tool totes, a survey of

[kmealy]

2 hours ago, steven newman said:

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

 

Like this

[Grandpadave52]

Keith, as far as this trip do you know your specific goal? Are you destructing/clean-up or repair work or new construction? Often the trip coordinator, sponsor and the site liaison can give the criteria for what type of tools are needed versus available on-site.

 

 

[Gerald]

5 hours ago, kmealy said:

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

 

Amazing assortment.   Is there anycolor you do not have there ?

 

[Cal]

I find a drill to be pretty handy, especially if you might be working with some old lumber.

And unless all of your power tools are corded, an extension cord maybe?

[kmealy]

11 hours ago, Gerald said:

 

I actually have a 3 more totes of toners (the aerosol cans).  One has black and whites (mostly white variants), the other two cherry , walnut, pine, maple, oak, mahogany, espresso, umber and sienna.

[tomp]

Similar to the one that Stick poster, aluminum, folding and very lightweight. Bought it to carry my shooting gear on the range - it's a long way from the 1000 yard line to the butts.

[Dadio]

Sounds to me like a small handy tote would work for most of your needs and have all the rest of the stuff in your Van, or a big gang box in the back of your truck. You will never be able to have all your tools in one box, unless the company you are working for has gang boxes with all the corded tools and cords. You will have to have access to ladders, sawhorses, chop saws, who knows what all, you don't see handymen working out of a tote without the back up of all the rest of the tools in the van. What about when you pour the concrete? you will need a bucket of all the finishing tools and a bull float and screed bars, plus a transit/level to shoot elevations and set the screed pins. Also a compressor and nail guns/hoses. Don't forget the shovels and a rake, when you are tieing the re-bar in the forms you will need some wire tieing/cutters,plus leather gloves, plus knee pads and a body harness and long rope for when you have to work on the roof. sounds like you are in for an adventure.

Herb

[kmealy]

Yes, in the work van, I have ("Be prepared" because a stop and trip out costs an hour or more)

• Compressor w/ brad nailer, narrow crown stapler, pin nailer and upholstery stapler
• Drill (cordless with corded as backup) with bits, Kreg jig, clamps, drivers, level, vice clamp
• Drawer of specialized hardware (door, drawer, bed, electrical, metal braces, socket wrench set)
• Tote of upholstery repair items, sewing and spring repair, patches, threads, clothes iron
• Upholstery cleaning machine and two totes of cleaning solutions and tools
• Miter saw
• Drawers of screws, nuts and bolts
• Dowel pins
• Dowel rods
• Wood buttons
• Button tufting needles and thread
• lubricants
• nails
• nylon and fabric feet
• clamps of all sizes from Quick Clamps to parallel clamps
• drop cloths
• moving blankets
• Pieces of wood for repairs from small dowels to 1x4, threaded rod
• OMT
• rolls of cambric dust cover for replacement
• box of parts for recliner repair, including full electrical set for diagnosis.
• Cleaning supplies
• Small workbench for cutting & drilling
• Box of polishing/buffing compounds
• Bag of glues and epoxy sticks, gel and liquid, Bondo

Other tools in and out as needed

Edited February 16, 2018 by kmealy

[Dadio]

Looks like your covered, I bet there are even some things you forgot to mention in there.

Herb

[kmealy]

1 hour ago, Dadio said:

Looks like your covered, I bet there are even some things you forgot to mention in there.

Herb

Probably so.

[DRAGON1]

I use a husky carry around tote for hand tools (screwdrivers, hammer, pliers, etc.)  and a backpack for the cordless impact, drill and circular saw, charger.  turned a rolling suitcase with wheels into sawzall, electric cords, planes, drill/impact bits. grab all 3 and i'm ready for just about any job.

 

[kmealy]

Ready to leave at O'dark fifteen on Friday, headed to Picayune, MS.   Looking forward to possibilities of beignets.

 

Some of the possibilities on the list of tasks:

- Installing trim and molding

- demolition

- repairing subflooring

- hanging drywall

- installing new flooring

- painting

 

At least it's not roofing or plumbing ;-)

[Grandpadave52]

13 minutes ago, kmealy said:

Looking forward to possibilities of beignets.

That in itself makes the trip rewarding...that and the good work you'll be doing...

Prayers to you and all traveling and to those who depend on your talents.

Thanks for paying forward

Edited February 26, 2018 by Grandpadave52

[schnewj]

On 2/26/2018 at 6:01 PM, kmealy said:

Ready to leave at O'dark fifteen on Friday, headed to Picayune, MS.   Looking forward to possibilities of beignets.

 

Some of the possibilities on the list of tasks:

- Installing trim and molding

- demolition

- repairing subflooring

- hanging drywall

- installing new flooring

- painting

 

At least it's not roofing or plumbing ;-)

Trust me, Keith, Picayune needs all of the help it can get. I have a lot of friends that live there, but don't hold that against them. Stay away from the Beignets. IT"S TIME FOR A CRAWFISH BOIL!

[Michael Thuman]

On 2/15/2018 at 1:42 PM, kmealy said:

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

 

Please add sunscreen and misquito spray.  Beyond that it looks  compelte the through but I'd bet you need several bags or totes.

[Kevin Beitz]

Wood boxes is nice but they get heavy....

I like the electricians open-top tool tote (nylon) with pockets.

They still get heavy so I use two of them. Makes it easier to carry.

[Gunny]

8 hours ago, Kevin Beitz said:

They still get heavy so I use two of them. Makes it easier to carry.

Good friend uses this method.  Biggest problem is he has no idea where something is exactly.  Just in a bucket, somewhere, maybe out in the back building..

 

[kmealy]

On 2/16/2018 at 2:10 PM, kmealy said:

Yes, in the work van, I have ("Be prepared" because a stop and trip out costs an hour or more)

• Compressor w/ brad nailer, narrow crown stapler, pin nailer and upholstery stapler
• Drill (cordless with corded as backup) with bits, Kreg jig, clamps, drivers, level, vice clamp
• Drawer of specialized hardware (door, drawer, bed, electrical, metal braces, socket wrench set)
• Tote of upholstery repair items, sewing and spring repair, patches, threads, clothes iron
• Upholstery cleaning machine and two totes of cleaning solutions and tools
• Miter saw
• Drawers of screws, nuts and bolts
• Dowel pins
• Dowel rods
• Wood buttons
• Button tufting needles and thread
• lubricants
• nails
• nylon and fabric feet
• clamps of all sizes from Quick Clamps to parallel clamps
• drop cloths
• moving blankets
• Pieces of wood for repairs from small dowels to 1x4, threaded rod
• OMT
• rolls of cambric dust cover for replacement
• box of parts for recliner repair, including full electrical set for diagnosis.
• Cleaning supplies
• Small workbench for cutting & drilling
• Box of polishing/buffing compounds
• Bag of glues and epoxy sticks, gel and liquid, Bondo

Other tools in and out as needed

Well, I hung up the burn-in knife earlier this year.   I spent several afternoons this week sorting out hardware and putting it in the woodshop.   But I discovered very early on that I really like having a woodworking tool box in the back of the van.   Even if I'm just working in the yard or wife's sewing room -- saves a trip to the basement.

[kmealy]

Had an HVAC guy out for service this week.   Most of his tools were in a Veto Pro-Pac.   I drooled until he told me it set him back $250. I tried a house brand last year and it did not work for my traveling tool kit.  My $39 Husky open top box was looking better.   He said he's regularly on roofs, basements, attics and it's perfect for that.    

Edited October 23, 2019 by kmealy

[kmealy]

Revisiting a few years later.  For some reason, probably because I've followed some links, Pinterest keeps telling me about tool box/tote/chests.   To recap, in 2020, I made three boxes like Frank Klausz's, above.  One for me and one for my two eldest grandsons.  I moved stuff from my old kit into it and found it was fine to sit somewhere but awkward to move and carry about.  So I reverted to the Husky nylon tote that I'd been using for years.  I cannot imagine using Frank's version if I had to carry it into a house and up and down steps.  Plus, in my nylon tote, that only weighs a few ounces, the tools can all be stored in pockets and more or less vertically.   In the wood totes I made, some stuff sat vertically, but a lot of it just got piled in the bottom.

 

A larger chest would work fine for limited movement or sitting in a shop, I'm sure, but I can't imagine moving an Anarchist's or Dutch tool chest around much.