Tool boxes

[wizard69]

jon hit upon some of the issues with tool box building, at least in the traditional sense. It is really hard to beat the cost of new or even used tool boxes when you consider the time, effort and materials costs. This really doesn't matter if you look at it from the standpoint of a sheet metal worker or a wood worker, the only way it would be cost effective is to make use of scraps from paying projects. In a similar manner I was looking for bulk storage for larger tools and found that I cna buy kitchen cabinets new for less that I could possibly diy suitable cabinets, so I hung a few on the wall. Of course that was before the massive increase in housing materials costs.

Mind you I'm a bit of a dreamer and have looked into building a hardwood tool chest that would make Gerstner blush. The problem is time, maybe in retirement. I've also considered using a lot more metal including casting aluminum trays for the drawers. We can have all sorts of dreams when it comes to the perfect tool box. It is even harder to beat the custom boxes from the likes of Huot if you want to organize taps, drills or whatever. Sure you can build a box, drawers and dividers, label everything and go at it. But the time and money to do so really makes purchasing used or new far more appealing.

The other reality is this, i have a selection of tools for both metal and wood working and frankly far more than the average person. Yet even with all of this I still don't have the tools to pull off a build in either wood nor metal. I'd have to have the shell bent if in sheet metal $$$$$ or weld up a steel frame and hope that I can do that to the quality level required. These days I've done more by building a frame to house a tool box and support a strong table than to build a tool box itself.