What would you consider the perfect toolbox!

6301 Views 35 Replies 20 Participants Last post by Old Thomas, Jan 14, 2021

federer

Discussion Starter · Jan 14, 2013 (Edited)

So recently there is the thread asking about the top 5 tools for a beginner. This got me thinking about what you experts would consider the perfect toolbox! Please comment and list your wishlist!

1 - 20 of 36 Posts

oberkc

· #2 · Jan 15, 2013

1. Weighs nothing
2. Holds all my tools, now and in the future
3. Keeps tools organized. No need to remove one tool to get at another. Every tool has a place. Every tool protected.
4. Fits in back of my car.

Anything less is simply a trade off of these four key points, optimizing desired features.

joecaption

· #3 · Jan 15, 2013

No such thing. What works for one person would be useless to another.
For just a home handyman around the house one of these may work.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...els&qpvt=stanley+tool+box+on+wheels&FORM=IGRE

Portable, lots of room for differant tools and parts.

Reactions: 1

woodworkbykirk

· #4 · Jan 15, 2013

precisely joe,the toolbox being carried depends on the person and what type of tasks they have to do. a handyman will have to carry a selection of basic carpentry tools along with electrical and plumbing tools

i work with a turnkey renovation company meaning we do large reno's and custom new home construction where we do the job from the ground up to the keys being handed over to the homeowner. the same group of guys works on the foundation right up to the exterior finish,, for interior finish i work with the company owners father and occasionally bring in a couple trimmers to help with speeding things up.. what this means is i carry a toolbox which has my portable power tools (circ saw, jigsaw, recip, multi tool, cordless drill and impact driver, angle grinder) i need these tools for form work, framing, siding and decks. a general hand tool box which has wrecking bars, pliers, vice grips. levels, chisels etc , this is always on board my truck. for siding i carry a bucket with tools specific to vinyl siding and installing flashings.. be it snips.. a hand break, angle finders, chisels a pull saw.. cordless multitool , block plane for cedar shingles and of course a caulking gun, spare utility knife blades... for trim i have a veto pro pack which holds chisels. hand planes, angle finders, butt gauges, mitre clamps, scribes etc.. plus a large clc bag which carries my finish guns, quick grip clamps and orbital sander

See less See more

federer

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 18, 2013

i am happy i have a toolbox!

Reactions: 1

ddawg16

· #6 · Jan 18, 2013

Actually, one needs two tool boxes....one that is fixed and the other that is portable....what's in them is determined by what you use it for.

Me? I have my Craftsman roll-around with a box on top. I like it because I can roll it out to the front of the garage where I'm working. I find that I loose less tools if I have the box next to my jeep. I also have a couple of bags that I keep tools in. Both have a default set of toos (one is for electrical work, the other is more plumbing related). I can also add to them as needed.

PaliBob

· #7 · Jan 18, 2013 (Edited)

The word Toolbox can loosely used to describe a hole range of containers used to store tools and sometimes hardware. Starting at the low end and
easily going up to the over 1k price range

To me even Tool Bags can be used as tool boxes because that is what Katz uses them as.
(Check the price tag on that Occidental Leather Tool bag and on how many tools Gary keeps in there)

.....I still have the two Kennedy Tool Chests that I used when I started as a Tech at Douglas. Now I mostly use a smaller 3 Drawer tool box made by Keter that has ball bearing drawers.

My most used favorite is a small step stool toolbox that I can stand on, or sit on. ( I got mine at LOWE'S)

See less See more

oh'mike

· #8 · Jan 18, 2013

I sure hope you folks come up with the perfect tool box!!

I have owned (and hated) dozens of tool bags--buckets--boxes and pouches in my life----

I work out of a truck---and have drawers in there for tools---good--then remove what I think I need for the days work into a bucket or tool satchel---After a couple of days the tools are in a mess---

Hurry up with that perfect tool box!!!

woodworkbykirk

· #9 · Jan 18, 2013

PaliBob said:
The word Toolbox can loosely used to describe a hole range of containers used to store tools and sometimes hardware. Starting at the low end and
easily going up to the over 1k price range

To me even Tool Bags can be used as tool boxes because that is what Katz uses them as.
(Check the price tag on that Occidental Leather Tool bag and on how many tools Gary keeps in there)

.....I still have the two Kennedy Tool Chests that I used when I started as a Tech at Douglas. Now I mostly use a smaller 3 Drawer tool box made by Keter that has ball bearing drawers.

My most used favorite is a small step stool toolbox that I can stand on, or sit on. ( I got mine at LOWE'S)

the Doctor bag by occi is amazing but the $550 price tag isnt

joecaption

· #10 · Jan 18, 2013

I have a 16' trailer, slam full of tools, a garage so full there's no room for a car, the back of my truck has a cool set up where you turn a lever and the whole bed slids out.
And still get out on a job and need something.

How is it I own at least three sets of sockets and I end up with all of them except the one size I need to do the job?

BigJim

· #11 · Jan 18, 2013 (Edited)

woodworkbykirk said:
the Doctor bag by occi is amazing but the $550 price tag isnt

Good gravy, that is a fairly nice bag but it would be about like my other bags in a short time, that price alone would stop me. I have 3 or 4 different bags, the bucket and I really don't know how many different tool boxes I have from the huge Jobox to the regular tool boxes. I have yet to find the perfect tool box. Most of my working tool boxes were vans with all kind of compartments and drawers like Mike's truck with drawers. When I had 4X4s I pulled a custom made tool trailer with side doors, shelves and drawers, that was really the most efficient tool box I had.

When doing hospital work, and commercial work I had a two wheeler which converted into a 4 wheeler to stack tool boxes on to haul to the site. You didn't want to make too many trips back to the truck for tools as it was so far away, we had to unload at the docks and move the trucks a long way off.

For building homes and restoration work the van and trailer was the best, I especially liked the trailer and 4X4 when working in snow and mud, pull right up to the door.

Now that I am retired, my shop is small and is a total mess, I have sold many of my large tools and a good number of my small tools. I want to organize my shop and build a wall mounted tool cabinet.

See less See more

woodworkbykirk

· #12 · Jan 18, 2013 (Edited)

http://www.atlas-machinery.com/products/Occidental-3000BB-The-Dr-Wood-Tool-Bag

add on sales tax and shipping and its actually over $600

this dealer has the best prices that ive seen both on occi and power tools, who i ordered my suspenda vest through. occis arent available in town so i have to order em

for those that dont about occidental , their easily the best tool belts available. kunys/clc bags last 2 - 3 years tops for a carpenter working full time.. occis average 10 years

AndyWRS

· #13 · Jan 19, 2013

My ideal tool box has wheels. I think i could get everything i need in a Ford Transit.

woodworkbykirk

· #14 · Jan 19, 2013

ive wondered about those vans.. i worked for the local university 2 years ago they had one.. something about it just didnt seem right the engine of a ford focus in a work van.. if i were to get something like that id go with the nissan vt

DangerMouse

· #15 · Jan 19, 2013

Perfect toolbox? One that my wife and kids can never get into, always picks up my tools and puts them away when I'm done and always produces the tool I need, whatever it may be.

DM

Reactions: 1

Bill7

· #16 · Jan 21, 2013

DangerMouse said:
Perfect toolbox? One that my wife and kids can never get into, always picks up my tools and puts them away when I'm done and always produces the tool I need, whatever it may be.

DM

:laughing:

For around the house, my bench seems to have enough space. A spot for every tool. Doesn't keep the kids and wife out though.

In all seriousness, I like 5 gallon buckets. I use a couple for different sets of tools, and have one general one that has one of those handy slip in carriers designed to fit the bucket. Holds tools inside and outside of the bucket.

Evilhomer

· #17 · Jan 21, 2013

I've always wanted to find the toolbox that magically makes 50-100 lbs of tools weigh less than 10 lbs. Ideally, just something with wheels that fits everything but is still small enough to carry around on the job.

woodworkbykirk

· #18 · Jan 22, 2013

thats known as a carpenters helper.. you carry the 10lbs of tools you need at that moment. the helper carries the rest

redman88

· #19 · Jan 22, 2013

http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hard...1&keyword=tool+bag&storeId=10051#.UP3kgie5PUk

i have one of these for the tools i use at work and am very happy with it.

ddawg16

· #20 · Jan 22, 2013

DangerMouse said:
Perfect toolbox? One that my wife and kids can never get into, always picks up my tools and puts them away when I'm done and always produces the tool I need, whatever it may be.

DM

I guess I'm lucky....my wife knows how to use most of my tools and appreciates them as much as I do.

As for the kids...I just got my 10 year old his first tool box along with some starter tools...

1 - 20 of 36 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.