Should You Use the Cases That Come With Your Tools?

A lot of tools come just as a bare tool, but they're also often sold in a set that includes a case.

Instead, you should come up with your own system rather than use what the manufacturer gives you. Factory tool boxes are not normally optimized for your workflow. If you have a case for your drill, it may include a drill, charger, and two batteries. Is that what you need on the job?

Even when they don't have too much in them, cases are often bulky and they might not hold the contents securely or efficiently.

Ask yourself:

Does using the factory tool case help me be faster?

Let's imagine how you'd use a drill setup with the factory case on a work van.

1. When you need the drill, you hop up in your van and slide the case off one of your shelves.
2. You only need the drill, so you leave the extra battery and charger. You make a note to yourself that you should charge the battery later.
3. You're just doing diagnosis at the moment, so you close the case up and put it back on the shelf because you think you might need some more tools later and you don't want it to be in the way on the floor of your van.
4. You grab some bits from a bin.
5. You do the job.
6. You climb back in the van and get the drill case out.
7. You put the drill away and get the charger out so that you remember to charge it at home/the shop.
8. At the end of the day, you hook the charger up and remind yourself to get it in the morning.

Okay, this seems like an extreme example! Or is it!?!?

Instead, imagine this:

You observe your work practices and notice:

• Your drill is your most frequently used tool.
• You never use more than one battery on a job.
• You usually need the same five bits on most jobs.

So:

1. You stop climbing and opening: You get rid of the factory tool case and mount the drill on the bulkhead near the passenger side cargo door of your work van.
2. You stop plugging in: You mount the battery charger next to the drill on your work van's bulkhead so that you can easily grab a battery or charge a battery. You plug the charger into an inverter that runs off your van's 12 volt system.
3. You stop scrounging for bits: You put together a mini bit kit with 2 each of your common bits that goes with your hand tools.

If you want to take a look at an excellent drills-by-the-door setup, see Noah's HVAC installation van. He uses Spider Tool Holster Docks to attach drills to his van's bulkhead and their Holster Sets to clip them to his tool belt.

So, what did you accomplish by getting rid of your case?

• Eliminated repetitive steps in battery charging (i.e. finding an outlet, plugging in, cord wrapping).
• Eliminated the time required to look for bits or batteries.
• Eliminated the time required to climb in the van and retrieve drill and bits.

Does this save you time? Yes.

Does this reduce the number of things you need to remember to do? Yes.

Should you get rid of factory tool cases? Yes.