How many tool-boxes??

[Moondog55]

In response to my last query I made a largish tool box for my major carpentry hand tools.
now I find the damned thing is too big and I can fit so many tools into it I can't lift it.
Laugh all you like but I now need to get my tools separated into the different trades.
I am now taking suggestions for how many boxes I need to make.
One idea I am going to steal from my cousin is a box to take all the different sizes of steel nails and i may make that to take the glue guns as well.
So I am thinking I need to go and raid the scraps bin at Mitre 10 once more.
Plumbing? How big??
Sparky? I could store all the spares and bitznpieces together , not many electricians tools as I mainly leave live hard wired to the Tradies.
Car?? Already have my dads old steel box so OK there
Electronics could do with a little organised storage.
Damn more unfinished jobs need starting

[Black Cat]

I keep my plumbing kit in a bucket (so I have a bucket handy when I need it). It happily holds all the small tools, spare washers etc. The large plumbers wrench travels separately though. It is a sturdy nappy bucket so handles the weight quite happily. I do fancy having a tool belt for each type of work that I can hang on the hooks by the back door and grab the right one on my way out (fencing, gardening, building ...). But I suspect I would need a lot of duplicates to do that.

[johnc]

I use buckets or plastic crates the size of milk crates. There is very little that has a full time home in a tool box other than a couple of trowel boxes from a past life.

[Moondog55]

I quite like the bucket idea.

[goldie1]

x 3 on the buckets 20 or 15 litre paint or plaster buckets are excellent

[Moondog55]

I have to buy buckets tho, I get the plywood for free so that has a bearing, also I do have a bad habit of loosing stuff it the box it so deep I can only see the top layer, my wife says it is a "Bloke" thing.

[Tiger]

In response to my last query I made a largish tool box for my major carpentry hand tools.
now I find the damned thing is too big and I can fit so many tools into it I can't lift it.
Laugh all you like but I now need to get my tools separated into the different trades.
I am now taking suggestions for how many boxes I need to make.
One idea I am going to steal from my cousin is a box to take all the different sizes of steel nails and i may make that to take the glue guns as well.
So I am thinking I need to go and raid the scraps bin at Mitre 10 once more.
Plumbing? How big??
Sparky? I could store all the spares and bitznpieces together , not many electricians tools as I mainly leave live hard wired to the Tradies.
Car?? Already have my dads old steel box so OK there
Electronics could do with a little organised storage.
Damn more unfinished jobs need starting

Very timely thread Moondog. I'm at the stage where I need to be more efficient at this. I began with a plastic toolbox with my most used tools such as measuring tape, pliers, hammer. This gave way after about a year, the handle gave way so I upgraded to metal , only problem is it's small so won't house a 2 ft level, hand saws or long clamps. I then like you built a big tool box but it has become very heavy so don't use it much. I have some plastic buckets for specialist stuff such as plumbing and masonry. I still have a problem with 2 areas though and will need to look at another toolbox - the circular saw is awkward to fit in anything I currently have, most commercial toolboxes are just not big enough. My other concern are drill bits, I seem to need a lot of them such as countersinks, hole saws, problem is I may have to build a small tool box to house them all. Probably the only solution is to do what tradesmen do and that is have ute/van full of tools ready to go.

[manofaus]

plastering tools... empty bucket of finishing compound, painting gear... in a large steel paint bucket, tiling gear.... empty bucket of tile adhesive, plumbing gear... on the trolley with oxy set, carpentry gear... in an old pantry removed from a job, electrical... in a plastic caddy... and mechanical in a nice roll cab with 9 drawer tool box on top. Problem with storing some tools is that you use them across a lot of jobs, your hammers, your clamps, battery drills and bits....etc I would think you could make a big cabinet with all that ply or a shadow board and when you need to gather the tools put them in a caddy or bucket.

[Moondog55]

Another thought I had this AM.
I am getting on and my back is almost totally buggered ; so I am starting to look at a small trolley and making the tool boxes to fit a standard trolley frame.
organising the shed will have to wait for either the new shed or a new house, I need to demolish this one to make way for our extension.

[goldie1]

Keep them fairly small and have several different ones. Even with a ute or van set up there are many times if you are

working in a business district you can't park your vehicle at the job site and a trolley is required. I have a standard upright

one with pump up tyres I use a lot

[Black Cat]

A trolley is a great idea if you don't have any steps to negotiate ...

My mate who helps me with the framing has a fancy fabric thing that fits inside the bucket (a cylindrical bucket) and has flaps hanging over the edge which is subdivided into pockets for the smaller stuff (so the line level, the plyers, the folding rule etc) is readily accessible on the outside of the bucket and the bigger stuff (mitre saw - with guard!! - wrenches etc) is in the bucket. It works pretty well until I am sharing the bucket (cos I stick stuff in where it will fit!).

[shauck]

I reckon a trolley with stackable components that separate your tools as you wish. Then if you have steps to negotiate you can unstack and carry individually.

[Tiger]

Is there a recommended trolley that people have found to be satisfactory for them, am interested in pursuing this.

[shauck]

I haven't made one before but I would probably get my hands on a nice big one with sturdy wheels. I figure no two set ups would be the same, as everyone's inventiveness works differently. Maybe attach a backboard to the trolley with some sort of clips to secure each box. A bit like the clips on a tool carry case but made out of metal, not plastic.

[Moondog55]

I just remembered that in the shed are the wheels and axle to a big council wheelie bin, so that part ( the most expensive) is covered.
I'll see what I can scrounge for the backing board, 7mm braceply off-cut springs to mind; but a couple of lengths of 90*20 hardwood should do the uprights, width will be set by the axle dimensions of course

[r3nov8or]

I regularly use a trolley whenever both hands are full. Easy to drape power leads etc over the cross bars. A bit of rope to tie it all on if the terrain is rough or steps are involved. Small pnematic tyres are the go, and mine is $20-$25 job from Supercheap. Friday evenings it regularly assists move "48 x 375ml bottled items" from the car boot to the beer fridge. Sweet.

[Moondog55]

I'm getting tired of punctures and continually having to pump up leaky tubes

[r3nov8or]

I think Supercheaps cheapest hand trolleys have solid wheels? The trolleys are cheaper than buying the wheels seperately.

[r3nov8or]

You could also convert that too-heavy tool box into a trolley. Just add wheels and handles!

[shauck]

I was also thinking the bottom box could be the trolley base with wheels and handles (maybe an old wheelbarrows handles) attached. each box somehow clipping onto the one below.

[Moondog55]

Not such a dumb idea that Su, more dumpster diving coming up

[Moondog55]

And of course I just realised my first tool box is just a smidgen too long to turn it around to fit through a standard door.
Note to all others making tool boxes 750- 800mm is long enough.

[shauck]

Gotta love the local tip shop. Can get bits and pieces there.

[Handyjack]

The more tools the more tool boxes.
I have a "basic set" of stuff in the car but take more special stuff with me as required. I have a lunch box container just for drill bits and that is in addition to a set of drills to 1/2" and two other sets to 1/4" that I carry around. A bucket with cartridges, turps and caulking gun, and a small tool box with plumbing stuff. The circular saw (not always in car) has its own box that stacks on top of the dust extractor, (Festool gear). Buckets are great for carrying gear and I use a four wheel trolley that has a fold down handle where I can, it does however hate steps and gravel and other rough surfaces.

How many ladders do you require? Only the right one to do the job.

[Tiger]

I have a lunch box container just for drill bits and that is in addition to a set of drills to 1/2" and two other sets to 1/4" that I carry around.
I've tried this before but found that drill bits would knock together and become blunt.

[Handyjack]

I've tried this before but found that drill bits would knock together and become blunt.



I keep the bits in their packaging that way it protects them and they are easier to find. They do take up more room this way though. Still does not mean I have the right size bit.
The most common used twist bits are in the case with the battery drill, up to 1/4" also 8mm, 10mm, and the occasionally used for spring toggles 14mm.

Each person will develop their own tool kit and then need to find a way to store and transport it.

[shauck]

Funny, I saw an old fashioned, wooden trolley yesterday, for sale. Not cheap tho at 180 bucks.

[Tiger]

I keep the bits in their packaging that way it protects them and they are easier to find. They do take up more room this way though. Still does not mean I have the right size bit.
The most common used twist bits are in the case with the battery drill, up to 1/4" also 8mm, 10mm, and the occasionally used for spring toggles 14mm.

Each person will develop their own tool kit and then need to find a way to store and transport it.
Yep, I have holesaws, countersinking bits, drivers, masonry bits, drum sanders. They were all bought separately so can't really use the old containers. I'll have to make something up but whenever I make a toolbox up it's always heavier than what I would like.