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Tool Boxes recommendations for portable workshop

Old 03-02-19, 06:51 PM
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letenn 
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Tool Boxes recommendations for portable workshop

Hi all,

I don't have enough space for a permanent bike shop. Mine has to be portable, so I can put it away when I'm not using it. What do you all use for tool boxes? My toolbox has gotten too small.

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Old 03-02-19, 07:23 PM
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I use plastic shoe boxes, from Costco, for some of my tools, and all of my spare parts.
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Old 03-02-19, 07:34 PM
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Originally Posted by letenn
Hi all,

I don't have enough space for a permanent bike shop. Mine has to be portable, so I can put it away when I'm not using it. What do you all use for tool boxes? My toolbox has gotten too small.

Home Depot has rolling expandable Stanley portable tool boxes that should be perfect for this. They have a retractable handle for wheeling it around. I have had one for years in my trailer that I wheel out in the pits at the dragstrip to work on the motorcycle when needed, works great even when overloaded.

https://images.homedepot-static.com/...13-a0_1000.jpg

Last edited by merziac; 03-02-19 at 07:38 PM.
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Old 03-02-19, 08:02 PM
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yeah, I've seen those. I like this one: Husky Tool Box
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Old 03-02-19, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by letenn
yeah, I've seen those. I like this one: Husky Tool Box
Those are cool, the Stanley is priced better imho and may hold up/work better. I've been a mechaic/technician all my life, got about 15-20 boxes from totes to a work station that takes up over half a car space. Many boxes for many jobs.
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Old 03-02-19, 09:29 PM
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Maybe a small roll-away.
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Old 03-02-19, 11:08 PM
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Sears made some good tool bags a while ago.
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Old 03-03-19, 03:37 AM
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A Craftsman 3 drawer tool box but be careful they can get heavy quick. https://www.lowes.com/pd/craftsman-p...EaAmJFEALw_wcB



Originally Posted by letenn
yeah, I've seen those. I like this one: Husky Tool Box
i want one of these for the shooting range
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Old 03-03-19, 06:13 AM
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I thought about the 3 drawer metal tool box like that craftsman. But then I saw those stackable totes with wheels, and thought I could put my parts in the bottom. The blue bin in the picture is my parts bin.
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Old 03-03-19, 06:28 AM
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What BG said.
A tool box large enough to hold a useful selection rapidly becomes too heavy to lift easily.

Top
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Old 03-03-19, 06:40 AM
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I have one of these, from Harbor Freight, and it works pretty well.
But like others have said, you run out of space soon enough .....

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Old 03-03-19, 06:49 AM
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Originally Posted by letenn
Hi all,

I don't have enough space for a permanent bike shop. Mine has to be portable, so I can put it away when I'm not using it. What do you all use for tool boxes? My toolbox has gotten too small.



Love the GI folding table!

Top
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Old 03-03-19, 07:02 AM
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^^^ Makes for easy cleanup as you jusst throw everything on the cart and roll it away.
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Old 03-03-19, 07:10 AM
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Or get one of these and leave it outside:


https://www.homedepot.com/s/jobsite%2520box?NCNI-5
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Old 03-03-19, 07:44 AM
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I posted this yesterday in another thread. I am a fan of the the Park Tool Chests Currently I use a the BX-2 but with the amount of tools I am accumulating, I might need to move up to the BX-3. Yes, they are very expensive but they are designed for the bicycle enthusiast in mind.




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Old 03-03-19, 09:22 AM
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This style of box was made by many, currently by Kennedy. You can fit most all of your bike tools in it and it's heavy but movable and strong. It's a shame they're hundreds of bucks but your Grandkids will inherit it.


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Old 03-03-19, 11:18 AM
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Using a Kennedy machinists tool chest is not a bad idea. I have one that is under-utilized. Also a similar craftsman box that is also just collecting junk. I do 99% of my wrenching in the basement nowadays, so a portable is less than fully useful.

If you really want to go down a rabbit hole of portable toolboxes, the toolboxwars hashtag on instagram is good to waste a lot of time. It also got me to waste $14 so far. They usually modify Pelican cases, which is expensive, but not as expensive as the Park or other pre-made boxes. https://www.instagram.com/explore/ta...ars/top/?hl=ur
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Old 03-03-19, 11:53 AM
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Random question, but in response to Toolboxwars, can someone explain what the rotating punch pliers in so many of the pros' toolboxes are used for?
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Old 03-03-19, 12:33 PM
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I use a small blue Kuboti, open top and two drawers.
Everything I need besides a pump. I don't use a stand.
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Old 03-03-19, 01:30 PM
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Believe it or not, at one time, I gave serious consideration to using this Falcon Tricycle as a portable bench and tool holder. Sadly. someone bought the bike and the trike kit, ending my unique bike/tool box idea...



Also, when starting out, one might want to know what are good tools to start with, then what to add when maintenance or restoration projects become more intricate and/or demanding. With that in mind, I put together this tool suggestion page for all levels of bicycle maintenance or full restoration. Have a look, if you wish and I do hope it proves helpful...
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Old 03-03-19, 01:57 PM
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Originally Posted by lasauge
Random question, but in response to Toolboxwars, can someone explain what the rotating punch pliers in so many of the pros' toolboxes are used for?
Do you mean the sort of pliers that are used for leather work?
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Old 03-03-19, 06:23 PM
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Maybe 40-50 lbs with the essentials plus some extra crap. Transistor radio not included. The beauty is you don't need the foam stuff, the drawers organize everything. Build quality exceptional. Looks scattered, I know.
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Old 03-03-19, 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by top506
Love the GI folding table!

Top
Yeah, that table is awesome. I use it for everything. I put a new top on it, but it's messed up again, so it needs another top.
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Old 03-03-19, 07:51 PM
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Originally Posted by clubman
This style of box was made by many, currently by Kennedy. You can fit most all of your bike tools in it and it's heavy but movable and strong. It's a shame they're hundreds of bucks but your Grandkids will inherit it.


I have a Kennedy model 520 like that one, courtesy of my grandmother who retired from there in 1985. I have also found some good deals at their outlet store, like a $300 mechanic chest for $40.

Kennedy tool boxes are not inexpensive, or very portable. Here's one from Stanley that has wheels and opens up nicely: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-...800R/202262088

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Old 03-04-19, 05:39 AM
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OP, think about what "portable" means to you. Ex: move it across the room, from one end of the house to the other, inside to outside, up or down stairs, down the driveway to the car, etc. Then look a that route. Smooth floor. Thin carpet, thick carpet, door sills, curbs, step down, etc. This will tell you a lot about what you need. Those small caster things are neat but cannot do stairs. The Stanley or Husky hand truck type things will handle irregular floors and journeys much better. Ex: up the stairs and out onto the back porch. The larger the wheels the better. You could even figure out how to lash that table to the thing. Maybe choose a design that will hold your current tools and many of the others you'll get. And, maybe some consumables ( grease and lubricants and solvents and paper towels, etc) but not all your parts. Or, maybe just the parts for the current build. Seriously manage the weight n potential weight.

Figure out what you want and HOW you're going to use it. Then buy just a bit more than you'll need. You'll grow into it.

I have an old three compartment Craftsman box I bought from our hay guy for $5.00. Cleaned it up and it holds all the bike tools I regularly use. Several others are seldom used (DO alignment tool, heavy duty chain whip, frame alignment tool) so are stashed elsewhere. Not readily to hand.
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