To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

When is big too big? (ebay)

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Fedwrench

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2007
Messages
14,958
Location
Valley of the sun
I would say that set up is too big for alot of shops. I was also scared to open this thread since it was you asking when big was too big. :bowdown:
 

rsanter

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
18,523
Location
visalia ca
I would also rather have 2 boxes than that single unit.
too bit is then it gets unreasonable to move it

bob
 

back2class

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
2,723
Yeah, I see no reason either. Two smaller boxes would have every advantage and no downside. Kind of like ATV's I think. Back in the 80's they were plenty big enough (I never squased one or felt underpowered) but now they are dwarfed by these giant things that will kill you when they roll over on you and cost as much as a car. Just stupidity of mine is bigger American idiot culture!
 

trythis

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 6, 2009
Messages
348
Location
st louis
what do you do with a 1000 pound box if your floor isnt level? How do you push it uphill? So they come with a motor?
 

wellstig1

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Messages
308
Location
Torrance, Ca
That's the deal with a lot of those big boxes, the guys that have them often can't fix a sandwich:lol:


Yeah, but nothing is worse that when some turd is working out of some rickety little box and no tools and doesn't know ****, but then think that they are an awesome mechanic. I've got a few of these that I work with. They just try and borrow everybody's tools and never buy any. The sad thing is that they have more "experience" than me. and having been wrenching it much longer than I have, yet they are terrible.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

TAftw

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
1,727
Location
MA
There's a guy at my work who has a box as big as that eBay one. He's an excellent tech, and buying tools is his thing. He's getting Mr. Big for himself as a Christmas present.
 
Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
15
Location
New Market, TN
My box is pretty big not that big thou. I keep mine stationary as it is hard to get it threw the shop. I have a roll around kart that I use put all of my tools on it that I need for the job. It saves me trips back and forth to my box.
 

35mastr

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
2,534
Location
Norcal
I prefer the bigger boxes as I like to keep all my tools in one spot. I also dont move my boxes around.

I have always worked out of a mobile cart.
 

Danglerb

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
9,736
Location
SoCal
I can see it if you need to keep 100% of your tools in your box, as in the shop provides nothing, none of the larger infrequently used tools even.

Or maybe if you work in a shop the specializes in Foreign, Domestic, and Locomotive.
 

kiall1987

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 22, 2008
Messages
216
Location
Scotland , ununited kingdom
I can see it if you need to keep 100% of your tools in your box, as in the shop provides nothing, none of the larger infrequently used tools even.

Or maybe if you work in a shop the specializes in Foreign, Domestic, and Locomotive.

Also depends on how you lay out yours tools ie ,I have two sets od 30mm-55mm spanners and they all layout flat , which does take alot of room but you can straight away see what's missing

Plus most occasion your going to have doubles aswell
 

fatfillup

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 17, 2009
Messages
10,334
Location
Finksburg, Md
I think that setup is too big for 99.9% of the people on here! :shocking:

I think a high percentage of the folks on here would love to have a box like that,,,,,,,,,,and a garage big enough to hold it and their projects,,,,,,,,,,,,and the $'s to support all their habits.

I could of had all that,,,,,,,,,,,,but the wife and kids cost more than I budgeted for:lol_hitti
 

gonzoengineer

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 29, 2009
Messages
59
Location
Groveland, FL
That is far too big for me, but I do love the way it looks!

I'm like you, I'd prefer to have multiple smaller boxes, spreading my tools out to their specific areas of use as opposed to one central hub with EVERYTHING tucked away. That isn't too say I wouldn't happily accept it, fill it with tools and wipe it down every night with a baby diaper.
 

Jononon

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Messages
1,636
what do you do with a 1000 pound box if your floor isnt level? How do you push it uphill? So they come with a motor?
324692toyotaaircrafttow.jpg

?
 

Skyline

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
3,586
I realy don't see how a professional tech can get away with too much less unless:
-The shop provides all diagnostic tool and specialty tools
-You have seperate storage like a locker or cabinets for all the tools that come in cases.

I am a home hobbyist, and have a double bank and locker, mostly full. While I have almost all the hand and air tools a pro tech would need, I have very few specialty tools. My locker is full of tools that come in cases, like compression testers, coolant pressure testers, etc.

I could easily see needing 50% more room if for example I needed to also have specialty tools for a particular brand. And what if the shop did all German Marques?

A double bank with top box really is only adequate if the shop provides all the specialty and diagnostic tools. I have a friend who's taking over a BMW/Mercedes shop Jan 2. He just went from a single bank SO to a double bank with top. But the previous owner has a tripple bank that he will leave for a while. But all the boxed tools are on shelves. When the previous owner moves out, he will need something like this quad bank, as his will be the "master" set for the shop. If you are the shop owner who must provide all the specialty tools and diagnostic tools for your techs, big boxes are a must.
 

Joe69

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2009
Messages
2,371
Location
Muncie, Indiana
We recently had our company party in our shop. We have to empty out the shop for it, and it took 2 of us to move my box, and it's nearly empty because most of my tools are in my service truck 9 months a year. Before I added the side locker, I could handle it by myself. I've never moved it when it was full.

Toolbox.jpg


Joe
 

35mastr

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
2,534
Location
Norcal
The part that I am having a hard time with as most say. They dont have the room for a large box. Then you see a pic of there shop with 3 and 4 small boxes in it.

All of those boxes lined up would equal one large box.
 

Danglerb

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
9,736
Location
SoCal
Smaller boxes you can shuffle around to allow space where you need it and in the shape you need. You can also buy and sell smaller boxes to suit your immediate needs.

I am pretty sure most BIG boxes are wants and not needs. For most people a couple of large cabinets, typical cheap garage storage, will work just fine if not better. Lots of my stuff will be going into plastic storage bins and stacked on shelves.
 

Chris Adams

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 21, 2007
Messages
2,117
I would take that box, if it was cheap. Of course, who wouldn't...

Still, in my situation a big box would work better than the four combos I have now.
I would never have to move it, and even if you did, a ton rolls pretty easy on a flat floor.


That box would actually save me floor space, as I'm sure it would hold as many tools as what I have now;
<a href="http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj121/Chris_Adams/?action=view&current=_DSC1132USGENallunits.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj121/Chris_Adams/_DSC1132USGENallunits.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>




A good place for a box that big would be a shop where most the tools are shop owned. I've seen a couple shops like that, where all the tools belonged to the owner, who was also a mechanic. No private tools means no tool arguments and the boss knows the right tools are used every time.

Or at least, that's the way the guys explained it to me when I asked about it.
Both those shops had triple banks with chests on top.

Interestingly, both were primarily German car shops, with German owners.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom