Tangles of wires have become as ubiquitous as the computers they connect to — you’ll find them in the shop for controlling CNC machines, in the garage for diagnostics, and in my favorite personal hangout, the electronics lab, for everything. While the WireMate isn’t strictly a tool, it can help unclutter your workspace.

Note: this is an “As Seen On TV” product, and some of their marketing has the same feel as an instruction manual translated from Chinese, especially the phrases, “Function So Easy!” and “Form So Perfect.” Despite the marketing, the concept looks sound.

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Mac Tools, embracing its role as a NASCAR sponsor, just released a limited-edition Hendrick Motorsports tool box set with racing logos and graphics on the door lids. The set consists of a cart and an MB1000A base box with a newly configured top hutch for added storage — they both feature Casey Mears in the No. 5 Carquest/Kellogg’s Chevrolet; Jeff Gordon in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet; and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 AMP/National Guard Chevrolet.

For the diehard NASCAR fan, this is hotness on casters.  But if you just want a sturdy place to keep your tools, or if you’re satisfied with the current setup in your shop that already has 300 logo stickers plastered all over it — you might feel the need to skip this one.  If not, you can call it in and have a truck drop it right at your shop’s door.

Mac Tools [Corporate Site]

Cortec corrosion inhibitors sold at Lee Valley will protect your rust-prone tools for up to two years. Instead of coating your tools with sticky, greasy, or oily substances, just throw one of these anti-corrosion emitters into any enclosed box, cabinet, or drawer where you store your tools.

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Spring arrived a few weeks ago, so if you haven’t already, it’s time to pull the hoses out of storage. If you’d stored ‘em in this fingered hose holder, you’d be watering tangle-free now instead of trying to unravel a kinked mess.  Mount the holder next to the hose bib, and your hoses’ll always be ready to go.

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Recently, one of the mechanics at my local shop got himself a brand new Snap-on box with a top hutch, and I got a little jealous — ok, a lot jealous. It’s big, blue, shiny, and completely lust-worthy.

The five thousand dollar buy-in is steep for most, but you’re really buying the Snap-on name and quality. A box like this will last through many moves from house to house, from shop to shop — and all the while it’ll hold a ton of tools without sagging or faltering like a few department store toolboxes might. Plus, you can always expand or adapt this versatile box to suit your circumstances.

Only the buyer can say whether the Snap-on box is worth the uber price difference. But most of us can agree, this box is mighty good looking — even with all the drool stains on it.

Rolling Toolbox And Top Hutch [Snap-on]

Snap-on recently introduced the magnetic Lock-A-Wrench 12-piece wrench organizer under their Blue Point label. Apparently it isn’t just for wrenches — it appears to work with most shafted tools. Attach this organizer to your workbench for easy storage, or stick it to your metal toolbox or cart to keep tools within reach.

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Your partner might call it a purse, but when did you see a purse for $2? This little 11″ Craftsman tool bag will fit the bill for city apartment dwellers who need a place for their screwdrivers, wrenches, and other small hand tools. Craftsman internally reinforces the large internal compartment and all the stress points, to assure maximum durability. You can pick up the bag at the store, or they’ll deliver.

Craftsman Tool Bag [Sears]

It doesn’t get much simpler than magnets on a string, but that’s essentially what HandyMagnets are — a series of nine plastic-encapsulated rare-earth magnets. They’ll keep a map stuck to the hood of your car while you figure out where you are, or they’ll attach your tools to any ferrous object in your shop. This Australian product doesn’t seem to have made it to U.S. shores yet, but I look forward to when it does.

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I pick up a lot of my tools secondhand — garage-sale specials — and those slick molded cases are usually long gone by the time I get my hands on ‘em. But if I ever want a case, Carry Cases Plus offers plastic, blow-molded cases in a variety of sizes. They’ll protect anything from high-priced power tools to your collection of antique hand planes.

The cases come in three levels of quality: Standard, Infinity, and Defender. Build quality and internal protection increase with price. Sizes range from the smallish 7.5″ x 8.125″ x 3.53″ to models that are 26-inches long. You can order cases either empty or with your choice of internal foam padding. For a fee, they’ll even custom-cut foam inserts from submitted CAD files.

Prices range from about $10 for the smallest cases to $80 for large models with well-protected insides.

Carry Cases Plus [Official Site]

What’s better than one tool bag? Thats right, two tool bags. You can get this duo over at Sears for $7.50.  Each bag — one is 10-inches and the other 12-inches — features a large interior, three outer pockets, two full-handle grips, zipper top with a steel reinforcement bar, and double stitching on the base, which provides resistance to both water and abrasion.  Offer ends March 22.

Craftsman Tool Bag Two-Pack [Sears]

If a windstorm has ever scattered your deck furniture across the neighborhood, Deck-Tiedowns from Bishop Innovations could save you a lot of grief. They’re simple stainless steel rings with “T”-shaped ends — you just slip ‘em between your deck planks, and twist. They provide a secure anchor for grills, patio furniture, etc, when weather threatens to blow them away.

You can find Deck-Tiedowns in some hardware stores, but if your local store doesn’t carry ‘em, you can buy ‘em directly from the website. They’ll fit boards up to 1-1/2″ thick. A four-pack of tiedowns costs $6, and a 12-pack runs $15.

Deck-Tiedown [Official Site]
PDF Order Form [Decktiedown.com]

Cars and tools are so closely connected, some people have trouble separating the two. You can’t really have one without the other. In the case of Snap-On’s ’57 “Glomad” Chevy, we have to say we had no idea tools could look so damn good on a car.

The Glomad sports actual wrenches that make up the two-tone on the sides and the rails at the rear of the trunk — and the lug nuts on the bad-ass rims are sockets. It also comes complete with a huge, fold-out Snap-On tool system in the cave-like rear area.

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Before the days of the slick Snap-On or behemoth Waterloo Industry tool chests, machinists stored their tools in wooden machinist chests. Gerstner’s been making ‘em since 1906, and they remain the standard against which wooden machinist chests are measured.

In 1910 Gerstner designed the #41, a typical chest, to hold precision instruments for machinists. You can cover the #41’s seven lined drawers with a front lid, and you can lock the whole thing up — including the lined top tray — just like a contemporary machinist chest. Gerstner makes the chests with tongue and groove wood panels in your choice of golden oak, maple, cherry, or walnut. You can further customize the chest with hardware finishes and black or green felt. It also features a mirror mounted to the lid, one feature you don’t see too often in contemporary chests.

In today’s world the wooden chest has become more of a showpiece than an everyday necessity, and the prices reflect that — the #41 has a street price of $710 to $740 depending on what finish you decide on. Gerstner produces a “Gerstner International” line for those who want an economical option — the overseas manufacturers who make the International line hold themselves to less-strict standards. Either Gerstner USA or Gerstner International chests could become prize pieces to enjoy for a long time.

Gerstner #41 [Gerstner]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

If you watch the History Channel at all you’re going to run across things like the Lumb-R Grip hanger. Basically, you slide it over some exposed timber, give it a quick yank, and it grips the timber in two places.  The system claims each hook can carry a 200 lb load.  Street pricing is about $5 a pair.

We don’t doubt that the hook will hold once installed or that it’ll carry a heavy payload.  Our question is, why would you do that when there are much better and cheaper ways to mount hangers on your wall that hold more weight?

What do you think?  Are we just too old and stodgy?  Is this the next revolution in storage?  Let us know in comments.

Lumb-R Grip [As Seen On TV]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

With all the tools posted on Toolmonger, you’re gonna need somewhere to put ‘em all. Stanley recently added this 4-in-1 Mobile Work Station to their FatMax line, and Amazon is selling it for $80, with free shipping. The cantilever multi-level rolling cart gives you access to all of the storage areas — a toolbox, part bins, portable tray, and a larger oversized bin on the bottom — at the same time.

The handle telescopes for added maneuverability, and a single locking latch secures the entire cart. Stanley offers a limited lifetime warranty.

FatMax 4-in-1 Mobile Work Station [Stanley Tools]
Via Amazon (B000V29B7K) [What’s This?]
Street Pricing [Google Products]

Next time you have to bundle boards, pipes, siding, or whatever, don’t reach for tape or rope or twine — grab your roll of Stretch Wrap Flat Twine. If it’s good enough to withstand shipping by UPS, it’s good enough for Toolmongers.

Unlike tape, Flat Twine only sticks to itself, so there are no knots to remember — wrapping the Flat Twine over itself is sufficient. Since it stretches, you can bundle your stuff tighter than with rope or twine. And when you need to separate the materials, just unwrap the flat twine; no knots to untie, no sticky mess left behind.

Pricing starts at $4 for a 2″ x 178′ roll with dispenser. If you can find a rope that length for cheaper, I wouldn’t trust it.

Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

These days, most manufacturers make their tool belts out of split-grain leather or nylon. Though split-grain leather has a good weight and flexibility, it wears out quickly. Nylon, a more affordable material, can be very stiff. Occidental Leather makes tool belts from full-grain leather to provide a quality belt that will last for years of hard use.

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