I'm going on a mission trip next month.  No idea what particular projects I'll be doing, but in general Katrina rehab/repair.    I was thinking about building a tool tote to carry my hand tools.  I've been wasting time looking at youtube, pinterest, and general postings on tool boxes for a few days.   What a remarkable lack of diversity there is.

 

• Open top tool totes with a handle or divider that runs from end to end, with or without a drawer bottom  (have a couple of those, including my first from '70s made from a fruit crate)
  
  
   
• Open top box or crate (got a bunch of those, most in use)
  
• Carpenter's tool boxes, circa WWII.   Tall not very wide, one side opens up and there is usually a till at the top of the main case (yep,, gave that one away)
  
  
   
• Jeremy Broun's tool box, essentially a smaller version of the prior item, but with both sides that open

 

• Just a box with a lid  (big or small)  maybe with a till -- got one of those
  
   
• Tool Stool a la Gary Katz  . Might have two levels.  I have a couple of those, not nearly so fancy (basically a saw bench)
  
   
• Stacking box
  
  
   
• Japanese tool box (couple of those that I've used on prior trips, now hold my Shaker oval box kits)
  
  
  
   
• Larger box a la Frank Klausz's box that he wrote about in a magazine
  
  
   
• Machinists' style boxes like the Gerstner

 

Then there's the Anarchist's Tool Chest and Dutch Tool Chest and wall tool cabinets, not all that suited to portability.

 

Meh.    I think I'll just load up a couple of my nylon bags.   I really like the backpack bags but I'm not sure I want to spend the money on one.

 

My work kit is well tuned to what I do, but that includes repairs to cabinets, doors, and drawers, repairs to upholstered furniture springs, frames, recliner mechanisms, and fabric parts (remove and replace panels, or to get to the insides), and structural repairs to wood parts.  

Edited February 15, 20188 yr by kmealy

Good on ya, Keith. Your tote isn't as important as the good work you'll be doing.

You're a good man.

4 minutes ago, kmealy said:

I'm going on a mission trip next month.  No idea what particular projects I'll be doing, but in general Katrina rehab/repair.

You may have answered your own question, sort of...

 

"A place for everything and everything in its place" Multiple tool boxes for "classes/groups" of tools. You can't take the whole shop, Keith...just too many tools to lug around AND too many tool boxes. Decide what you will need and pick the (existing) tool box that fits that need.

 

I feel your angst, believe me...now where did I store my plumbing tool box, and my tool box with all of my plastic pipe fittings and tools, and my alarm system tool box, or my data communications tool box?  Hmmmm...

That carpenter's tool box for around WWII is exactly like one I have that was my Dad's. The drawer ended up missing somewhere over the years but other than that, it is still functional.

problem with big tool boxes is that they can hold lots, making finding what is at the bottom very hard, and they also get full and heavy to carry.

The nylon bags would be my first choice. All the wooden styles have interest, but just don't strike me as being practical for modern day travel.

Fortunately, my tools no longer wander farther than the house. They get lost easily enough without widening their horizons.

Nice Keith.  For around the house I use the five gallon bucket outfitted with the canvas insert.  They work well for me.

 

 

For something like this mission trip where you will be going all over, I would humbly suggest passing on an open top tote and go with something on wheels that you can pull. When we moved into our current home in 2001 we had to find a new church in our new city. God has a holy and warped sense of humor and called me into youth ministry. The youth facility was in bad shape and needed a lot of work but it was too expensive for the church. So for  7 years I was there on site (the main church building was separated from the youth facility as there was an elementary school in between them) doing repairs on the youth chapel, parsonage house and a run down double-wide mobile home.  After going back and forth carrying everything I got a folding 2-wheel dolly and 2 storage boxes that locked for all the typical nails, screws and fasteners, a Home Depot bucket that I put a tool organizer into it with all the pockets to put all my various hand tools. I stacked the 2 storage boxes on the bottom and then put the bucket with all the tools on top and bungee corded them to the 2 wheel dolly. This set up made my life so much easier as I could go from building to building to do the various repairs and not having to make multiple trips carrying a bunch of stuff.

 

Today they make a number of good quality rolling tool boxes that are easy to roll along like a rolling suit case going through the airport. Home Depot and Lowe's have some rolling tool boxes in their store, but Amazon.com has a whole bunch of them. Just go to "Amazon.com" and then do a search for "mobile tool box with wheels" and you will see all kinds of them.
Here is one that is pretty spiffy for that can be a flat cart or an upright dolly that folds.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Shifter-300-Pound-Capacity-Multi-Position/dp/B00LMH8CCS/ref=sr_1_19_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1518712211&sr=8-19-spons&keywords=mobile+tool+box+with+wheels&psc=1

Stanley sold a few tool boxes, with all the tools...

Repro of a Stanley No. 880 

I added handles on the ends. to make it easier to "tote"

You can look up the "parts list"  of all the tools that came with these box sets..

I had most of the tools on hand..

I could not find the level Stanley supplied with these..hangers weren't much help..

Tool box and the tools are now in a shop in Canada.....this was donated as a drawing prize.....Gene remembers who one it, too...

At least that looked better than this...thing..

Mainly for job site work...

A little bit of everything...

First good on you for participating on a Mission trip to help others.

 

As Allen noted, you want something very portable and containable....

For a tool tote, make a trip to the local Goodwill or one of your Thrift Stores....buy a small or medium size piece of rolling luggage, add in a piece of tempered hardboard or 1/4" ply to stiffen the bottom, make some quick dividers as/if needed and you have what you need.

 

 Another option is a version of one of these...doesn't have to be a Stanley. 

 

I had an open tote like Kieth showed first, it was mounted on a moving dolley,and I had a rope to pull it. When on the job the dolley was always in use by me and other people. I have seen carpenters build tool boxes too heavy when empty to move.

I also had a roll around one I used when I was stationed in one building doing interior finish carpentry. When I was hanging doors I had a stool type that had a "V" notch in the top to hold the door while I planed it and mounted the butts.

I had a chest type that I had in the back of my pickup. And a leather tool belt apron with suspenders to help keep all the weight off my waist.

Herb

29 minutes ago, Dadio said:

tool belt apron with suspenders to help keep all the weight off my waist.

Me, too

Keith you must be a big muscled up guy cause to want to tote those big things around looking for work.. Actually Allen is thinking more like a man who has been there and done that..

  For me, I had 4 acres with a go-cart track and a mini golf course to keep going and I sure didn't want to tote anything around like in your pictures....Using one of these all day with the tool laying in there will make honey do more apt to greet you when yo get home to her...

  I switched over to easier pulling way back in 1982 with the air up tires...It sits right there by the shop door everyday waiting to go somewhere to help out if he can!!!

Keith sounds like you need to build a Studley tool cabinet so you will have everything.Maybe a NYW

As for me I got a Husky at HD with a smaller attached. Mind you this is just for turning demos and tools because I needed a certain length for some tools. For other tools I like the Ridgid and Milwaukee has a cool one too.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-22-in-Connect-Rolling-System-Tool-Box-230381/300658825 This is neat but not long enough for what I needed.

4 hours ago, schnewj said:

 Multiple tool boxes for "classes/groups" of tools. You can't take the whole shop, Keith...just too many tools to lug around AND too many tool boxes. Decide what you will need and pick the (existing) tool box that fits that need.
 

Yep, at home I have a plumbing box, an electrical box, drywall/masonry box, and painting box.   All in addition to the woodshop.

 

Now the question is for you guys who are or have worked in the building industry, what would you take?  

 

So far, in my mind:  (add or delete)

• Framing hammer 24 oz
• Crow bar
• 18" level
• Speed square
• Chalk line
• Drill & impact driver with bits
• Hand saw
• Tool belt
• Pencils
• Socket set (3/8")
• Ratcheting wrenches
• Multi-tip screwdriver
• 24' tape measure
• Utility knife
• Channellocks
• Nail puller
• Vice Grip Pliers
• Work gloves
• Hearing protectors
• Small clamps (6-12")
• Putty knife
• Flashlight
• Block plane
• Couple of chisels

And probably

• Circular saw
• OMT
• Sawzall

 

47 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Keith sounds like you need to build a Studley tool cabinet so you will have everything.Maybe a NYW

As for me I got a Husky at HD with a smaller attached. Mind you this is just for turning demos and tools because I needed a certain length for some tools. For other tools I like the Ridgid and Milwaukee has a cool one too.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-22-in-Connect-Rolling-System-Tool-Box-230381/300658825 This is neat but not long enough for what I needed.

Yeah, I have a rolling tool box that I bought when I started the company.   My thought was I'd pull out the few tools I thought I'd need for a job and leave the rest in the van.   That turned out to be a big mistake.   I'd end up making 3 or 4 trips back for one more thing.   Then I got an open-top tool tote (nylon) with lots of pockets.   I carry it all in even if I think I'll only need a screwdriver.   Rarely do I need to run back unless it's for the drill box or some hardware.  Funny thing is, I think it weighs over 40 lb but the heaviest thing in there is a 16 oz deadblow hammer.

 

Its contents

• Deadblow hammer
• 14 oz claw hammer
• 4 chisels, Mortising  to 1"
• Set of 4 each metric and SAE wrenches, one adjustable wrench
• multi-tip screwdriver
• utility knife
• 35 pc microdriver, Gearwrench
• Square, folding
• 4" combo square
• Awl
• Staple pullers (2)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Hose pliers (used on recliner releases)
• A few shims
• A few cable ties
• Toothpicks, popsicle sticks
• Small bottle of wood glue
• Screw/drawer lube
• 3-in-1 oil
• Scissors
• Channellocks
• Nail puller
• Painter's pry bar
• Japanese nail puller
• Nail sets
• Japanese hand saw
• mechanic's gloves
• 5/32" Allen wrench
• Visegrips
• Flashlight
• tape measure

Here's a picture of my touch-up kit, too

 

Edited February 15, 20188 yr by kmealy

 

Edited February 15, 20188 yr by Stick486