shipping them entirely. Some of us like them.

I wouldn't want a metal case, anyway. Polymer is a better choice for the application. Now that they're generally U/V stabilized and feature pinned hinges, they last as long as required.

 

[EOC_Jason]

I took a plastic makita circular saw case to the reuse centre at the landfill yesterday. I know I won’t ever put the saw back into it’s case so it will sit and take up space in the shop. Hopefully someone can find a use for it but for me they are formed specific to the saw and therefore not multi use.

Ahhhhh! I guess you missed my post earlier in the thread looking for that exact case! LOL Oh well...

 

[moparfreak]

I save my cases but put them up in the attic where they won't take up valuable shop space. A few of my power tools I do still keep in them, such as hammer drill, rotary drill, biscuit jointer, etc. Stuff I don't keep out in the open and easily at hand.

When I'm looking for a way to store something I have gone up into the attic, pulled an old case down, used an OMT to cut out the inserts and then have a decent case to hold stuff, but for every 1 or 2 times I do that, I've got 10 more piled up in the attic. Just how it goes...

I suppose eBay but I think it'd be a lot of work to get started up if you're not already all set up w/ selling on eBay, with payment terms, shipping methods, pictures & posting, etc.

I haven't tried inserting them with foam once I cut them out though, that is an idea worth playing with.

 

[Tejay]

Sorry about that - but I’m in western Canada anyway so chances are slim of getting that to you.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Other than my SDS rotary hammer and jack hammer, pretty much every other case has been unused. I saved a lot but ended up giving most away or throwing them out. I still have one or two that I've been debating carving the molded plastic out of the inside and using kaizen foam or something similar to make custom cases for other tools that didn't come with one.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I tossed mine years ago, and when I get a new toy in a case, The case goes into the garbage as I don't have the space to store empty cases.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

if there is anything that "American Pickers" show us is that keeping the original box / case adds value!
Imagine 30years in the future:
Mike: WOW! look at this pristine DeWalt drill / Swiss army knife! and everything still works!
Frank: Hey Mike - I found the original plastic case.
Mike: You hardly ever see those things, people just threw then away or cut them up to use as slides.
Owner: So - what will you offer?
Mike: by itself $250, with the case, well that makes it $1500!
Owner: Sold!
(handshakes all around)

This could be you

30 years from now it will have zero value because the DeWalt stuff will have regressed so far below the home owner level it's at now no one will want them at all...

Tommy

 

[crewchief888]

i cant remember ever tossing out a blow molded case or empty box.

corded power tools that came in cases are still in the cases, most of my cordless stuff live outside the cases they came in, unless i'm taking them someplace where the case would be easier to move around.

i have several large blow molded boxes up in the rafters of the garage, and several more "normal" sized ones on a shelf in my reloading room.

i end up with tools i want to keep in a box, and re-purpose the used cases i've been "hoarding"
last week i found 2 of them in the dumpster when i was out on a service call, already modified one of them to hold my heat gun.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Those cases are mandatory recycle items in British Columbia. I take the tool out on day one and the case goes in the "Blue Box immediately.

 

[fowldarr]

For me it has always depended on the tool and shop space. My circular saw has always stayed in the blow molded case, but only because it was rarely used and didn't have a good place to live other than on a shelf somewhere (as an example).

Now I have dedicated shop. So I am building purpose built storage for my tools that see more use than they used to (like the circular saw). I will get rid of the bm cases and keep some tool bags around to transport items when necessary.

That being said, I've developed a small collection of old metal cases and tool boxes that will probably take on some of the transport role, if my 5 year old stops claiming all of them (he is obsessed with things that you put things in, and tools, he's a pretty awesome kid)

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Seems they are either used or useless. Most of the work I do is off site. Having a specialized piece of equipment and it's proper accessories organized in a single case saves allot of wear and tear on Me and the tools. Some of the cases are rather useless. One example is the case for My A.C. manifold and hoses. I am not willing to unhook everything and stuff the components back into that case. Instead; the A.C. manifold and hoses are housed in a Stanley Fat Max box that is big enough to hold other A.C. tools.

 

[macgyver37]

A buddy gave me 4 Makita cases, not blow molded. I cut the partitions out of a couple and I put some tie down straps in them to stay in the vehicles for the just in case. They won't hold alot of them, but it is nice to contain them.

I plan to cut some foam for the other 2 for a couple other things.

I have never bought any new tools that had a hard case. I got a new circ saw for Christmas one year and I do keep the saw in it, but all my other tools either had a bag or were used and didn't come in a case.

 

[MScott]

I keep them until the waranty period has passed on the tool, then recycle.

 

[raffaelli]

I store my tools in their boxes. There are only a couple I keep out and handy.

 

[Estley]

If the tool has accessories, I keep the case, if it's just the tool... bye bye case. I do keep all the systainers, and I've even consolidated a few random tools in a big systainer. It makes more sense to keep if the cases are stackable/compatible with each other, otherwise it's a pain to store them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[doctordirt]

Ok, thank you, you shamed me enough to dispense with my extra cases that I have been storing forever. My girlfriend will be doing a happy dance too.

 

[Jamie V]

I truly hate blow molded... it's DUMB

The canvas or nylon bags some tools come with are SO much better.

There must be a ton of people that feel the same way as you guys (that’s why they are phasing out the cases). I’m the opposite. I hate the bags! All the tools, batteries & chargers bang around into each other and destroy the finish on them. I understand the bare tools not coming in cases but when you buy a “kit” you should get hard cases to protect your tools. I just started buying the Milwaukee packout system and I’m going to put foam in them to protect the tools.




Here are some photos I’ve found online to inspire me.

 

[mv213]

There must be a ton of people that feel the same way as you guys (that’s why they are phasing out the cases). I’m the opposite. I hate the bags! All the tools, batteries & chargers bang around into each other and destroy the finish on them. I understand the bare tools not coming in cases but when you buy a “kit” you should get hard cases to protect your tools. I just started buying the Milwaukee packout system and I’m going to put foam in them to protect the tools.


That makes for a good looking and practical system! My issue with the blow molded cases is the lack of space for accessories (in most cases) and the amount of room they take up. Your Milwaukee cases seem to take care of both of those issues. Nice!

 

[pawdad]

seen guys trim inside boxex and put foam in trim it and keep pistols in them

 

[WhiteSSP]

Cute what kinda dog?


As a new puppy owner, I like the idea...


I keep all mine out in the shed, I recently sold my old brush Milwaukee stuff, I had all the original books with receipts in the cases....

Def a Boxer. I have two right now. Neither will fit in my DeWalt bags anymore lol

 

[dkroth]

That looks great.

I wonder if one could cut the interior plastic bits out of a kit case and re-purpose it with foam. Probably worth a try.



.

 

[PelicanPines]

Those metal cases from "long ago" dewalt tools were great. As mentioned... i repurposed a bunch and modified my cart to store them. I installed a big D handle on the sides so I can grab them right off the cart when needed.

View media item 52069

 

[TEXACMAN]

I re-used my plastic milwaukee case , I cut enough of the inside out to throw my tow chain in so I have a clean place to keep it in my truck tool box.

 

[Shootinok]

I re-used my plastic milwaukee case , I cut enough of the inside out to throw my tow chain in so I have a clean place to keep it in my truck tool box.

Like that one !!

 

[dreamingmuscle]

I use a dewalt case to hold my ratchet straps under the seat of my truck. I used a multi tool to cut out the divider wings. Another holds my seldom used finish nailer. Going to make a pull a part tool box out of some others.

 

[dkroth]

I re-used my plastic milwaukee case , I cut enough of the inside out to throw my tow chain in so I have a clean place to keep it in my truck tool box.

Oh, how about jumper cables? A gutted Milwaukee case would be great for that.



.

 

[keith204]

Straps and jumper cables are excellent ideas.

 

[Sine Swept]

I keep my Bosch oscillating tool in a cut out DeWalt case, that I cut out with the Bosch tool!

I have a couple tool bags that I cut out all the inner pockets and cut a white piece of hardboard to fit the bottom of the bag. It makes the search inside a lot faster.

 

[four.cycle]

^ the tow chain and jumper cables makes me wish I had kept a couple now.

 

[rambo19]

I put worn out drills/grinders/impact guns etc etc in them and leave them on show.
If someone breaks in, hopefully they will steal them because they are easy to get at.

 

[dr_clyde]

This is an interesting discussion. I can see both ways.

Me personally, there are a few tools I use very often, thus don't keep in the case. Mostly my cordless drill/ driver set and my portaband. I have the cases for when I need to go mobile, and don't want the tools floating around loose.

Pretty much everything else lives in the case it came in. Where else should I keep these things? My circular saw, jigsaw, hougen mag drill, sawzall, tube sander, burnisher, angle grinder, air nailers, routers and all that came in a nice case. I can store blades, wheels, bits and so on. Then I can toss it in the bed of my truck and go to work with it without losing stuff.

But if I had a good way to storing corded tools better than the case, I'd probably do it. They are kind of bulky.

I like Metabo's way of doing cases. They sell you the tool in a cardboard box. If you want a case, they'll sell you a nice, old school metal box with a compartment for wheels and accessories.

 

[moparfreak]

At the end of the day, no matter what we'd actually like the best (seems to be ppl like the packout boxes / sortimo / L-boxx / festool type modular approach best, though u pay a premium for it), we all still have a crapton of blow molded tool cases left over. I personally just have a hard time tossing them, cause they are tough, and usually have decent latching mechanisms and I can see some usefulness in that. I stack them up in the attic for use another time. Well this weekend I was looking for a way to store my hole saw collection, and didn't have any bins that quite fit the bill. Then I thought of the tool cases. I went up and grabbed one of my bigger Milwaukee ones that used to hold a drill/driver M18 set.

With a multitool, and small holesaw to pop the "welds", got everything to fit nicely. I'll definitely repeat this process for other things in the near future, as I've got a lot of those cases left!

 

[brownbagg]

i dig them out of the garbage and use them to store tools that i dont use daily on the high shelves, like the rotozip or the extra sawall. some i will keep masonry tools in, or plumbing tools, electrical tools, welding tools, that way I have a made up kit I can grab.

stuff like pullers and tie rod tools, I like to keep out of the tool box, small boxes for tire repair or just to keep extra electrical supplies in. I write the names on the side so I know what in it, like the 18 ga brad gun or the framing gun. I keep them all high out of the way. but by looking around I know where they are, car body tools, screw guns

i had a plasma cutter that came without a case, bought the case couple years later, best thing i ever did, keeps all the hoses clamps, filter, tips in one case, and my friend dont know what it is because it tuck away out of direct line of sight