I saw this whilst looking for a tool cart I thought it was good idea. Does anyone else agree, I copied and pasted the rest so the comments are not mine below. I particularly like the way he has secured the extension lead to the cart. I totally stole this idea from someone in ADVRider, but I cannot locate the original post. In any case, thanks! I wanted to have easy access to my most frequently used tools and also a convenient place to store them. A big rolling toolbox is expensive and never really appealed to me. What’s pictured below is a $30 (on sale) Harbor Freight tool cart that I have customized a bit. I bought a piece of aluminum angle stock, cut it in two, clamped the pieces together and then drilled appropriately sized holes for the shafts of my screw drivers and T-handle hex wrenches. I bolted the aluminum pieces one on top of the other along one of the long sides of the cart. Below these I added a smaller aluminum angle bracket with hooks to hang the ratcheting combination wrenches – regular and shorty lengths. I added a power strip, extension cord and a couple of hooks to store the extension cord on, all at the bottom of the cart. I bolted socket holders the cart’s corner posts and populated these with my most commonly used sockets, hex bits, etc. I bent a coat hanger to hold a roll of towels and added it to one end of the cart. I’m toying with the idea of adding a magnetic tool strip along the other long edge to hold pliers. I have it clamped in place at the moment to see how it works.. The cart has two shelves. The top one holds smaller tools that don’t otherwise have a home, chemicals, notepad and manuals – and just general odds and ends.. The smaller stuff I keep in cans for organizational purposes – one for small pliers, one for small tubes of chemicals, etc. The bottom shelf holds larger tools such as torque wrenches, a box of nitrile gloves, a set of oversized sockets, breaker bar, long socket extensions, etc. It also has a lamp with a magnetic base that I can stick to the cart or on the bike. Magnetic parts bowls are stuck here and there on the cart. The cart has a handle at one end that I use to hang a Maglite and my 3/8-inch socket T-handle. I keep the cart stashed in a corner of the garage, covered by an old bed sheet. It’s a cinch to roll it to the bike, unwrap the extension cord and plug it in. Then I have immediate access to common tools, chemicals, paper towels, gloves, etc and plugs for lights, power tools, etc. Not only can I readily lay hands on a desired tool, the tools all have a home that I can easily return them to when I’m done with them. It really does work well for me and the total investment (minus tools, obviously) was around $60 for the cart, aluminum stock, power strip, extension cord, lamp and various fasteners. Nick
I think that is pretty neat and useful in a decent garage. Well done Red998 One thing is bothering me though - how many models did they sell of this trolley in 2013? Would I be better off with the rarer (so I a led to believe) 2011 RRS model (though this can come with a double tray option too)
I like that. Its brilliant. My tools always seem to collate themselves on the floor around me. Except that one socket which has rolled to t'other side of the bike, just a hairs width out of reach and when you are holding something delicate in place with the other hand.
Harbor Freight is a US version of Machine Mart, some reasonably good stuff lurking amongst the yogurt sockets and cheese screwdrivers. One particular difference I saw was for a 20 dollar item in Harbor Freight (inc State tax), the identical item in Machine Mart was 20 pounds, but that observation applies to the prices of many things between the US and here. Market forces at work I guess. Harbor Freight also have some astonishing sales which can only be loss leaders to get people into the shops. Some great bargains to be had for things that I still hope - 'might come in handy sometime'. Mr Bimble.
Looks tidy and useful - Some people have it so easy! To have space to put one of those "in the corner" and a smooth floor to run it around on are just a world away from the reality of my 12x8 space with uneven brick floor containing workbench toolbox compressor 3 mountain bikes and 3 motorbikes. Good job I'm skinny enough to get in and around in there, and just to keep it interesting, the door is less than 4' wide.
Looks like it could save a lot of time to-ing and fro-ing between bike and drawers. One obvious question though .... .... Where to put the tax disc?
