[Larry Day]

Got my new roll away with top box. 52 inch wide Sears Professional model. Looking for hints and tips on drawer organizers and what goes in what drawers. The box came with the rubberized drawer liners.

I was thinking of the hand tool (sockets, wrenches, ect) in the top box and power (air and electric) in the lower box.

SUGESTIONS??

[Beenaway2long]

Think about the tools you use the most and put them where they are the easiest to get to. The least used tools go in the bottom of the bottom box, or top of the top box. Everyone is different.

[Kevin45]

Sears has nice boxes and some of their tools are good but I wouldn't give you $.10 for their ratchets. Knuckle Busters!!1 Changes direction in mid ratchet, and everything just feels loose in them. Sears quality has really went downhill with their hand tools. One thing that really gripes my butt is that when you buy a new ratchet and it goes bad they do not give you another new one but they give you a rebuilt one. I have had 2 sets of 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2" drive and need to take them in for a third set. Look around for different ones. We use a Proto set at work and the reversing mechanism is recessed so your hand does not accidently touch it. And it seems tight, not like Sears. Then there is the 3/8" set of Sears metric sockets that for some reason everyone decided to rust. None of the other sockets have, just this 3/8" drive socket set. Shop around.

Kevin

[astroracer]

Larry,
I feel your pain, bud... I have two sets of nice roll arounds. A Kennedy and a Craftsman. I find that the only tools I keep in either one of them are the ones I DON'T use... The ones I DO use are always out on the benches or under a car. Just something to think about when you're planning drawer usage.
Mark

[adtkart]

As far as how to organize your box, it is up to you. I have seen them set up about every way they can be done. Everyone has a different opinion on how they should be. I just hope that the boxes you got have the bearings in the drawers. They make a world of difference, specially when the drawers start getting full, and they will.

Kevin... as far as the ratchets go, I have several Craftsman ratchets. I have had very little problems with them over the years. I do have a Snap-on ratchet that isn't worth anything. It has been rebuilt numerous times, with the same results. It is still garbage. It cost me 5 times as much as the ratchet it replaced, and has been garbage from day 1.

[boomer]

adtkart,
I've been buying and using Snap-On tools for 34 years. And the only time I had any trouble with the ratchets is when I abused them or the tool man didn't rebuild them right afterwords. All the stuff in the ratchet head should be replaced, not just the stuff that shows damage or wear. One of mine was purchased in 1970, it's been rebuilt at least 8 times and works fine. I know Snap-On tools are expensive , but when you wrench for a living I think they are worth the cost.

[Beenaway2long]

I almost live in my garage. Refrig, urinal, TV, chairs, all the essentials, ya know? ( I know, no toilet. Ya gotta see the wife and kids some times! Might as well be while your on the way if for that!) Anyway, I am always using my tools. Between the hot rods, drag sleds, snowmobiles, lawn/snow equipment, tractors, 4wheelers, machine tools, etc., I always have a wrench in my hand. I still have my first set of wrenches (S-K) from when I was 12 ! Anyway, I have just about all the brands. Snap on, Mac, S-K Craftsmen, etc. I have to tell you, the Snap Ons look pretty, and the fit my hands OK, but for the money, you can't go wrong with Craftsman. A 7 pc wrench set for $9.99 on sale? A complete set of metric & SAE sockets 1/4, 3/8, 1/2" w/ wrenches , screwdrivers, allen wrenches for $160.00? You can buy 6 sets of Craftsman for the same price as a Tool Truck brand. And thats EXACTLY what I do. I have at least 10 sets of common size wrenches, 4 sets of sockets w/ rachets. Etc. I can't pass up the sales, man. I'm addicted. My thought was that I could make a trip once a month and still not slow down my wrenching because of a broken tool.

Honestly, it's been about 6 years since I had to warranty a tool. If you use THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE RIGHT JOB, craftsman will do fine. Adding a pipe to a rachet is asking to break it. Thats why they make breaker bars. Using a 1/2" rachet, necked down to a 1/4" drive socket will split the socket. I've done it. And they will break. Use a 12 point for heavy work is asking it to slip or split.

Its a matter of preference for the brand. There's no doubt that there is prestige using a tool truck tool. But truthfully, I can't tell the difference. The jobs all get done without frustration. I make it up in quantity, I guess. I can leave on set of tools near one job, and start another project without chasing tools. But, to each his own.

[Sandflea427SS]

Try the New Stanley ratchets. Didn't Mac buy Stanley anyhow....??
I put my sockets and ratchets in the top of the top box. That way there is no need to open a drawer evertime you need a socket. I have specialty tools in the second drawer. Screwdrivers in the 3rd. and Combo wrenches in the 4th. Bottom drawer in top box is hammers and such. Bottom box is punches, air tools and the lesser used tools.

[adtkart]

The Snap on ratchet that I have has had the internals replaced several times. must be something wrong with the handle. It's the only part that hasn't been replaced. I have only had 1 Craftsman ratchet that I have had problems with. I took it back and got another brand new one to replace it.

Everyone has their own favorites when it comes to tools. I found many years ago, when using my tools professionally, that I needed tools that I could depend on. On top of that, and brand of tools can fail. I bought certain tools from the tool trucks for certain reasons. When they would serve the purpose, I bought Craftsman tools because if they failed, and needed replacement, it was just a stop on the way home.

Buy the tools that you feel most comfortable with, and organize them for your comfort.

[GypsyR]

I reorganized my tools many times over the years because of different boxes or because I was doing different jobs.
I always like to put my sockets on racks in the very top though.
The first drawer (big single one) holds all the ratchets, extensions, adapters, etcetera.
Next are the normal combination wrenches.
Next oddball specialty wrenches and adjustables.
Last, pliers.
Another top box, has stuff on top like a tap set and a torque wrenches.
First drawer is all that oddball stuff I keep. Markers, valve stem tool, address book, little weird stuff.
Next scewdrivers, prybars, and things like screwdrivers.
Then chisels and punches.
Then Allen tools.
Then tune up tools, vacuum gauge, timing light, etc.
And it goes on.
I have a neat big plastic thing that holds a complete set of screwdrivers nicely organized. It used to be in a drawer but has been hanging on the wall for a couple of years. My vice grip collection hangs on the wall along with the hammers. Tools I like to be able to just grab.
I also have 4 portable boxes. One contains all my 1/2"drive socket stuff and is very heavy. Two is a plastic "Craftsman" type monster 3/8"and 1/4" socket and ratchet set which generally lasts about a year before I have to buy another one (the box, not the tools in it). Three, a "tote" thing that holds hammers and my commonly used tools like a wrench set. Four, a small version of a top box that holds various specialty type tools and smaller stuff.
I rarely have to load up all four, but sometimes...
It took me years to get all this stuff placed where it was convenient to me. The reason the portable stuff is in 4 boxes is that I discovered just two were nicer but backbreaking to load/unload. My needs (and anybody else's) are different from yours.
Don't just say "that goes there" and be done. You'll likely find yourself rearranging stuff to work better, and you should.
The only real tip I can give is that what you use most is what you want to put right at the natural level of your hand or in a direct line to your eye. Preferably both.
Hence my sockets are in top box #1 where I can can see them easily. Wrenches are at hand level as I can almost select the one I want by feel. Top box #2 sits up way too high so I've put rarely used stuff in the top of it.

[Beenaway2long]

Another handy thing is to get a label maker. They cost anywhere from 5 to 100 bucks, depending on how nice you want them. Anyway, label the drawers, by all means. This way, when a buddy or your kid goes to grab a tool for you (or put them away?) it'll make it that much easier.

[Native Gearhead]

Kids putting tools away? Oh yeah...right. Mine must have missed that memo.

[Kevin45]

It used to be in a drawer but has been hanging on the wall for a couple of years. My vice grip collection hangs on the wall along with the hammers. Tools I like to be able to just grab.

Another handy thing is to get a label maker

I don't like my stuff hanging on the walls. Main reason being I always forget what I need and have to walk back over and get it. I have a Sears 12 drawer roll-around and a 12 drawer box on top. I have to drag it over to where I am working so everything is at hand. I never though of using the label maker. The wife has one so I will be putting it to good use. Thanks for the tip.

Kevin

[4 Jaw Chick]

You need to have a talk with 4 Jaw Chuck. His tool box is amazingly organized considering he has more tools than he can use in two lifetimes! And that's just the stuff he keeps at home!

Chickie.

[adtkart]

Most women believe that guys have too many tools. I have a policy on buying tools. If I need to borrow one once, that is fine. If I need it twice, I buy it. I have figured, if I need to borrow a special wrench to remove a bolt, I return it before I re-install the bolt. That way I have to borrow it a second time, hence the need to purchase one. Works here!

As for labling the drawers. The problem with me doing that is my kid then knows where things are when he wants to take them.