toolboxes for the kids for Christmas?

[davestlouis]

https://goo.io/KKQVMl

I have 5 boys, and I have always kept my tools locked up so they would be there when I need them, not laying out in the rain in the backyard, or out in one of the boats. I have always had a "sacrificial" set of tools accessible to everyone in the family, which keep getting lost or destroyed.

I'm thinking about outfitting small toolboxes for each of them, and giving them the tools for Christmas. I want to differentiate between the tools, so they aren't stealing from each other, but HOW? I'm trying to teach them to take care of their own tools, not sure if this is a great idea or not.

 

[rsanter]

engrave each of them with names

paint them different colors

dip the handles in that plastic stuff, in different colors

bob

 

[davestlouis]

Bob, dipping handles is brilliant! Good idea. I can just see it now, one will lose something, then steal something from one of the other boxes to cover up his misdeed, unless it's color coded. We even did color coding of bath towels so we could tell who was leaving wet towels on the carpet.

 

[Stuey]

For certain items, such as screwdrivers, you could apply different heat shrink colors over shanks near the handles. This can also be done for wrenches and pliers. For things like adjustable wrenches, rsanter's suggestion would be a lot simpler.

 

[Jokeman]

How about those craftsman personalized sets.

 

[danc333]

I think Sears has tool boxes in at least 5 different colors. You could color match the tools to the boxes for each kid.

 

[boiler7904]

How about those craftsman personalized sets.

I was thinking the same thing. Usefullness probably depends on the types and quantity of tools the OP wants to give each of the boys.

 

[fourfeathers]

engrave each of them with names

paint them different colors

dip the handles in that plastic stuff, in different colors

bob

I still remember how my Aunt painted a bit of nail polish on the bottom of my Hot Wheels when i was visiting them...It was effective though.

 

[Joe B.]

Just rank order your children and give them brands accordingly:

Favorite Son => Snap on
Second Favorite => Craftsman
Third Favorite => Husky
Fourth Favorite => Pittsburgh
Rotten Child => Those free wrenches from Ready-to-Assemble furniture