For DIY - this is also a placeholder.
I've never had a proper tool bag before. As a home DIYer I've just had loose tools on shelves in the garage. I finally got fed up of running up and down stairs to get the next tool I needed on a job. This thing is great. I can fit most things in and I have a few other tools to add - like some scissors to stop borrowing the kitchen ones. I may even get a shorter, wider one for longer tools that are less frequently used.
Let's see your tool bags and setup.
I like that style.
Your idea of separate bags is what I do. I have a "round the house" bag similar to yours - hammer, multi screwdriver, impact driver, screw assortment, level, peed square, different pliers, drill bits, etc.
Then task-specific bags that are add-ons to the main bag. Like an electrical bag with connectors, crimpers, strippers, meter, etc.
Harbor Freight now has a great bag for $10, with a bunch of pockets.
I have a bunch of more 'delicate' tools, things like precision micro screw drivers, watch repair kit, network cabling tools, loads of small fasteners, washers, micrometer and a bunch of small stuff I use for guitar servicing and maintenance. Then there's larger bits that are used less often like sealant, chisels, wire brushes, mallets, large packs of screws.
I'll have to see what's out there, but I can see another 2 bags of different types being added.
Exactly.
For the longest time I've had job-specific tool boxes, often with duplicate basic tools in them. So a jigsaw box would have a speed square, pencils, tape measure, etc, and those things would be in other boxes.
It's worth the extra few $ for the basic things to be there. Same with precision screwdriver sets - one in my house bag, but also in my phone repair kit, one in the electronics kits, etc.
My current but constantly evolving tool bag setup lol
Looks great. Nice and tidy and purposeful. How do you find that style of bag? Is opening and closing it a faff?
It's a Klein canvas bag. The two belt straps to close it are a pain so I just don't "lock" it closed, a zipper would of been preferred. I love the metal rail going around the outside though, it keeps it wide open for easy access. There are pockets on the inside but they're all like 8" deep and a lot of my smaller tools get lost in the pockets and can be a pain to get out. So I bought the Gedore belt pouch for better quick access to all the most used tools and keep the bigger/less useful stuff in the bag.
I'm big on buying made in USA or union/fair wage stuff which limits my options, this is the best setup I found so far.