A good mechanic tool chest provides more than just storage for the tools a mechanic owns. Instead, a good mechanic tool chest allow a person to store the tools in such a way that ensures that every single tool is locate when it is needed. A person who does not have a mechanic tool chest will find there tools spread out and, more importantly, will find themselves slowed down with their repair.
On the other hand, a person who has the right mechanic tool chest will find their workflow with their tools improve, their tools will last longer, and they will spend less time searching for their tool. The difference between the cluttered toolbox of a weekend warrior and the organized rig of a mechanic professional lie in the mechanic tool chest that they use. The size, layout of the drawers, the material out of which the tool chest is made, and the security feature of the chest are all essential elements of a mechanic tool chest.
These elements will ultimately allow a person to find the mechanic tool chest that suit their needs for the present and for the many year to come.
Key Features of a Great Mechanic Tool Chest
1. Capacity and Size Requirements
The first consideration that a person should make when purchasing a mechanic tool chest is the capacity that they will need for their tool. For instance, a small rolling chest that comes with only five drawer might be appropriate for a workshop that has two car.
However, such a chest will quickly become filled with tools such as metric socket, SAE socket, ratchets, and screwdriver. Many mechanics will find that they outgrow their first mechanic tool chest within their first year of use. Therefore, if a person already owns a large collection of tools or if they intend to collect tools over time, they should seek out a mechanic tool chest that has at least eight drawer and is at least 30 inch in width.
This will allow enough space for the heavy tool to not have to be grouped with the smaller hand tools. By purchasing a chest that offers more space, a person will find that they will no longer have to stack their tools on the chest; rather, they will have a place for all of their tools within the chest. The material of the mechanic tool chest will impact not only the weight of the chest while in use but also how long the chest will last.
2. Steel Construction
The standard material for a mechanic tool chest is steel. A mechanic tool chest made of 16-gauge and 18-gauge steel can dent and withstand the heavy use of a mechanic shop.
3. Aluminum Tool Chests
Aluminum tool chest are lighter than steel and do not rust as easily in damp climate but dent more easily.
Aluminum chests also cost more money than steel chest for the same volume of storage space.
4. Plastic and Composite Materials
For plastic and composite material, the tool chest will work fine for a person who only use their tools occasionally in their home workshop. However, plastic and composite chests will flex under heavy use and will eventually break down after many years of use.
For these reason, unless a person moves their chest a lot or lives in a coastal area where corrosion is a problem, a steel mechanic tool chest will be the best material for a person money. Another important feature to consider when purchasing a chest is the quality of the drawer. Professional mechanic tool chests will have full-extension ball-bearing slide in each of their drawers to allow the drawers to open completely without tipping the chest.
5. Drawer Quality and Slides
Cheap tool chests will have half-extension slide that will become stuck after a few season of use. Such a problem will occur when trying to find a deep 17-millimeter socket that is located on the far end of a drawer. Additionally, the drawers should have double-walled front to allow for strength when the chest is loaded down with up to 50 pound of tools.
A drawer that bows out of plane under load will cause the tools to become a jumbled mass once again. Next in importance to the quality of the chest is the locking mechanism. A tubular lock will keep the tools from someone with casual interest in the tools from accessing them.
6. Locking Mechanisms
However, a tubular lock will not protect against theft. High-end chest manufacturer will use electronic lock that have multiple latch point or a central locking bar that drop into place when the owner replaces a set of costly tool that were stolen from their job site. Mobility is another feature of a mechanic tool chest that a person should consider when purchasing one.
7. Mobility and Casters
The casters need to be able to roll smoothly while the chest can hold up to 400 pound of steel tool. The best tool chests will include at least two locking swivel caster and a sturdy handle to help the owner roll the chest to the vehicle that they are working on and to the side of the vehicle when the work is complete. A mechanic tool chest that does not have locking caster and a sturdy handle will become a nuisance in operation and will likely wear out quickly under heavy use.
The different internal organization feature that a chest can include will ultimately help to organize the tool within. Adjustable divider, foam insert, and tray can aid in the organization of tools, but the most important feature is the layout of the drawer within the chest. The top drawer should be wide enough to accommodate large tool such as cordless drill.
8. Internal Organization and Layout
The upper drawer should be narrow enough to allow for a mechanic to see all of the socket that are within each of these drawer. The bottom drawer should be deeper to allow heavy tool to be stored within but do not interfere with the tool when they are in storage. Another consideration is the size of the chest in relation to the space available for it in the shop.
While a 72-inch chest might look good in the workshop photo that are located on manufacturer website, the chest might take up all of the available space in a residential garage. A person should consider how much room the drawer need to open and how much room they have to walk around the vehicle. Many mechanics will find a 42-inch chest and a top chest that goes with it to be a good start to finding a chest that offer a lot of storage space but does not take up too much room in the workshop area.
A person can always purchase an additional chest down the road as their collection of tool grows in size. Another consideration for a person to make when buying a mechanic tool chest is to consider the future. Many chest manufacturer make series of tool that are meant to be used together.
9. Modular Components
For example, one chest might have a side locker that can be bolt on, a power drawer can be added to accommodate USB device, or another chest can be stack on top after a few years of use. By purchasing a tool chest setup that incorporates a modular component, a person will save money in the future and will not have to buy a new chest when their current one becomes too small for their need.
10. Security and Floor Mounting
Another feature to consider is the security of the chest. Many chest will have predrilled hole to allow the owner to bolt the chest to the floor of their shop. Some even come with reinforced eyelet to allow for the placement of a cable lock or a GPS tracking device for their tool. A mechanic might laugh at the idea of using a GPS tracker for their tool until one of their expensive tool set goes missing on a job site.
Mechanic tool chests require maintenance to ensure that they can still perform their task in the future. The steel component of the chest should be wiped down every few month using WD-40 or a tool oil. The casters should be inspected to ensure that they are still in good working order and that they are not obstructed by debris.
In area that have salty winter, desiccant pack can be included in the chest to absorb the moisture that can lead to rust. These maintenance task will dramatically extend the life of their chest and keep their tool from getting rust on the component that they touch. When a person has spent six month with their mechanic tool chest, they should test the chest to see how well it perform.
They should ask whether or not the chest still rolls smoothly when loaded with all of their tool. They should ask whether or not the drawer can be opened with one hand when the drawer above it is full with tool. They should ask whether or not their most-used tool are still in their expected location.
By answering these question, a person can determine whether or not they have selected a good mechanic tool chest for their need. Ultimately, buying a mechanic tool chest is an endeavor that involve respecting the time and tool of a person. With the mechanic tool chest that they purchase, a person will ultimately find their shop and their tool to function in a different way.
Everything will have a place, they will be able to complete more project in the same amount of time, and they will find more satisfaction in the place where they store their tool. Therefore, a person should start with the size and material they need and their drawer and caster quality, then consider the future and the need to secure their valuable chest of tool. By making these consideration, they will find a mechanic tool chest that perform the job of their tool chest for the many year to come.
