Mechanics Tool Supply

Seems that most of the time a few screwdrivers is about all you need.  You keep going back to those same few over and over again because they meet the need at hand. But, there’s always those special times when you need a special bit, or a ratcheting driver, a T-handle or a stubby handle to speed everything up.  That’s the time to add an actual “set” in a case to your toolbox selection of mechanics tools and hand tools. That set that has everything you’re likely to need out of your normal day to day work.

An excellent one to look at is the KD8940 by Gearwrench. It’s a set of screwdrivers in a case that includes three handles, 30 popular bit configurations and six shafts ranging from 3-1/2 inches up to 11 inches long and even a shaft that allows you to combine shafts for even more specific length selection.

Being in a case, it fits easily into toolboxes or service carts so it’s out of the way while you’re doing normal work yet it’s right there the moment you need to step up from the normal selection of drivers. Doesn’t cost much, doesn’t use up much space and saves a lot of time fishing around for exactly the right screwdriver when special needs arise.

Add to all that, the fact that it carries the Gearwrench name and it’s a must have for professional technicians and serious amateures everywhere.

Keep your mechanics tools organized and ready and life gets easier and more profitable. Here’s some helpful suggestions about socket and wrench organizers from K-Tool, tray organizers from Ernst Manufacturing and non-slip tool box liners from NicSand.

Flexibility is the key with Power Pegs from K-Tool. These are interchangeable steel posts that can be used on the Mag-Clip Strip, used primarily for conveniently affixing frequently used sockets on the outside of a service cart,  toolbox or any metal surface. Socket Caddy is made to be used inside drawers for more permanent storage and organization.

Either way, they’re the same clips so the flexibility is without limit. The magnetic Socket Caddy has positions for 28 pegs and they’re available in 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch drive sizes. Any peg can be placed into any Socket Caddy position. Same is true with the Mag-Clip Strip except, of course, the number of pegs required by strips and caddys are different.

Both strips and caddys come with pegs attached in whatever drive size is originally ordered so you need to customize your order to account for the Power Pegs that are already on your strips and caddys.
Additional Power Pegs are available in sets of 10 in specific drive sizes - that is, buy 10 quarter-inch drive or 10 three-eighth inch drive etc.

Of course, the people at K-Tool used foresight in the design the system so you can rely on shallow and deep sockets staying firmly in place and they won’t become magnetized over time. Strips, caddys and pegs are grease, oil, and chemical resistant and are warranted to perform to customer satisfaction for a full year.

Finish out your organization with wrench organizers and compartment tray organizers, add in a good tool box liner to keep valuable mechanics tools from sliding and banging around and you’re on your way to efficiently eliminating that fishing around for tools habit that’s costing time and money.

Here’s a favorite little flashlight that’s inexpensive, tough and dependable. It’s the TI-11046 from Titan Tools. It’s small so it doesn’t use up valuable space in tool boxes or service carts, large enough not to get lost bouncing around in a drawer and bright enough to light up that area that the drop light or larger flashlights just can’t seem to handle.

It fits in your hand as if it was made to fit in your hand. In fact, it’s just about the size of the palm of your hand and as I see it that’s important. It’s not one of those ultra-small lights that you have to use two fingers just to direct light where you want it and it’s not one of those big flashlights that seems to be in the way all the time. This one is just right and MechanicsToolSupply sells them for only $5.99 each. I personally like one in tool boxes along with some extra batteries, one on service carts and one in the glove box of my car.

Can’t tell you how many times I’ve used this for general uses inside the car. There’s always something being dropped that the interior lights don’t help you find. The TI-11046 is perfect for lighting up the back seat floor, just under the front seats, and alongside and in between the seats where all those shadows seem to appear as soon as you turn on the car’s interior light.

In the shop, it quickly and immediately lights up under the dash when you’re looking to quickly connect the scan tool or just get a better look under the car for the source of that leak.

Also in the shop, you’ll find the red laser light a valuable tool when explaining the problem with a customer’s car. Just point that laser at the problem and Joe Customer seems to understand at once what needs to be fixed or replaced and that’s a helpful customer relation building tool you can take to the bank. Use the same button to operate both the 8-LED light and the red laser light. Just click once for the laser light, again for the flashlight and again to turn the light off. Couldn’t be handier.

Wherever you have your mechanics tools or wherever else you frequently need an extra boost of easily directed light, put one of these. At about $6 each, you’re going to come to like this hot value from Titan Tools.

The Ernst Manufacturing EM8365 is like having a bigger service cart when you need more storage room and a smaller one when you need to get it into a tight spot. It accomplishes this little physics defying miracle by allowing you to hang all the sockets you’re going to need on the side of service carts instead of using precious drawer space. When you’re done, just move it, sockets and all, from the side to a locking drawer on the service cart or back to your toolbox for optimum security of your valuable mechanics tools. The EM3865 consists of two full Socket Organizers and two ratchet/extension holders. Organize it any way you wish.
The kit can be configured to practically any individual need and represents a serious savings when purchased as a kit compared to buying individual pieces. (the clips go onto the organizers so you get to select the drive size(s) you need most of the time and you can to organize your mechanics tools your way).The Ernst Manufacturing 8365 comes complete with two 18” socket organizers, identification decals and 25 1/4-inch socket clips, 25 1/2-inch socket clips and 30 3/8-inch socket clips as well as two each of each drive size ratchet and extension holder.

Most all standard professional-quality service carts will accept these organizers so there’s no need try to match service carts to organizers. As long as it will sustain the weight of the sockets, everything will work just fine.

Start out with the basic service cart from Sunex, the SX8013. It’s a simple cart with a locking top and single drawer. Big 4-inch wheels (two standard, two locking) makes the cart easy to move about the shop with ease so you get right to the work site.

Now you have to decide how many and what kind of mechanics tools you’re going to keep in it because that will determine what accessories are best to add. Sunex offers individual drawers (SX6006) that can be added and you can add up to two additional locking drawers depending on how many tools you want to generally store in your cart instead of in stationary tool boxes.

There’s also a convenient side bench, the SX8004, that really comes in handy and adds a little workspace without having to close the service carts lid. The bench folds down so it’s out of the way when not in use. It’s also a great place hang magnetic socket organizers or wrench organizers while the service carts conveniently positioned near your work area.

Another handy option is a screwdriver/prybar holder that affixes permanently to the side of your service cart. It’s the SX8008, and it’s so inexpensive you can hardly pass on adding it to your service cart. It’s essentially a small box with holes in the bottom that you stick your screwdrivers into and a locking cover that protects and organizes up to 14 screwdrivers.

If you need secure storage, your SX8013 can be fitted with a total of three locking drawers (one original and two optional) and a locking 14-screwdriver case. That frees up a lot of room in tool boxes for other mechanics tools.

After you’ve decided how many drawers and Sunex options you need it’s time to select socket organizers and wrench organizers, place the order get back to work.

Amateurs and pros both need to keep at least some organization in their tool boxes if they hope to avoid  finding themselves wild-eyed and screaming on the roof hurling obscenities and gravel at pedestrians. If somebody doesn’t believe me, just open the socket drawer; if you don’t have a good system of organizing mechanics tools, you’re going to spend a little down time and a lot of sanity looking for that 3/8-inch socket. You stick your hand in there and stir things up a little, just like Grandma used to do with the Betty Crocker mix; with luck that one particular socket will jump into your hand. If not you put the wrong one back in the drawer and repeat the process again. A little voice in your head reminds you to fix this mess sometime, just like it did the other 900 times you’ve been here. Sound familiar?

So anyway, you’ve finally got that trusty 3/8-inch socket in hand and you’re back under the hood. DAMN! wrong size and you were so positive - after all, if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it just HAS to be a 3/8-inch bolt, right?  -  right? You go back to the toolbox and repeat the whole painful process all over again.

Somebody at K-Tool has mistaken a lot of ducks over the years. So many times that they just couldn’t stand to do it once more, so they’ve come up with an inexpensive alternative. The K-Tool Mag-Clip™ strip gets two things done once and for all. They organize inside tool boxes and they organize right in the work area. These are magnetic strips that hold five or ten chrome sockets or impact sockets, depending on drive size. Use them inside the tool box AND ALSO use them outside of tool boxes. That’s right, the magnet grabs the drawer bottom inside the box or any flat metal surface like service carts - or anything else that’s handy right at the work area.

What you really have is a system for organizing sockets inside tool boxes “AND” on service carts or on any flat metal surface at the work area. When you’re done, put the whole strip along with the organized chrome sockets or impact sockets back into your tool box for safe keeping with the rest of your valuable mechanics tools.

Strips area available in three drive sizes.
Order KTI-72401 for 1/4-Inch Drive
Order KTI-72402 for 3/8-Inch Drive
Order KTI-72403 for 1/2-Inch Drive