When is it time to move to a Toolbox?

[RCS1300]

I am right on the fence and need a push or not.

When did you know it was time to move to a stationary big tool box from plastic portable toolboxes?

My story. Been accumulating tools of mostly high quality over the past two years. Presently, they are housed in individual portable plastic boxes -- three 28" long plastic Stanley Fatmax toolboxes, one Waterloo 23" plastic toolbox, and 5 separate plastic cased ratchet sets, a tap and die set, and a torx set. Plus, five different cordless impact wrenches and several diagnostic tools - injector pulse tester, fluke multimeters, compression tester, oil pressure tester, fuel pressure tester, power probe, a/c gauge set, etc. I carry a sub-set of them from the walk out basement to the garage every time I have to work on my vehicles - about 1x every two months.

 

[bikesandcars]

When you are asking it's time

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[ratdoggy]

Just about the time you ask yourself that question....
Lots of people on here rave about the Harbor Freight ones

 

[ratdoggy]

When you are asking it's time

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Damn I was too slow

 

[willbrown82]

When I exceeded the capacity of the blow mold case the socket set came in and a single portable box. I started out with a cheap stack found on clearance at lowes. I added on and then upgraded boxes as my tools accumulated. I still keep a portable around for when I need to work on someones car away from my house.

 

[bikesandcars]

Damn I was too slow [emoji481]

Haha!

My favorite setup is a rolling tool cart with drawers for standard basics, I bring it to my work. I use a bigger roller chest for storing less used tools, and a rolling cabinet for specialty items like auto diagnostic tools.

 

[matt_i]

Unless your work is mostly offsite, then its high time to get one.

If certain tools have their own blow-molded cases then that drives a different set of shelves or cabinets with larger openings....like kitchen cabinets or metal cabinets with 1 or 2 doors and shelves inside.

 

[ez-duzit]

For the tools that are normally used in the shop, first get a rollaway base cabinet; then a top chest. For those tools that will often be used away from the shop, I have found that tool bags are very handy. Specialty tools may require a machinist's chest. Others may require a lrge drawer or open shelf for storage.

 

[crewchief888]

all depends on if you have room for a (set of) toolboxes...

personally,
for at home use,

i'd start with a HF 44 bottom and a full size locker for larger blow molded cases.

or depending on your local market, you may be able to grab a truck branded box off CL for a reasonable price, but overall it's hard to beat the HF 44" for the price.

seems like every time i've bought a toolbox, it quickly got filled, and i was looking for more.

if a storage space for the boxes just isnt available, then i'd hold off buying anything until you have the room.

 

[bikesandcars]

http://m.harborfreight.com/30-in-5-drawer-glossy-red-tool-cart-61427.html

This is super handy. Roller bottoms are hard to move, this little guy houses my screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, sockets and hammers.

I use home depot bucket tool bags for carpenter and electrical, as I just bring them to the problem.

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[ez-duzit]

http://m.harborfreight.com/30-in-5-drawer-glossy-red-tool-cart-61427.html

This is super handy...

Top heavy.

 

[bikesandcars]

Top heavy.

? Never tipped over on me if that's a concern, It may be, but it's stable

Handy

 

[mbatarga]

Top heavy.

You just don't have enough tools in other cases and boxes in the bottom tray!

 

[TractorJeff]

You going to store this in the Garage or the Walk-Out Basement?
Not that it matters much.
Anyways, its time to buy one when you can afford it!
There is a Thread on here of a systematic inspection of toolboxes rating there quality.
As much as posters slam HF, it is the US General boxes that won the highest scores in strength and quality!
(No, I don't own a US General but I probably would if someone offered to buy all my old boxes)

 

[a52-830]

everyone loves the hf44, and it is certainly a nice box.

if, however, you are collecting "high quality" tools, you will likely want something equalivent for storing them.

recent "truck" boxes tend to be expensive on places like craigslist, but deals can be found on 1990's vintage and earlier boxes. the sizes that were popular then are not as popular now, which is why the prices are lower.

get what makes you happy. take care to figure out how you intend to store your tools, so that the box you end up with will hold them all. if you intend to keep them in the cases you bought them in, you will likely need deeper drawers, as an example.

good luck.

 

[csp]

if, however, you are collecting "high quality" tools, you will likely want something equalivent for storing them.

None of my Snap On, Mac, Cornwell or OTC tools have any idea that they are stored in the 41" HF boxes.

 

[Firebrick43]

I am right on the fence and need a push or not.

When did you know it was time to move to a stationary big tool box from plastic portable toolboxes?

My story. Been accumulating tools of mostly high quality over the past two years. Presently, they are housed in individual portable plastic boxes -- three 28" long plastic Stanley Fatmax toolboxes, one Waterloo 23" plastic toolbox, and 5 separate plastic cased ratchet sets, a tap and die set, and a torx set. Plus, five different cordless impact wrenches and several diagnostic tools - injector pulse tester, fluke multimeters, compression tester, oil pressure tester, fuel pressure tester, power probe, a/c gauge set, etc. I carry a sub-set of them from the walk out basement to the garage every time I have to work on my vehicles - about 1x every two months.

Wow, I cant think of not owning a tool box. Owned one ever since I owned tools. I will say even 26" boxes are ok. In fact I some times wish I had 2 or even 3 26" units, but other times I am ok with my odd box. Its a snappy but only because the price was right. its actually a "work station" 36 x 36 x 42 tall.

I personally have gotten most all the specialized tools out of my box. I bought a bunch of small 17" plastic craftsman boxes

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-17inch-compact-truck-box/p-00965117000P?sid=I0084400010000100600&aff=Y&PID=4150373&AID=11042411&utm_medium=3151135_4150373_11042411

I place a compression tester or two in one, a couple of specialized pullers in another and so on. They stack on a shelf and are labeled for easy identification. Cleans things up greatly out of the main box. only the DVM remains in the box.

I have also bought several standard plastic tote boxes, one for copper pipe soldering, one for pex, one for house wiring, one for 12v auto wiring tools and so on. a sortainer matches with consumables. That way most everything for the job can be carried out in one trip saving much walking.

All my OTC pullers, slide hammer sets, body hammers, and ect along with power tools stay in their blow molded cases on the shelf. I typically wont buy a power tool any more unless it comes in a good case.

 

[jd_1138]

The main advantage of a stationary tool box is that you can place the tools in nice orderly fashion from small to large, so it makes finding tools much, much easier. And you can have a drawer for pliers, channellocks, vise grips, etc., and one for screwdrivers and separate into Phillips and slotted.

I'd maybe start with one of those 4 or 5 drawer rolling tool carts from HF for $99 with coupon. That'd go a long way to getting your tools organized. And in the future, it makes a great secondary box if you get a larger stationary box.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I have 2 triple stack boxes. I bought the 1st box, used, it was a top box, with tools. As I filled it, I bought a base cabinet. Then a middle box. At this point, I thought I had plenty of storage. Another triple stack later, I am contemplating more tool storage.

Your tools will continue to expand for the rest of your natural life

 

[jd_1138]

Your tools will continue to expand for the rest of your natural life

Also, once we get fitted with our cybernetic bodies, we'll still need tools -- newer and more advanced ones.

 

[RVDan]

Every kid I'm related to gets a small roller cabinet as their first tool box, avoiding the carry along right from the start.

 

[darwyn]

This is like going to crackheads.com and asking when it's time to start doing drugs!

 

[BDT/NWMN]

56" General should work well for your needs..

 

[larry_g]

I am right on the fence and need a push or not.

When did you know it was time to move to a stationary big tool box from plastic portable toolboxes?

My story. Been accumulating tools of mostly high quality over the past two years. Presently, they are housed in individual portable plastic boxes -- three 28" long plastic Stanley Fatmax toolboxes, one Waterloo 23" plastic toolbox, and 5 separate plastic cased ratchet sets, a tap and die set, and a torx set. Plus, five different cordless impact wrenches and several diagnostic tools - injector pulse tester, fluke multimeters, compression tester, oil pressure tester, fuel pressure tester, power probe, a/c gauge set, etc. I carry a sub-set of them from the walk out basement to the garage every time I have to work on my vehicles - about 1x every two months.

So 6x per year you use tools? Or do you do most of your work in the basement and rarely on the garage?

Where do you plan to store this new big box? In the basement or in the garage? If it is in the basement then you will have to move the tools into smaller boxes to move to the garage, unless you have a path to roll the new box full of tools. Seems a bit of a hassle to me. I know because it is a hassle for me.

I have two sides to my shop and tools on both sides and the tools I seem to need is on the other side. I have migrated back to some smaller boxes that are set to be job specific, electrical, plumbing, general house repair. Quick to grab and go. The big boxes stay in the shop where work is brought to them.

Don't be to quick to tie all your tools down in one spot.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[mmb617]

I found it easier to have a roll away in the garage with most of the tools mainly used for automotive repair and two separate tool boxes I can grab and take in the house as needed, one with electrical tools and one with plumbing tools.

This results in sometimes having more than one of the exact same tool, but who said that was a bad thing? In a lot of cases the tools used for home electrical and plumbing are different from each other and from those use for car repair so it just seems easier to keep them separated.

Maybe I'm the oddball but I like knowing that if I need to replace let's say a light switch I can grab the electrical tool box and most likely have all the tools and spare wire nuts, boxes and such that I'll need all in one place. Sometimes I can make the repair without even needing a parts store run!

I didn't have a roll away for a long time till our son, who is an auto tech, upgraded his work box and brought his old box home for the garage. Now I can't imagine not having it as it makes finding what you need so easy with no rummaging around.

 

[bucktruck]

I'm actually wondering why this is even a question. Yes, you need rollaways and yes, you need top boxes to go on said rollaways. You also need portable boxes. Sometimes, the portable boxes will have duplicate tools.

This is my current garage setup. These boxes in no way contain all of my tools. Currently looking to buy one of these to augment the two that I have:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-41-i...SellerId=Sears&prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

Yup. I'm a bit of a junkie

 

[Richard Cranium]

If you have room just get the 72 inch harbor freight. Save your self some money and get the one you will need in the next few years.

 

[brownbagg]

when you stop keeping your tools in the car

 

[Tonellin]

Can't go wrong with HF red cart

 

[Rickster]

I would start searching craigslist for a used Snap-on box with ball bearing sliders. Spend some money now and you'll have it forever. As far as those blow mold boxes, tools go in drawers. Put those plastic cases where they belong... in the recycle bin.

 

[Hobbit]

I never considered portable boxes. I have had a rolling cabinet of some configuration or other since I was eighteen. Tool bags & rolls for the autos. My dad always had an old craftsman box and I hated digging for tools during my gofer days.