Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_September_2019 - 58

From the show to the shop
A toolbox fit for a master technician.
by Emily Markham, Assistant Editor

B

en Corda is not your typical automotive technician. As he explains
it, he did things a bit "backwards." After having a career selling
cars for many years, Corda decided it
was time for a change.
"I think I got to a certain age where
the money [wasn't] the driving factor," he
says. "It [was more about] going to a place
you want to go to every day."
Since he was about 15 years old, Corda
has been working on cars, so he decided
he wanted to make a career out of that.
Now, he has been working at Tom's
Auto Center for a little over a year and
has already obtained his master technician ASE certification. Corda enjoys
the challenges that come with working
as a technician at an independent shop
that services domestic, European, and
Asian vehicles.
Before he could start his new career,
though, he had to go back to school.
While being back in the classroom was
a bit strange for Corda, he utilized the
benefits that came with being a student
- namely the discounts.
Corda was able to purchase his first
toolbox and many of the tools he has now
at a significantly discounted price. With
all the tools he was adding to his collection, his first toolbox quickly ran out of

58

PTEN

SEPTEMBER 2019

OWNER:

Ben Corda

Tom's Auto Center
McFarland, Wisconsin

space. But, while at a Matco Tools show in
Las Vegas, Corda was able to find a new
toolbox and got a good deal trading in his
old one for the demo toolbox at the show.
Corda's new toolbox is a Matco
RevelX, which consists of a hutch, a side
cabinet, and the box itself. What's most
special about this box, however, are the
serial numbers.
"Because it was made specifically for
the show, the hutch, the actual box, and
the side cabinet all have [sequential] serial
numbers," Corda says.
The toolbox is approximately 7' tall
with the hutch on top, and around 8-9'
long. It stands out nicely with its white
surface, blue trim, and stainless-steel
tops. Additionally, the box comes with
LED lighting.
"It's got more bells and whistles than
I probably need, [but with] the deal and
what I was looking for, I couldn't really
pass it up," he says.
Corda's favorite part of the toolbox is
the side cabinet.
"[It's] because it gets all of the specialty

www.VehicleServicePros.com

p Corda keeps all similar tools grouped

together so he can easily find what he needs.

tools out of the other drawers and I can
basically store everything in there," he says.
When it comes to organization, Corda
likes things to be laid out for maximum
efficiency. Each tool has a home and is
grouped together with like tools.
"There [are] three big drawers on the
top," he says. "It's basically sockets and
rachets in one, then the next one down
is pretty much all my wrenches, and then
screwdrivers and everything is below that."
Corda keeps the hutch and side cabinet
just as organized. In the hutch, it's set up
for any of the aerosol products necessary
for the job - spray lubes, greases, and
cleaners. Then, he's got all of his specialty
tools in the side cabinet.
For further organization, Corda uses
organizer trays for almost everything.
"All the sockets are laid where if it's
a 1/4" or 1/2", they're all on trays, so it's
pretty easy to find," he says.
Though Corda has only owned this
toolbox for six months now, he's already
thinking of purchasing another.
Want to see more photos of Corda's box?
Visit: VehicleServicePros.com/21092807

Want to show off YOUR Big-Time Box?
For more information, email
Editor@VehicleServicePros.com.
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com/21092807 http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
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