Big-Time Boxes: Evan Smith, Matco Tools

Dec. 15, 2017
This three-bay setup features customized tool organizers.

Owner: Evan Smith

Shop: Schlumberger Technology Corp.

Location: Platteville, Colorado

When Evan Smith transferred into a new division at Schlumberger, he and his new three-bay Matco setup had to relocate from North Dakota to Colorado. After hunkering the toolbox down on a flatbed trailer, one bigger than any UHAUL was able to offer, it had quite the journey.

But when the Matco box touched down on Colorado soil, Smith says there wasn't but a few sockets and ratchets out of place.

"Other than that, everything was in the same exact spot that I left it in  Williston [North Dakota]," he says.

That's because every tool in this Matco RevelX Series toolbox, which includes a hutch and two side lockers, is locked into place using a customized organization system unique to Matco Tools.

Known as the Tool Grid, each drawer is lined with what looks like a horizontal peg board with specialized components that can be screwed in anywhere to customize organization and snap tools into place.

Smith uses this modular grid to set up his drawers by function, and carries over a lot of his other organization habits from his boss at his first job.

"It's a weird system that I have compared to a lot of people I work with," Smith says of his system of organization. "It's mostly drive tools in the top, and then anything that is a plier, and all the wrenches, all kind of separated based on the functions that they do."

The two side lockers have six additional drawers in total and house miscellaneous items and blow molded tool kits. Smith also has a mini fridge in one of the side lockers.

There are also two power outlets on the back of the box, and the power drawer and hutch both have power strips, which include USB ports for charging.

Smith upgraded to this RevelX after trading in his Matco 6S with side lockers, which he purchased from Matco distributor Dan Hoover.

Overall, Smith is happy with his box. As a technician working on mostly equipment electronics, he says a lot of his tools don't get as much use as they should, so at this point it's just about organization.

"With the way I set it up there's not a whole lot of room for expansion," Smith says. "It's pretty much as big as it's gonna get. As far as organization, it's always little by little."

While there is some room to grow into the box, any extra space in the 17 drawers of this bold black and electric green toolbox filled with tools and equipment will be taken up by spare parts.

About the Author

Vesna Brajkovic | Associate Editor - Vehicle Repair Group

Vesna Brajkovic is a former associate editor for the Vehicle Repair Group.

Brajkovic has covered the transportation industry for a number of trade publications, with a focus on the vehicle maintenance and automotive aftermarket industries since 2016. Prior to that, she covered the global aviation industry as assistant editor for Endeavor Business Media's AviationPros.com, and held a number of editorial positions at an award-winning community newspaper.

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