Tools for Manufacturing Technicians

[customh]

I'm not sure how to ask this and I've done a bit of research by searching the topics I'm addressing here. I need to make tool boards/boxes - something for each of our machines that contains the tools required for that room/machine. I fully expect tools to get lost or misplaced but our employees spend so much time wandering around looking for tools now and I want to make that stop. There are several factors at play here- cost, sourcing, and method of storage. From the old adage "good, fast, or cheap- pick two" I'm picking fast and cheap- if harbor freight sold individual wrenches and sockets in larger sizes (1-1/8" mainly) I wouldn't be making this post but you have to buy a set of everything at HF.

MAIN QUESTION: Where can I buy 12 1-1/8" sockets or combination wrenches without having to buy sets and the rest of the sizes sitting around and rusting? In general I'd like to buy single sockets/wrenches/tools for a reasonable price so I can easily replace them in the future when they are misplaced or lost.

 

[jumbojak]

Tekton sells individual sockets and wrenches. You could order off of amazon too.

 

[AS556]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...PnN22lcNW_9j-BgGf0Sq0OctexLvm-OYaAlAHEALw_wcB

Seems like a good option.

 

[dr_clyde]

McMaster has sockets for $12 each. You can buy individual wrenches at the farm store.

 

[customh]

https://www.harborfreight.com/14-pc-raised-panel-sae-combination-wrench-set-68805.html

It kills me that I can get that for 20 bucks (forget coupons and assume buying in quantity)

 

[MattT]

MSC are good for fast and cheap single tools if you've got an account with them. And you can save the tools to a list on their website which makes restocking quick and easy.

 

[DFB]

Dewalt, Craftsman, Tekton.

All can supply your needs...just looking online Dewalt seems to come in the lowest of the 3 less than $6 for 1 1/8" shallow chrome sockets.

Wrenches that size aren't cheap with about $20 the low point (Tekton) Around $25 for others single retail.

I use to have supply tools for my work crews in the factory, anything with a US "name" SK, Blackhawk, etc. always went walking

You can always shop TSC too to meet your criteria too.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Gearwrench is what Id use for your scenario. Cheap, effective and a huge variety of tools

 

[jjkrjh]

I work at a small blow mold company. Each shift has their own double bay toolbox with general hand tools. Each shift supervisor has the keys to their shift's box. The tools are craftsman, kobalt ect. sets except for ratchets or high/load use sockets. We have tried most and ended up with Matco until repair issues on the ratchets became a problem and Snap-on has slowly been working its way in.

All tools are engraved with whose shift tools it is. Maintenance has keys to all boxes. Theft has never been an big issue. Loss to the other shifts have. Tools are left out and the next shift puts them in their box. Maintenance has to go thru the boxes and get the tools to the correct shift.

Special tools for the machines are all painted a certain color, labeled, and kept in maintenance. Pretty much zero loss other than damage. We go thru alot of hex/allen wrench sets. The shift supervisor has access to replacement sets.

 

[Rabid Badger]

If I was in your shoes I would probably just grab whatever is cheapest on Amazon. For example:

https://www.amazon.com/GROUP-ASIA-116665-Master-Mechanic-Combination/dp/B0009X89XI

$9.67

 

[Clcartagena89]

If I were in your shoes I would make said employees accountable for their actions? Really easy to fix lazy, disorganized and bad attitudes. Yes occasionally things will happen. But if it's to the point where you're losing production and people are just walking around, and jerking off, it sounds like they are just finding excuses not to actually do their job. Happens alot in manufacturing. Maybe implement some new rules?

 

[Davefr]

I'm not sure how to ask this and I've done a bit of research by searching the topics I'm addressing here. I need to make tool boards/boxes - something for each of our machines that contains the tools required for that room/machine. I fully expect tools to get lost or misplaced but our employees spend so much time wandering around looking for tools now and I want to make that stop.

Sounds like a huge waste to have tools lost/misplaced and employees wasting time hunting them down.

I think you need to address the culture that allows that to happen.

Setup your tool boxes with shadow box foam so every tool has a easy to identify spot. Make sure each outgoing shift replaces the tools and have the incoming shift audit that it's been done. Shadow box foam makes this super easy.

 

[kctyphoon]

Stupid question.. are these hex bolts or square?

If you want cheap and individual - you can walk into Home Depot and buy combo wrenches as singles in that size. Maybe even ratcheting..

If you decide you want something more substantial. You can look into a company like Lowell for their wrenches (if they make the size you want) and find stuff that will survive a nuclear bomb.

Husky combo wrench is $12 here -
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1...ll-Polish-Combination-Wrench-HCW118/202916157

I dunno what your work is like, but you could always tether the wrench to something if thats practical and SAFE for you to do.

The other option is to buy 30 of them, and just flood the area with wrenches. Sometimes you just have to take the hit and make sure there more than could ever be lost or left behind.. its funny cause when i did that with diagonals, they stopped getting lost - cause 5 people weren’t sharing one tool that kept getting passed around.. it allows one guy to take one, use it, and then PUT IT BACK - instead of handing it off to another guy that needed it.

Another idea is painting all the tools different colors for each work station or work truck. This area is blue, (all tools sprayed blue) this area is red, (all tools sprayed red) , this area is green..... This way you know what belongs where. 5 wrenches dont wind up in the same area with 4 other work stations left without a tool. And if one gets lost - it keeps THAT guy from stealing some else’s, and saying “this one was mine”.. its a simple, easy way to keep people to keep track of their **** - cause theres no way to deny THIS ONE is missing, and youre the guy that works here.. colored tape doesnt work.. anyone with half a brain can figure out that they can just remove the tape. Engraving takes too long and isnt very noticeable. You paint the tools you can identify what belongs where from across the room..

 

[customh]

You guys talking attitude and culture are dead on, but I'm not the boss and he needs to see the need for that change and be willing to put the time into it. Not sure why there's never been real accountability at this place- people really only get written up for attendance and insubordination. A little more background- I'm the manager and technician for the maintenance department over machines that can use a combined 1300+ cfm of air. 2 years ago there was essentially no maintenance department and no maintenance records or program.

I appreciate all of the replies and I think what I'll do is make tool boards with the tools needed for each room and color code the tools to the boards. Mostly hex bolts kctyphoon. I'll likely just go the Harbor Freight route as I'll need several sizes for each room. My dad remembered https://www.wttool.com/ from back in the day- a 1-1/8" "RDX" wrench is ~$6 on there. My thought is to start with garbage tools and work up in quality once people gain a respect for them (if ever). We'll see if Fastenal will cut me a deal ordering "case" quantities of their house brand or something in the future.

 

[bugnut]

Customh, if you have a vendor that you use for other supplies that you can either order via phone, email or text use that vendor especially if you don't have to have a PO cut. Thius will save you time and energy. good luck

 

[Tallpilot]

It seems like having an account with a supply house would make the most sense. Northern Tool has a good inventory of singles if you want to purchase from a local retail store. The quality isn’t any better or worse than Harbor Freight.

 

[customh]

Customh, if you have a vendor that you use for other supplies that you can either order via phone, email or text use that vendor especially if you don't have to have a PO cut. Thius will save you time and energy. good luck

I have to cut a PO if we are being invoiced on anything. I'm just looking for the best option that will keep cost down for a mass investment when I know there will be attrition with the tools.
I'll have to look at Northern the next time I'm there. It seemed like they didn't have a good selection of singles at the right price anyway.

 

[Dodgepu360]

We have been in the process of doing this were I work.

We used French cleats to hang the tools, this makes it easy to move or reconfigure as needed. Also having everything out in the open makes it easy to see if anything is missing. Each station has its own board with everything the operator would need to do their job. Each station is color coded so its obvious where tools belong.

The wooden tool board was gen 1 the yellow one is gen 2, this one is powder coated steel with hdpe cleats. The idea was to make them so they can be easily cleaned when they get dirty. Its a constant work in progress but its worth it to have what you need where you need it. the station in the picture is black, you'll notice all the tools (well this one's just cleaning stuff) have a black stripe, there's also red, blue, green, etc.

 

[mad-ass]

Remember that local stores do have professional only sides with company accounts, and that includes auto parts stores(bonus points, most of them will deliver anything to your business).

Hope that helps a bit