Ever notice how much you can tell about someone by their toolbox?

nice, neat older tools, well kept and clean,  sockets on holders, drawers in order

or

an assortment of newer and older tolls,  clean but not organized, sockets and pliers in one drawer, screwdrivers and ratchets in another


or


a pile of import junk ,crammed in with  some papers , part of a bottle of oil that spilled in, handle broken on one side, drawers don't close right



Can you picture the quality of their work?

A buddy of mine down the road has 3 large snap on tool chests just loaded with whatever you can think of. Every single tool is polished and clean as the day he bought them. He rarely uses any of them but likes to show them off.

My stuff is so mixed up and lose track of them quite often but I generally know about where they are.
I use my working tools and have several duplicates of each because I know how I am.

I'm not sure if a toolbox can tell a person about their quality of work but it sure can tell you if their neat&clean or just plain ole busy, or messy like myself.

I have to agree with heelspur.

Some like their tools more than others.
That opinion does not necessarily reflect their opinion of their work.

One of the most talented toolmakers I knew had a little ratty mishmash of assortment in one small box.
Another has a half dozen immaculate boxes of every tool imaginable in perfect order.
A survey of the majority of competent toolmakers will show a complete range of their love affair with their tools.

Me?  I like tools.  Just my observations over 50 years in the shop.

Organization?  Not me! I have tools strewn all over the place and often can't find a certain one until I remember where I last used it.

I need to use my tools daily, so need them organized by type, (may not be clean & neat, but organized)
Draws for all; Metric, Standard, Drivers/rats, Pliers/cutters/grips,  Punches/drifts/chisels, etc.

Then toolboxes by trade;
Mechanic, Machinist, Plumber, Carpenter, Electrician, Mason, Handyman, Welder, Sheetmetal, AutoBody, Auto testing, etc.

Specialty sets; Drills/bits/reamers, Cutters/chisels/scrapers,  Grinders/sanders/wirebruches, etc. 

Must have over 3 dozen Boxes/bags. So I can Grab & Go...

as the old saying goes, never judge a book by it's cover.

I know guys that have tools scattered everywhere, and they can fix anything.

and one guy that I know has 1 or 2 of many fancy tools, yet he can not even replace
a battery in his own truck,

I admire the person that can use what tools he has, not his ability to buy & display the best.

p.s. I don't think you would like my garage.   

I like having things neat and organized, but, getting the job done quickly and correctly means more to me.

When i was still working i had two sets of tools. One set to take motors apart and another set to put motors back together. One set was fairly clean and the other real clean.

EvilDr235

Quote from: Papaw on April 20, 2015, 09:56:21 AM
Organization?  Not me! I have tools strewn all over the place and often can't find a certain one until I remember where I last used it.

+1

"A place for everything and everything on the floor" was a description of one particular blacksmith.

No tool box is complete without an array  of stickers collected over the years.