If you were starting fresh - what would you buy?

[Prizen]

I am based in Europe and am starting out in Finish/Trim carpentry and need to kit out a new van. I have some Festool, Mafell, Milwaukee tools but lack any real storage system to speak of other than the systainers that shipped with the Festool / Mafell tools I already have.

Just thought I would ask the question here for perspectives on what storage system and combination of systainers (or Milwaukee Packouts) people would choose if starting from scratch.

Note: I get horribly confused when it comes to the naming conventions on the various Festool / Tanos systainers !

 

[Lincoln]

I'd stick with systainers. The three drawer 'Sortainers' are very handy, probably my favourite systainer.

 

[Holzhacker]

I would also stick with systainers rather than the milwaukee or dewalt type boxes.
I've gotten used to the systainers and their more compact size. They are tough enough for me.
I have a friend who has a lot of the milwaukee boxes. I've checked them out. I don't like their bulky size. However, if I did a lot of exterior or tough environment work I would probably opt for the milwaukee boxes.

 

[Prizen]

Thanks guys. What combinations of Systainers would you buy, and would you get Tanos Systainer3?

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I'd stick with systainers. The three drawer 'Sortainers' are very handy, probably my favourite systainer.

Agreed, when I bought my Fein Multi-master several years ago, I got the Systainer version. Same with the Woodpeckers track square and Cadex 21ga nailer. They are different colors, but it's really nice to have everything able to fit together.
I do have some other tools that I would like to convert to Systainers, but I've been too busy to get to it.
I haven't gotten into the Sortainers yet, but I don't really deal with small parts much, where I would need to carry then with me. I have plenty of open bins in drawers, non mobile.

I'm not a fan of the new Sys3, but there really isn't much that can be done about it. The new stuff comes that way.

 

[peter halle]

For storage and transport I would go with Systainers and like the others have said - drawers are handy.  Tanos or Festool is really just a personal preference about whether or not you want to colorize.

BUT, if your van is tight on space, then look at transporting your tools in made cubby holes to maximize what space you have.  You can always carry one of two empty Systaners to pack your tools into for the van to workspace trek.

Peter

 

[mino]

First, before thinking about storage system:

- make a distinction if you will work from the van OR you will mostly use the van as transport only, given you are in Europe I would expect the latter

- make a distinction between tools and materials, tools need protection, materials generally need not, tools you have to take to the job, materials can stay in the van (e.g. you non-common screws selection and other often not needed things you still do not want to have to go to the toolshop
- make sure you have a way to transport a couple 1250x2500 sheets ful size in the van, you will not need to do that often, but the time will come when you cannot do without

- Systainers are excellent when you have your most-used stuff in them, put them on a SYS-ROLL or check out the MW1000 and there you go
- but do not overdo it, anything you do not expect to carry/take to the jobsite at least 50% of the time is better placed more efficiently (cost and space)

For some inspiration, in Europe city use, I would check out Scott Brown Carpentry channel and his van arrangement. His tool selection is maybe not ideal, but the van setup is very much city-compatible.

As for systainers, unless you are into the Systainer height system, I would prefer the SYS3. Check our sys-classic.de for the TANOS versions.

One last, I personally do not use the Festool-branded systainers for anything outside my home/shop. They are too much screaming of "value" to the opportunistic grabbers. The anthracit TANOS versions are much better there. They look as "just boxes" to the casual suspects, especially if not marked too visibly ..

 

[Prizen]

Thanks Mimo. Good points. I too like the Tanos anthracite color. However, they are a lot more expensive than the Festool branded equivalent SYS3 !!!!

 

[mino]

Thanks Mimo. Good points. I too like the Tanos anthracite color. However, they are a lot more expensive than the Festool branded equivalent SYS3 !!!!

Check the sys-classic site .. they have way better prices for TANOS than anywhere else I saw in retail. Usually equivalent or lower to Festool versions. /That is, except these days with the big Festool systainer sales campaign going on in Europe .../

For stuff not worthy of a Systainer, I would go with euro containers from AUER and the other usual suspects. But avoid the AUER "systainer-ish" tool boxes. They are cheap but have too much wiggle room, so stacks are unstable etc. etc.

 

[bidn]

For me, the best is to use drawer boxes as much as possible: they allow quick and easy access without undoing a stack or taking a box out of a shelf.
(plus have inner compartments also to sort out stuff; there can be removed to accomodate larger items).

I have a lot of Festool-Tanos, but also some Milwaukee packouts. In general I find the former better (I wish I had once time to write an extensive comparison).
So, as far as things do fit inside, I would go for some stacks of T-Loc systainers with 3 drawers.
BUT big problem :
these drawers are not big enough for a lot of stuff (inside= slightly smaller than inside a T1 T-Loc).
So I would (and do) foresee at least a stack of packout drawer boxes, composed of boxes of 2 kinds:
- those with 3 drawers (already much more space than inside the T Loc drawers)
- those with 2 drawers ( real big inside).

 

[bidn]

Re. systainer3 (systainers gen 3) I would avoid them as much as possible, unless there is no equivalent (like the XXL double length one).
Trying to stick as possible with T-Loc Systainer gen 2.

I you have some my heavy metallic stuff without a foam ingest (or bubble sheet...) to prevent shocks inside, then in my experience a " classic" systainer gen 1 will be more sturdy, or a Milwaukee packout.

,

 

[mino]

Re. systainer3 (systainers gen 3) I would avoid them as much as possible, unless there is no equivalent (like the XXL double length one).
Trying to stick as possible with T-Loc Systainer gen 2.

100% agree in shop, home (SYS3 is just ugly compared to the elegance of a T-Loc) or height-system based usage.

Strong disagree in van use however.

All the changes in SYS3 are geared to improve van use case and make it more sturdy for onsite abuse. Grabing a heavy stack by the handle etc. etc. The only major negative compared to a T-Loc is the height non-system.

 

[Prizen]

I guess the height differences between current SYS3 and previous doesn't matter too much if starting fresh.

 

[mino]

I guess the height differences between current SYS3 and previous doesn't matter too much if starting fresh.

No difference there.

If you use the systainers as supports for your site work, with multiple stacks next to each other, SYS3 is pretty much a no-go.

If you do not (plan to) use it such, it does not matter. The problem is not in the heights being different, but in the SYS3 heights not being additive/incremental to themselves.
All classic and T-loc systainers heights are a multiple of 52.5 millimetes (plus feet). This allows to build same-height stacks from various combinations of systainers. With the old system, no matter what you brought with you, if SYS5s or a bunch of SYS1s, you can make same-height stacks from them almost always. Not so with SYS3.

 

[DynaGlide]

If cost isn't an issue I like the Systainer boxes with drawers. I'd also splurge on those combi systainers if they're still available to hold a tool and have a drawer for consumables.

I can't really stomach the price of systainers in the US so I tend to only buy them every rare once in a while when they're on a significant sale. 95% of mine came with tools. I'd love to have more of the Sys 4 sortainers but boy are they expensive. I've settled on having Dewalt T-stak drawers in my shop for most of my storage needs as they're way cheaper.

Agree with others the Packout drawers are nice but really bulky. Advantage is the drawers are larger for bigger tools.

 

[Prizen]

I guess the height differences between current SYS3 and previous doesn't matter too much if starting fresh.

No difference there.

If you use the systainers as supports for your site work, with multiple stacks next to each other, SYS3 is pretty much a no-go.

If you do not (plan to) use it such, it does not matter. The problem is not in the heights being different, but in the SYS3 heights not being additive/incremental to themselves.
All classic and T-loc systainers heights are a multiple of 52.5 millimetes (plus feet). This allows to build same-height stacks from various combinations of systainers. With the old system, no matter what you brought with you, if SYS5s or a bunch of SYS1s, you can make same-height stacks from them almost always. Not so with SYS3.

Got it. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Peter_C]

Systainer's are great for smaller tools, but just won't hold much in the way of actual construction tools. Drawers are better than boxes for access when at the bottom of a stack. Milwaukee Packout's are larger and have drawers, which is my choice for holding the majority of my construction tools, unfortunately the drawer boxes weren't available when I purchased all of my tool boxes.

For a home based shop cabinets with drawers are the most efficient for cost vs space.

 

[Coen]

Well, if you start out with Sys3... you absolutely have to use the rails, or you waste way more space, since the biggest change with sys3 was that now just about everything ships with 20mm extra air inside.

 

[Prizen]

which rails?

 

[mino]

https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-and-tanos-systainers/sys3-mounting-rails/

Great for storing systainers in a walk-in van setup and for a couple more cases.

Do keep in mind Coen is referring to getting systainers with tools /and using them with provided inserts/. Not the general use case when you buy the exact size boxes and arrange the stuff in them your way.

Which is what I would recommend/expect. The default inserts from Festool are very nice to look at, but awfully space-inefficient for true mobile use when you need to carry your stuff with you into a flat/house etc.