Comments on: Finds: The Anything-But-Basic Home Tool Kit

By: online gift catalog

online gift catalog — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:46:14 +0000

online gift catalog

Interesing, how can i contact you, have some advises. We have a discussion

By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Finds: Yet Another “Complete” Home Tool Set

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 18:04:48 +0000

[...] The “Anything-But-Basic” Home Toolkit [...]

By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Toolmonger’s Top 5: The Week in Tools

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 05:28:04 +0000

[...] Finds: The Anything-But-Basic Home Tool Kit Nothing starts a discussion among Toolmongers more effectively than a “basic tool kit.” We’ve all got strong ideas about what should be contained therein, and we love to express them regularly and forcefully. We ran across this toolkit in its slick-looking James-Bond-nuclear-weapon suitcase and couldn’t help but post it — but you’ll probably enjoy the comments even more than the post. [...]

By: Eli

Eli — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:18:20 +0000

In my business it’s common for carpenters to build an upright rolling case with magazine file box style upright dividers, holding all the power and air tools facing the user. I hate blister cases, but they do keep the tools clean….. the trend of soft sided cases is cool, but a complete set of dewalts is almost too heavy to set it down lighly.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:02:21 +0000

Well as far as organization goes I think it depends on who you are and what your application is. For me personally I like to compartmentalize things. Not necessarily the form fitted stuff like the kit above but more like pouches or pockets inside a larger container. Sort of like a well organized backpack; enough room that you can expand your set but keep it in an easily identified and useable format. Now if I could find the perfect one that wasn’t just another big bag with a, “lump it all in there” approach I would be set.

By: Fletcher

Fletcher — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:15:31 +0000

I used to pitch the blow-molded cases I got with tool kits for the very reason Myself mentioned. Consequently, it took longer to find everything, and that’s assuming I hadn’t already lost what I was looking for. I appreciate the blow-molded cases more now. Maybe it’s my anal retentive nature, but I like opening those plastic cases to find a neat, orderly, complete set (versus the chaotic scattering of tools in my tool boxes.)
I do concede the point that these plastic cases don’t usually have room to add more tools. I recently got a Craftsman kit that did have a nice, open space for more tools. A Husky set I also recently got doesn’t, but does have nice detents that ‘clip’ the tools in place, versus the Craftsman which doesn’t. May not sound like a big deal, since both cases hold the tools in place when closed, but have you ever had a case fall off a roof/ladder/fender/etc while open? I have, so this round goes to Husky.
I may have digressed from the blog topic a bit.

By: Myself

Myself — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:55:20 +0000

Their illustrations are actually photos run through some filtering. You’re getting a remarkably accurate picture of the product’s dimensions, and a remarkably inaccurate picture of its color.

I don’t know if this is how they do it, but it’s fascinating: http://www.photo.net/learn/technology/mflash/merl-non-photo.html

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 12:38:23 +0000

I was just reading through the little mini-catalog from Duluth and thinking that I really need to pick up some stuff from them. They have some nice looking outerwear, and the cargos look like something that’s rugged, but nice enough to wear to work (office - corp casual)

Although, I don’t like their illustrations. I would much prefer to have pictures to see what stuff REALLY looks like.

By: Myself

Myself — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 11:24:20 +0000

I could tell from the illustration it was a Duluth Trading post. I love their catalog AND their pants. (Everything they say about that “firehose” fabric is true!)

The place-for-everything tool pallet is good for knowing if you’ve left something behind, but it discourages its owner from adding to the kit. A new tool that necessity dictates ends up stashed elsewhere in the box, where it’s ironically MORE likely to be left behind, because a quick glance at the pallet indicates “everything’s there”. Blow-molded cases are even worse; they tell you if you’re missing a piece, and they effectively prevent you from adding anything at all.

The alternative, a free-form box with everything rattling around, encourages packrat tendencies and clutter.

Any thoughts on a happy medium?