toolbox etiquette in a shop

[makgreens]

so i recently purchased my napa service cart and have it set up in the shop i work at....well long story short im a "GS" (general service) which in other words is oil and tires and cleaning, but im ok with it since its finally a break into the wrenching field.Essentially the techs sh*t on us constantly and we have to clean up their mess when it isnt even our job and apparently our toolboxes are tables and parts racks


well i went by work today to grab a few tools so i could finish a project and walked to my box and saw that the red towel(the kind you use to not scratch a car) that i normally place on top of my box so when these jerk offs use my box as a table it wont scratch it or damage it was gone, and there were scratches all over the lid of the box

well since this cart is impossible to find in the first place i know i wont find a ready made cover for it but im in serious need of a cover

but who here sees that using another techs box as a table for parts is BS and shouldnt be done

i understand writing on em because its a flat slab but laying parts on and removing a cover off the top when its obvioulsy there for protection is just plain ********


just had to vent....and im missing my brand new 21mm snap on impact socket....i may be in a fast paced shop but that doesnt mean i have to work with damn slobs

 

[brslk]

Stand-up for yourself now or be treated like a door mat for a long time to come.

Been a long time since I worked in a shop with such a-holes but don't let it slide.

Let some stuff go but, that is downright disrespectful.

 

[I can fix anything]

Thats bullcrap!

stand-up for yourself now or be treated like a door mat for a long time to come.

Been a long time since i worked in a shop with such a-holes but don't let it slide.

Let some stuff go but, that is downright disrespectful.

 

[rsanter]

thats BS
very disrespectfull

think about puting a thin stainless sheet on it
also, if you ever see someone put a tool down on it then take the tool and put it in your pocket
if you see someone put parts on it then wheel the cart away with the parts

bob

 

[boostedgt]

lots of techs just dont give a damn about other peoples stuff. if people are slobs there dont have anything too nice.

if you have a good idea who did it, make sure you get the bottom of his tool box wet on "accident" every time you wash the floor, it will make you feel a little better

 

[scott37300]

Was your cart locked?

That ***** that others treat your stuff like that. Time to get an electric fence energizer to hook up to your box when your not there.

 

[makgreens]

well i put another towel on the top of it....if its gone when i go back thursday im gonna have a talk with the boss about his techs lack of respect for themselves and others property

if i use my friends box as a rest for my tools i always put a towel on it and he knows that and is cool with it....(and he just bought a HF box)....i wish people had some damn respect

 

[makgreens]

Was your cart locked?

That ***** that others treat your stuff like that. Time to get an electric fence energizer to hook up to your box when your not there.

its always locked...even if i leave the building for lunch it gets locked
i really hope i get transferred to the new shop when it gets built....been here a month and am already tired of the disrespect

 

[TheGrooveking]

Go right to the boss and demand that the top be replaced by the company, explain to him with a calm even tone that this is not acceptable that the standard of acceptable practices in the shop needs to be raised up. If he offers up some rheortic, kindly remind him that he is the boss, so he is responsible. Now I know this seems like spitting into the wind, but this also lets him know you know his position in the organization and expect him to do his job.

On the other side, ask around the shop, someone probably saw who used your cart, from there confront the guy, if he is a d*ck, then just get the boss involved and if he doesn't make the scumbag cover his damage then go to the human resources person.

A big +1 on not letting people **** on you or your stuff, you worked hard for the money use used to buy that cart.

TheGrooveking

 

[DanCo]

That's just plain disrespectful. I've been known to throw thier coffee/soda/food right to the ground. Talk to your service manager, talk to your shop foreman. Take pictures of the **** on top of your box, keep it as proof. Don't walk away with the parts or dump them on the ground, it might have to go back on to the vehicle or could be a core or a warranty item. That will bite bite you in the ***(because you should know better). Take a stand, that tool box is your property.

 

[Simplespeed]

Being a GS, your gonna get **** on alot. **** it up and deal with it, learn what you can and eventually move up to a tech.

As far as your toolbox, dont take **** from anyone. Doesnt matter if anyone else cares about their stuff or not, they shouldnt mess with or touch your stuff. Especially a painted lid on a roll cart that isnt meant to be used as a table. It will begin sag if they keep doing that. My Box is old and scratched up but its still mine and my space that i need. When i walk into work, if there is anything on my toolbox i clear it all off onto the floor with one slow swipe of my arm. Doesnt matter whats on it either, cell phones, glass, food, parts, grease, etc. It gets the point across cause people are like WTF? I have friends who know they can put certain chargers and things on my box on occasion because of where the outlets are. And they eat lunch on my box as long as they clean up. Certain guys can go in my box without asking. But they know who they are and they respect my stuff as i do theirs. Trust me, stand up for yourself but dont be an ******* if you dont have to. Other guys will respect you for it. Some people take pride in their workplace and the work they do, some just do it for the paycheck. Most people here are the first kind. Good luck, iv been right where you are not long ago.

 

[jerryW]

Get a piece of plywood a little larger than the top. Drill a couple of holes at the edge and thread a cable lock thru it over the top. Maybe they willget the hint, and it will afford some protection to it.


jerry

 

[Simplespeed]

Buy a large magnetic sheet and cut it to size. Or since its already scratched, tape it off, sand it, spray it it bed liner in a can. But that might just invite more parts.

 

[ZRX61]

Whatever gets placed on top just take outside & throw in the dumpster. They will get the hint.

If they don't, buy a can of Carbon Off from your local restaurant suppliers & spray the front of their toolboxes, it's basically aerosol paintstripper..

 

[Borrego]

What if one of the other techs scratched the box as if to say, "Not so fast rookie." New tech comes in, nice new service cart while the others may not have have anything nearly as new or nice. Kind of showing the new guy - know your place.......
I am not condoning any of the coworkers behaviour in any way.....Damaging someone else's property is straight up wrong. Doing it while someone's back is turned or not in the shop shows the size of their balls.

 

[Walterchang]

Just put something on top of it. I have a piece of rubber decking on top of my ****** little cart at the shop. Honestly I could care less about people putting things on it. A towel is a bad idea it needs to be a little more permanent. As for stealing tools, it blows, engrave or mark them someway.

 

[makgreens]

now let me say this though....the scratches werent deep...but obvious...still pisses me off but i think having a few days to cool off will help me not kill anyone...

if i go by tomorrow or wednesday and that towels moved im going to raise cane with the boss

 

[boostedgt]

now let me say this though....the scratches werent deep...but obvious...still pisses me off but i think having a few days to cool off will help me not kill anyone...

if i go by tomorrow or wednesday and that towels moved im going to raise cane with the boss

try some rubbing compound if its not to the metal

 

[I can fix anything]

After reading this I must vent a little.

When I was about 16 I began working at a motorcycle dealership. I had been riding dirtbikes since age 6 and had dreams of being a motorcycle tech. I was the porter and I put together the new bikes. I also did a lot of little things for the salesman. There were 2 techs thier. 1 was a super nice guy the other a total %#@&. After only a few days he started referring to me as shop n@gg%r. I hated that ****. I don't like that word and no one should be referred to that way. I repeatedly told him to stop calling me that. I told the service manager and he was no help. He never let up. One day he said it and snapped and proceeded to turn over his workbench that was covered with a KZ1000 engine he was rebuilding. The other tech and service manager subdued me and threw me out back and began screaming that I was fired and would have to pay for damages. The owner had heard the ruckus and come outside. When I told him my problem the owner walked in the shop and told him if he ever said it again he would be the one canned. 6 months later he quit. By that time I was already working on most of the dirt bikes that came in and some of the street bikes. I was a tech there for another 5 years after all that.

I dont suggest you do the same but stand up for yourself.

 

[makgreens]

What if one of the other techs scratched the box as if to say, "Not so fast rookie." New tech comes in, nice new service cart while the others may not have have anything nearly as new or nice. Kind of showing the new guy - know your place.......
I am not condoning any of the coworkers behaviour in any way.....Damaging someone else's property is straight up wrong. Doing it while someone's back is turned or not in the shop shows the size of their balls.

im a GS....it takes a good while to step up from that especially in my shop so theres no "know your place" bs...other than the fact that i know alot of OSHA rules and am essentially in a union so i stand up for myself and wont do ******** that is unsafe and could put my health at risk...which i know ruffles feathers but they can kiss my ***

 

[johnsdeere850j]

Those pieces of shi^ Lock it up big time. I've got a cage for mine I welded up out 2x4 square tubing it all just sets next to my box when im working. i lost almost 4 thousand dollars worth of tools on a weekend one time, 99% sure the other techs broke into my box. Soooo I came up with this locking frame setup. It slides over the top of the box in three spots and there is a lock bar for the top to keep them from sliding them...

Locks on these boxes are real easy to outwit, so you gotta do what you gotta do.... i went to the extreme but i have a huge investment like many of yal do and i hate thieves with a passion, i would kill if i caught one

 

[biggie]

i made a sign and had it laminated that read this not a parts counter or radio shelf and it worked but i,m not called biggie for not reason

 

[treasureseeker]

I am guessing your coworkers are looking for a way to upset you and the fact that you protect the top of your cart is why they target that item. There is no good answer. Going to the manager will make a more tense working environment for you. Stand up to the knuckle head and if you can maintain your composure most likely the hazing will end.

 

[idoitproject]

I would enjoy coming in to work to find something on my box as I also have a trash can conveniently next to mine.

I love my tools. With that being said, its only a job. Mess with my tools, you wont even see me coming.

 

[yellowbox]

yeah this has happened to me in the past , coffee cups pop cans rags sometimes a personal item (set of keys, phone )
i just get even i will do one of two things throw items unto floor or put in trash can
when the offender sees you doing this then they stop disrespecting your cart/toolbox

 

[illmatyk]

Thats just plain messed up and full of ****!

I remember back in Oct. 2009, I went on medical leave for 3 months. I went back to work at the End of January to come to my bay and it was filthy! I looked at my box and my cart and same thing as you, parts all over it and it was filthy as heck and had some grease on it( I try and wipe my box down once a week or so ). I found out who the tech was and took all those parts that was left there and dumped them on his box. He looked at like , hasn't happened since.

Hope all works out for you.

 

[gluckmysock]

Not as bad but disgusting. Someone in my shop felt the need to clear their nose and leave the "tissue" on my desk, not on my work bench or my tool box but on my desk. I thought HAHA not cool, but whatever, and just picked it up with an old screwdriver, and through it away. After about the 3rd time I have had enough. I was 98% sure of who the guilty party was. They talk real chummy in casual conversation then do something chickenshit like that. My solution was simple. I "informed" another tech of the situation. Made sure I did not accuse him, but i felt sure of who it was. I told him if it happens again, I will use his desk as toilet and place some "dirty" charmin on his desk. Problem solved, no more dirty tissues on my desk.

I know you cant do this, But the guys are right you have to stick up for yourself. Sometimes just telling someone else what you might do, can cure these activities.

 

[83diesel]

You need to figure out who is being disrespectful or is it a group of them. Are they doing as said above for hazing or are they just a holes. I would suggest not to doing anything with the things left on top of your cart except put them on the guilty person's box. Damaging or tossing the parts could get you fired for disrespect towards they company especially if they did not know you had a problem. If it is one person doing it I would confront the person politely but stearn and let them know you don't appreciate it and won't tolerate it either.

If it still occurs go to your boss and confront him about it. Be careful the guy causing problems might be a buddy, or a tech he sees no wrong in. But don't let the boss do the dirty work for you because they will come after you harder if the boss gets involved for getting them in trouble. And worse than that the boss might not care either way.

I have worked in shops where there was enough techs to have little groups. It seemed like highschool all over again because a couple of the groups never seemed to mature past high school and always played the pranks and games all day instead of doing there work and minding their own business and then wander why they don't get raises or promotions. But I have worked in shops where almost all the techs were very proffessional, Not every shop works for a particular tech and not every tech fits the shop. I did a lot of moving around shops when I was younger to find a shop atmosphere I could deal with and grow into.

 

[Gareth68]

Find out who is doing it and sleep with his wife. Let him know she scratched your back just like he scratched your tool box.

 

[daveblank]

well since this cart is impossible to find in the first place i know i wont find a ready made cover for it but im in serious need of a cover

What are the measurements of your cart? Some of tha NAPA carts that I have seen are close in size to the Matco MSC4 cart & there is a cover for it.

 

[ecotec]

after they already scratched your cart, i would just push their **** on the floor every time they set a tool on your cart.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

When I was in school there was a kid slightly younger than me. He was a *****! everyone hated him even went as far as hiding his toolbox for a few quarters. Well he always wanted to work with me (because I had the tools and the knowhow) I had a 26 top and bottom combo he was always putting stuff on the little lip formed by the top of the roller and the very top of my box (I have several scratches because of it)

I would always take his tools and hide them or put them in the top of my box (free tools! Altho crappy kobalt) But thats just my two cents. They say an eye for an eye will lead to a world that is blind. I wasnt afraid of this kid he was just immature. But it would really **** if you started ******* with these other techs and next thing you know your wallet is gone or you car wont work.

I like the other suggestions people have given. take the more mature route. its your toolbox you payed good money for it, yes eventualy its gona get scratched but there are tables and other places to store tools and equipment. Talk to your boss nicely and see what he says. If he is not willing to at least look at the damage or call a meating to find out who keeps taking your towels and putting parts on the top of your box next try higher in the chain of command.

If that fails look for a new job, but dont leave this one till you find it. Obviously this company has no respect and your better then they are.

Thanks
Sean Scott

p.s. sorry to hear about your new box the scratches not made by you are the most upsetting.

 

[Xsapper041]

I used to work at a shop where everyone would mess with one another all the time but one guy in particular was a complete ***.

we drilled a hole in the back of his toolbox and screwed in a grease fitting ....then filled it for 10 minutes with the pneumatic grease gun and went home

y'all should have been there the next morning when he opened that box! must have been cleaning grease out of that box for 6 months but I think he got the hint

 

[chewy7]

When things get placed on my roller chest i either toss tools across the shop, on my bosses tool box, or in the scrap metal barrel. i usually toss them even if someone else is there lol. It does have a rubber mat on top but i still don't like other peoples junk on it. Its my space and i plan to keep it that way.

 

[Rickster]

First of all never let people know it bothers you. If you do you can count on it happeneing all the time just to F with you. I'd go to Home Depot and buy one of those rubber and carpet floor mats, cut it to size and use some clear silicone adhesive to stick it to the top. That way it'll stay put and you can peel it off and replace/get rid of it at a later date. Oh, and they're assholes for scratching your box, good luck.

 

[makgreens]

top till 26.5 x 19 x 6, prybar storage on both sides

top 2 drawers 17.25 x 11.75 x 2

1 drawer 17.25 x 25.5 x 2

3 drawers 17.25 x 25.5 x 3.5

bottom drawer 17.25 x 25.5 x 5

im gonna go by today and grab some tools i need and probably by lowes to get a rubber mat

i may get my buddy to make me a sticket that says "not your desk or parts shelf"

 

[rsieracki]

simple solution is to but a 1 1/2" socket on your long breaker bar and go pop the offender in the knee caps.

or rig up some shocking transformer thats turned on n off with a keyless remote or something, there has to be plans online.

or like everyone else said throw there **** away that left on your box.

 

[mrholeshot]

When I worked in a dealership the biggest problem I had was with salesman who think your tool box is company own and open season for loaning tools. In my shop nobody touched or laid a hand on anyone else's tool box. It wasn't a rule but just a matter every everyone had mutual respect for one anothers property. Sometimes people left a drink of cup of coffee on my box but that was because they were standing around BSing and forgot it. I've been real fortunate in that area.

 

[kc-steve]

This thread reminds me why I enjoy being self-employed. Without all the BS to content with, I actually have time to enjoy myself while I work.

Steve

 

[daveblank]

top till 26.5 x 19 x 6, prybar storage on both sides

top 2 drawers 17.25 x 11.75 x 2

1 drawer 17.25 x 25.5 x 2

3 drawers 17.25 x 25.5 x 3.5

bottom drawer 17.25 x 25.5 x 5

im gonna go by today and grab some tools i need and probably by lowes to get a rubber mat

i may get my buddy to make me a sticket that says "not your desk or parts shelf"

The MSC4 has overall dimentions of 39.5" tall x 20" deep x 33.75" wide. I don't know what yours is. The part # for the cover is MSC4C.