| You can go out and spend your hard earned cash on | | | | do your research and make sure you are getting |
| a nice metal tool chest with all the bells and whistles. | | | | what you really want. If you have the need, and the |
| And for many people like shop mechanics, this is just | | | | money, this type of tool chest will give you years of |
| the thing they should do. But for others, the thought | | | | faithful service. |
| of going out and buying what they can just make | | | | Go for an antique tool chest: The person who opts |
| themselves just doesn't settle right. These folks will | | | | for this type of tool chest is someone who probably |
| find the most satisfaction from making a nice tool | | | | doesn't really need one at all. Rather, they like old |
| chest from plans or from their own design. And there | | | | things that speak to them. If this person is you, and |
| is yet another type of person who wants something | | | | you keep an eye open at estate auctions and |
| unique or special that can only be had at an auction | | | | antique stores you will eventually find just the right |
| house, or in an antique store. Lets take a closer look | | | | chest that has the patina and charm of age that |
| at these three options. | | | | appeals to you. I've seen people use these types of |
| Go for a metal tool chest: Walk into virtually every | | | | chests to store almost anything other than tools. |
| mechanic's shop in the country and you will see not | | | | Probably the most interesting use I've ever seen was |
| only one, but likely many tool chests that constitute | | | | an old guy who had his massive collection of political |
| the heart of the shop. Can you imagine a shop | | | | buttons stored in the shallow drawers. It was ideal |
| without these essentials? It'd be a pretty silly and | | | | for him. |
| unorganized shop that didn't have at least this basic | | | | Go for a homemade tool chest: For the person who |
| organizational necessity. Wrenches, sockets, | | | | makes their own tool chest, he probably has a |
| screwdrivers, pullers, measuring tapes, cutters, and | | | | specific function in mind. A friend of mine made his |
| literally hundreds (if not thousands) of tools of | | | | out of black walnut and it hangs proudly on the wall |
| various sizes and shapes all readily accessible in the | | | | of his wood shop. It has three panels. The center |
| right tool chest. I, for one, am glad my mechanic has | | | | one is stationary and the two "wing" panels are |
| all these tool chests, especially at today's shop rates! | | | | hinged to swing out from the center. Inside is an |
| Can you imagine if every time he needed a tool he | | | | amazingly organized system for storing his tools. I |
| had to dig through everything thrown into a | | | | can only imagine how nice it must be to access the |
| cardboard box together? Yikes! | | | | tool you need without digging in the bottom of a tool |
| The modern metal tool chest usually includes ball | | | | box siting on the bench. |
| bearing drawer slides, and lots of them. Casters that | | | | These are just three ways to go and only you know |
| lock are common and are really nice for rolling a | | | | which way is best for you. Now get out there and |
| heavy chest across the shop. Tools are expensive, | | | | buy, make, or search for the perfect tool chest for |
| so keyed entry into at least some of the drawers is | | | | your needs. |
| important. Some of these can get fairly spendy so | | | | |