Toolbox

[neeleman]

Tanos also brings out their version of the Storage Box.
There is also a locking version with the old Classic type latches.
Looks quite nice and distinctive to me and attracts less dirt.

 

[BUTTER]

The locking latches are a great idea!

Do you use the anthracite systainers?
I'm a carpenter, and have been afraid that the anthracite would show much more wood dust than the "light grey."

 

[neeleman]

Hi Joseph,

No I don't use any anthracite systainers myself but came upon them on a famous German webshop.
Sawdust is normally not the problem, it can be removed easily.
But on the light grey systainers I get all kind of dirt spots after using them for a while which is hard to remove.

 

[fdengel]

The dark grey systainers will obviously attract the light-colored dust and dirt, as opposed to the dark-colored dust that the light gray systainers attract.

 

[dbworkshop]

Dust and dirt?!?  It's hard for me to see any dust on mine....they are covered in stain, paint and mud.
Come on guys this is a toolbox. It's meant to be used.

 

[Davej]

[quote authorcan'torkshop link=topic=29155.msg286272#msg286272 date=1385055578]
Dust and dirt?!?  It's hard for me to see any dust on mine....they are covered in stain, paint and mud.
Come on guys this is a toolbox. It's meant to be used.
[/quote]

+1  really  can't see why you would want or need to worry about a bit of dust or dirt on your toolboxes.

 

[bkharman]

Dust and dirt?!?  It's hard for me to see any dust on mine....they are covered in stain, paint and mud.
Come on guys this is a toolbox. It's meant to be used.

Agreed, but...

As a hobbyist (and quite frequently a customer/client) I would much rather see a tradesman show up with clean tools, toolboxes, boot covers and anything else that won't disturb my house and family.  I have had painters show up with drop cloths covered in more paint than canvas and always think "is all of that paint dry"?

Most of the time it is, but there has been times where it wasn't.  Needless to say, appearance and cleanliness is big for me.  So I see both sides here... It is a "toolbox", but if you are customer facing, I would imagine a lot of high end customers want to see a nice toolbox, be it a $10.00 one or a $100.00 one.

cheers

 

[mrboult]

I have some of the Anthracite Systainers and they certainly do attract lots of saw dust very easily.  But as someone else said, this is removed very easily unlike other dark marks and stains on the light grey Systainers.

Also, I'm bored of hearing people dig at those who like to keep their systainers/stuff clean. . 
Next to producing good work and keeping the clients house clean, I have no doubt that turning up with smart, clean, neat and organised gear helps impress my clients. While that may sound stupid to most people here it really can be the case.  My systainers are only used at clients houses, in my workshop they are stored out of the way.

 

[semenza]

    I once had been working at a municipal building for a week with various people peering through the window in a door to the room I was in.  Finally one guy who had taken a look about every day came in.  With surprise he commented "oh, you've go that much done already!  It is so neat and clean in here I didn't think you had started yet."

    I have had quite a few customers comment about my organized , clean site area when I finished work in their homes.  I have to believe that enters the conversation when they speak about me and my work to other people.

Seth

 

[RC]

As a customer I had to let one kitchen installer go when he tried to literally sweep the sawdust under the cupboard and blame it on us when confronted. Thank goodness my wife had taken pictures before we cleaned the mess.

It didn't work out nicely after he started yelling obscenities at my wife for taking those pictures and we were forced to report him to the kitchen company he was subcontracting for. It was very ackward to literally throw the guy out of the door.

Thankfully we had the installation contract from the kitchen company so they arranged their super to come and finish the kitchen installation.

He was using Festools onsite and I was very impressed with the cleanliness and ended up buying my first Festool after that encounter.

 

[andy5405]

My systainers have a few battle scars and I definitely notice a new one in the stack when I buy a new tool. I work in kitchens most of the time and there can be 2-3 trades all needing the same space. It's the wet trades and decorating that cause the most marks. My CT26 is covered in spots of paints from being in the wrong place at the wrong time when ceilings are painted. I think it is personal preference how fastidious anyone is with toolbox cleanliness and I don't think it reflects on general tidiness on site or quality of work. I clean up meticulously during the day and at the end of each day and most of my customers see me as a perfectionist.

However one area that is definitely a dog's dinner on site is me! My trousers in particular are always really messy as I have a habit of wiping my hands on them rather than using a cloth. I've tried to stop myself doing it but it's so ingrained as a habit that I never get anywhere. I have one guy I work with who is always fastidiously clean in every aspect of his work including his personal appearance. We give him a lot of stick especially when he hoovers his hand tool box at the end of every day. All of us have stood by at some time and watched him do it with a handful of sawdust in our hands ready to throw back in there when he's finished. Boys will be boys and it always makes us laugh!

I work with guys who are meticulously clean on site and excellent tradesmen and yet the back of their vans are a complete disaster with just a massive pile 3-4 feet high along the whole length of the van. I'm a bit anal about my van and customers will often see in the back of it when I'm quoting for work as I keep quite a few samples in there. They always comment positively on it and I'm sure it helps win work.

 

[GreenGA]

I had the same habit.  What I wound up doing was pick up a bundle of restaurant wiping/cleaning/drying towels from the local restaurant supply house (less than a buck apiece in 12-count bundles, good quality and WELL worth the cost, even for around the house).  Anyway, as a suspenders and belt kinda guy, I clip the edge of one of the towels under one or both of the suspenders clip(s) and use the towel to wipe my hands.  It's also handy to have in case I actually need a towel to wipe up a mess, or clean off some glue runoff, drops of paint, etc...

As an aside...

I am also very careful to tuck the towel in my pocket or remove it entirely when I use certain power tools...

Someone I know, who does not wear suspenders, punches a rivet into the corners of his towels, attaches a large safety pin through the rivet and clips the safety pin through his belt loop.

However one area that is definitely a dog's dinner on site is me! My trousers in particular are always really messy as I have a habit of wiping my hands on them rather than using a cloth. I've tried to stop myself doing it but it's so ingrained as a habit that I never get anywhere.