The Ultimate Tool Storage Guide: Boxes, Belts, Pouches & Carry Bags for Tradies

By storing your tools in the right manner, you can protect your assets from deterioration and make sure that you have the right tool for the job at hand. It will also save you hours of time searching for lost tools, enabling you to be more productive at work and complete more jobs.

When choosing storage solutions as a WA tradie, you will encounter many locations where your tools are exposed to dust, heat and even salt air. A WA tradesperson’s tool storage system is not just about keeping tools nearby. Your storage system must also protect your valuable investment from damage in harsh conditions middle

If you are a tradie who is constantly moving between various jobs, a portable storage solution is also essential.

A good tool storage system that includes boxes, belts, pouches and bags can be the key to helping a tradesperson manage their time effectively between jobs. By having all their tools ready to always use, they can avoid the frustration and loss of time spent searching for lost tools.

The right storage solution for your trade can enable you to become a highly mobile worker, travelling from job to job throughout the day with all your tools easily accessible.

Understanding the Different Types of Tool Storage

Each trade is different, and each requires different tools for different work sites. When selecting the right tool storage solution, there are four important factors to consider: Accessibility, Durability, Protection and Portability

Different trades will have different storage requirements.

As an electrician, you are likely to need storage for testing equipment, hand tools and small accessories that you use every day on the job. As a carpenter, you will require storage for larger hand tools, fixings and other accessories used regularly. No matter what trade you are in, all storage solutions need to have four main characteristics:

• They must be accessible.
• They must be durable.
• They must protect your tools.
• They must be portable.

The key for the tradie is finding the right amount of storage for their tools. It should provide enough capacity to hold all required tools and equipment without becoming too bulky or difficult to carry.

Having too many storage locations can also result in damaged tools and excessive trips between your vehicle and the job site to retrieve equipment.

Tool boxes: The Foundation of Tool Storage

Your toolbox is likely to be the largest component of your tool storage solution. Whether you use it in your workshop or transport it in the back of your Ute, it is an important piece of equipment for any tradesperson. The purpose of a toolbox is to store your tools, protect them from damage and keep them organised so you can quickly find what you need. When choosing a toolbox, look for one that is strong, durable and protective against impact, wear and weather.

A well-organised toolbox is vital to your productivity. Having all your necessary items at hand will save you a lot of time in the long run and allow you to do your work efficiently and effectively.

Plastic or Metal Toolbox?

Even when looking for a toolbox that sits somewhere between plastic and metal, there are advantages offered by both options.

For sites where you have heavier power tools or just need a lot of storage and security, then a metal toolbox would be the better option. These toolboxes are great for construction sites as they are extremely durable and can offer great protection against theft. The biggest drawback to metal toolboxes is their weight, which can be a problem for people who travel a lot between sites during the day.

A metal toolbox is generally better for holding heavier power tools and is more secure than a plastic option. A major disadvantage of a metal option is the weight of the metal toolbox itself, and during long hours of work travelling between sites, this can become a problem for the tradie. The salty air in WA also affects metal toolboxes greatly.

Alternatively, there are the many different styles of plastic toolboxes available. Lightweight, very affordable, and keeping your valuable tools dry in wet weather makes these a very popular choice with the many tradies who are constantly on the move from job to job. The biggest downfall of plastic toolboxes is that they do not offer the same level of security to your valuable tools as some of the other storage options available. The basic latches found on many styles of plastic toolboxes do not keep the lid shut and can be opened by the curious eye of passersby. Also, with very cheap-priced toolboxes on the market, they do not have the strength to hold your expensive power tools, leaving them vulnerable to being lost or damaged by others when left unattended on a job site.

Portable or Stackable?

Portable toolboxes are perfect for people who travel from job to job on a daily basis. They are extremely lightweight and are small enough to be taken with you wherever you are going. They are perfect for people who don’t need to take all of their tools to a job on a daily basis.

Stackable toolboxes and cases are part of a complete storage system. Most manufacturers of storage systems offer a range of different boxes and cases, as well as a variety of different accessories, to complete your storage system. These systems are ideal for the tradie who has a workshop but also spends a lot of time travelling from job to job. They can use the stackable storage system in their workshop and then use the portable cases for the tools that they need to take with them on the road.

The above setup is ideal for the tradesman that works out of a workshop but is constantly travelling to various sites throughout the day. He can have his tools organised in a stackable storage system in his workshop but have portable cases to take with him that contain the various tools he needs for the job at hand.

Choosing the Right Setup for Your Trade

There are a few key factors to consider when purchasing a trade storage setup: the trade, location, size of tool set and required durability. A cheap bag that falls apart within a few months is clearly not cost-effective for you in the long run.

Common Tool Storage Mistakes Tradies Should Avoid

Here are a few common mistakes when it comes to selecting the right setup for the trade: Overfilling of pouches and belts for comfort, wrong storage for wrong conditions, Tools left loose in cars instead of being securely stored, wrong storage for the correct tools. It’s also very important to inspect zips, straps, handles and locks on all your storage regularly for wear and tear. A good well-maintained system will last longer and protect your tools in the long run.

Choosing the Right Tool Storage Solutions from DTS

Here at DTS, we specialise in Tool Storage Systems and Tool Belts for the Australian trade market.

We supply a variety of Tool Storage Solutions, including Tool Pouches, Tool Carry Bags, Metal Toolboxes and complete Tool Storage Systems. Many of the systems come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit a variety of trades. The systems can be used in Workshop Storage as well as Jobsite Storage. Our storage solutions help to keep your valuable tools organised and ready for use.

Some of our pouches are even trade specific. They have been designed to hold the types of tools and pieces of equipment that are required for specific tasks typically completed by certain trades.

These pouches can be purchased as single items or as complete pouch sets. The pouches can also be purchased as part of a package deal with many of our toolbox accessories, such as screw holders, toolbox partitions, and more.

Our Tool Belts, Pouches, Carry Bags, Toolboxes, and complete Tool Storage Systems are of the highest quality and are designed for all types of trades and industries. Whether you are an electrician, plumber, carpenter, painter, or maintenance worker, our storage systems will help you get the best from your trade tools.

Final Thoughts

A good quality storage system can help to protect your tools from damage, save time by having all the necessary tools to hand, and help you to get the most from your quality trade tools by using them as often as possible.

Most importantly, your tools will be protected from damage so you can get the best from your trade tools, and your investment will be maintained. Whether you are constantly moving from job to job and need quick access to the right tool, or whether you work from a fixed workshop and don’t wish to keep returning to a box in the corner of the room, an organised system will allow you to work more efficiently.

DTS provides storage solutions for your quality trade tools to function at their best and for you to work efficiently and effectively to provide a good service to your customers. Whether you require storage for your tools in a workshop or on the move from site to site, DTS has the ideal solution.