What route do you go? Box before tools, or...?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Just wondering how you guys did it. Did you buy quality tools before a quality box, or visa versa? When I started working on cars I had a roll of wrenches and that was it. Borrowed a cart that was the shops and laid them out. Little by little I filled the cart. My boss moved me between to shops so I kept my tools to a minimum, nothing I didn't need. When I left that shop I worked out of my garage and my tool collection grew quickly. I bought the best I could afford from the beginning. I built a shelf in my garage and put my hand tools on it. It was maybe 10' long. Below that I had a few Rubbermaid containers to hold electronics and larger tools, as well as supplies. Once I had my tool collection to where I was comfortable, I bought a box. A snap on KRSC43. Bought some more tools, paid the box off. Now here I sit. Looking at buying more tools. I'll tell you what, for the "smaller" size of the box, I organized it very we'll and removed most items from their boxes. Surprisingly I still have a lot of room, and I have many tools. Do you guys feel a quality box is more important with a few tools, or build your collection and buy a good box after?

 

[chris142]

i started at pep boys with a handfull of wrenches in a carry box. upgraded to a craftsman upper and bottom with my first check.

 

[RV77]

Quality tools first.A quality toolbox wont help you fix anything.Then as your income rises and your tool debt is low,you can shop for a toolbox.

 

[Fedwrench]

The box is only a home for your tools. It doesn't really make you any money except it may save you a little time finding something quicker if you're organized. When I was in school, I started out with a plastic tote on a mover's dolly for mobility. That morphed into an old MBC top box on the dolly, and then to a craftsman bottom rollaway. Tools before box.

 

[espyking83]

Buying a nice box before you buy nice tools is the equivalent of building a $15,000 climate controlled garage to protect the blistering paint of a Ford Topaz. I just dont understand it.

 

[BirdMobile]

Most of my tools are in old beat up boxes I've picked up along the way at pawn shops and yard sales. So... for me it was a bit of both, buy some tools, find a 3 drawer cabinet, but more tools, expand box space as needed.

 

[SASORacing]

X2 for quality tools first with a basic cheap carry box to put them in. However, A box with a work surface can double as a bench, which is a tool and multi use. * In b4 the HF 44 recommendation. *

 

[monomach]

Tools in a paper bag will make you money. A fancy box with nothing in it will make you broke.

These days, those Harbor Freight boxes are the smart way to go.

 

[Ruger_556]

Cheap box also = small box... I started with a Craftsman box and tools. Began upgrading tools but I ran out of room and had to buy a nice box before I could continue buying nice tools.

 

[monomach]

* In b4 the HF 44 recommendation. *

You shoulda waited a few minutes.

 

[SASORacing]

You shoulda waited a few minutes.

4 minutes haha

 

[Frosthy]

Both at the same time.

Once I started to run out of room in my 24" stack, I just spent the cash on a Classic 96. I didn't (and don't) plan on slowing down my tool purchasing (spend $200-500+ a month) so I needed a box that I wouldn't run out of room in right away. Paid the box off with my tax return, returned to spending large parts of my paycheck on tools.

Don't be afraid to drop the cash on tools for your career, just be careful and make sure you're buying quality stuff.

 

[Pumpman1968]

Bought the tools first.......still questionable on the "quality" box. I have an older Craftsman combo that I bought on CL pretty cheap and just pieced together another Cman "heavy duty" 3 piece that I got VERY cheap (roller had a couple of scratches......on the back!)........maybe $250 invested between the 2.

Even if I fixed the scratches and sprayed some new paint, it won't make my hands work my tools any better.

 

[SASORacing]

Also if you buy tools please, please buy them with cash. Don't get buried with a high interest rate and miss a few payments and have your rep repossess your toolbox which includes "all contents". I have heard too many horror stories like that and something like that could ruin your career. Good luck.

 

[SASORacing]

Also you can get a sub $200 roll cart tool box, HF has a nice red one with gas shocks. Highly recommended. For the money it holds a lot of tools and will keep your stuff clean and locked up.

 

[rtole]

I did tools first......I did upgrade my tool cart since that is loaded heavy and my cheap cart was starting to crumble.......krsc46....never thought I would have too.....but now I am organizing and even made a air tool rack that hangs off the back, to free up more space. My strickly toolboxes 56 combo is full, and I want a nice box.......but I want more tools first. But I need more room first.........hmmmmm.
As for the garage analagy..........who would buy a corvette if they didnt first have a garage to store it in? Thats dumb to me..........I keep my old rusty 98 jeep cherokee in the garage to try and slow down the body deterioration as much as I can. Gotta keep it going for another 100,000. The only thing I am worried about is it rusting away before it dying on me.
Tools are differant.
Also dont underestimate how handy a toolbox can be for organizing the garage at home. When I had room I have stored all kinds of things in my toolboxes. When my mom moves out of my house and I get my spare bedroom back I will get my reloader set up in there and I am thinking of hf toolboxes for guns and ammo storage, and maybe for my reloading bench, smaller drawers would be nice for sorting ammo, and reloading supplies. Could make a drawer for each caliber! I could certainly weigh it down enough to make it steady enough for a press.

 

[Nanashi]

I wanted to go all tools then a box and that's pretty much what i did. I had most of what you would need and then a while lot more i got offered a new box at 50% off and took it. That cut back the spending a little but at this point i have everything i need to get by. I want more but i need to pay off the depot first.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I'll tell you one thing right now, the box is not what turns the bolts nor does it diagnose the electrical issues.

I'd rather get a cheap but servicable box and spend the balance of money on tools.

I also deal hunt like a mofo and source items alternatively than the tool trucks because I pinch pennies till they scream, then I break out the vice grips and squeeze 'em a little more.

As a result, I have quality tools in a servicable box without breaking the bank.

 

[Karl_B]

I have to agree with these guys. I started out many moons ago with a Craftsman hand carry box that I loaded in my trunk at the end of the day so it didn't wander off. Before I finally bought a the Matco box I've used for the last 10 years, I had managed to fill two stacks of three Craftsman cabinets. One set was used and the other was on sale at some point. When it came down to buying more of those or one big box, I paid cash for the double bay Matco box. I think if I had to change one thing, I might've shopped for a cheaper used box. A little time with this one and I found a few things I would've looked for in a new box. I like most aspects of this one, but it has a few things I would love to change.

I would say to focus on the tools and let them point to the box you need.

 

[Big Pete]

tools, every time, for years I had a collection of cantilever boxes full of stuff. I only got a rollcab because my other half bought it for me for Xmas over a couple of years. In fact, the top box came from the tip and I refurbed it.

 

[Dave455]

Tools first! It's the tools that you need, not the box!

I see young guys starting out at a local body shop. They own next to no tools, but they are already condsidering getting into debt on some massive box! Insanity!

Buy the tools you need, and buy 'em sensibly! Use anything for storage that suits the environment you work in. May be a box, may be a wooden board with home made supports for each tool, or may be a trolley!

Better still, you're a handy bloke - build, or adapt, your own! My Grandfather used a surplus Ammunition box, bought for near nothing, and fitted it out with wooden trays! I still have it and it remains the most practical storage I own!

 

[Adam.C]

Obviously it makes sense to start with tools. But I think some of you are too quickly dismissing the value of a good toolbox. Tool boxes serve two chief functions; storage and accessibility.

The storage function protects your tools from the elements, theft, getting scraped up and subsequently rusting- all of which save money.

Accessibility is about being able to lay hands on a tool quickly, and put it away to keep tools from becoming damaged or lost. The tool box does this in a couple ways:

1) Sensible/Efficent organization - typically with lots of shallow drawers (doesn't have to look like that, but that's typical and traditional). Note that tool storage within the box is a critical component of this.

2) Move it closer to the job. Japanese efficiency experts often start here- move the tools close to the work and position the tools to avoid twisting and turning. Some boxes get so big, pros use service carts to transport tools to the repair bay. Advocates of HF boxes may be home shop users not moving a 1000+lb box over uneven floors frequently. The difference between the really good boxes and the HF are sometimes, their ability to survive frequent moves. For those of us who never move our box and open the drawers less than 100 times a week, the HF boxes seem perfectly sensible. Pros often see it different.

I think all mechanics, home shop or otherwise, would do well to think more about their tool boxes, and select them based on their real world uses and reqts for storage and accessibility. For example: If you didn't need to move your tools, you may be better off with storage that looked more like kitchen cabinets. Imagine a 10' long counter/work surface with a series of 2 shallow drawers under it then a cabinet and door under that for bulky items. I'd rather have all of my drawers waist level just like we have in our kitchens.

BTW- a new trend in european kitchens is to make kitchen cabinets that look more like toolboxes. They have a series of long drawers from the counter top down- no doors under the counter top.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Tools first and then a box only when there was no room to store the tools and the deal on the box was good (always special / promo box deals). It was 18 years working in the shop before I finally bought a box just because I wanted a new one with being out of space and it will probably be my last box.

 

[Parrothead]

All of my tools were in plastic 26" toolboxes until very recently. I purchased the famed 44" harbor freight and couldn't be happier.

 

[SASORacing]

If you can get a box in the $200 to $400 dollar range then that is just a blip in the financial radar once you have good tools. You will eventually want a decent box. But you don't need to spend even $1k+ it just needs ample storage and ball bearings.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

All of my tools were in plastic 26" toolboxes until very recently. I purchased the famed 44" harbor freight and couldn't be happier.

I was going to go with this as well, but the snap on guy showed me the box I currently have the day he got it on the truck and I had to have it. If I need another box, I'll probably pick up the HF 56 or something for additional storage.

 

[BFHtime]

I have been using a 4 drawer craftsman rally box, (it has a more durable rough finish than regular paint, maybe powder coat). I put about 200 lbs of tools in there. I would bring this box everywhere and never leave it behind. But due to it continuing to get heavier and harder to put the tools back in, like a 3d Rubik's cube, also having to take out a few tools to get what was in the bottom of a drawer, became time consuming. I probably have over 2k retail In that little box, probably more.

After starting a big project, I knew I would be wasting a lot of time with that box, and bending down to the ground all the time. So I bought a cheap $50 Waterloo cart, with 5 drawers, then set the 4drawer tool box on top. This has been doing well, much better than before and my tools are not cramped so I can get tools much quicker in and out of the box. I have several other hand carry boxes, bit I think his is the best way for a tight budget. Start with a multi-drawer portable box, then when the time comes put it on a cart with drawers.

I plan on getting a krl1056 next so I will have a box that can be moved easily like a cart, (small car). It would be big for a cart, but will be my main box, until I outgrow it, which may not happen. Have a plan, look at different box designs to see what may work best for you. I prefer flexibility with things, so I could change the lay out or use something for another purpose. If you have a plan you can start keeping your eye out for that deal when it comes by. Good luck.

 

[tjmonsen5]

I went tools before box, but I'm just a home tinkerer. I think you need a decent box early in your career for a place to work on top of, and a place lock your tools up safely at night. I'm not talking about buying an Epiq during your first year, but something like a krsc46 cart is a great value and sturdy toolbox for a starter tech.

 

[JKady]

Also you can get a sub $200 roll cart tool box, HF has a nice red one with gas shocks. Highly recommended. For the money it holds a lot of tools and will keep your stuff clean and locked up.

I know a couple ASE master/L1 techs that use those carts and are very happy.

I started with a 40" craftsman top/bottom set and a 1 drawer roll cart (the cart was given to me by a co-worker who was tired of seeing me set my tools on the ground while working since I didn't have a cart and my box was too tall to fit under a car. I started packing both full of quality tools as often as I could. I immediately ran out of room on the cart and my Snap-On rep had just reposessed a KRSC40 so I went from 1 drawer blue point cart to a 40" mobile work station that dwarfed my roll-cab.

I kept the craftsman set for a few years, moved into a KRL722 this spring. Part of the reason for the upgrade was to get deeper/wider drawers. The Craftsman box had plenty, but they were all too shallow or too narrow to fit things I wanted in my stationary box.

Adam C. hit the nail on the head about organization and accessability. I seldom stack tools on top of other tools now, especially not in my cart. My big box has cases stacked on cases. but they're organized by how often they're used. And even with the new bigger box I've got a craftsman side locker sitting on top for bulkier items and a small Kennedy box for hardware and misc supplies.

 

[crewchief888]

i started out wrenching with a decent sized set of SK tools that belonged to my dad, and a few assorted CM pieces thrown into the mix, as well as a set of kennedy mechanics boxes.

the boxes soon ran out of room,
over the next couple years, i added a side box, as well as a couple of 3 drawer mid boxes, and was soon out of room again.

i kept the side box and traded the rest for a brand new kr550/555b in '86, added the matching side box to it in ''87

as used/trade in "deals" came up, i grabbed what i needed.

i added a 90th aniversary harley/snapon set to keep at home,
as well as a small(ish) vintage CM top, and a vintage plvmb top.

tool "collection" has grown over the years, main working tools are pretty well set, i keep adding tools and equipment to the garage.

i just moved the kr550/555b from the shop back to my house this week, and havent found a place for it in the garage right now.

you dont have to have every tool, and the biggest tool box just starting out.
i started buying my machinists tools/boxes in '76 when i was in HS,
switched jobs in '84 to start working on const equipment.

i'll never need to buy another toolbox....

 

[jethro29]

tools first always,they will make you the money to buy the box.

 

[cg81]

I started with a complete craftsman tool set, 1041 piece hand tool set I think. I also got the craftsman complete impact socket set, and all craftsman air tools. I put them in a 40" craftsman top and bottom box. I bought it from the craftsman industrial catalog with my student discount. As I began my new career as a mechanic I kept buying tools and got into the truck brands. The air tools quickly got upgraded with professional units. As my box got filled up I added on twice, a side cabinet and a locker. As that was full a deal on a 6 month old snap on krl1003 came along and I traded the craftsman off for the snap on. I only paid cash or debt card for everything and did it without tool debt. It is key to start out with an inexpensive box that can be added onto cheaply when you are starting out. The box I started out with was like the hf44, ot just cost more to expand.

 

[SS5150]

Tools are more important, but also consider that they will need to be secure in whatever box it is your working out of. Losing a bunch of stuff because someone cherry picks through your drawers would be a real bad day.

I started with an old Craftsman roller that my Dad worked out of in the 60s-70s. Then I got a Cman 40" ball bearing roller. That turned into a used Mac Tech 1000, to a Macsimizer (new at about 1/2 price) finally to my 84" epiq I have now.

 

[AndrewV]

I did both. But in retrospect the nice boxes, do what the cheap boxes do. Sit there(in my case, i have a cart), and don't make me money.

But i did both, had tools, from when i worked in my uncles body shop. High grade stanley stuff from the 80`s he gave me. Got a mid grade SO box, and upgraded tools as i needed. Now i want to trade my boxes for cheaper ones, why have 3-5k in boxes, when i have to go get specialty **** from them, across the shop. Makes no sense to have 300lb drawer slides, for c clamps, compression testers, power probe and so on.
But i do need heavy drawers for my 3/4, and 1" sockets and impacts, so one spot the higher end boxes shine on.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Just wondering how you guys did it. Did you buy quality tools before a quality box, or visa versa? When I started working on cars I had a roll of wrenches and that was it. Borrowed a cart that was the shops and laid them out. Little by little I filled the cart. My boss moved me between to shops so I kept my tools to a minimum, nothing I didn't need. When I left that shop I worked out of my garage and my tool collection grew quickly. I bought the best I could afford from the beginning. I built a shelf in my garage and put my hand tools on it. It was maybe 10' long. Below that I had a few Rubbermaid containers to hold electronics and larger tools, as well as supplies. Once I had my tool collection to where I was comfortable, I bought a box. A snap on KRSC43. Bought some more tools, paid the box off. Now here I sit. Looking at buying more tools. I'll tell you what, for the "smaller" size of the box, I organized it very we'll and removed most items from their boxes. Surprisingly I still have a lot of room, and I have many tools. Do you guys feel a quality box is more important with a few tools, or build your collection and buy a good box after?

Tools before bag. Bag before box. Box before chest.

Hey man, if you want to store your tools in cardboard boxes the bolts won't judge you. You'll just need to replace them more often.

It's always nice to have blow molded cases though but that means you have to buy sets instead of indies (unless it's specialty).

 

[fordcragar]

When I started out in a flat rate body shop over 45 years ago, I had a nice Craftsman roll-away and top box. Then I filled it up with tools. A few years later, I bought a Cornwell roll-away, middle and top box then took the Craftsman boxes home; which I still have all of them. One of the things that cracked me up was some of the guys that I worked with over the years that had the nice expensive big Snap tool box, with nothing in it. They were always borrowing tools to do their work.

 

[ZRX61]

Tools first & then buy an ever increasing number of toolboxes to hold them all. I currently have FIVE drawers of just hammers spread across 3 of my 7 rollaways & there are a handful of homeless hammers sitting on the workbench as there is no room for them in any of the boxes..

 

[Polski-Chevy]

Tools then storage.

I never understood the cart before the horse approach, but give it a month a young tech will be asking on here what oversized and overpriced box to buy from his school for the 23 piece tool set his parents bought.

 

[shockwave]

Start with a cheap tool Cart with decent tools

 

[zkling]

Tools before box*. I started buying tools when I was around 10 or 11. I really felt special when I got the craftsman pro drivers over the basic handle ones. My 1st box was a 3 drawer, really portable box, still have it. Bottom was a project center (flimsy, but it worked). Today I think there are alot more lower end options for tool storage compared to 10+ years ago. Ex. Harbor Freight, Menards.

*I buy primarily used these days due to budget/quality constraints and thus I upgrade things as the opportunity presents itself. At one point in time I'm fairly certain I owned more snap on boxes than snap on tools.

i'll never need to buy another toolbox....