I started cleaning up the shop/garage after finally getting a desk and hutch finished. I’ve been laying out a new configuration for it and yes, the car does need to go back in the garage. But I digress.
Since space is always an issue. I realized I have collected an awful lot of plastic tool boxes. Most are empty because I have put the tools in drawers and tool boxes. Then some of them have that one odd ball accessory that I’m afraid I’ll lose if I ever take it out. And of course, manuals are still stored in them. BTW. I’ve downloaded most of my manuals in PDFs from manufacturer web sites. Not only is it easier to find them but I don’t need glasses to read them since I acrobat lets you zoom in.
What do you do with them? Toss them? (recycle) Store them? Re-purpose them? (floatation device, lol)
Side story. The client I built the desk for, doesn’t want to take it until the hardware is in on it. The hardware is on backorder for six weeks. I had notified them about 4 weeks ago of the pending completion but the client had some family issues come up. So now the desk sits in my house. I’ll post pictures in the gallery a little later.
Len
“You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. ” J. S. Knox
Edited 6/28/2008 9:29 am by Len
Edited 6/28/2008 9:30 am by Len
Edited 6/28/2008 9:32 am by Len
Replies
You could drill some holes in the bottoms and use them for planters. They might look nice around the base of one of those toilet planters. :-)
Donate them to Habitat for Humanity. I would think they'd appreciate them, since they have to transport tools for the volunteers to each building site, and having them in a plastic box would protect them. And you can take a tax write-off.
Never really thought of that. It's great idea. The only problem is as Chaim said,. They are only good for a particular tool. But I'm going to look into if Habitat would like them. Len
"You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox
I toss, finally, after years of deliberation. I finally realized they are not designed for practical storage, they are really just shipping cartons.
It's another example of how Festool gets it right and the other tool companies don't. I am positive there are people who will choose a particular tool from Festool over other other companies just because the box integrates with other Festool products they own.
I don't own any Festool but I had designed nested tool storage plywood boxes before I saw my first Festool Systainer (sp?). My design doesn't include lids, however - I want easy access!
Toss them all at once and marvel at the amount of space you just freed up!
The Wood Loon
Acton, MA
My friend has some Festools and I like the idea of the crates. Then at the same time I don't like having to lift one case to access the one under it. I would prefer a roll around with drawers. Yes, I've seen the cart that allows you to slide the crates in and out. It's $540....ouch.
Cheaper still are old milk crates and the dust just falls through.
Len
"You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox
OK, since the plastic boxes are usually two layers, an inside molded layer, and the outside 'case', there is much wasted space designed into the case. By cutting out the inner molded layer, you will have a larger box able to store cut offs of wood, hardware, toys, leftovers from dinner or any other items that need a durable container with handle for carrying. A large case, from say a router or circular saw could have another life as a picnic basket. Smaller cases could become a lunch box for the kids at school. Forget super heroes and ninja turtles, my lunch box says "BOSCH'... Now that's one cool kid.Andy
Living green, through plastics.
Great idea - I love it!Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
What a common problem this is!
You can store tools in them, but they aren't a uniform size so most aren't stackable and the like. I struggled for years to juggle storing these odds and ends boxes. Sometimes I take my tools to clients houses to do work so allot of my tool boxes stay as is, but what a pita they are to carry!
I too am afraid of loosing the errant doodad, but I'm slowly learning to compile tools in regular store bought or shop made tool boxes. this is a tremendous space saver and can help you organize tools that you commonly use together!
As to what to do with the tool boxes perhaps you got old tools that are no longer any use to you you could give em to a local charity, or have a yard sale, or sell em on e bay who knows?
Good luck to you,
Chaim
Make your own mistakes not someone else's, this is a good way to be original !
Edited 6/28/2008 2:27 pm by chaim
"As to what to do with the tool boxes perhaps you got old tools that are no longer any use"
Your kidding right... A tool that I won't use again. It's never going to happen. I won't give any of them up even if I have two...three... of them. ROLF
I am, in fact, sorting through tools. I've been given a lot of the really old tools from older family members. Some really cool and some not so. And a lot of them are in old metal cookie boxes. In some cases the boxes are worth more than the tools inside. When was the last time you saw a black Ridged pipe wrench?
Len
"You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox
I simply meant that If there were any old unusable tools repetitious or otherwise they could best serve others who don't' have a need (or use) for tools of a discerning nature.
Your cookie box idea sounds great I did a similar thing too. I knew a young struggling man who had no wherewithal and a growing family. he had a need for some basic tools so I assembled some older tools that just took up space and gave him a present in one of those old tool boxes! I will never miss them but he may treasure them for a good many years! although no black pipe wrenches.
No one must give old tools away, especially not ones that have a value to them (sentimental or not). Helping another is worth much more than an old box of rusting and unusable tools. Recently I recall a thread of "tools for a wounded soldier" here on knots.
Anyway these suggestions may not fit the bill or even be warranted as it was not the original question of the post.
Thanks anyhow for the ear and good luck in the space saving effort.
ChaimMake your own mistakes not someone elses, this is a good way to be original !
Chaim,
I was just kidding about giving old tools away. Sometimes it doesn't translate. Your suggestion was good one. No offense was intended. Thanks for the post.Len
"You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox
None taken, don't worry too much about me. these days I tend to take too many things way too seriously.
glad to know you found my tips helpful though.
ChaimMake your own mistakes not someone elses, this is a good way to be original !
I find that DeWalt is the worst for wasted space with their plastic boxes. The idea of cutting out the insides and re-using them for another purpose is a great idea. I re-used a container for a DeWalt kit box by heating it with my heat gun and re-molding it to the shape of my belt sander. I don't like carrying that tool through clients homes, it seems to leak dust everywhere. Now the box carries the tool and stores spare belts.
This discussion has inspired me to go to the shop and see what other boxes are lying empty waiting to be 'gutted' and pressed into service in some other capacity.
i make my children use them for luggage. they find it embarrassing but those old cordless drill cases are tough!...like samsonite! with some glue and some 2" pvc pipe you could make some dandyhamster habitats. depending on the tool you could use it for tupperware...like your router case as a breadbox. stacked dado set?...leftover pizza!!!!
the mind reels with ideas....sadly most people just turf em
gotta go, ive got three cords of papertowel tubes i need to stack!
I also cut the hollow insides out of them. I use the rotozip-like cutter that comes with my dremel tool, but a true roto-zip would work even better. The spiral bit cuts through the plastic like butter, and then you have access to all that wasted space.
Mike D
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