Tools with identity crisis?

jrs

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2007
Messages
64
Just wondering how many of you store non-festool tools in systainers...

I currently store my non-festool stuff in seemingly random places (sometimes in their original case, when not to bulky, or a cabinet, etc), but as the festool invasion begins, those beige GREY and green boxes look so neat and tidy...

Thanks,

-jamie

Modified to fix color and save embarrassment  ;)
 
I've got a DeWalt cordless screwdriver with charger, spare battery, and bits in a custom foam-lined SYS 1.

There's a SYS 5 with wood brackets for a P-C 7539 router and accessories.

2 SYS 4s are set up as hanging files, one for manuals, one for sheet sandpaper.

3 or 4 air tools are bunking together in an unmodified SYS 4.

HVLP rig in a MAXI, a SYS 3 and several MINIs.

BTW, if you'd like to get some Systainers but aren't exactly sure what you'll use them for, buy the SYS 3 or SYS 4.  These are in my experience the most useful sizes.  YMMV.

Ned
 
This is the Sys3 I use for all my Makita drills:
[attachthumb=1]

Looks quite neat, until you add the next layer:
[attachthumb=2]

And the next:
[attachthumb=3]

Still, I'm quite glad (and amazed!) I managed to get a drill/driver, a combi drill, a right-angle drill, 3x batteries, side handle, and a charger in one systainer!!!

BTW, I used the diced foam insert - here it is empty:
[attachthumb=4]

The other non-festool-filled systainers I use are a Sys5 with the inserts for silicone/caulk cartridges, a sys3 & sortainer I use as my main toolbox (see this previous post), and a sys1 with foam inserts which is currently empty, waiting for me to decide what to put in it!!!
 
I have ordered a Sys2 with the RAS115 insert for my Metabo angle grinder. I already have the RAS115 and it fits very nicely in that insert.
 
Tools I don't use every day: Paslode nailers, Grex pinner, MultiMaster, Kreg pocket hole kit, Makita sawzall...they came with their own plastic cases and I keep them in those cases. The reason being I know which tool is which - simply by case color and size - from 20ft away, I can mindlessly reach into my van and intuitively grab what I need without having to read a label to verify it.

The Systainers are nice for the tools they come with but I don't see myself switching over to them for anything else.

-Norm
 
Any tool that fits in a systainer has been installed therein. So much easier to store and transport. I absolutely detest blow-molded cases...always did, even before discovering systainers. The Maxi even fits my framer and finish nailer guns, Sys5 for a Senco compressor, et al.

Only a few exceptions:

Milwaukee 10" circular saw (Steel box)
Makita 6" hand planer (Nice box-jointed wood box)
Couple of Makita reciprocating saws (both with steel boxes)

- Pete
 
I have several tools and accessories that did not come with a storage bag or box (like my Makita belt sander).   I went out and bought cases, bags and plastic boxes for storage.  Dumb move.   For little more, I could have had a systainer or sortainer.   I'm trying to work our the best combo, but I'll probably order at least one or two empty systainers with block foam (and maybe a third for my planes) plus at least 2 sortainers.

Dan.
 
Peter Teubel said:
Any tool that fits in a systainer has been installed therein. So much easier to store and transport. I absolutely detest blow-molded cases...always did, even before discovering systainers. The Maxi even fits my framer and finish nailer guns, Sys5 for a Senco compressor, et al.

Only a few exceptions:

Milwaukee 10" circular saw (Steel box)
Makita 6" hand planer (Nice box-jointed wood box)
Couple of Makita reciprocating saws (both with steel boxes)

- Pete

Pete,

Nice idea about the nailers.  I have three nailers (framer, 15g, 18g) and two staplers (narrow crown and uphostory), and am going to get a 23g pinner.   Your post set off a "light bulb" - it would be great to store all of them in one systainer!   Much less fishing around for the right box.

Thanks,

Dan.
 
Additional Sys/Sort-ainers for housing some non-Festool items will also be on my future agenda.  Since this seems to be a logical next step for a growing number of customers, maybe Festool USA will see the logic in expanding upon their lineup -- especially in the Sort of direction that doesn't require one to unclasp the unit above.   ;D

Corwin
 
Corwin, I really like your idea - Systainers in which one side is a big drawer front.  Add a big visual label so you can easily identify the contents and make blank and custom peel & stick labels available (a take-off on what McFeeley's was doing before they were acquired by another company).  That would solve my chief gripe about Systainers - having to unstack them in order to get at the contents of any but the topmost unit.  But doing so would make the ~$500 Sysport largely obsolete.  Companies don't normally like to cannabolize their own sales.  That's one of the reasons you don't have inflatable seat belts in your cars.

Dave R.
 
Inflatable seat belts is a much funnier visual than drawer front systainers.
 
Eli said:
Inflatable seat belts is a much funnier visual than drawer front systainers.

Well, you'll have no argument on that one...  Even if the idea is all wet, it is funnier.   ;)
 
I'm glad many of you are having some laughs over what I wrote.  It leads me to think you did not understand my point.  Part of the reason inflatable seat belts did not come into use on new cars is the that makers of conventional air bags and seat belts safety systems such as Autoliv were so well entrenched with the automobile makers and automobile seat manufacturers that the makers of inflatable seat belts thought they had to work with these to gain entrance.  Why would Autoliv want to replace up to 8 air bags (2 front, 2 side front,  2 rear side, 2 side curtain) and at least 2 front seat belts and their associated pyrotechnic pre-tensioners with only 4 inflatable seat belts with only 4 pyrotechnic inflators, which would cost less and make them less revenue?  Here's a link to a bunch of patents on inflatable seat belts.  The key advantages are that they work differently than conventional air bags, primarily in that they inflate away from your body rather than toward it, and the inflation cycle automatically removes the slack in the belt and helps position the person's body to better survive the crash impact. http://www.google.com/patents?as_dr...007&as_maxm_ap=1&as_maxy_ap=2007&q=inflatable+seat+belt+%22inflatable+seat+belt%22&lr=&sa=N&start=10

Dave R.
 
It gave me the visual of somebody having the juice squeezed out of them when their seatbelt blew up like a popcorn kernel.
 
Dave Ronyak said:
I'm glad many of you are having some laughs over what I wrote.  It leads me to think you did not understand my point.  Part of the reason inflatable seat belts did not come into use on new cars is the that makers of conventional air bags and seat belts safety systems such as Autoliv were so well entrenched with the automobile makers and automobile seat manufacturers that the makers of inflatable seat belts thought they had to work with these to gain entrance.  Why would Autoliv want to replace up to 8 air bags (2 front, 2 side front,  2 rear side, 2 side curtain) and at least 2 front seat belts and their associated pyrotechnic pre-tensioners with only 4 inflatable seat belts with only 4 pyrotechnic inflators, which would cost less and make them less revenue?  Here's a link to a bunch of patents on inflatable seat belts.  The key advantages are that they work differently than conventional air bags, primarily in that they inflate away from your body rather than toward it, and the inflation cycle automatically removes the slack in the belt and helps position the person's body to better survive the crash impact. http://www.google.com/patents?as_dr...007&as_maxm_ap=1&as_maxy_ap=2007&q=inflatable+seat+belt+%22inflatable+seat+belt%22&lr=&sa=N&start=10

Dave R.

Way too serious for me.  I just want to hang out with the idea of seat belts inflating when I drive into a deep puddle.
 
Dave Rudy said:
Way too serious for me.  I just want to hang out with the idea of seat belts inflating when I drive into a deep puddle.

Yep, wouldn't want to be sitting in a, er, uh, puddle.

Dave Ronyak said:
I'm glad many of you are having some laughs over what I wrote.  It leads me to think you did not understand my point. 

Know how you feel -- some of the responces to my post above led me to think the same thing.
 
Back
Top