tool bags?

[electricalperson]

what does everyone normally use to carry around tools when going on jobs? i use a bag but its impossible to organize and i hate digging through everything to get to the bottom. what does everyone else use?

[mdshunk]

On big work, I pile what I'm going to need on a trolly. On service work, I just wear bags. Hand-carry type bags never really suited me. I hated rooting for things. I like the square, flat bottom totes that guys are using now. They seem pretty nice, but I've not used them.

[Buck Parrish]

It seems no matter what type of bag or tray I have . After the service call is over I always come out with every thing in my hands.

[jrannis]

what does everyone normally use to carry around tools when going on jobs? i use a bag but its impossible to organize and i hate digging through everything to get to the bottom. what does everyone else use?

10 in 1 in back pocket with Kliens and a Wiggy for triage.
Then back for what I need out of the 50lb tool bag.

[sparkyjim]

10 in 1 in back pocket with Kliens and a Wiggy for triage.
Then back for what I need out of the 50lb tool bag.

Exactly! Love my Vetopropak (sp?) but it holds too much stuff, and remains seatbelted in my rear seat.

[Buck Parrish]

10 in 1 in back pocket

If you accidently make a tap on the ten and one to get the paint out of a screw. It will screw it up, quick. I use to use them.:wink:

[MAK]

Exactly! Love my Vetopropak (sp?) but it holds too much stuff, and remains seatbelted in my rear seat.
I like the Veto Pro Pack LC model. It carries everything I need. It is a very durable bag and well worth it.http://www.vetopropac.com/
However if I am only using a few tools than I will wear a tool belt.

[celtic]

Tool box stays on the truck....I use a 5 gal. Spackle bucket to hump the selected toys in to the job.
The bucket serves multiple purposes...in the bucket is a smaller bucket (an empty bucket from hand wipes) that actually holds the tools.
The top lip of the bucket has two notches 180° apart ~ that's a crude "vise".
The lid is a seat.
The empty area around the smaller bucket holds material on the way in....and trash on the way out.
Totally functional....totally "economical" :)

[Buck Parrish]

Vetopropak

What's that ?

[sparkyjim]

follow this : http://www.vetopropac.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=307

[celtic]

Vetopropak



What's that ?
Spelled wrong :)

Here is one:
http://www.newtoolnews.com/images/featured/summer_04/vetopropac1.jpg
http://www.newtoolnews.com/images/featured/summer_04/vetopropac2.jpg

http://www.vetopropac.com/

[Buck Parrish]

Okay, Thanks Celtic and Sparky Jim.
Mine gets filled with excess material.
But they are nice.
What about them all leather Klein bags. Are they just for looks?

[celtic]

What about them all leather Klein bags. Are they just for looks?

Like these?
http://www.service.kleintools.com/Marketing/Catalog_Imagery/5108-18_icon.jpg

http://www.service.kleintools.com/Marketing/Catalog_Imagery/5115_ICON.JPG

Never used one.
I still have a one of these tho':
http://www.service.kleintools.com/Marketing/Catalog_Imagery/5102-16_icon.jpg

[Buck Parrish]

Yeah, those are sweet. I wouldn't want to get the leather ones dirty.
I might use it for a pic nic linch with my honey, though.:grin:

[jrannis]

Like these?
http://www.service.kleintools.com/Marketing/Catalog_Imagery/5108-18_icon.jpg

http://www.service.kleintools.com/Marketing/Catalog_Imagery/5115_ICON.JPG

Never used one.
I still have a one of these tho':
http://www.service.kleintools.com/Marketing/Catalog_Imagery/5102-16_icon.jpg

I used the canvas Klein bag for a short while. For some reason the bag wants to stay i the closed position. real PITA. It is now tucked away with my concrete finishing and steel tying gear in it.
The one I have now is a doublesided Husky similar to the vetopropac that is linked in the other posts. I bought it at Home Depot, http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HomePageView?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053.

I found out how to get 5% off the gift cards they sell online. No limit either.

I usually shop there for plywood and hardware and only for electric supplies when Im in a jam

[ultramegabob]

Duluth make some nice bags I have used...

http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/22653.aspx

[JohnJ0906]

I just got one of these (http://www.clccustomleathercraft.com/products/detail002.asp?partNo=1539) a few weeks back, and like it a great deal.

Here (http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p66/JohnJ0906/johns%20tools/CLC%20bag/)are a few (not very good) pictures of it set up.

[brennan]

Tool box stays on the truck....I use a 5 gal. Spackle bucket to hump the selected toys in to the job.
The bucket serves multiple purposes...in the bucket is a smaller bucket (an empty bucket from hand wipes) that actually holds the tools.
The top lip of the bucket has two notches 180° apart ~ that's a crude "vise".
The lid is a seat.
The empty area around the smaller bucket holds material on the way in....and trash on the way out.
Totally functional....totally "economical" :)

Could you post pictures of your set up.

[brennan]

I will use any thing from putting a few tools in my pockets to a tool pouch to a tool bag to a cart with a milk crate, holes in the risers to make a wire cart, and a 5 gallon bucket. Just depends on the job or project.

[celtic]

Could you post pictures of your set up.

Seriously...you want a picture of a couple of buckets?

No problem...I'll post them later on ~ have some running around to do, then I'll upload them :smile:

[Brian Johns]

I used to use a linemans tool bucket, but recently bought this....http://www.goclc.com/products/detail002.asp?partNo=1530

It is so much easier to find the tool and also carries some small parts.

I really like it.

[electricalperson]

in my bag i normally carry klein zipper pouches. i have 3 of them. one is for nutdrivers, 2 is for insulated screwdrivers with insulated pliars in it, and the other is insulated nut drivers. i carry the fluke 117, 337 and 1507. plus all my other hand tools i need like linesmens and screwdrivers and stuff like that. i might need to just carry the things i use on a daily basis more and leave the insulated nut drivers in the truck since i only use them when working in live panels. (dont yell at me for not shutting the power off first:D )

i have a craftsman bag that ripped so i want a new one. does that veto pro pack have a side to carry larger items like zipper pouches and meters?

[GUNNING]

I walk in with a tool belt with 9" orange handle Kleins, 4" Philips & straight screwdrivers,8" trim screwdriver, 8" needle nose with #12 notch, wire strippers, utility knife, voltage indicator, pencil, sharpie, small slip joint pliers, yellow and red nut driver and a good drywall saw.
Meter in hand. Drill and parts in an orange 5 gal bucket.

If ya keep your tools on ya, you wont loose them, you will be able to find them when ya need them, and its what your being paid for.

Plastic belt buckle wont rip up the counters.

[JJWalecka]

I have tool bags which I keep specialty tools or tools I don't use often. A milk crate, that I was given, has two pieces of mule line tied on either side. Small cardboard boxes fit neatly inside, one for small hand tools and others for the material being used.

Others may prefer a tool belt or such but I swear by the milk crate.

JJ

[220/221]

After all these years I have still not found the perfect bags.

I now use the nylon bags with hip pads and velcro that have big loop handles sewn in the top.

If I am troubleshooting I will pull out select tools. If I am doing specific tasks I will unload about half the tools. In certain situations I will just suck it up and strap em on.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/JohnC1952/DSC01937.jpg

[JJWalecka]

I like a vest with lots of pockets and this takes it up a notch.

http://www.occidentalleather.com/index.html


JJ

[SiddMartin]

I use a tool tote bag ( square bottom, lot of tool slots, open center for zipper bags). I am very picky though with bags, I prolly have returned 4-5 of them after I got home and put my tools in them and they didn't work out right.

I have to have it organized, so I can glance at it and know if a tool is missing. If I just threw them all in a bag, I would never know by looking at it.

One day I will pay for one of the nice leather tool bags like this:

http://www.acetoolonline.com/OCCIDENTAL-LEATHER-5585-STRONGHOLD-JOURNEYMAN-S-TO-p/occ-5585.htm




I also have a tool box that has all the bigger tools or the ones I dont use every day (4" channel locks, ratchet cutters, etc) that stays in the van

[satcom]

With the way the economy is, time to make a tool bag from an old piece of carpet, sew in old pants pockets where you need tool pockets, not to worry in 5 or 6 years we may be getting out of this mess, and then you can take buy a nice tool bag from one of the companies that went under.

[Ebow]

I have three different "bags" in my truck with tools divided according to frequency of use. Big zip up bag for knock-out kit, hole saw kit, long drill bit set, 1/2" drive socket set and wrenches. One square stand up tool bag from the blue store for infrequent used tools, rachet cutters, tin snips, staple gun, small cable cutters, mc cutter, torque screwdriver set, and others that are nice to have but rarely used.
My main bag is another square stand up with all the assorted screw and nut drivers, two pair of linemans, two channel locks, strippers, crimpers, needle nose, emt tool, punches, chisels, both sized folding hex key sets, and my meter goes in the middle with some plastic boxes for my chain, stubbies, uni-bit and other small tools.
When I show up at the door for trouble shooting I have a small pouch that clips on my belt that holds all the triage tools ( 10 n 1, strippers, linemans, proxy, sharpie, pencil, etc) and my meter is usually in my hand.
I have two belts with pouches hanging in my truck for when I am doing high work. Tools needed get loaded into them to suit the job. Including a drill holster that holds my drill well enough it will not fall out without being strapped in.
I never could understand how quality work could be done with only a hip bag of tools.

Gene
_____________________________________
Remember - Speed Kills and it is not always you.

[220/221]

In AZ we all wear cargo shorts.

The deep side pockets hold a LOT of tools but you have to dig thru them to find anything. Plus you look like a ghetto teen when they start hanging down around your knees.

[wawireguy]

I like my tool bucket and have a leather pocket pouch that holds two screw drivers and a striper or linesman or whatever I put in. Grab a meter, my pouch and I'm good to go for investigating. Need to do some real work grab the tool bucket and start carting gear in.

[Mule]

I have a 3 gallon bucket from Lowes that has my white leather klein pouch and a klein canvas bag in it back to back. I keep the tool belt rolled up in the bottom ready to use....and its the handiest durn thing..I love it... I keep
"not so frequent" tools in the van. Then I have a Craftsmen 9" square upright bag that I keep my flashlight, drill, bits,hammer, meter, bla bla.. and all that other junk in..
works really well for me...

[guschash]

Bucket for meter, and tools I need that I don't carry in my belt.

[peter d]

As Marc said it basically comes down to the work being done. For any type of construction work like roughing a house, hanging lots of pipe, or trimming out, where speed is essential, then some type tool pouch must be worn. Otherwise I've found I don't really need to wear my tools.

[electricalperson]

im pretty sure ill never find the perfect tool bag. heres what i would like to acomplish. i would like to have all my hand tools organize and able to grab whatever i need without digging. i would also like room to carry an ammeter and a DMM and the infared thermometer at the same time. i dont really need to carry any squares or big levels or anything like that. just basic electrical hand tools like insulated tools, linesmens, dikes, channellocks etc. the veto closed top XXL bag looks like what i would use. i could use the klein canvas bag i have to carry the bigger things like 2 foot levels, squares, handsaw 100 foot tape measure, crow bar etc.

[bjp_ne_elec]

Crow bar - is that for adjusting/fine tuning switch plates?

[electricalperson]

Crow bar - is that for adjusting/fine tuning switch plates?
its for adjusting helpers that dont listen. just kidding. i do a lot of demo work and remodels and the crow bar comes in handy for removing things

[Cow]

I keep all my tools in a Klein canvas linesmans bucket. Set the bucket at the work area and stuff the essential tools in my pockets. If I'm working off an extension ladder, I throw on the Occidental Leather tool pouches and transfer tools into it. Maybe the impact driver too. Drill holsters are nice.:)

[LarryFine]

Crow bar - is that for adjusting/fine tuning switch plates?No, it's where magpies go after work. :grin:

[220/221]

i do a lot of demo work and remodels and the crow bar comes in handy for removing things

I keep a cat's paw in my bags at all times ( a very small 6" crowbar) It doesn't weigh much or take up much room. It's great for pulling nails to remove bird boards for easy access to attics/exterior walls.

[peter d]

It doesn't weigh much or take up much room. It's great for pulling nails to remove bird boards for easy access to attics/exterior walls.

Yeah, only you guys with no basements have to worry about that. :D