[CAUT] Why a Toolbag Rather Instead of a Toobox/Case

[Susan Kline]

At 09:23 AM 11/1/2007, Michael wrote:
>My decision to not continue with the aluminum cases was not just the 
>lack of quality but the concern for front doors, furniture, etc.
>A hard case raises a liability issue since the case and its 
>attachments(hinges, d-rings,rivets, corner tabs) are just that, hard 
>and can therefore scratch doors, furniture, pianos.

I think this point is very well taken. My present kit is soft and 
cushy and mild-mannered, and can easily be left on a sofa or chair 
without leaving traces of its visit.

After years of carrying a pretty big and heavy tool kit, I'm moving 
in the opposite direction. I was using a salesman's sample case, 
bought at Staples, which had lots of compartments and a shoulder 
strap and plenty of room. One day I thought about all the various 
things in that kit, like the center pinning gear, the punching box, 
etc., and asked myself, "how long since I used this?" and "how often 
do I need this?" When the answers were often two or three months, and 
sometimes two or three years (like the little bag with the tuning 
lever tip wrench and the punch to hold upright tuning pins while 
hammering them deeper) ...

So I changed to a soft little laptop case (also bought at Staples). 
It still has a few compartments and a shoulder strap, but the space 
is quite limited, so that more *stuff* doesn't keep wandering into my 
kit. I took everything I imagined I wasn't using at least once a 
month, and put it into a briefcase which lives in the trunk of the 
car. Once in awhile it means an extra trip down a lot of stairs, but 
on balance my shoulder and knees appreciate the difference.

Susan Kline