December 2022 - 42

BIG TIME BOXES
However, above all, when Smith ordered
the half hutch, his Matco tool dealer was
able to get a custom wrap on the hutch door
- an honorable and unique wrap to show
the technician's Veteran status.
Then last year, Smith decided to trade
in his previous tool cart for a matching
Jamestown service cart to complete his set.
KEEPING THE
TOOLS ORGANIZED
Working in the reconditioning area of the
dealership, Smith comes across all types of
cars and in all types of conditions. Vehicles
that enter his bay are pre-owned cars that
were either taken in from a trade or from
auctions. Although they are primarily GM
vehicles, he does see many others including
Audi R8s and Porsches.
Never knowing what's going to come in,
A tribute to years served
This service technician's setup features a half hutch with
a custom wrap to showcase his Veteran status.
By Kayla Oschmann, Associate Editor
B
efore making his big
purchase of a new toolbox,
Tom Smith, an
automotive service
technician
at Boucher Buick GMC in
Waukesha, Wis., made sure to
do his homework. And it wasn't
just a few quick online searches,
Smith took his time to research -
a couple of months in fact.
It wasn't until watching toolbox drop test
videos - one specifically where toolboxes
were lifted by a hoist and then dropped
on an I-beam - Smith decided to go with
Matco Tools, seeing that they tend to have
thicker metal.
Smith purchased his custom Matco 6S
double-bay toolbox in 2015. His requirements
were simple. It had to have a power
Tom Smith
Shop: Boucher Buick GMC
Location: Waukesha, Wis.
accessory drawer, power receptacles on the
front, and it had to have silver vein paint.
He also wanted green chrome handles
to go with the silver vein paint - a not-socommon
color combination.
" I've only seen that combo one other
time on a Matco Revel series, which is a
completely different line, " Smith says.
Nearly three years after his purchase,
Smith decided to expand his box by adding
a half hutch. Keeping with the technician's
need for power, the hutch features a power
strip and light.
42 PTEN DECEMBER 2022 www.VehicleServicePros.com
he understands the importance of keeping
your tools organized and knowing which
ones to keep close by.
For this reason, he keeps his commonly
used tools and electronic diagnostic tools
(for example his multimeter and leads) in
his service cart. Tools that he doesn't use as
often, such as specialty sockets and tire pressure
monitor tools, he keeps in his toolbox.
The tool that he uses daily and is considered
his favorite tool, would be his Launch
Tech X-431 Pad II scan tool.
" It can scan pretty much all makes and
models, bidirectional control sensors, and
relearn values, and things of that nature, "
Smith notes. " It helps get to the root of
the cause. "
THE NEED FOR
MORE STORAGE
Like most technicians in the auto industry,
Smith shares the common issue of running
out of room for his tools. He plans to add
a matching side cabinet. Just one for now,
but eventually he would like to have one
on each side.
Want to see more photos of Smith's box?
Visit: VehicleServicePros.com/21286614
Want to show off YOUR Big-Time
Box? For more information, email
Editor@VehicleServicePros.com.
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com/21286614 http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2022
