Your post reminded me of when I worked as a carpenters helper. The carpenter had a truck and in the back he had built a box say 5 feet long, 3 feet tall and about a foot or so deep. It was divided in to drawers and had a plywood door that kept things in place when moving.
The drawers were ruff and tough, more then likely left overs from other job sites over the years. He would buy bulk nails and bag and all went in the drawers. Of course the more used nails were in these heavy duty boxes of what 25 pounds each???? If you needed nails that was the source, a garden tool, three legged thing was used to scoop the nails out and into a cloth apron.
In those days there were no screws used in construction just nails and while he did do some finished work that was his winter work and he did that alone. That was part of his tools and went were ever he did. We had minimal tools, a RAS which was left on site once it was under protective cover and the rest went back in the truck at the end of the day. Skill saw and an old D-handle drill was about it for power tools.
That was my first experience with dual headed nails, turns out they are pretty useful on a job site.
The covered pickup had everything we needed and then some. Maybe twice when I was working with him did we run out of something and have to make a hardware run and that was short and sweet. He like to work and work fast and hard. I guess when you are the boss and owner and want to make money and keep your reputation in a small time you do just that.
I saw him just last year, well into his late 80's or early 90's and still working on jobs every day. Last I heard he was thinking of retiring and moving off somewhere but it would surprise me if that did happen. He is also a writer, twenty some books so he stays busy. Way more energy then I ever had. He would be up early check his trap line then come to the job site and put a days work and head off to be a fishing guide for a couple of hours. Managed to build several houses for himself in his spare time and do the writing and still run his businesses.
Anyway that was an experience.
Ed
Ed in Tampa wrote:I use the narrow shelf idea like you. Difference almost all my nails/screws come in boxes that are marked with size. I then stack the boxes smallest on bottom to most common used on top. The second stack if needed goes from most used down to largest. That way my most common are on top or only a box or two down. Rarely used are on the bottom. But since I only stack about 4 high it is no big deal. I also have a high point screw assortment that came in a divided box. I manage those screws from the box. Replacing them as I use them.
I like the boxes because if I go to do a job at one of my daughters I can throw in a box or 2 of the screws and nails I will be using. I do not want to carry more than I will use. Understand my tool box is a 5 gallon bucket which I load with the tools I will use on the job. I try to make sure I have everything I need but not anything else. I would never take my high point screw assortment out of my shop. It contains way to many screws that i won't use and makes not sense to take.
Back in the day I was building houses I did the same thing. Loaded the back of the truck with the tools I would be using. I watched way to many carry whatever you might need if the world cracks spend untold precious time trying to fine a nail the size they needed. They sorted through plumbing supplies, framing supplies, survey equip, electrical and roofing. When all they were going to do that day was some trim molding, and needed a finish hammer, block plane, chaulk, and some 8 penny finish nails along with their compressor and nail gun.
Not a nail guy, just screws and/or glue.
