Recently bought a set of tools, cordless drill and circ saw. The set came in a nice case, that I’ll never use for it’s intened purpose.
Has anyone found a good use for the “free carrying case” or should I just toss them (actually recycle them)? We’re having a garage sale in a few months, any resale value?
Please help.
Joe
Replies
Personally I like to keep tools in their original cases if it's feasible. I would think somebody could use it, assuming it isn't to specifically molded inside to fit the original tools.
I almost always toss them, They're never designed right and getting the cord in right is a pain. I buy high quality bags or open plastic boxes and box the tool and all the blades/bits together in one set.
Had a garage sale 2 years ago, put 50 cent price on an old steel Makita and on Dewalt case. The dewalt sold, put the Makita in the free pile on Sat afternoon and somebody did take it.
I personally prefer to keep the cases. I have half a chance of finding some of the thingsI need. OTOH , it also allows me to graduate to the bigger case from another tool if I fill the smaller one up with attachments and blades. Don't like bags for tools. No protection and they don't pack as well in the truck. Boxes have flat bottoms.
(I was hoping this thread was going to have all the organizated people telling us mortals how to clean up our act.)
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
I always keep tools in the cases they came in. Otherwise, I'd lose the various allen wrenches and other little stuff.
-- J.S.
Sell it on EBay, for Only 40 dollars! Give it a nice description about what a versital tool carrying case it is and so on and so forth.
Edited 1/5/2006 3:17 pm ET by xosder11
Give it a nice description about what a versital tool carrying case it is and so on and so forth
Even better, push that it's "Specifically moulded to fit [tool]." Shoot, push the exclusivity button. Might 'hit' upon a tool collector (or better, two <g>).
That's my gripe on manufacturer's boxes, there's almost never room for "my" stuff in them. You get a nice Makita drill, say. Where in that box do you put the makita-branded counter-sink & screwdriver bits? Or the "everything with a hex-drive socket" bit driver & bits?
Oh--how to not loose hex wrenches. Get a split ring (or snag one off the numerous excess keychains in the junk drawer). Thread the ring onto so heat-shrink tubing. Slide tuning & ring on hex key, and apply heat (gentlely) until it sucks down on the key. Now, find that useless itty-bitty lanyard that came in the cellphone or point-n-shoot camera case. Pass the lanyard through its own loop on the split ring, and snug it tight. Now you can clip the lanyard to the bag, box, the tool belt--wherever it needs to go. One step better--get plain white shoelaces, put the middle of the lace under the heat-shrink, & shrink on--then write what tool the key goes to in black Sharpie on the white lace.
Some day I'm actually doing that to more than two of the wrenches <g> . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I always cut a bunch of the inside out of them to make room for cords.
This gets back to my pet peeve about these cases in that they're rarely designed to store accessories that don't come in the package. Eg, drill bits in a drill case, extra saw blades in a saw case, etc. In most cases it would be a small matter of a few extra holes or slots in the plastic, adding about $0.50 to the cost, but they don't do it.
If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people
happy?
I solved the drill bit problem. Got a separate case (small) for the bits and some serious velcro in the linens dept. , thank you, and I velcroed the bits to the outside of the case. Other day, I had one drill upstairs, just "ripped" the bits off and went downstairs with 'em. Is it really pretty? No, but then again, neither am I.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Well, the cases went into the recycling bin this morning, they're gone.
I opened them up to see if I could customize them to fit something else. There were too many molded pieces of plastic that would take forever to cut out. It wouldn't be worth my time to change them when I can go to the store and buy exactly what I need for cheap.Someone said it before, the manufactures need to add a little space for bits, tools and other equipment, then I would definitely keep the case.
Thanks for the input.
Joe
I have about 10 of those cases. They are avaailable for $10 - CASH! What's your flavor? :-)
I have a new FESTOOl fettish. Their stackable "Systainer" system is the coolest thing I have ever used. I stack everything on the vacuum and roll it in. As for the COMBO kit boxes, they are always to big and clumsy to use. Scrap it.
http://www.festoolusa.com/category.aspx?id=10
Maybe some tool manufacturers will read this thread.