jonny round boy
Member
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2007
- Messages
- 3,227
I've been thinking about ways to improve my current set-up for what I call my 'standard' toolbox. This is basically a set of tools and hardware that I take to pretty much every job.
In the past, this consisted of a sortainer 4 and a sys3 for my hand tools, my drill systainer, and a sys 1 with the coloured boxes (SYS1 BOX) for my most commonly used screws & fixings. All this on one of the old-style roll boards. This was OK, but generally meant that after a few hours I'd have open systainers spread out across any flat surface I could find!
The sys3 for hand tools has been replaced by one of the new cantilever toolboxes, and the drill systainer has been replaced by my new radio/charging station. The one SYS1 BOX I have for fixings doesn't hold enough (I have 3 others, but they're all classics & I prefer to keep them in the workshop).
Whilst the roll-board is OK for moving the stack around in flat areas, it's next to useless on uneven ground or where there are stairs, and I usually end up breaking the stack down into 3 sections and carrying them. I'm seriously thinking of getting a Sys-Roll Cart, then I can move everything together over most terrain. The only problem with that is that I don't have a van at the moment (hopefully next year!) so I'd have to transport it in my estate car (stationwagon). I'd have to either break the stack down & put the boxes in separately (and find room for the non-folding cart) or simply load the cart in on it's back, with all the systainers travelling on their backs (which could get messy).
I'm thinking of three different options;
1. add one or two additional SYS1 BOXes for additional storage. This would mean having to take the stack apart pretty regularly to access the contents, or just spreading open boxes around again, so I'm looking for something better.
2. Add a sortainer 12, and use this for the screws/fixings. This is what a mate of mine uses, and it works well as you can easily access the contents without having to uncouple anything. The only issue I can forsee for this would be the contents shifting about in transport and jamming the drawers -which can happen at the best of times, but if it was transported lying on it's back... [eek]
3. Add a rack-systainer for the screws & hardware. This would mean getting access to them without dismantling the main stack, there would be plenty of compartments for everything I'd need, and the contents would be secure even tipped up. My only concern would be that I'd end up with the individual screwboxes spread out everywhere, rather than systainers!
So from my ramblings, I have some questions (this all had to lead somewhere!);
Does anyone use the sysroll cart, and store/transport it horizontally with the contents in place? I remember someone had asked about the possibility of that in Frank Pellow's excellent review thread. Are the systainers secure? What impact does it have on the contents?
To people who have rack-systainers - is it fairly easy to quickly access items from different compartments? Does it take time to pull one out, open the lid, get what you need, close & secure the lid, put it back, etc? Do you end up with all 4 sections removed & open around the room?
Ideally, I envisage having a sysroll with the following permanently attached (from the bottom up) - sort4 (jigsaw in bottom drawer, drill bits, marking out tools etc above); sort12 or rack-sys with screws & fixings; my sysradio/charging station on top. That way I could leave that set up in the room with the radio/charger lid open & be able to access everything without taking things apart.
My cantilever toolbox would then carry my handtools (with a sys1 below for hammers & anything else that won't fit in it) and would be separated once I arrive at the jobsite. That way, my main 'stack' would be transportable in one, and would take up the minimum of space at the jobsite.
If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, please add them. Apologies for what is basically me rambling on, but it helps to write these things down (or type them up!) and read them back. I've already changed my thoughts on some of this whilst typing!
Jonathan
In the past, this consisted of a sortainer 4 and a sys3 for my hand tools, my drill systainer, and a sys 1 with the coloured boxes (SYS1 BOX) for my most commonly used screws & fixings. All this on one of the old-style roll boards. This was OK, but generally meant that after a few hours I'd have open systainers spread out across any flat surface I could find!
The sys3 for hand tools has been replaced by one of the new cantilever toolboxes, and the drill systainer has been replaced by my new radio/charging station. The one SYS1 BOX I have for fixings doesn't hold enough (I have 3 others, but they're all classics & I prefer to keep them in the workshop).
Whilst the roll-board is OK for moving the stack around in flat areas, it's next to useless on uneven ground or where there are stairs, and I usually end up breaking the stack down into 3 sections and carrying them. I'm seriously thinking of getting a Sys-Roll Cart, then I can move everything together over most terrain. The only problem with that is that I don't have a van at the moment (hopefully next year!) so I'd have to transport it in my estate car (stationwagon). I'd have to either break the stack down & put the boxes in separately (and find room for the non-folding cart) or simply load the cart in on it's back, with all the systainers travelling on their backs (which could get messy).
I'm thinking of three different options;
1. add one or two additional SYS1 BOXes for additional storage. This would mean having to take the stack apart pretty regularly to access the contents, or just spreading open boxes around again, so I'm looking for something better.
2. Add a sortainer 12, and use this for the screws/fixings. This is what a mate of mine uses, and it works well as you can easily access the contents without having to uncouple anything. The only issue I can forsee for this would be the contents shifting about in transport and jamming the drawers -which can happen at the best of times, but if it was transported lying on it's back... [eek]
3. Add a rack-systainer for the screws & hardware. This would mean getting access to them without dismantling the main stack, there would be plenty of compartments for everything I'd need, and the contents would be secure even tipped up. My only concern would be that I'd end up with the individual screwboxes spread out everywhere, rather than systainers!
So from my ramblings, I have some questions (this all had to lead somewhere!);
Does anyone use the sysroll cart, and store/transport it horizontally with the contents in place? I remember someone had asked about the possibility of that in Frank Pellow's excellent review thread. Are the systainers secure? What impact does it have on the contents?
To people who have rack-systainers - is it fairly easy to quickly access items from different compartments? Does it take time to pull one out, open the lid, get what you need, close & secure the lid, put it back, etc? Do you end up with all 4 sections removed & open around the room?
Ideally, I envisage having a sysroll with the following permanently attached (from the bottom up) - sort4 (jigsaw in bottom drawer, drill bits, marking out tools etc above); sort12 or rack-sys with screws & fixings; my sysradio/charging station on top. That way I could leave that set up in the room with the radio/charger lid open & be able to access everything without taking things apart.
My cantilever toolbox would then carry my handtools (with a sys1 below for hammers & anything else that won't fit in it) and would be separated once I arrive at the jobsite. That way, my main 'stack' would be transportable in one, and would take up the minimum of space at the jobsite.
If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, please add them. Apologies for what is basically me rambling on, but it helps to write these things down (or type them up!) and read them back. I've already changed my thoughts on some of this whilst typing!
Jonathan
) spoils the idea. We'll talk about this tomorrow mate I'm sure we can come up with a great solution.
