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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.

Saw recently Menard's is now advertising Craftsman tool boxes so apparently will not be exclusive to Lowe's. Wonder what impact if any it will have have Menard's branded Performax & Masterforce tool storage? I know many of you don't have access to a Menard's since they more regional to the Midwest & mid-South... Menard's Sale Circular

I posted some of these over on Tool Talk, but thought i might share them here, too. A few old Kennedy tool boxes and some tools that are currently hiding in them. Yes, that's a drawknife in the one with the various hammers. the rules are for scale. The inside micrometer was in the first box i ever got which had been left in a house we moved into.

After doing demo last week at the Ag Museum I decided I needed something other than a bucketeer (it is like a tool belt on a 5 gal bucket). Started looking and found a Husky rolling chest to be of the right length for turning tools. Then I can make boxes or buy at HF for small items. I already had used heat gun to form fit PVC to cover the tools. Just wondering what does everyone else use. The one I have linked to is the larger one, I got the 15 gal . same but smaller. I think it is 25 inch diagonal, 21 ling 13 deep. https://screenshots.firefox.com/Obxw2YWbKntgWWZT/www.homedepot.ca

Saw this on a local auction site. I like the layout (as if I need another toolbox). More pix here while it's still active: https://www.ebth.com/items/4748046-wwii-army-toolbox-with-assorted-tools

And a coat of Witch's Brew, too.. has a fancy latch, too Those things hanging down behind this Tool Box? Just my Saw Till...Lids work nicely on the box.. Might just do..for a simple tool box...

Posed this on a couple of other places.. Ok, imagine that you are just starting out, and want to start woodworking, maybe as a hobby. Budget is very limited. You have no idea which tools to buy to get started. What sort of "list" would show what you need to start up with? Just the basic tool set. Some power tools MIGHT be added, if budget allows. Just to fill a common tool box that would be in the garage. Type of tool, and why? Have fun....

Cleaning up the shop, putting away the toys, er tools. Spied a black box Hmm, wonder what I stashed in there? Opened it up, found a couple wood bodies for a few hand planes, eh....and a few of these That long sucker is a 5/8 Bowl gouge. If I recall correctly, and it was a yard sale item that cost a $1. Four Craftsman chisels, and four that were I think from Harbor Freight. Went back and cleaned these all up. Now the problems arise. You see, there isn't any room for them in this box and the lathe these went to is a rusty, broken down mess. Plastic fan on the "dryer" motor( looks like one, anyway) is broke. The joint between the two sections of the "T" rail is in BAD shape. Rusty as all get out. Not really worth the effort to rehab, even for me. So, what to do with these "Treasures"?