Buy Good, Sturdy Toolboxes for Under Six Bucks

When I first started working with wood floors I found it was hard to find a tool box I was happy with. Steel tool boxes are rugged but the box itself adds a lot of weight and usually start at about $30. I had tried steel toolboxes for a while and wasn't happy with the weight or the cost. Plus I had to almost empty the box to find tools on the bottom.

Plastic tool boxes were a little less expensive but didn't seem to hold up to the abuse of being on a construction site. I had more than one plastic tool box where the hinges or handles broke off. It doesn't take many times for the heavy tools to go crashing on to the floor or your foot to decide Plastic tool boxes are very practical.

Both steel and plastic tool boxes have another built in problem. There are just a limited amount of styles and sizes available with store bought tool boxes so the likelihood of having your tools in a toolbox that looked like another contractor's tool box were pretty good.

I then discovered suitcases. I buy most of my suitcases at Goodwill. They are used but they are well built and often made with lightweight aluminum. They are designed to withstand baggage handlers at airports so they hold up well.

Goodwill and the Salvation Army usually have a good supply of suitcases of all different sizes and colors. I get to pick out suitcases which will fit the size of the tools I will be using it for. I have yet to run into another contractor who uses suitcases for toolboxes so there is no mistake about who's toolbox it is.

American Tourister and Samsonite makes some really good "tool boxes". I have one suitcase for installation tools and another for sanding and refinishing tools. I keep the wire for the 220 drumsander in one suitcase and that keeps it from getting tangled up in the truck.

Suitcases allow for you to simply open them up and you can easily spread out the tools in the bottom and top making it easy to find the right tool needed.

I have purchased suitcases for as little as one dollar and never over six dollars. If a suitcase does get damaged I just toss it out and go to Goodwill and get a replacement.

The money I spend at Goodwill goes towards teaching someone to learn a new skill and the Salvation Army uses the money for helping people all over the world. This is an added benefit to buying used suitcases as tool boxes.

Over the years I have had more than a few people joke about my moving in when I bring the suitcases in. When I explain and they see how I am using them they are impressed with the practically of it.