The red metal toolbox has almost gone the way of the little red schoolhouse.
“Red metal toolboxes are not necessarily being replaced, but people are looking for lighter weight tool carriers,” says Juliette Tower, a spokesperson for Samsonite tool organizers, which are made out of heavy-duty polyester. “When you’re carrying heavy tools, you don’t want to carry a heavy box along, too.”
Fabric tool carriers come in all different shapes and sizes. “There are some places the old-fashioned toolbox just doesn’t work,” says Mark Blanchard, president of Paktek. The company first designed a tool-carrying backpack for workers who had to walk through the narrow passageways of ships. “Nobody wanted to carry around a clunky tool chest and with the backpack they would have their hands free.” The backpack, and other Paktek tool carriers that can be worn, have become popular with do-it-yourselfers and people in all sorts of vocations who need to organize their tools.
The toolbox itself still has its place, but contemporary ones are likely to be made out of sturdy, lightweight plastics and designed for versatility. While they provide diverse kinds of storage space, they may also incorporate a stepstool or a workspace as well. They also come in an array of colors. According to a survey by Rubbermaid, 60 percent of all toolboxes are bought and used by women, and brides-to-be are even including them on their registry.
The prices listed for products featured are suggested retail prices. You can contact the listed manufacturers for help in finding a retailer in your area who carries a specific item.
It ain’t heavy
The Craftsman Portable Tool Caddy from Sears is made of lightweight red and gray plastic. The top, which features a built-in handle, has open compartments to keep frequently used tools, such as a hammer and screwdrivers, near at hand and readily accessible. It also contains a removable unit for neatly wrapping and storing an extension cord, as well as a removable drawer for small parts. The caddy’s bottom tub can hold larger items. The top and tub latch together and a padlock (not included) can be used on the side handles. Price: $25. Available at Sears stores.
Toolbox and stool
Lasko’s Power Toolbox is three products in one. The gray and black plastic box, which features a number of exterior tool organizers, is designed with a nonskid lid and four reinforced legs so it can be used as a stepstool that can support up to 300 pounds. The removable bright-yellow tool caddy is made up of three trays with handles on each so they can be carried separately or stacked together. The box also comes equipped with a removable reel with a 20-foot-long extension cord, which can be plugged in to bring power to four 120-volt grounded outlets in the unit. Price: $34.99. Lasko Metal Products Inc., 820 Lincoln Ave., West Chester, Pa. 19380. Phone: 800-394-3267.
See-through lids
Two toolboxes from Rubbermaid have storage compartments in the lids with see-through tops to show at a glance what’s inside. The box itself has a lift-out tray to store small supplies and a space beneath for larger items. The heavy-duty plastic boxes have ergonomically-designed handles that can lie flat so boxes can be stacked out of the way when not in use. Rubbermaid also offers another storage product that is both a toolbox and a sturdy stepstool. Price: $24.99 for the 2-inch See-Through Lid Access Tool Box, $29.99 for the 24-inch model; $19.99 for the Step Stool Tool Box. Rubbermaid Inc., 1147 Akron Rd., Wooster, Ohio 44691-6000. Phone: 216-264-7592.
Vise-like clamps
The Workmate ShopBox from Black & Decker is a portable toolbox topped with a work surface that features vise-like clamps that can be cranked into place to hold objects horizontally or vertically. The toolbox underneath the work surface has a removable tool tray with storage space below. The ShopBox, which weighs about 13 pounds, can support up to 250 pounds and features skid-resistant, non-marring feet. Price: $50. Black & Decker Consumer Services, P.O. Box 618, Hampstead, Md. 21074. Phone: 800-762-6672.
Heavy-duty polyester
Samsonite’s large line of lightweight On-the-Job work organizers are made out of heavy-duty polyester in black and bright yellow. Products include a 34-Pocket Bucket Organizer, which can be slipped over any 5-gallon bucket. It features 24 outside pockets of various sizes and 10 inside. A 22-Pocket Tool Bag, as well as a 28-Pocket Tool Roll-Up, which has heavy duty grommets for hanging, are among other products included in the collection. Price: $14.99 for the 34-Pocket Bucket Organizer, $17.99 for the 22-Pocket Tool Bag, and $12.99 for the Pocket Tool Roll-Up.
They’re wearable
Paktek makes all sorts of tool carriers out of of heavy-duty, lightweight Cordura. Several of them leave the hands free to climb ladders safely and to work. The Fanny Pak, which fastens around the waist, features a foldout panel and three internal compartments. The ToolPak Tool Vest, in black with red accents, has 14 open pockets and 6 with flaps. This adjustable carrier has a nylon mesh frame for ventilation. The 4RM is an armband with a Velcro closing and pockets for small items such as drill bits. Price: $24.97 for the Fanny Pak, $54.97 for the Tool Vest, $21.97 for the 4RM. Paktek Inc., 7307 82nd St., Tacoma, Wash. 98498. Phone: 800-258-8458.
Heavy-duty nylon
The lightweight Contractor-Grade Tool Belt from Stanley Tools is made out of heavy-duty nylon rather than the traditional heavyweight leather. Individual tool pouches are attached to the side and rear of the belt and include space for such items as a hammer, nails and a tape rule. A 5-inch width of padding is built into the belt for back support. Price: $50. Stanley Tools, 600 Myrtle St., New Britain, Conn. 203-225-5111.
