What to do with all those tool boxes?

[Rickstir]

Got my first tool chest. Homar 2-piece professional model, 27 inches wide. Love it. But as I fill it up and sort out tools I am starting to empty a few assorted tool boxes. I have one in the tool box on my pick up. One over in the barn where my tractor is. SWMBO has her own Craftsman chest down in the garage at the house. I now have 4 or 5 orphan boxes. What do you all do with the extras from centalizing your tools?

 

[Mickey O]

Get one big box, send all vintage boxes to me.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Keep the best of them or the ones with sentimental value and sell the rest on Craigslist!

Keep the cash (small though it may be) in a separate "fun money" kitty. Use this on your toys, garage, or occasionally when you want to surprise the wife with a dinner out or something. I have always done this and when I sell misc parts, tools, etc I sorta "hide it" from myself. From my regualr budgeted money. It's sorta fun to build it up for a purchase of soemthing you've always wanted.

 

[rsanter]

I use some of my older boxes as bolt bins and small parts storage

bob

 

[JSBriggs]

I used a simple one (basic box and tray, no drawers) for my kids cars. Makes it portable for taking on family trips etc.

-Jeff

 

[tatra]

drill accessory kit box, grinder accs., etc.............

 

[Crusty Nut]

That is a good use for a small tool box. Looks like our kids have lots of the same cars. How many times do you think you've seen Cars movie? I bet I'm up to 40-50.

 

[Costner]

I actually gave most of mine away, but I kept all my soft sided bags for power tools. One holds my dremels and all the attachments. Another holds my reciprocating saw and blades. Another holds my angle grinder with spare wheels and removal tool etc, etc.

I even have one full of assorted hand tools that I keep in my desk at work, and it is easy to take it out for a job since everything is right where I need it.

I know one of my older tool boxes found it's way onto the fender of my father's tractor. He drilled a couple of holes and bolted it down - and now he always has a few basic tools for those times when you really need them. You could always put together a basic kit for your trunk or if you have a camper - build a basic kit for it so you always have what you need at the campsite.

There are tons of options. If all else fails - there is always the option to donate them or pass them on to family or friends who have fewer tools than you do.

 

[1Garageman]

red-neck duct tape'em together into one big tool box!

 

[Mark-in-NH]

Like some have already mentioned, I to have used many of my extra tool boxs for many smaller items like putting al my box's of various screws and nails in one, I have another small one for the boxs of wall anchors etc.
I have a few boxs with specialty tools that don't get used often. one box for all my plumbing tools, fittings etc. A box for all my misc. air tools, extra fitting and tire guages atc. Another for all my rolls of tape and glues, hot glue gun etc. Another for my Remington stud gun and acces.
I also use old tackle boxs for with all the little compartments for lose screw, nuts, bolts washer, wire nuts etc.

 

[ranunculous]

"Twist,Tap,Turn" and everything in between...
My credo.

 

[crewchief888]

i'm currently "downsizing" from a rented 35x45 shop back into my 19x22 garage. hardest part for me, aside from moving 3 truck/trailer loads of tools and parts, was having to condense tools from 4 sets of boxes into the 2 sets i have room for. i ended up moving 2 sets of empty boxes down into my basement for storage, along with several small tool stands and roller stands.
personally nowadays i have trouble getting rid of the stuff ive worked 25+ years to get. i know if i sell off stuff i dont really have room for, i'll probably never replace it. plans are in 2-4 years of building a 3 1/2 car wide 30'-35' deep garage in back of my existing garage, and then demo the old garage.
ive been buying tools for 35 years or so, been a construction eq tech for 25 years. the last 2 boxes i sold to a young mechanic,that ran out of space, and i kick myself every time i think about it. i cant replace those boxes for what i sold them for, let alone what I paid for them:tard:

 

[PassnThru]

Don't forget that you need at least one portable box (maybe even two) to load up for those projects at friend's - inlaw's - parent's - sibling's - coworker's - kid's - etc. houses. Also, if you have a detached garage then a portable box is great for keeping most often used duplicate tools up at the house. And don't forget the shed - could probably use one in there.

 

[adam728]

My one box that is just a box with a tool tray ended up in the truck with a tow strap, jumper cables, compressor, tire repair kit, first aid kit, flashlight, etc etc.

One small Craftsman box now houses all bicycle tools and small parts.

One small Craftsman box now houses all motorcycle specific tools and is easily thown in the trailer when I go on rides.

Two other small plastic boxes ended up, uh, somewhere. I think one is empty in my dad's garage, and the other one he uses for chainsaw stuff.

 

[Shocker]

I use some of my older boxes as bolt bins and small parts storage

bob

That is a great idea Bob. I never thought of that at all. Thanks for that. It was like a light going on in the dark. I feel so dense.

 

[thomask]

Great post, sure are a lot of good ideas out there.

Old tool boxes work great for organizing parts and other items into their own separate spaces. For around the house repairs you could have a plumbing box, an electrical box and a carpentry box. etc, etc.

Anytime you can put like objects together it helps the clutter and helps you locate stuff vs looking everywhere. I have also used those plastic see through tackle boxes for small items.

 

[Joe69]

I have several small boxes, and I filled them up with various extra hand tools. I now have a toolbox in every vehicle except my wife's. I never drive it, and she wouldn't know how to fix it.

Joe

 

[larry4406]

Assuming you also do work around the house, set the tool boxes up by trade: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, handy-man, etc. Having a quick "go-to" box for small stuff around the house is good.

 

[E.Marquez]

My smaller hand portable boxes are used for power tool "kits" sawzall and all blades.. Another for a blind bearing puller and all the attachments, another for all my soldiering gear.
My old top box and rollaway now hold most of my metal working tools and some "house repair " tools

 

[XFV8_pano]

i bought a lot of metal tool boxes at a clearance sale. they were all blue. i needed a way to differentiate what was in them. so i bought a roll of tape which is white on one side and magnetic on the other. now i ca se e the ends of all the tool boxes lined up with my scribblings about the contents on the end.