Your first toolbox.

[Mikeske]

Yeah, it looks like I grabbed a few "bathroom drawer" pulls and took care of a problem some time ago. Probably won't pull off that sticker for now, part of the patina. Maybe someday I'll fix it up, but she is still proudly serving the garage after all these years.

Yeah don't touch it if you like it that way. I removed all the stickers as they were in really bad shape and cleaned mine up. I am not going to do anything else as the "patina" is its earned battle scars and I like it that as a reminder of the service it has given me over the last 45 years.

My toolbox was also hit by a forklift and she does not sit straight as it has a warped bottom it kind of sort of rocks on its bottom and I do not intend to repair that also. One of the latches broke years ago and no intention of repair for that also. Checking on the Sears parts website I can get a replacement for that but I might order it just have it.

 

[hoston23]

my dad got me my first tool box, it was one of those little black toolboxes from a john deere tractor, i still have it somewhere, i mainly used to to carry my john deere tractors around in, i mean i was 5, but now i have a big yellow and black snap on epiq 84" and i work for John Deere, so I technically made full circle lol

 

[dalehsc]

Dad gave me the top 6 drawer beach when I started.......I'm not sure but I think when I graduated High School in 1979. I bought the bottom roll cabinet while I was going to trade school around "81 or "82. The 2 drawer i bought several years later,to complete the set. All Beach. The top two I'm sure came from our local NAPA. The bottom from K-Mart. Still in use,but as a "back up" box in my old shop.

BTW, Dad had the same top 6 drawer,I still have it,as well !!

 

[McFarmer]

Here's a tip for you young dads, from an old grampa that finally learned something.

When my grandson started wanting to "help" in the shop at about age three I got an old box cleaned out, went through my tools and put those that weren't used in it, sat it on the floor and told him those where his. He could use them anytime he wanted.

I still make him put them back so he knows where they are when he needs them but if one comes up missing it's no big deal, he just doesn't have that tool anymore. So far I haven't ruined a tire on anything from a screwdriver in the grass.

He does wonder why mine are so shiny and his look the way they do.

 

[Brent T]

Old thread I know, but I thought it was worth reviving. I was going to start a new one but realized someone probably had already done this. Anyway, I've been cleaning / organizing the garage the past couple weeks and realized I still have the first toolbox I ever owned. My dad gave it to me for Christmas when I was 7 or 8 years old back in the early '70's. He loaded it up with a set of combination wrenches, a 3/8" drive S-K ratchet and socket set (which I still have), a set of taps, a pair of pliers and a few screwdrivers. I was thrilled. Dad was raised poor on a farm and had to learn how to keep things running. He instilled in me that even though we were better off than he was as a kid (we lived in a double-wide mobile home with a 24x24 shop next to it), I still needed to know how to fix stuff so I didn't have to pay someone to do it for me. I now live a pretty good life in a nice neighborhood. My son goes to a pretty expensive private school. Even now, I intentionally have him fix things with me instead of paying to have it done. I want him to understand that it's important to "know stuff" rather than just pay / depend on others to fix it for you. A couple months ago, we replaced the clutch in his first car rather than have a shop do it. It saved him a ton of $$ and also he learned a lot about his car. It was a great father / son time for us as well. Anyway, here's a couple pics of my first toolbox, including all the cool decals I stuck all over it back in the day. I got this about 1972 / 1973.

 

[bdbecker]

My Dad gave me this for Christmas when I started getting into wrenching. She's going to be moved indoors and will serve as my gun toolbox as soon as I get my office setup.

View media item 88467

 

[Citation]

My first box was a small Plano box with a tray and some tools my grandmother gave me. Basic pliers, soldering kit, I'm not sure what else. I still have the pliers and the box. It's currently a random electronics box. My first "real" box as a Kennedy my Dad gave me. It's a small machinist box he was no longer using. Still have it as well. I'm hoping that in the next year or so I'll be able to sort and organize my various boxes as I'm not using them wisely. I want the Kennedy to be a dedicated fine work/electronics box. I've got other boxes for garage tools. Nothing to impress people around here but this isn't how I make my living.

 

[Bluejoe]

Ok my first was a two drawer red Craftsman with a set of tools in 1973. After cutting a few Lawn’s for two years I purchased a smaller Mac roll cabinet combination. I purchased Mac, Snapon and SK tools. I still have all of them today.

 

[Evan(CA)]

My Dad gave me this for Christmas when I started getting into wrenching. She's going to be moved indoors and will serve as my gun toolbox as soon as I get my office setup.

View media item 88467

My first box was almost identical. 299pc set I think. Then fell into a snap on KRA Heritage series and off I went to multiple boxes and carts now.

 

[AngryBeaver]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=377863&highlight=tool+box

just got mine back last year....... it has not been redone....

 

[Rickster]

I was about 16 years old. Bought a two drawer Craftsman Ralley Box from Sears. The black wrinkle finish one with the woodgrain drawers and top panel. Still have it out in the garage!!

 

[jvitez]

Grade 8 Industrial arts was metal working. I thought it was way cool to have NG powered soldering irons and to be able to use a spot welder. With each project we had to do a proper technical drawing so I learned basic drafting, and yes it was on an easel with pencil, paper and T-square. Then we could make the project.

I decided I was going to make a practical object I could use for a long time, so I made a hand carry tool box. It was bent sheet metal with piano hinge and hand rolled handle. I made sure that hinge was never going to let go. I still remember my teacher yelling across the room that I was going to burn through the metal.

I put all my effort into making it got an A, and proudly put a few old screwdrivers and pliers my Dad gave me into it.

Fast forward about 10 years, Dad has passed away, Mom has given me his go-to-work car which was a 1978 Ford Fiesta. I'm finished doing something to the front suspension, can't remember what exactly. I put my tools away into that tool box, get in the Fiesta and start to back up. CRUNCH! I back over it. After a bunch of choice words I'm almost in tears. It's not quite a pancake but not far off. I tried bending it straight: nope.

Lesson learned. I've never backed over anything since.

 

[JJ99SS]

Mine is a Craftsman like the one in post #49, only 3 drawers. I had that sucker stuffed. Now I have 5 boxes almost stuffed. I'll get my son one soon, or give him my first one, he's 5.

 

[langss]

My first tool box was a wooden fruit box(peaches I think). My first tools were all bought with Blue Chip Stamps and S&H Green Stamps. Husky Sockets and Barcalo Open End Wrenches. They were handed down to me by my Father. I still have all of them that didn't fail. He bought a lot of off brand and GI surplus, to supplement what he did not have. When I got out of the service, I bought a Kennedy Dog House Tool Box. Over the years I made a lot of money with those humble beginnings.

 

[TrailHawkZ71]

My first box was a Harbor Freight 44" with side box. Still have it. Lock mechanism got fubar'd working in a shop environment, but since it's at jome full-time don't gotta worry about that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[2000-cvpi]

My first box was the run of the mill craftsman gray hand box. My dad took me down to Sears when I got my first car to get what “ tools that every man should have”. I’ve still got the box, and almost all of the tools.

My son was digging around the garage when he was eight (he’s 11 now) and fell in love with my great uncles Kennedy top chest. It’s his now and he has four generations of tools in it. Together we find what he needs at estate sales, garage sales to fill the box.

 

[bugnut]

+1 to Richard Cranium and the Kennedy box. Later replaced when a mentor retired and gifted me his Gerstner....

 

[4 FN 27]

My Mom gave me my first Tool Box for my 16th birthday. Nice Craftsman Set in a Craftsman Box with 2 Drawers in it. My ol'Man decided one day when I was about 10 to lock his box up on me. All happened because he we trying to wire a Snowmobile Trailer to his new Mercury Station Wagon. He had no clue what he was doing.

So he got pissed off after teaching us kids every swear word available to man and went into the house. I started wiring it putting the pieces of the puzzle together after playing with my Radio Shack 101 Electronics Kit for about a year. As I was testing the Brake Lights by jamming a hammer between the floor and the brake pedal to activate them he caught me. Pulled me out of the car and said never again am I to touch his tools.

Everything was working and all he had to do was finish taping the wires. From them on his box was locked.

That was how the ol'Man handled things...I don't blame him, he did the best he could with what he had at the time. He was raised in a dysfunctional family.

I started using the neighbors tools to fix our bikes and take care of a few things for Mom and I in return for the use of the neighbors tools I would mow their lawn and fix things for them too.

So Mom saved her money based on the allowance Dad gave her to feed the household (5 kids) and bought me those Tools. I knew what it cost her and I took care of them. They are the foundation of the set I have in my Machine Shop at home.

Once I got out of College I bought a Kennedy 11 Drawer Upper Box. Through the company I worked for I paid it off with a $25.00 per week deduction from my paycheck. Found an old wooden crate, added some casters I took from and old machine, put hinges on the Lid and a Hasp to lock it up. Added shelves and I had my first roller cabinet.

As time went on I bought a Kennedy Roller Bottom and then a middle Box. I was in heaven...that was 30 years ago...today I have a Mac MB 1902A topped with a MB 1910 and a MB 1351 and I am grateful. Mom taught me to appreciate things and gave me a start to a hobby that kept me out of trouble.

The ol'Man to this day sees what I do and shakes his head in disbelief that his son can turn a wrench, machine, design, program, fabricate as he has no mechanical aptitude whatsoever...but is a hell of a businessman. I have restored a number of cars for him and he gave me a shop to work in for 15-16 years, one of his business properties so I owe him at least that. I envy you guys who get to or got to spend time with your Dad building a project.

 

[pfaustus]

First toolbox was a .50 cal ammo box that rode around in my cars for a decade and was regularly needed to get the heap moving again. Second, was a carpenter's tote I made myself that I still have [somewhere].

 

[Mikla]

My first real toolbox... has to be over 40 years ago when I was starting out as a motorcycle mechanic for a Honda dealer in CT (Manchester Honda). Still my primary toolbox today... many of the tools in that toolbox are just as old and still work great today.

 

[Magnum440d100]

My very first box was the gray craftsman tucked away in the corner. My grandparents got it for me when I was 7 or 8 (maybe earlier?). It’s been used on construction sites, ridden in the back of all my cars and trucks, been used and abused. It is still in nice condition, but I kick myself because while on a site, I needed a elevated surface and used this box to set a piece of metal when drilling. I ended up putting a 1/8” hole in the lid.... Now it holds drill bits, and wood working stuff until I set something up better.

I replaced the gray craftsman with a little red Kennedy I picked up at a goodwill or Salvation Army for $7. I used that red kennedy for YEARS as my junkyard box. The tray is missing (bought it like that), so it is storage for a lot of my extras now.

The black plastic one is a “stack-on” brand I picked up at an Ace in Stead Nevada in about 2009(?). It is now the boys box. Slowly building his collection.

When I finally moved back to California, I bought my first rollaway. The black craftsman. The bottom drawer of the top box finally broke again and I’ve had enough. So I upgraded to the red setup....

Oh and the Kennedy doesn’t wholly count. I inherited it from my dad when he passed....along with the green cantilever Kennedy.

I just realized I have a LOT of boxes, but only a few pictured! Haha

 

[bert1913]

I just bought this for my very mechanically inclined 10yo grandson's birthday: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mechanics-Tool-Set-268-Piece-H268MTS/203541462

 

[Evan(CA)]

I just bought this for my very mechanically inclined 10yo grandson's birthday: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Mechanics-Tool-Set-268-Piece-H268MTS/203541462

Wow my HD has 123 sets in stock. That's gotta be a typo or an intentional 123 otherwise I'm going to clean up once they hit clearance.

 

[bobcatdan]

Technical my first toolbox was a little red metal one from Walmart that I still have. What I like to consider my first tool box since it had drawers is a Kennedy 520 machinist chest I found in my grandfather's back shed. Still have it today also.

 

[AmherstAndy]

My dad made my first toolbox when I was 5 or 6. Looked a bit like this:

 

[atthebeach]

Got this about 60 years ago. Still use it whenever I need to gather a few tools together and drive somewhere to fix something.

 

[afazz]

I still have them!

First toolbox: 13” Stack On. It was a Christmas gift from my mom when I was 10 or so. This was mostly for BMX tools, it still has the tape with my freshman year college dorm number



Second toolbox: Hechinger branded Flambeau plastic box. My Grandpap gave this to me when I was 16 or so, this housed all the tools I needed to keep my busted up first car on the road (‘88 VW Golf)


Third box: Craftsman chest. This was a Christmas gift from my parents when I was 17. I gave my dad the top chest a few years ago, but I still use it for consumables!



Then I became an adult and started getting paychecks and things got wild.


Then Snap-on


Then more Snap-on


Then another Craftsman inherited from my grandfather when he passed:


Then more Snap-on!

 

[mikegt4]

When I found cars I recycled my fishing tackle box into a tool box. Circa 1970 I bought a Craftsman tombstone style tool box that fortunately fit perfectly into the trunk of my Jaguar XK-140 (I needed to use it a lot). A few years later I bought a Craftsman machinist style (re-badged Kennedy) box that I still have today. I also have a hip roof tool box that, according to my Dad, was his Dad's which would put it as mid 1930's or older.

 

[Blind1]

I had a cheap plastic tote with a craftsman USA socket set and some wrenches until I was in my own place.

I inherited my dads cheap old Kennedy 26” stack with his tools. I used it as my main box up until a few years ago. Still have it, and it’s going to turn into a rolling drill press stand. Top box is on a shelf for electrical/small items/tools.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Grade 8 Industrial arts was metal working. I thought it was way cool to have NG powered soldering irons and to be able to use a spot welder. With each project we had to do a proper technical drawing so I learned basic drafting, and yes it was on an easel with pencil, paper and T-square. Then we could make the project.

I decided I was going to make a practical object I could use for a long time, so I made a hand carry tool box. It was bent sheet metal with piano hinge and hand rolled handle. I made sure that hinge was never going to let go. I still remember my teacher yelling across the room that I was going to burn through the metal.

I put all my effort into making it got an A, and proudly put a few old screwdrivers and pliers my Dad gave me into it.

Fast forward about 10 years, Dad has passed away, Mom has given me his go-to-work car which was a 1978 Ford Fiesta. I'm finished doing something to the front suspension, can't remember what exactly. I put my tools away into that tool box, get in the Fiesta and start to back up. CRUNCH! I back over it. After a bunch of choice words I'm almost in tears. It's not quite a pancake but not far off. I tried bending it straight: nope.

Lesson learned. I've never backed over anything since.

My first tool box was probably made from the same plans in high school Industrial Arts class. Where that box went, I'm not sure. It's either in my garage attic or in my step-dad's woodshop.

First toolbox was a .50 cal ammo box that rode around in my cars for a decade and was regularly needed to get the heap moving again. Second, was a carpenter's tote I made myself that I still have [somewhere].

The first real box that I actually used for tools was a .50 cal ammo box when I was in the Marines. I filled it with $40-45 worth of stuff I bought at the PX. I believe I still have some of them about 30 years later.

 

[Coach James]

I still have them!

First toolbox: 13” Stack On. It was a Christmas gift from my mom when I was 10 or so. This was mostly for BMX tools, it still has the tape with my freshman year college dorm number


Second toolbox: Hechinger branded Flambeau plastic box. My Grandpap gave this to me when I was 16 or so, this housed all the tools I needed to keep my busted up first car on the road (‘88 VW Golf)








Then more Snap-on!

When I saw the "grandpap", I looked for your location and guessed it might be Pittsburgh. I have a lot of family near there, Bridgeville and Upper St Clair, and they all say "grandpap".

Cool old boxes too.

Coach