October_2021 - 74

BIG-TIME BOXES
The tool addict's toolbox
This shop owner is so into his tools and toolboxes,
he's made a YouTube channel dedicated to them.
By Emily Markham, Associate Editor
A
utomotive technician,
YouTuber, shop owner.
Since the beginning of his
career as a technician in 1998,
Chad Pritchard has been all these
things, and through it all, he's
always had a toolbox by his side.
Pritchard's current setup consists of
two Mac Tools toolboxes, one Mac Tools
tool cart, and one Cornwell Quality Tools
tool cart. The boxes and carts are arranged
in an 'L' shape to be more efficient, so
Pritchard has a toolbox both in front and
to the side of the vehicle he's working on.
To get an idea of just how large
Pritchard's setup is, if the boxes and carts
were all lined up, the total length of the
setup would be around 18'. As the owner
and diagnostician of an independent
repair shop - CP Automotive - Pritchard
has amassed a multitude of tools and
equipment over the years.
" You have to have the right tools to get
the job done, " he says. " That's why I have
the amount of tools I do. "
His favorite tools are his scan tools.
" Back in the day, you didn't need that
many tools, " Pritchard says. " When I first
started [working] on cars, the toolboxes
were smaller. The evolution of everything
has just been so crazy because of the diagnostic
equipment... but in order to determine
[the issue] you have to have a slew
of electronics. "
To keep his variety of tools in order,
Pritchard likes to use organizers from
Mechanic's Time Savers, as well as keeping
similar tools grouped together within
the toolboxes and carts. His main toolbox
houses his hardline tools and his Cornwell
cart holds all his diagnostic equipment.
His other cart holds specialty tools, and
the older of his two toolboxes is home to
his SAE tools, infrequently used tools,
and tools that are a bit more nostalgic
that have been in his family for years or are
collector's items.
CP Automotive is a small, two-bay
shop, consisting of Pritchard and one
other employee. Pritchard handles
the diagnostics and does some mobile
diagnostics as well, helping other shops
in the area when they get stumped on
a diagnosis.
74 PTEN OCTOBER 2021 www.VehicleServicePros.com
CP THE TOOL ADDICT
Along with his shop and mobile diagnostic
work, Pritchard also runs a YouTube channel,
CP The Tool Addict.
Initially, he started his channel just
as a way to upload a video of his toolbox
and all the tools in it to be able to provide
evidence to his insurance company. From
there, Pritchard continued uploading his
toolbox tours and reviews of tools. But he
really hit it big when he uploaded a video
of himself customizing a tool cart.
" I built this franken-cart. I took two
U.S. General carts and I stacked them
on top of each other. I bought them for
dirt cheap, and then I basically custombuilt
them. Then I did a video of them, "
Pritchard says. " I got like 30,000 views
on it. And that's what blew my YouTube
channel up. "
To view more photos of Pritchard's box and
to read an extended version of the story,
visit: VehicleServicePros.com/21233395
Want to show off YOUR Big-Time Box?
For more information, email
Editor@VehicleServicePros.com.
Chad Pritchard
Shop: CP Automotive
Location: Perry, Iowa
http://www.VehicleServicePros.com/21233395 http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
October_2021

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