How do you carry your tools?

[Quickstrike]

Hey group! I hope everyone is doing fine.

I've been working data and software for 20+ years but with lockdown and @home work, I've been doing way more on the side home support than usual. 
 find myself in need of advice on how to lug all my stuff.

I carry an iFixit analog kit, some usb thumb drives, a heat gun, some plastic sleeve box, spare SDD and HDD, an enclosure, screwdrivers, pliers, box cutter knife, thermal compound, some cables (Power plug, Sata, USB, a patchcord and crossover, Display port, HDMI) a magnetic screw tray, a bag of zip ties and a bag of screws.

I put all this in a grocery fabric tote bag. The back is quite full and the tools are getting banged up, bags have opened and I lost some M.2 screws.

So my questions:
Do I carry too much? I could probably ditch the heat gun and sleeve but I like having it around. for phone work.
If you have a similar cargo, what do you use to lug it around? 

[minibois]

This might work for your smaller tools and some of the accessories:

On 2/2/2021 at 7:53 PM, minibois said:

Looking in your local (arts &) craft store you might get you some good stuff too, especially for smaller tools.

Storage meant for crochet tools for example, would be just about the right for some smaller jeweler tools, plus give adequate storage for some other small tools too. Example: https://www.amazon.com/ProCase-Knitting-Organizer-Circular-Accessories/dp/B07S59GRRQ/

 

A bag of some sort might work well too, like this: https://www.amazon.com/VOSDANS-Organizer-Knitting-Unfinished-Accessories/dp/B08NHNCF12/

With a bag, you do have to be careful though. A bag like this is designed to carry around knitting supplies, not heavy tools and may not be fit to be carried around with those supplies.

 

My go to is a hard carry case, kind of like a small toolbox. One with a large compartment below and a little tray at the top. Works well for me.

I am planning to get one of those organizers I linked above, for tools I use most often.

If I were you, I'd definitely look into a bit of a larger bag with separate compartment too, so things don't just bang around in one bag.

 

You should carry around what you need. If you think you carry around too much, try making two separate bags. 

One with things you always use and then the rest. You might be able to leave bag #2 behind and only take it (or part of it) if you know you need it.

 

This might give some inspiration too:

 

[Quickstrike]

Thx
A lot of what's in there can be replaced with a smartphone so it might be a nice revisit.

Also I'm more more about the bag itself than what's is in.

[Heliian]

A folding soft bag with pockets/dividers or a briefcase style with dividers for light work. Cheap and available at most hardware stores. 

 

If you want durability, get a pelican case.  They can be outfitted with all types of foam and dividers.  Not cheap but nearly indestructible. 

[Noahthompson0823]

Sorry if this is necroposting, but just get an Ifixit pro toolkit. 75 dollars for everything you could possibly need, plus a good folding pouch case.

[Mling]

I have always used a tool bag and a tool tray. Tool bags are really cheap. Tool boxes suck. I buy small plastic food boxes to hold little things and that is better than the trays that come in tool boxes.. My tool bag I put somewhere safe like a lockable closet somewhere on site and i put what i need into the tray. I also use a tool bag for my fishing gear.

[NineEyeRon]

In a handbag

[oJIMoBOBo]

I use a couple of these at work: 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-fatmax-tool-bag-17/8542h

 

The pockets and segmented compartments allow you to nearly store most items.

 

not sure if that bag is available where you are, but you should be able to find something similar 

[Quickstrike]

On 2/5/2021 at 3:42 PM, oJIMoBOBo said:

I use a couple of these at work: 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-fatmax-tool-bag-17/8542h

 

The pockets and segmented compartments allow you to nearly store most items.

 

not sure if that bag is available where you are, but you should be able to find something similar 

This is perfect! thanks

[artuc]

Not cheap but I use one of these:

 

https://vetopropac.com/tech-lc/

 

Straps suck but otherwise they're really good. I have a setup of my screwdrivers, pliers and hand tools on one side, multimeter, cable testers, soldering gear on the other.

 

I then have a backpack with my laptop, test switch, PoE injector, cables, screw tackle box, powerbank and drives sorted spaghetti style.

 

Similar to this one, but my one is falling apart so don't get that but the overall concept is solid:

 

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Storage-Solutions/Soft-Storage/Backpacks/48-22-8200

 

These are expensive but they are protecting gear worth much more than they cost, I go with the plastic base stuff as it helps when dropping them and stops them wicking water if put on wet ground. They're water resistant and fully close to protect from rain.

 

I am a comms tech though so probably a bit overkill for what you need but they hold up for what I do.

[Derkoli]

Whenever I'm in a theatre (I teach LEP), I use one of these to chuck my crap into:

 

https://www.safetyliftingear.com/products/dirty-rigger-pro-pocket-xt-tool-pouch/dty-propocketxt

[SpikeSpiegel]

Tool boxes and I wrap my ESD pad in my Mylar zip up baggy.  And my Soldering Tools are always on my work bench.