What do you guys carry in your cases?

lets see..
i got a cool tool bag that has a bunch of outside pockets, a big inside, and a parts box
tools-
crimper
punchdown tool
scissors
cat5 stripper
wire stripper
cutters
utility knife
screwdrivers
can wrench
a ton of sharpies

parts:
jacks
couplers/splitters
cable ties
beanies
bridge clips
screws
anchors
plugs
patch cords
phone cords
tape

yea thats about it jeff moss
jeffmoss26@adelphia.net

oops i forgot my favorite thing in my toolbag:
my Leviton termination coaster! saved my hand many times from being punched...well, except for when I worked on a Nordx job and i punched down my thumb-ouch! jeff moss
jeffmoss26@adelphia.net

I carry three main tool boxes plus my shoulder bag. This is from memory...

**Bucket - 5 gallon drywall bucket with "bucketeer" cover.
18V DeWalt 1/2" hammerdrill
1/16" to 1/2" jobber length drill bits
1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 12" long drill bits
misc masonry bits including 3/8"x12"
hole saws, 3/4" "naileater" bit
16' & 100' tapes, 1 3/8" selfeed bit
3/8" socket set plus adapter for drill
3/8" to 3/4" combination wrenches
levels, plumb bob, utility knife, combo square
studfinder, 50' fish tape, hammer
12" adjustable wrench, 10" vise grips
coax cutter, 6 in 1 screwdriver, prybar
"sawsall" blades, cable ties, outlet templates
nylon string, silicone seal, 2-way radio
leather gloves, coathanger, chalk line

**Kobalt 3 level plastic toolbox
top bins***
UR, UY, UG, panduit 8p8c modular plugs (RJ45's)
6p4c, 6p6c, handset modular plugs, 110 blocks
misc adapters, soldering iron tips, compass
SNS6, SNS6QS, SNS59 F connectors, pens
doublestick foam, velcro, offset screwdrives
SAE and metric hex drivers, bullseye level
super glue, splinter tweezers
middle tray***
Screwdrivers, scissors, linemans pliers, volt tic
needlenose pliers, dikes, chAMP tool, small robogrip
Klein crimper, tamperproof bit set, Plato cutters
portasol butane soldering iron, solder, tape, lighter
small and large utility knives, 6" adjustable wrench
7/16" combo wrench, hemostats, flashlight
coax and wire strippers, small ziplocks of misc screws
bottom bin***
microscanner pro with modular/coax ID kit and many adapters
200FP toner probe, lil buttie buttset, punchdown tool
SnapNSeal tool, modular crimper, outlet tester, stapler
fluke 79 DMM with current adapter, staples, circuit finder
handsaw that uses "sawsall" blades, wood and cold chisels
modified small RadioShack audio amplifier, mod-adapt,butane
telescoping mirror, Altoid boxes with misc parts

***cabbage case briefcase
20G HD, CD-ROM, 6 port hub, fans, heatsinks, PS2 mouse
Lantronix LPS1 and EPS1 printservers, canned air, IDE cables
3C509 and 3c905 NICs, misc PCMCIA cards, power "Y" cables
PS2 and HD15 extention cables, power cords, 3.5" floppy drive
network and phone cables, label maker, power supply fans
small box of computer case hardware, RS232 tester and adpaters

***Shoulder bag
laptop, charger, PCMCIA cards, misc cables, GPS
Fluke NetTool IL, digital camera, NIMH batteries
spare floppies and CDRs, software/diagnostic CDs and floppies
Pocket Ref, small DMM, DB9 to RJ45 adapters (nulls and straights)
JP1 IR remote programming cable, modified Cinema7+ remote
keys, mini headphones, earplugs, pills, powerbars, pens
checkbooks, business cards, notepad, band aids, spare glasses
various turnarounds, adapters and more cables
$50 travelers check

*****Stuff that stays in the trunk
18v DeWalt recipro saw, Greenlee extensions
3/8" x 24" masonry bit, 18v DeWalt car charger
6v lantern, paper towels, misc wire
cases with mounting hardware and wall jacks

*****Used as needed
Brady labeler, 1 - 2.8 gHz spectrum analyzer
PentaScanner, Fluke 97 scopemeter, Wing folding ladder
Progressive cable tracer, power tools, bigger hammers
TelScout TS90 TDR, laser level

Well wires, that is quite the list. I was keeping up pretty well until we got to the extra hard drive, missed a few items there, and I dont have a spectrum analyzer. Fortunately 90% of my work is within reach of my service truck where all this is stored. It is a challange hauling it all into a place, but I am normally close to the truck.

Having been through many tool bags and belts, I'm down to a leatherman wave tool on my belt always, and the new little harris clip on pouch with a punchdown tool, stripper and snips when I just have a little job to do.

Next is a good sized (12x12) square carrying bag with a handle and a lot of pockets. It has a tray in the bottom for all the modular connectors, scotchloks, etc. Full set of klien screwdrivers, nutdrivers, linesman pliers, robogrips, crescent wrench, crimpers, strippers, snips, knife, SNS tool, modular 110 and 66 block adapters, tone generators (one solid tone, one warble), acoustic amplifier, harris buttset, portasol, security screw drivers, can wrench, tape. Probably a lot more there, it is heavy.

After that are about 8 cases in the truck, as well as many drawers full of tools. Currently what seems to work well for me is a 5 gallon buck with the bucketeer for install work. It has all the tools we need for installation, screws, wireties, drills, etc. After that, I keep several large canvas boat bags (left over from my sailboat life) which I fill with tools and supplies for the particular job. The trick is to return them back to the drawers and cases when I get back to the truck.

It is tough to be completely prepared when you do a wide variety of work. I have the complete dewalt 18v set, extra chargers and batteries, push sticks, oh just too much to list. Always looking for a better way to organize and move it around though. (still can't find my metalic data slap-on roughing rings when I need them)

Ahhh...the radioshack audio amplifier, is that the little one with the 9v battery and 3" speaker or so? When I was doing broadcast work I had two of those, each with cliplead pigtails and RCA adapters, handy tools as well!

What was the modification to the amplifer?
It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com

side cutters
multi driver
assorted blades (philips, straight, box, torx, nutdriver)
portasol (cordless soldering gun)
utp crimper
utp stripper
110 punch down tool
bix punch down tool
forseps
spring hooks
wooden qtips
alchahol
multi-network cable tester
multi-meter
wire id system
maglites

Tool Belt, with main pouch on right:
Snips
Dykes
Long Nose
UTP stripper
Punch Tool
Splicer's Knife
Dracon "Quad" stripper
Inductive Amplifier
Can Wrench w/security insert
Dual-Tip Sharpie
Spudger
Short length of clothes hanger for fishing through wall
Spring-loaded nail set for centerpunching
Minituare screwdriver
#1 Phillips/small straight Screwdriver
#2 Phillips/larger straight Screwdriver
Mini Mag Light
Checkbook sized notebook for notes, cards, witing tags, etc.

Also on right side:
Small pouch for banjo, coupler, splitter, etc.
Toner in it's pouch

On the Back:
"Big-Hook" for hanging your cordless drill when climbing ladders, also good for staple guns

Left Side:
Clip for Butt Set
Pouch for 8" tyraps
Clip for keys
Pouch for 4" tyraps
3-Compartment pouch - Main compartment for screws and junk, one small compartment for pair-at-a-time connectors, other small compartment for bridge clips.


Then I use a rigger's bag to carry:
Cordless Drill
Bits
Drywall Saw
Yankyee Drill
Staple Guns and Staples
Extra Toners
P-Touch Labeler
Parachute Bag for Screws, anchors, splices, etc.
Junk in general


Use a lineman's bag with rope and hook as a trash bucket to carry out scraps. Hook makes it convienient to clip onto something at a backboard.

> It is tough to be completely prepared when
> you do a wide variety of work.

Yep! Today I ended up in a rural courthouse installing a tax collection system. Data and phone wiring, cabinet work and linux server configuration. I had everything I needed but it would have been nice to have had the Bosch jigsaw. The 18v recipro saw was a bit much...

> Ahhh...the radioshack audio amplifier, is that
> the little one with the 9v battery?

One and the same. I outfitted it with a RCA jack and a cover for the power/volume knob so the batteries don't get killed. A very handy device if you work with audio.

> tone generators (one solid tone, one warble)

One great thing about the MicroScanner Pro is the built-in tone generator. Very powerful. Cat5 no problem. I once toned a one mile cable with it, very clear on the other end.

The nice thing about these tool "boxes" is the size. I am not a "truck" person (I drove one for years). These days I do most of my work out of a 87 BMW 325. I have an arangement to rent a guy and truck as needed but it is amazing what I can do out of the car. The three tool "boxes" fill less than half of the trunk, the wing ladder fits in the front passenger seat so there is still room for about 7 spools of cable and parts.

Once a guy on a construction site was giving me static and said "you are the only guy I ever seen use a BMW as a pickup truck". I pointed to his brand new F150 and said "I paid $3500 cash for the BMW. Who has more to loose if that backhoe swings wide?" End of static, beginning of respect.