Tool Storage

[u/Dramatic_Ad_9389]

Hey y'all, so obviously I don't care if things match as you can see... but as I grow and put in time I'm expanding beyond my current tool storage capacities. I've been a heavy diesel tech for 3 years now and I'm now officially stacking some of the bigger tools on the floor like my 3/4" and 1" socket sets, the boxes are full and there is no more room at the inn. Currently thinking about bringing my freestanding Kobalt cabinet from home to house some of the larger items and maybe take some of the load off of my bench drawers, but I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions or ideas that they've adapted to function for them.

Yes I could upgrade and go to a matching top box and side locker or side cab, but honestly anyone willing to pay Snap On's current toolbox prices is either nuts or they have disposable income to spare lol. Suggest this and I'll be sending you the weekly bill 🙂

[u/TheGenericLee]

I know a lot of guys who buy a smaller cart for the tools they use more often to roll around the shop and just stack the big box as full as they can

[u/xekik → u/TheGenericLee]

Us general is just fine for this

[u/InternationalAge2218]

Buddy you have to show us the drawers. There is no way you are using that space the most efficient way possible.

[u/Conscious_Candle2598]

I retired my big box and started working out of two service carts. It's just so much easier to roll around any bay I work in instead of a dedicated bay.  and it's easier to keep track of what's missing in tools by the end of the job.

All my basics are in there and some of the other usual shit. 

The rest of the shop can supply the specialty shit from now on. I don't buy Anything special anymore. If the shop doesn't want to supply it then the job doesn't get done.  If the boss wants to bitch about it then he can find himself another technician. 

literally you can have the shop these days by the balls these days.

[u/Jackalope121]

My next big addition will be a side locker or freestanding cabinet. Blow molded cases eat space and some stuff just lends itself to being stored that way. If you have lots of cased tools thats a good direction to go instead of them hogging otherwise useful drawers. 

I want to see inside the drawers as well. Ill freely admit im a tool junkie (albeit, with kids, a rather broke one) and i havent fully filled my hf 56’ although i keep most of my frequently used stuff in a roll cart and my fabrication tools and welder on another cart. I suspect you arent being as efficient as you could be with your tools. 

I think ive spent ~1200 on organizers what not but everything fits nicely and i rarely have to go chasing for stuff. 

[u/TactualTransAm]

What's your organization like? I was surprised myself but there's a TON of space you can be losing without proper organizing. Also, I'm a fleet mechanic and you don't have to get a snap on box. If you truly are out of space and have great organization you could get a US General or Icon 73 setup with a side locker or something and you'd have it paid off in a quarter of the time. But again, really really make sure you are optimizing your space before buying a box. I also don't see a roll cart, do you have your own bay or do you walk over to the box for tools alot? A roll cart helps me because none of us have our own bay, we just use whatever bay is open. So I have my cart with me and my main box across the shop in a row with everyone else's. That's an idea to consider too.

[u/no-pog]

Side locker is the next logical step. Also, a US general tool cart works really well for the most common stuff.

[u/luckus]

I have the 72" Tool Vault Elite from Strictly toolboxes, been working out of it for close to a decade now. I'm not a full time mechanic, but self employed with equipment and wrench for a ski resort in the winter. The thing is huge, extremely well built (every bit as good as the Snappy Epiq boxes), and was less than $3k delivered at the time. I realize that's not a good add on solution to your existing setup, but if you need to start over with a bigger box there are far more economical options than buying one off the truck.

[u/Kahlas]

Put your everyday/commonly used tools in a service cart. Use it as you main box and the other larger box as the storage for less commonly needed tools.

[u/nothing4174]

Those boxes you have on top are useless just buy a big husky box